Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SPINDRIFT

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pronounce SPINDRIFT: Say it "SPIN drift." To hear it, click here. connect this word to others: As we'll see in a moment, spindrift has nothing to do with spinning, but it does have to do with drifting, or being driven. So does our word "dr___s," meaning "crowds that remind you of animals on the move because there are so many of them, moving so quickly in one direction, all packed together, as if driven by a single purpose." Can you recall that one? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)     definition: Here's an old meaning of "spoon" that we don't use anymore: to spoon is to sail quickly, and to spoon on (or upon) another ship is to move rapidly toward it. Take that nautical kind of "spoon," add "drift," meaning "water that's blown along by the wind," and you get "spoondrift," which is the ocean water that's blown from the tops of waves by the wind and is now flying quickly, seeming to sail across the surface of the water. "Spoondrift" is a rare word these days. It's mostly been replaced by "spindrift," which arose in Scottish English around 1614 as a variant of "spoondrift." (The "spin" bit doesn't having anything to do with spinning--rather, it's a way to spell the Scottish pronunciation of "spoon.") Today, spindrift can be any continuous violent spray or blast--usually of water, snow, dust, or sand--and usually blown by the wind. And figuratively, spindrift is any steady stream of random material, the kind that seems to whip around helplessly and violently like ocean water driven by the wind. grammatical bits: Part of speech: Noun, the uncountable kind: "On the upper deck, we're soaked by spindrift;" "a little secluded cove frothed in spindrift (Scientific American)." Other forms:  We can also use it like an adjective: "a spindrift avalanche," "these spindrift ideas." how to use it: "Spindrift" is a rare, beautiful word that conveys motion and excitement. Use it literally, if you like. Here's Jane Addams: "The sea was white with the spindrift of gale-lashed waves." And here's the Guardian: "It was only a spray, the spindrift of a wave that was a way off yet." Or use it figuratively. It's great for similes! Here's Henry Leverage: "[boats] as light as spindrift." And Robert Nye: "a fisherman with a big white beard that blew in the wind like spindrift." examples: "Thales of Miletus theorised that all things were but cosmic spindrift conjured momentarily from a great and watery flux."    — Will Self, BBC, 6 December 2013 "...I write On these spindrift pages ...for the lovers, their arms Round the griefs of the ages, Who pay no praise or wages Nor heed my craft or art."    — Dylan Thomas, "In my craft or sullen art," 1939 has this page helped you understand "spindrift"? Awesome, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know! If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. study it: Explain the meaning of "spindrift" without saying "continual gusts of helpless things" or "sea spray." try it out: Maybe you've tried these fruity carbonated waters called Spindrift. (Are they good? Will they help me quit Diet Coke?) What a nice name for a fizzy drink, right? Well, I'm undecided. The name suggests constant motion, fluff, bubbles, nature, and power, and that's cool. But it also suggests violence, helplessness, and toxic levels of salt. The name was chosen by Bill Creeman, the company's owner. Here's the scoop, from a Massachusetts paper: "As for the company's name itself, Creelman said he first head the term when he was working on a fishing boat off of Nantucket... '[The name has] only become a better and better fit as we've gotten our sea legs under us,' he said. 'We're still very restless, we're a tiny, tiny sparkling water brand inside of a huge sparkling water ecosystem and so... we still feel very much like we have a long way to go.'" Knowing what you know about the word "spindrift" and all its connotations, talk about whether or not you think it's a good name for a beverage. If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.) before you review, play: Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out. Our game this month is Oddball Recall! Given some abbreviated definitions and a few letters, try to recall some of the kookiest terms we've studied. To see the answers, scroll all the way down. Try this set today: Somebody's Somethin'. 1. A source of troubles: P______'s __x. 2. It never goes smooth: M_____'s L__. 3. The big whole from a tiny part: ex p___ Her_____. 4. The least complicated guess is probably right: O____'s __z__. 5. With rotating components and an identity crisis: Sh__ of Th____. review this word: 1. A near-opposite of SPINDRIFT, the adjective, could be A. SIDELINED (given an unimportant, passive role). B. EPOCHAL (forming or creating an important point or period in time). C. FOURSQUARE (firm, strong, steady, and unwavering, as if built solidly into place). 2. You're likely to spot an adjective like _____ before the noun "spindrift." A. "tacky," "neon," or "excessive" B. "hissing," "flying," or "frothing" C. "wandering," "meandering," or "deviating" Answers to the review questions: 1. C 2. B Answers to the game questions: 1. A source of troubles: Pandora's box. 2. It never goes smooth: Murphy's Law. 3. The big whole from a tiny part: ex pede Herculem. 4. The least complicated guess is probably right: Occam's razor. 5. With rotating components and an identity crisis: Ship of Theseus. a final word: I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.