Unusual Words For Your Next Camping Trip

• 6th Jun 2017

After Donald Trump tweeted 'covfefe', unusual words and , lets say - unique coinings have been in the air. Here are some unusual words (real ones) that you might enjoy for your next camping trip.

Armogan

This is the perfect way for you to start out on your camping trip. Armogan is a 19^th Century naval slang term for fine weather – in particular, the perfect weather for travelling or beginning a journey. If your weather is armogan then this could be a great time to pack up and set off for new adventures in the natural world.

Mizzle and Other Weather Words

Knowing the British weather, however, even if the weather is fine it may not stay that way for long. You may get some mizzle (a light, misty drizzle) or smirr (same), it may turn a wee bit dreich (gloomy, wet and dull). A fret or haar may roll in of the sea (sea mists/fogs) and before you know it, it could end up plowetery (dirty wet and showery) and perhaps it will even end up stoating (rain so heavy that drops bounce back up off the ground). There are almost endless weather words out there in different parts of the UK and knowing some of them can actually help you to see all the changing weather in a different way.

Petrichor

Rain can be wonderful, especially in the summer months. Not only does the plant life get a much needed drink, we can also enjoy it. The smell of the rain, petrichor, is a favourite for many people. The earthy smell that rain makes on dry soil and foliage is extremely evocative. This word only dates from the 1960s but it certainly appeals.

Ombrophilous

Ombrophilous plants are those capable of thriving in areas of heavy rainfall. Literally, they are rain-loving plants. Perhaps you too will become more omborphilous while exploring the UK's rich heritage of weather-related language. Surely it will not be too long before there is a sunblink (single glimmer of sunshine) or two. Before you know it there will be a gleen (sudden burst of warm sunshine).

Psisurism

Psisurism is the sound of the wind whispering in the trees; the rustling of leaves. On a woodland camping holiday, it can be the perfect lullaby to get you off to sleep on a breezy summer's evening.

Words define the way we look at and think about the world so while this introduction to some unusual words is just a bit of fun, remember, words can also change our perceptions. Choose to love the weather – whatever it may be. Words can take you a long way towards a better understanding and appreciation of the natural world around us and can help us connect to it in new and perhaps unusual ways.