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Runcible

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also raised the question "What is a runcible spoon?" The fanciful answers proposed by readers included that it was a variety of spoon designed by Lear's friend George Runcy for the use of infants, or that it was a reference to a butler named Robert Runcie whose job included polishing the silver
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spoons. The final contribution pointed out that neither of these explained the runcible cat in "The Pobble Who Has No Toes" and simply suggested that "runcible objects (spoons or cats) exist no more than pobbles or feline-hiboutic matrimony".
544:, Runcible Spoon is a professor and staff member at the School of Arcane Arts, in particular, the Arcane Elemental Research Department. He loves hearing "CURSE YOU RUNCIBLE SPOON!!!" from an elemental that he launches fireballs at. 483:
includes the track "Heather" which features the lyrics: "And I will dance to a runcible tune / With the queen of my heart". McCartney has explained the connection to "The Owl and the Pussycat" in various interviews since its
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mentions a dead space pilot who, in a degrading psychic recording, struggles to remember how to describe a human body, with the line: "The head, now. It is perfectly spherical, and weareth a runcible cap..."
306:, the song "Baron Saturday" features the lyrics: "'neath a sky of milk/You're drinking silk/You've lost the runcible spoon" in describing a part of the character's journey into his own subconscious mind. 87: 54:. The word "runcible" was apparently one of Lear's favourite inventions, appearing in several of his works in reference to a number of different objects. In his verse self-portrait, 160:
celebrates words primarily for their sound, and a specific definition is not needed to appreciate his work. However, since the 1920s (several decades after Lear's death), modern
195:(a spoon with serrated edges around the bowl), or a serving-spoon with a slotted bowl. Cutlery of this design (but not name) is evidenced as early as 1817. 379:(1976), the reporter Runcible is one of the Doctor's old classmates from the Prydonian Academy, and the Doctor refers to him as "Runcible the Fatuous." 1124: 137:
Lear often illustrated his own poems, and he drew a picture of the "dolomphious duck" holding in its beak a round-bowled spoon containing a frog.
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dictionary defines it as "a sharp-edged fork with three broad curved prongs". Neither dictionary cites a source for these definitions.
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In Bloomington, Indiana, there is a restaurant called the Runcible Spoon, a local Bloomington staple and cultural landmark (1976).
509:, J. Edward Runcible (an amalgamation of "Edward Lear" and "Runcible") is the name of a 19th-century conspiracy theorist (2007). 1154: 145: 600:"runcible peas" are mentioned in C.J.Sansom's 2003 Tudor mystery novel "Dissolution" (2015 Pan Books edition p.192) 241:
with no particular meaning, claims that an unspecified 1920s source connected the word "runcible" etymologically to
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adds that "modern students of runciosity" link the word in a different way to Roncevaux: The obsolete adjective "
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before Marmalade shut down. The four musicians continued to collaborate and eventually evolved into the band
245:— the connection being that a runcible spoon's cutting edge resembles a sword such as was used in the 1074: 854: 396: 865: 577: 912: 405: 103: 246: 51: 356:
episode Just My Bill, The Runcible Spoon is the name of a restaurant to which Tom Good, played by
261:), meaning "gigantic", also derives from Roncevaux, either by way of a certain large variety of 191:
In other uses, a so-called runcible spoon is a fork shaped like a spoon, a spoon shaped fork, a
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Lear does not appear to have had any firm idea of what the word "runcible" means. His whimsical
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Another mention of this piece of cutlery appears in Edward Lear's alphabetical illustrations
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Frabjoy & Runcible Spoon were a short-lived musical duo in the late 1960s consisting of
211:. There is a joint midway between the two bowls by which the bowls can be folded over." The 1159: 505: 342: 1023: 8: 1099: 572: 365: 467:
is the name given to an interstellar wormhole generator/teleporter, as an homage to the
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The whimsical feel of the word "runcible" has led to its appearance in diverse arenas.
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defines a runcible spoon as: "A horn spoon with a bowl at each end, one the size of a
438: 318: 233: 173: 998: 184:". However, this definition is not consistent with Lear's drawing, in which it is a 935: 921: 879:"podictionary - for word lovers - daily stories, trivia & dictionary etymology" 803: 401: 382: 192: 169: 1125:"Ni no Kuni 2 Higgledies Guide - Best Higgledies, Best Hiddlegies Abilities Guide" 416:, the family butler introduces his full name as “Herbert Arthur Runcible Cadbury”. 1164: 671: 646: 531:
is a food magazine published in the District of Columbia. It was founded in 2010.
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is a code name for the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, an educational computer.
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Runcible was a smartphone pocket watch under development in 2016 by Monohm Inc.
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Louis Runcible is the name of a character in Philip K. Dick's 1964 novel ‘
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The first "higgledy hero" companion that players can acquire in the 2018
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Agatha Runcible is the name of a character in Evelyn Waugh's 1930 novel
188:, nor does it account for the other "runcible" objects in Lear's poems. 459: 450: 375: 204: 161: 35: 521:, Gilgamesh Wulfenbach uses a "hand-cranked runcible gun" that shoots 86: 1049: 973: 314: 290: 242: 43: 958: 538: 513: 501: 282: 208: 94:'s drawings depicts the dolomphious duck's use of a runcible spoon. 878: 853:, ed. Joseph Harker, Fourth Estate, 1997, pp 170–171; also 468: 1078: 571:
Runcible is the name of the spaceship Wallfish's ship's pig in
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with three broad curved tines and a sharpened edge, used with
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of the compiler in 1959; this was his first academic paper.
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grown there, or from a once-current find of gigantic
46:) several times in his works, most famously as the " 346:, an exhibition fight with runcible spoons is held. 806:. "Dictionary of Phrase and Fable". Philadelphia: 1100:"Dominic Deegan: Oracle For Hire :: Archive" 497:, an island cult eats using only runcible spoons. 1146: 1075:"Monohm Inc ~ Third Wave Electronics ~ Runcible" 285:for an early (late 1950s) programming language. 859: 164:have generally defined a "runcible spoon" as a 152:runcible spoon (Eley & Fearn, London, 1817) 868:, November 8, 1996: "What's a runcible spoon?" 321:, and started work on an album with musicians 694: 692: 56:The Self-Portrait of the Laureate of Nonsense 773:Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, 1974 107:, published in 1870, includes the passage: 689: 558:Runcible is the name of a stuffed bear in 925: 750:"Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures" 725:"Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures" 112:They dined on mince and slices of quince, 395: 144: 85: 360:, attempts to sell his surplus produce. 200:Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 130:who caught Spotted Frogs for her dinner 121:Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures 70:" (in the sense of "silly person"), a " 14: 1147: 140: 114:which they ate with a runcible spoon. 902: 851:The Weirdest Ever Notes & Queries 797: 616: 614: 446:players can use to kill Doctor Lucky. 272: 62:". Other poems include mention of a " 948: 27:Nonsense word created by Edward Lear 700:"Mr. and Mrs. Discobbolos Part Two" 180:fork. It is used as a synonym for " 24: 954:"Frabjoy & the Runcible Spoon" 611: 555:is named "Runcible the Righteous". 25: 1176: 1047: 442:, a runcible spoon is one of the 237:, while treating "runcible" as a 58:, it is noted that "he weareth a 1117: 1092: 1067: 1041: 1016: 991: 966: 942: 896: 871: 844: 819: 647:"How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear" 553:Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom 281:RUNCIBLE is also the name of a 776: 767: 742: 717: 664: 639: 257:" (an alternative spelling of 13: 1: 604: 525:during a staged fight (2008). 404:, England; the sign shows an 1155:Words originating in fiction 1050:"The Runcible Spoon - ABOUT" 672:"The Pobble Who Has No Toes" 457:series of novels, including 207:and the other the size of a 7: 978:Runciblespoonrestaurant.com 300:'s psychedelic 1968 album, 10: 1181: 622:"The Owl and the Pussycat" 578:To Sleep in a Sea of Stars 317:. The pair were signed by 123:. Its entry for 'D' reads 42:. The word appears (as an 913:Communications of the ACM 412:In the 1994 feature film 373:of the classic series of 283:computer program compiler 104:The Owl and the Pussy-Cat 81: 247:Battle of Roncevaux Pass 76:the Rural Runcible Raven 1003:Questionablecontent.net 436:In the 1996 board game 400:The Runcible Spoon, in 999:"Questionable Content" 408: 153: 135: 132:with a Runcible Spoon 117: 95: 1054:Therunciblespoon.info 1048:Spoon, The Runcible. 927:10.1145/368481.368507 808:Henry Altemus Company 784:"Invaluable Auctions" 595:The Penultimate Truth 399: 269:bones in the region. 148: 128:The Dolomphious Duck, 125: 109: 89: 1028:Girlgeniusonline.com 974:"The Runcible Spoon" 506:Questionable Content 369:, a serial from the 101:'s best-known poem, 52:Owl and the Pussycat 866:"The Straight Dope" 573:Christopher Paolini 406:owl and a pussy-cat 366:The Deadly Assassin 220:Notes & Queries 141:Alternative origins 1104:Dominic-deegan.com 810:, 1898. Online at 529:The Runcible Spoon 409: 273:In popular culture 154: 96: 439:Kill Doctor Lucky 343:Gravity's Rainbow 319:Marmalade Records 251:The Straight Dope 234:The Straight Dope 16:(Redirected from 1172: 1139: 1138: 1136: 1135: 1121: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1110: 1096: 1090: 1089: 1087: 1086: 1077:. Archived from 1071: 1065: 1064: 1062: 1060: 1045: 1039: 1038: 1036: 1034: 1020: 1014: 1013: 1011: 1009: 995: 989: 988: 986: 984: 970: 964: 963: 946: 940: 939: 929: 900: 894: 893: 891: 889: 883:Podictionary.com 875: 869: 863: 857: 848: 842: 841: 839: 837: 827:"Runcible Spoon" 823: 817: 804:E. Cobham Brewer 801: 795: 794: 792: 790: 780: 774: 771: 765: 764: 762: 760: 746: 740: 739: 737: 735: 721: 715: 714: 712: 710: 696: 687: 686: 684: 682: 668: 662: 661: 659: 657: 643: 637: 636: 634: 632: 618: 383:Arthur C. Clarke 354:(1975 TV series) 193:grapefruit spoon 21: 1180: 1179: 1175: 1174: 1173: 1171: 1170: 1169: 1145: 1144: 1143: 1142: 1133: 1131: 1123: 1122: 1118: 1108: 1106: 1098: 1097: 1093: 1084: 1082: 1073: 1072: 1068: 1058: 1056: 1046: 1042: 1032: 1030: 1022: 1021: 1017: 1007: 1005: 997: 996: 992: 982: 980: 972: 971: 967: 947: 943: 901: 897: 887: 885: 877: 876: 872: 864: 860: 849: 845: 835: 833: 831:Merriam-Webster 825: 824: 820: 802: 798: 788: 786: 782: 781: 777: 772: 768: 758: 756: 754:Nonsenselit.org 748: 747: 743: 733: 731: 729:Nonsenselit.org 723: 722: 718: 708: 706: 704:Nonsenselit.org 698: 697: 690: 680: 678: 676:Nonsenselit.org 670: 669: 665: 655: 653: 651:Nonsenselit.org 645: 644: 640: 630: 628: 626:Nonsenselit.org 620: 619: 612: 607: 426:The Diamond Age 421:Neal Stephenson 385:'s short story 323:Graham Gouldman 275: 213:Merriam-Webster 150:Sterling silver 143: 134: 131: 129: 116: 113: 84: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1178: 1168: 1167: 1162: 1157: 1141: 1140: 1116: 1091: 1066: 1040: 1015: 990: 965: 950:Thompson, Dave 941: 895: 870: 858: 843: 818: 796: 775: 766: 741: 716: 688: 663: 638: 609: 608: 606: 603: 602: 601: 598: 591: 582: 569: 556: 545: 542:Dominic Deegan 535: 532: 526: 510: 498: 489:Lemony Snicket 485: 477:'s 2001 album 475:Paul McCartney 472: 447: 434: 423:'s 1995 novel 417: 394: 393: 390: 380: 361: 358:Richard Briers 347: 338:Thomas Pynchon 334: 307: 294: 289:published the 274: 271: 174:hors d'oeuvres 158:nonsense verse 142: 139: 126: 110: 83: 80: 68:runcible goose 50:" used by the 48:runcible spoon 26: 18:Runcible spoon 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1177: 1166: 1163: 1161: 1158: 1156: 1153: 1152: 1150: 1130: 1126: 1120: 1105: 1101: 1095: 1081:on 2016-11-21 1080: 1076: 1070: 1055: 1051: 1044: 1029: 1025: 1024:"Girl Genius" 1019: 1004: 1000: 994: 979: 975: 969: 961: 960: 955: 951: 945: 937: 933: 928: 923: 920:(11): 18–21. 919: 915: 914: 909: 905: 899: 884: 880: 874: 867: 862: 856: 852: 847: 832: 828: 822: 815: 814: 809: 805: 800: 785: 779: 770: 755: 751: 745: 730: 726: 720: 705: 701: 695: 693: 677: 673: 667: 652: 648: 642: 627: 623: 617: 615: 610: 599: 596: 592: 589: 588: 583: 580: 579: 574: 570: 567: 566: 561: 557: 554: 550: 549:PlayStation 4 546: 543: 540: 536: 533: 530: 527: 524: 520: 519: 515: 511: 508: 507: 503: 499: 496: 495: 490: 486: 482: 481: 476: 473: 470: 466: 462: 461: 456: 452: 448: 445: 441: 440: 435: 432: 428: 427: 422: 418: 415: 411: 410: 407: 403: 398: 391: 388: 384: 381: 378: 377: 372: 368: 367: 362: 359: 355: 353: 352:The Good Life 348: 345: 344: 339: 335: 332: 328: 324: 320: 316: 312: 308: 305: 304: 299: 298:Pretty Things 295: 292: 288: 284: 280: 279: 278: 270: 268: 264: 260: 256: 252: 248: 244: 240: 239:nonsense word 236: 235: 230: 227: 226: 221: 216: 214: 210: 206: 202: 201: 196: 194: 189: 187: 183: 179: 175: 171: 167: 163: 159: 151: 147: 138: 133: 124: 122: 115: 108: 106: 105: 100: 93: 88: 79: 77: 73: 72:runcible wall 69: 65: 61: 57: 53: 49: 45: 41: 37: 33: 19: 1132:. 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Sorrow 205:table-spoon 99:Edward Lear 92:Edward Lear 40:Edward Lear 1149:Categories 1134:2018-03-26 1085:2016-11-18 836:3 November 605:References 551:videogame 460:Gridlinked 451:Neal Asher 376:Doctor Who 267:fossilized 36:pseudoword 315:Lol Creme 291:flowchart 259:rounceval 255:rouncival 243:Roncevaux 209:tea-spoon 44:adjective 959:AllMusic 906:(1959). 789:23 April 539:webcomic 514:webcomic 502:webcomic 491:'s 2006 484:release. 465:runcible 463:(2001), 431:Runcible 387:Playback 340:'s 1973 74:", and " 32:Runcible 936:8224014 562:'s RPG 537:In the 512:In the 500:In the 494:The End 469:ansible 444:weapons 296:In the 170:pickles 90:One of 34:" is a 1165:Spoons 934:  855:online 523:sporks 455:Polity 178:pickle 82:Origin 66:", a " 932:S2CID 218:The " 186:ladle 182:spork 1111:2017 1061:2017 1035:2017 1010:2017 985:2017 890:2017 838:2015 791:2022 761:2017 736:2017 711:2017 683:2017 658:2017 633:2017 331:10cc 325:and 313:and 166:fork 922:doi 575:'s 487:In 453:'s 449:In 419:In 402:Rye 363:In 349:In 336:In 263:pea 172:or 78:". 1151:: 1127:. 1102:. 1052:. 1026:. 1001:. 976:. 956:. 952:. 930:. 916:. 910:. 881:. 829:. 752:. 727:. 702:. 691:^ 674:. 649:. 624:. 613:^ 597:’. 429:, 249:. 1137:. 1113:. 1088:. 1063:. 1037:. 1012:. 987:. 962:. 938:. 924:: 918:2 892:. 840:. 816:. 793:. 763:. 738:. 713:. 685:. 660:. 635:. 590:. 581:. 333:. 30:" 20:)

Index

Runcible spoon
pseudoword
Edward Lear
adjective
Owl and the Pussycat

Edward Lear
Edward Lear
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat

Sterling silver
nonsense verse
dictionaries
fork
pickles
hors d'oeuvres
pickle
spork
ladle
grapefruit spoon
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
table-spoon
tea-spoon
Merriam-Webster
Notes & Queries
The Guardian
The Straight Dope
nonsense word
Roncevaux
Battle of Roncevaux Pass

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