sploot
verb

- (of an animal) to lie flat on the stomach with the legs stretched out

Collins Dictionary

—
WORD ORIGIN

Etymologically, “sploot” may be a variant of “splat”, or a blend of “splay” (or “split”) and “scoot” (or “cute”). Splooting has become more noticeable in the warm weather that many have been experiencing. In the United Kingdom this phenomenon is also known as “pancaking”.

splat = Platsch!, splay = auseinanderspreizen, split = gespaltet, scoot = rutschen, cute = putzig

NOTE: "Splooting" is one of several new words entering the world’s dictionaries in 2022. See the eight words below.

—
TOP 2022 WORDS

Can you guess the meanings of these popular new words?

- “Carolean”

- “lawfare”

- “partygate”

- “permacrisis”

- “quiet quitting”

- “splooting” (today's OWAD)

- “sportswashing”

- “warm bank”

---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---

- “Carolean” = the new monarchical era after the end of the second Elizabethan age this year and the accession of King Charles.

- “lawfare” = the strategic use of legal proceedings to intimidate or hinder an opponent.

- “partygate” = the scandal of social gatherings in Downing Street during the pandemic contravening public health rules.

- “permacrisis” = an extended period of instability and insecurity, characterized by Covid, climate change, and global insecurity.

- “quiet quitting” = doing basic duties at work but no more; a rejection of competitive careerism and out-of-office hours emails.

- “splooting” = the act of lying flat on the stomach on a cool surface with legs stretched out as a way of countering unusually high temperatures.

- “sportswashing” = organisations and countries using sports activities to enhance their reputations or distract from unacceptable policies.

- “warm bank” = a public building such as a public library that opens its doors over the winter months to provide a welcoming space for people struggling to heat their homes.

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Is SPLOOTING an indication that a hotter world is changing the behaviour of animals?”

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

and,

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40