Vocabulary Quiz
By William F. Bultas
This 20 question vocabulary quiz to some extent follows in the tradition of the fun game Balderdash®, which I understand is out of print. I have drawn up the rules for a simple, free game that is similar to Balderdash®. On this quiz, an obscure word is given, & you must write the letter for the definition that you believe is the correct one for the word given. The words & correct definitions were all taken or paraphrased from Balderdash® or Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: Tenth Edition. The false definitions were written by me. When you're done, you'll find a ranking scale with the answers that will allow you to see how well you did on the quiz. If you enjoy these puzzles, be
sure to try the other tests & puzzles at PUZZ.COM. Have fun!
1. carmagnole
A. A lively song often accompanied by street dancing, popular during the French Revolution.
B. A disease of the liver that is in many cases terminal.
C. A type of derby that was worn in the late nineteenth century and originated in England.
2. spatung
A. A sea urchin.
B. A snow crab.
C. A shrewish woman.
3. nautch
A. A waterproof watch that is safe at great depths undersea.
B. A type of ancient hut.
C. A chorus line in India of nautch girls.
4. mantelet
A. A small shelf above a fireplace.
B. A bulletproof screen.
C. A Norwegian soldier.
5. sardoodledum
A. A gadfly
B. A type of radish
C. A melodrama
6. mahout
A. A metal boomerang with extremely sharp edges.
B. A prehistoric reptile with pointed tusks.
C. An elephant driver.
7. camisole
A. A container used to carry water or wine over long distances.
B. A short sleeveless garment for women.
C. A boastful, swaggering person.
8. lagan
A. Short, thin, diagonally cut tubular pasta.
B. A special gift or donation.
C. Goods thrown into the sea with a buoy attached so that they may be found again.
9. cymatium
A. A crowning molding in classic architecture.
B. The angle between an aircraft supporting surface (as a wing) and a horizontal transverse line.
C. A small chamber or cavity especially in a plant or animal body.
10. hoplite
A. A circle dance of Romania and Israel.
B. A heavily armed infantry soldier of ancient Greece.
C. A spittoon.
11. preterist
A. An architectual housing model.
B. An appetizer.
C. A person who enjoys reliving past memories.
12. pignus
A. The waning light from a flickering flame.
B. Someone who enjoys language games.
C. Property held as collateral against a debt.
13. nictitate
A. A very wealthy man.
B. Medical treatment using aloe and other healing herbs.
C. To flirt by winking the eye.
14. thesicle
A. A type of one-horse sleigh.
B. A small thesis or proposition.
C. A variety of Asian buzzard.
15. gawf
A. A shiny red apple.
B. A laugh that is accompanied by coughing.
C. A slow burning fuse that is used in underground explosions.
16. schesis
A. A variety of skunk.
B. That which sometimes follows Synthesis in a Hegelian model.
C. To make fun of people's accents and mannerisms.
17. kinnikinnik
A. A gambling game played with three small cups and a ball.
B. A young palm tree.
C. Indian smoking substance made from tree bark.
18. sindon
A. The tissue between the front and back legs of a flying squirrel that aids in flight.
B. A poisonous weed.
C. A book cover made of linen.
19. yashmak
A. An Indian biscuit.
B. An intense argument.
C. A face-veil worn by women of Moslem countries.
20. kilhig
A. Dysentery.
B. In logging, a short pole used to direct the way a tree will fall.
C. As sharp as nails.
ANSWERS TO QUIZ
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