21 February 2017
ptarmigan
[tahr-mi-guh n]
noun, plural ptarmigans (especially collectively) ptarmigan.
1. any of several grouses of the genus Lagopus, of mountainous and cold northern regions, having feathered feet.
Origin of ptarmigan
Scots Gaelic
1590-1600; pseudo-Greek spelling of Scots Gaelic tarmarchan, akin to Irish tarmanach
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for ptarmigan
Historical Examples
The Iceland falcon and the ptarmigan have pretty much the same habitat, the one preying upon the other.
Poachers and Poaching
John Watson
The net was of service, not only for fish and beluga, but also for ptarmigan and foxes.
Short Sketches from Oldest America
John Driggs
At one time or another Elstead probably told the officers of the ptarmigan every detail of his strange twelve hours in the abyss.
The Plattner Story and Others
H. G. Wells
He knew clearly what was to be done, and this he did by promptly eating the ptarmigan.
White Fang
Jack London
Eider-ducks, looms, and dovekies are abundant, as well as hares and ptarmigan.
In the Arctic Seas
Francis Leopold McClintock
Among birds, the ptarmigan is a fine example of protective colouring.
Little Masterpieces of Science:
Various
But that is the substance of the extraordinary story that Elstead related in fragments to the officers of the ptarmigan.
The Plattner Story and Others
H. G. Wells
The rise of the ptarmigan had another effect, on which the travellers had not counted.
The Big Otter
R.M. Ballantyne
The ptarmigan struggled against him, showering blows upon him with her free wing.
White Fang
Jack London
The only ornament which he allowed himself was the white wing of a ptarmigan.
The Prairie Chief
R.M. Ballantyne
Anagram
trim pagain
pig mantra
taping ram
A prim gnat
Today’s quote
There is not one big cosmic meaning for all, there is only the meaning we each give to our life, an individual meaning, an individual plot, like an individual novel, a book for each person.
– Anais Nin
On this day
21 February 1903 – birth of Anais Nin, French-Cuban author. Died 14 January 1977.
21 February 1965 – assassination of Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little), also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. He campaigned for the rights of African-Americans. At the age of 20, while in prison, he joined the ‘Nation of Islam’, a group that preached black supremacy. He eventually became disillusioned with it and its leader, Elijah Muhammad. On 8 Mach 1964, he publicly announced he had the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X founded Muslim Mosque Inc and the Organisation of Afro-American Unity. He converted to Sunni Islam, revoked black supremacy and preached equal rights. He was assassinated on 21 February 1965 by three members of the Nation of Islam; Talmadge Hayer (also known as Thomas Hagan), Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson. All three were convicted, although Butler and Johnson maintained their innocence. Born 19 May 1925.