ext_22722 ([identity profile] theidolhands.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] 1word1day2015-05-18 04:08 am

Sunday Word: Catkin & Wonderwall

cat·kin [ˈkatkən]:
origin: [1570s] Dutch; katteken= "kitten"

noun
Botanical. Have you ever seen a pussy willow branch? Those fluffy, fur-like blossoms are referred to as "catkins"; oblong & cylindric growths occur in many plant families, usually have no visible petals, and contain only one sex on their branch, although not all of them are downy.

Other examples: hazel, oak, birch, mulberry.





won·der·wall [ˈwəndərˈwôl]:
origin: [1968] British; slang, invented, likely from a film directed by Richard Balducci (not a 1995 Oasis song).

adjective
1. Infatuation; someone who preoccupies all your thoughts or is your everything -- based off the song "Wonderwall", by the British band Oasis. However, Noel Matthews, guitarist & songwriter, states that to him the meaning was: "It’s a song about an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself.”

2. According to Urban Dictionary: A barrier that divides reality & the fantastical, ideally with at least one peep hole that allows the viewer to see through to the other side (to your dreams or obsession).

3. There is also a film & soundtrack with the same name, circa: 1968; alas, strangely, this did not spring up initially during research, although it clearly influenced the second definition -- as the plot revolves around a hermit-like scientist (Oscar Collins) obsessed with peeping on a couple next door, as he's become infatuated with & endlessly daydreams about the female who models.

That actually adds a rather creepy notion to the word!


Wonderwall

[identity profile] suegypt.livejournal.com 2015-05-18 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
When I hear the word Wonderwall, i think of George Harrison, who made an soundtrack called Wonderwall for the movie of the same name in 1968. It inspired the oasis song, but George "invented" it.

[identity profile] kryptyd.livejournal.com 2015-05-18 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Wonderwall is such a rubbish song. I'm not even of the opinion that a good pop/rock song requires good lyrics - there are endless examples of great ones with the terrible lyrics, but for some reason Wonderwall really winds me up.
Edited 2015-05-18 17:22 (UTC)

[identity profile] kryptyd.livejournal.com 2015-05-19 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
Argh, catkin!