Philly-centric Word Added To Dictionary
“Go ahead and put that jawn down on the table.”
“Yo. Gimme that jawn over there.”
“So, I’m drivin’ down the Skookul ‘n allasudden ereybody stops.
I’m like ‘what’s up with this jawn?! I gotta get ta the Linc ta see the Iggles!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!”
Jawn.
You’ve heard that word time and time again. But what does it mean? Before we get into all that, let’s just be clear about this jawn. It’s a Philly thing. And while I’m excited to see it recognized, I’m not thrilled that citizens from other municipalities will now think they can use it. Because, like I said. It’s a Philly thing. Period.
Jawn is one of the 566 new words Dictionary.com has added to their database this week, as well as 348 new definitions for existing entries and 2,256 revised definitions.
How would you define this indefinite term? Luckily, you don’t have to. You know how to use it and that’s all that matters. But a dictionary MUST have a definition, so here’s how Dictionary.com describes it:
- Jawn – “Something or someone for which the speaker does not know or does not need a specific name.” (Commonly used in Philadelphia.)
At least they gave us credit.
In addition to 566 new words, the website also updated entries to change binary-gendered phrases like “he or she” and “his or her” with gender-neutral “they” and “them” to use more inclusive language.
These are some of the new entries and what they mean:
- Nepo baby – “A celebrity with a parent who is also famous, especially one whose industry connections are perceived as essential to their success.”
- Unsend – “To delete (a digital message such as an email or text) from the devices of the sender and receiver.”
- Blursday – “A day not easily distinguished from other days, or the phenomenon of days running together.”
- Greenwashing – “An instance or practice of promoting or affiliating a brand, campaign, mission, etc., with environmentalism as a ploy to divert attention from policies and activities that are in fact anti-environmentalist.”
- Chatbot – “A computer program designed to respond with conversational or informational replies to verbal or written messages from users.”
- Coffee nap – “A short nap, usually 15–30 minutes, taken immediately after drinking a cup of coffee, the claimed benefit being that the energizing effect of caffeine may be bolstered by a sleeping body’s drop in adenosine levels.”
- Sleep debt – “The difference between the amount of sleep a person needs and the actual amount of time spent sleeping, when the amount needed exceeds the time slept.”
- Shower orange – “An orange that is peeled and eaten under a steamy shower, the purported benefit being that the steam enhances the orange’s citrusy fragrance and creates a soothing experience for the person who is showering.”
- Sextortion – “Criminal behavior in which a perpetrator illicitly obtains sexually compromising material, such as images, and then threatens to publish it or harm the victim in other ways unless further material or a sum of money is surrendered.”
- Polysexual – “Noting or relating to a person who is sexually attracted to people of various genders, but not necessarily to people of all genders.”
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The text reads: “ATT Free Msg: Congrats to 2 lucky users! Today’s winners of our raffle are: Tim N***** and you, (Name)! Claim now: j2kmz.info/XXXXX (904) 495-2559”
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