ruction

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
bnjtokyo

ruction

Postby bnjtokyo » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:16 am

I came across "ruction" recently in a news item in Nature:

"Tsunamis are generated by abrupt RUNCTIONS of the sea floor, usually earthqakes or underwater landslides"
(Nature, "Hurricanes Could Cause Tsunami Threats," 20 April 2006)

The American Heritage Dictionary defines "ruction" as "a riotous disturbance; noisy quarrel." It labels it "informal" and says the origin is from "the Ruction" an Irish revolt that occurred in 1798, thought to be a shortened form of "insurrection."

Has Nature extended the meaning? Or are there other similar uses out there?

The AHD further suggests that this word is contributed the more widely known word "ruckus" from RUC(TION) and (RUMP)US

Perry
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Postby Perry » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:03 am

I would certainly agree with labeling an event that triggers a tsunami as a riotous disturbance. It may be more colorful than scientific, but it gets the point accross.
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous


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