Word of the day: jounce

The word of the day is jounce:

Etymology:  Of obscure origin: it has been compared to jaunce v., which it partly approaches in use, but with which it can scarcely be phonetically connected. Several words in -ounce, as bounce, flounce, pounce, trounce, are of obscure history. 

 

1. intr. To move violently up and down, to fall heavily against something; to bump, bounce, jolt; to go along with a heavy jolting pace. 

2. trans. To jolt, bump, or shake up and down, as by rough riding; to give (a person) a shaking. (OED)

"I unwrap a Dentyne and, while
jouncing my teeth in rubber tongue-smarting clove, try
with the 2-inch-wide paper to blot butter off my fingers."

 - May Swenson, "The James Bond Movie", 1 September 2011 The Writer's Almanac

Word of the day: jonquil

The word of the day is jonquil:

< modern Latin jonquilla = French jonquille, Italian gionchiglia, or Spanish junquillo, diminutive of junco, Latin juncus rush; so called from the rush-like leaves.

 

1. A species of Narcissus ( N. Jonquilla), having long linear leaves and spikes of fragrant white and yellow flowers; the rush-leaved Daffodil.Hence extended to allied species, as   large jonquil n. Narcissus odorus.  small jonquil n. N. pusillus.  Queen Anne's jonquil n. N. pusillus plenus. 

2. A pale yellow colour like that of the jonquil.  [ < French jonquille.] 

3. A canary-bird of jonquil colour. (OED)

"Who am I worthless that You spent such pains
and take may pains again?
I do not understand; but I believe.
Jonquils respond with wit to the teasing breeze."

 - John Berryman, "A Prayer for the Self", as heard on The Writer's Almanac


I'm going with flowers here, but birds are also possible.