I'm surprised that grosgrain isn't on the women's list as I have heard that is a gendered word previously.

Blessed Solstice, y'all. May your summer be mild, fun and vaguely coconut scented.

I knew all the words on both lists but have to say that several of the 'boy' words are known to me specifically because I read science fiction...and used to be married to a vet/cop. "Grosgrain" is a good one, Kat! If I did not learn to sew from a woman born in the 20s, I'd never know that one.

The cat pee smell is a huge issue in the pet care business. I am firmly convinced that many cat people's homes smell much more than their acclimated olfactory acuity lets them know on a regular basis. Then, they go out of town for x number of days and then come home to accuse us of not maintaining their boxes properly. Our policy is to carry out everything we scoop every time. My sense is that the scent lingers, long past the scoop by date.

I think grosgrain is only on the very special girls list.

I wonder how much is "know", I can describe a solenoid, draw one, but not tell you what function it performs in a circuit. I don't know what a bottlebrush is unless it's a brush for cleaning bottles, but why couldn't a guy work that out?

Surprised by:

• golem
• Bolshevism
• flounc(y/ing)

I am not sure I know what colour taupe is, but I know it's a colour, so some point. And I couldn't tell a wisteria from a peony, though I think I'd be a good guesser.

Thanks for your suggestion, Pix! Almost finished the email interview with Jenna.

Grosgrain is a good one. I'm not sure what a bottlebrush is?

Bottlebrush is either the kind of brush you use to clean baby (and other, I guess) bottles with, or it's a plant. I think.

The pronunciation of "grosgrain" stymied me as a kid.

My days of sewing prepared me well for many of those girl-y terms, as well as reading history and historical fiction. (Quick: what's a cicisbeo?) And SF gave me a bunch of the boy words.

Here's a cool one: how do you pronounce forecastle?

I know both what a cicisbeo is and how to pronounce forecastle. I also know all the words of both genders.

Quick: what's a cicisbeo

I believe it's a close gentleman friend of an older lady. Maybe I'll get one eventually.

And forecastle is pronounced foc'sle, I believe.

I knew everything up until those last two. Learning from Buffistas!

Went to see my father, and man, he is going downhill fast. He's not walking or feeding himself. I really wonder how long he'll last now. So now I'm taking a break in between errands and yardwork to cry a little.