crepitate

Jan. 10th, 2012 07:14 am
prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (Default)
[personal profile] prettygoodword
crepitate (KREP-i-tayt) - v., to make a crackling or rattling sound; crackle.


Examples given include as salt in fire or during calcination, or a rattlesnake's use of its crepitaculum (the obscure technical name for its rattle). From these, one sees that the crackle is more of a small explosion sort of sound, rather than someone's knuckles. Borrowed around 1620 from Latin crepitātus, past participle of crepitāre, to rattle, rustle, chatter, frequentative of crepāre, to crack.

---L.

Date: 2012-01-10 11:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ersatz-read.livejournal.com
And now I know where 'decrepit' comes from.

Date: 2012-01-10 11:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com
Yup -- same root.

---L.

Date: 2012-01-11 04:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alpha-strike.livejournal.com
I no longer want to eat my Rice Krispies(R). Eating something that is crepitating just sounds wrong.

Date: 2012-01-11 02:19 pm (UTC)

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