By marlin harms (Flickr: Xantus’s Hummingbird, Hylocharis xantusii) via Wikimedia Commons
OK, I’m just going to start with this: X words are the worst. The worst. Absolutely the worst of all the letters of all the days in April.
I’ve cheated with X in the past, chopping off bits of words; I’ve used the standards. But today, I decided I would use a bona fide X word that maybe most of us (some of us…me) don’t know.
And here’s the thing with X words. They look cool. They sound cool. But their meanings are dry as toast when the only thing you have in the house is salt.
That’s dry.
Take, for example, today’s word, “xylocarp,” which I chose because it made me think of a fish with a built-in musical instrument, swimming around, adding a colorful tropical musical flare to the reef. The kind of fish that’s the life of the party, who always has a happy tune ready to go.
Xylocarp.
Know what it means?
It’s a hard dry covering, like on a coconut.
I told you. Dry. In both senses of the word.
X is just one of those letters. It looks cool. It sounds cool.
It’s rarely cool.
So I’m going to stick to my improvised definition. Some where, out there, a xylocarp is rocking it out as the anemones dance.
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Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)
Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended)
The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.
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A Bit to Read 
What a cool word, you’re right, the definition came as a disappointment.
https://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/27/x-is-for-xanthi-greece/
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That’s how it was with all of the X ones! Oh this looks interest—nope. How about? Nope. But this…NOPE.
Looking forward to seeing where you found with an X!
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I love your musical fish. I think I’ll get my artistic grand daughter to draw one for you. Ha Ha.
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Would you please?? I almost lamented in the post that I couldn’t do it myself.
It would definitely make my week!
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I’ll see her in one week and will ask her.
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Thanks so much! That would be fantastic!
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😀 LOVED your interpretation of “xylocarp,” It was just perfect! Should be in a Disney cartoon! You know, hanging out with the clown fish.
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X-rays are pretty cool. But perhaps a bit too well known?
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I think I’ve done them before. And yes, I wanted to branch out! Improve my vocabulary!
And I got xylocarp.
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Thems the breaks.
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Exactly.
X just isn’t as cool as it pretends to be. I got much better words from other letters! Like V and stubby old K.
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That is dull – although I do love fresh coconut. And look at that, I said ‘fresh’ coconut like it’s normal to have to specify. I grew up where coconuts were fresh and where the word you specified it with was only required when it wasn’t. OK, I tried … but it’s still dull.
Although your idea wasn’t. I liked your version of xylocarp. P’haps Aunty Ida could have one …?
A-Zing this year at:
FictionCanBeFun
Normally found at:
DebsDespatches
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OOOH, that’s a fantastic suggestion! She is COMPLETELY going to have a xylocarp. Because why wouldn’t she??
I didn’t know you grew up somewhere tropical! England is gorgeous, but what a contrast.
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Oh yes, it’s certainly been a contrast between childhood and adulthood. England is home now, but I do miss some aspects of living a tropical life.
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I can imagine, she wrote from Chicago where spring FINALLY made an appearance.
Just so many aspects of daily living are different. But England is a fantastic place to be, I think.
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