Bobdule < 4K >

Once upon a time, in the small, rain-slicked town of Puddling Parva, there was a word that no one could explain: .

The town librarian, a sensible woman named Edna Quirk, grew concerned. She pulled out the colossal Oxford English Dictionary (Volume B, folio edition). She searched. She found “bob” (to move up and down), “bobber” (a float on a fishing line), and “bobstay” (a rope on a ship). But bobdule was nowhere. She checked the etymology supplements. Nothing. She even called the linguistics department at the distant city university. The professor there laughed. “Bobdule isn’t a word,” he said. bobdule

By Wednesday, the word had spread. Mr. Hix, the clockmaker, told a customer that his antique pendulum would “bobdule more smoothly after a drop of oil.” The postman, delivering letters, muttered that his satchel strap needed to bobdule across his shoulder. Children on the playground started playing a game called Bobdule-Ball, though none could agree on the rules. It seemed to involve wobbling and humming at the same time. Once upon a time, in the small, rain-slicked

And from that day on, whenever anyone in Puddling Parva felt rushed, or sharp, or too certain, they would stop and say, “Let it bobdule a bit.” She searched