Upon entering my conference this morning, we were assigned to tables, based on supposed rare words. I say supposed because, while I only knew one, I imagine some of you will know more and will be able to identify the theme. How many do you know?

Txangurro
Bresaola
Culatello
Kalbi
Nursehound
Unagi
Abbacchio
Sarawa
Quahog

[corrected misspellings]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,

I recognised three as culinary terms. Is that what they all have in common?

I especially recognised unagi because of the episode of Friends where Ross is trying to teach Rachel and Phoebe to be aware of danger and they ask him what Japanese eels have to do with it.

I only recognized three, too: galbi, unagi, and quahog for a Korean dish, freshwater eel, as opposed to anago, sea eel, and a kind of oyster. (I have had all three.) Looking up the others, I see that txangurro is misspelled, and I know bresaola from its German name, Bündnerfleisch.

Yes, I think they are all food terms. Unagi and quahog were the only two I recognized. Unagi is Japanese fresh water eel. I don't know if it is a generic term or refers to a particular species of eel. I recognized quahog when it was posted earlier. It's a New England hard-shell clam. The name is derived from Algonquian (spoken by the Narragansett). I remember at the time of the posting thinking that I would point out Washington's geoduck (pronounced gooey-duck), but I never did --til now. Here's what the Word Detetective has to say about it.

Tinman

Yes, Arnie, the theme was that they are food words. And, wouldn't you know, I forgot the word at my own table: "Rascasse" I had tried to figure that out by the root (much like Arnie does in the bluffing game). I failed miserably, to say the least.

I only knew "quahog." I should have remembered "unagi," though, Arnie...you are right!

I corrected the misspellings...thanks, Zmj!