Knowledge (XXG)

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".
533:, 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. 472:
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..."
295:, 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. 43:. 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, 149:
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
184:(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. 134: 188: 368:(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." 1113: 126:
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).
498:, J. Edward Runcible (an amalgamation of "Edward Lear" and "Runcible") is the name of a 19th-century conspiracy theorist (2007). 541: 339: 589:"runcible peas" are mentioned in C.J.Sansom's 2003 Tudor mystery novel "Dissolution" (2015 Pan Books edition p.192) 230:
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
234:— the connection being that a runcible spoon's cutting edge resembles a sword such as was used in the 1063: 938: 359: 843: 796: 583: 854: 1148: 494: 331: 561: 354: 345:
episode Just My Bill, The Runcible Spoon is the name of a restaurant to which Tom Good, played by
920: 402: 250:), meaning "gigantic", also derives from Roncevaux, either by way of a certain large variety of 208: 180:
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
200:. There is a joint midway between the two bowls by which the bowls can be folded over." The 181: 158: 1153: 1012: 482: 414: 409: 311: 201: 138: 1088: 456:
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
1137: 537: 286: 227: 174: 166: 987: 173:". However, this definition is not consistent with Lear's drawing, in which it is a 924: 892: 868:"podictionary - for word lovers - daily stories, trivia & dictionary etymology" 468: 315: 299: 275: 213: 75: 1114:"Ni no Kuni 2 Higgledies Guide - Best Higgledies, Best Hiddlegies Abilities Guide" 405:, the family butler introduces his full name as “Herbert Arthur Runcible Cadbury”. 660: 635: 520:
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
177:, nor does it account for the other "runcible" objects in Lear's poems. 457: 510:, Gilgamesh Wulfenbach uses a "hand-cranked runcible gun" that shoots 1038: 962: 432: 255: 83:'s drawings depicts the dolomphious duck's use of a runcible spoon. 511: 384: 170: 133: 74: 867: 842:, ed. Joseph Harker, Fourth Estate, 1997, pp 170–171; also 319: 154: 1067: 560:
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
557:. The bear guides players through the fictional Reed Manor. 282:
of the compiler in 1959; this was his first academic paper.
897:"RUNCIBLE—algebraic translation on a limited computer" 254:
grown there, or from a once-current find of gigantic
35:) several times in his works, most famously as the " 335:, an exhibition fight with runcible spoons is held. 795:. "Dictionary of Phrase and Fable". Philadelphia: 1089:"Dominic Deegan: Oracle For Hire :: Archive" 486:, an island cult eats using only runcible spoons. 1064:"Monohm Inc ~ Third Wave Electronics ~ Runcible" 274:for an early (late 1950s) programming language. 153:have generally defined a "runcible spoon" as a 141:runcible spoon (Eley & Fearn, London, 1817) 114: 98: 857:, November 8, 1996: "What's a runcible spoon?" 310:, and started work on an album with musicians 683: 681: 45:The Self-Portrait of the Laureate of Nonsense 8: 762:Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, 1974 96:, published in 1870, includes the passage: 547:Runcible is the name of a stuffed bear in 914: 739:"Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures" 714:"Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures" 101:They dined on mince and slices of quince, 599: 349:, attempts to sell his surplus produce. 189:Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 119:who caught Spotted Frogs for her dinner 110:Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures 59:" (in the sense of "silly person"), a " 103:which they ate with a runcible spoon. 840:The Weirdest Ever Notes & Queries 605: 603: 435:players can use to kill Doctor Lucky. 51:". Other poems include mention of a " 7: 16:Nonsense word created by Edward Lear 689:"Mr. and Mrs. Discobbolos Part Two" 169:fork. It is used as a synonym for " 943:"Frabjoy & the Runcible Spoon" 544:is named "Runcible the Righteous". 14: 431:, a runcible spoon is one of the 226:, while treating "runcible" as a 47:, it is noted that "he weareth a 636:"How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear" 542:Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom 270:RUNCIBLE is also the name of a 246:" (an alternative spelling of 1: 514:during a staged fight (2008). 393:, England; the sign shows an 1144:Words originating in fiction 1039:"The Runcible Spoon - ABOUT" 661:"The Pobble Who Has No Toes" 446:series of novels, including 196:and the other the size of a 967:Runciblespoonrestaurant.com 289:'s psychedelic 1968 album, 1170: 611:"The Owl and the Pussycat" 567:To Sleep in a Sea of Stars 306:. The pair were signed by 112:. Its entry for 'D' reads 31:. The word appears (as an 902:Communications of the ACM 401:In the 1994 feature film 362:of the classic series of 272:computer program compiler 93:The Owl and the Pussy-Cat 236:Battle of Roncevaux Pass 65:the Rural Runcible Raven 992:Questionablecontent.net 425:In the 1996 board game 389:The Runcible Spoon, in 988:"Questionable Content" 397: 142: 124: 121:with a Runcible Spoon 106: 84: 1043:Therunciblespoon.info 1037:Spoon, The Runcible. 916:10.1145/368481.368507 797:Henry Altemus Company 773:"Invaluable Auctions" 584:The Penultimate Truth 388: 258:bones in the region. 137: 117:The Dolomphious Duck, 78: 1017:Girlgeniusonline.com 963:"The Runcible Spoon" 495:Questionable Content 358:, a serial from the 90:'s best-known poem, 41:Owl and the Pussycat 855:"The Straight Dope" 562:Christopher Paolini 395:owl and a pussy-cat 355:The Deadly Assassin 209:Notes & Queries 130:Alternative origins 1093:Dominic-deegan.com 799:, 1898. Online at 518:The Runcible Spoon 398: 262:In popular culture 143: 85: 428:Kill Doctor Lucky 332:Gravity's Rainbow 308:Marmalade Records 240:The Straight Dope 223:The Straight Dope 1161: 1128: 1127: 1125: 1124: 1110: 1104: 1103: 1101: 1099: 1085: 1079: 1078: 1076: 1075: 1066:. Archived from 1060: 1054: 1053: 1051: 1049: 1034: 1028: 1027: 1025: 1023: 1009: 1003: 1002: 1000: 998: 984: 978: 977: 975: 973: 959: 953: 952: 935: 929: 928: 918: 889: 883: 882: 880: 878: 872:Podictionary.com 864: 858: 852: 846: 837: 831: 830: 828: 826: 816:"Runcible Spoon" 812: 806: 793:E. Cobham Brewer 790: 784: 783: 781: 779: 769: 763: 760: 754: 753: 751: 749: 735: 729: 728: 726: 724: 710: 704: 703: 701: 699: 685: 676: 675: 673: 671: 657: 651: 650: 648: 646: 632: 626: 625: 623: 621: 607: 372:Arthur C. Clarke 343:(1975 TV series) 182:grapefruit spoon 1169: 1168: 1164: 1163: 1162: 1160: 1159: 1158: 1134: 1133: 1132: 1131: 1122: 1120: 1112: 1111: 1107: 1097: 1095: 1087: 1086: 1082: 1073: 1071: 1062: 1061: 1057: 1047: 1045: 1036: 1035: 1031: 1021: 1019: 1011: 1010: 1006: 996: 994: 986: 985: 981: 971: 969: 961: 960: 956: 937: 936: 932: 891: 890: 886: 876: 874: 866: 865: 861: 853: 849: 838: 834: 824: 822: 820:Merriam-Webster 814: 813: 809: 791: 787: 777: 775: 771: 770: 766: 761: 757: 747: 745: 743:Nonsenselit.org 737: 736: 732: 722: 720: 718:Nonsenselit.org 712: 711: 707: 697: 695: 693:Nonsenselit.org 687: 686: 679: 669: 667: 665:Nonsenselit.org 659: 658: 654: 644: 642: 640:Nonsenselit.org 634: 633: 629: 619: 617: 615:Nonsenselit.org 609: 608: 601: 596: 415:The Diamond Age 410:Neal Stephenson 374:'s short story 312:Graham Gouldman 264: 202:Merriam-Webster 139:Sterling silver 132: 123: 120: 118: 105: 102: 73: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1167: 1165: 1157: 1156: 1151: 1146: 1136: 1135: 1130: 1129: 1105: 1080: 1055: 1029: 1004: 979: 954: 939:Thompson, Dave 930: 884: 859: 847: 832: 807: 785: 764: 755: 730: 705: 677: 652: 627: 598: 597: 595: 592: 591: 590: 587: 580: 571: 558: 545: 534: 531:Dominic Deegan 524: 521: 515: 499: 487: 478:Lemony Snicket 474: 466:'s 2001 album 464:Paul McCartney 461: 436: 423: 412:'s 1995 novel 406: 383: 382: 379: 369: 350: 347:Richard Briers 336: 327:Thomas Pynchon 323: 296: 283: 278:published the 263: 260: 163:hors d'oeuvres 147:nonsense verse 131: 128: 115: 99: 72: 69: 57:runcible goose 39:" used by the 37:runcible spoon 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1166: 1155: 1152: 1150: 1147: 1145: 1142: 1141: 1139: 1119: 1115: 1109: 1106: 1094: 1090: 1084: 1081: 1070:on 2016-11-21 1069: 1065: 1059: 1056: 1044: 1040: 1033: 1030: 1018: 1014: 1013:"Girl Genius" 1008: 1005: 993: 989: 983: 980: 968: 964: 958: 955: 950: 949: 944: 940: 934: 931: 926: 922: 917: 912: 909:(11): 18–21. 908: 904: 903: 898: 894: 888: 885: 873: 869: 863: 860: 856: 851: 848: 845: 841: 836: 833: 821: 817: 811: 808: 804: 803: 798: 794: 789: 786: 774: 768: 765: 759: 756: 744: 740: 734: 731: 719: 715: 709: 706: 694: 690: 684: 682: 678: 666: 662: 656: 653: 641: 637: 631: 628: 616: 612: 606: 604: 600: 593: 588: 585: 581: 578: 577: 572: 569: 568: 563: 559: 556: 555: 550: 546: 543: 539: 538:PlayStation 4 535: 532: 529: 525: 522: 519: 516: 513: 509: 508: 504: 500: 497: 496: 492: 488: 485: 484: 479: 475: 471: 470: 465: 462: 459: 455: 451: 450: 445: 441: 437: 434: 430: 429: 424: 421: 417: 416: 411: 407: 404: 400: 399: 396: 392: 387: 380: 377: 373: 370: 367: 366: 361: 357: 356: 351: 348: 344: 342: 341:The Good Life 337: 334: 333: 328: 324: 321: 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 294: 293: 288: 287:Pretty Things 284: 281: 277: 273: 269: 268: 267: 261: 259: 257: 253: 249: 245: 241: 237: 233: 229: 228:nonsense word 225: 224: 219: 216: 215: 210: 205: 203: 199: 195: 191: 190: 185: 183: 178: 176: 172: 168: 164: 160: 156: 152: 148: 140: 136: 129: 127: 122: 113: 111: 104: 97: 95: 94: 89: 82: 77: 70: 68: 66: 62: 61:runcible wall 58: 54: 50: 46: 42: 38: 34: 30: 26: 22: 1121:. 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Retrieved 614: 574: 565: 552: 530: 517: 505: 493: 481: 469:Driving Rain 467: 453: 447: 443: 426: 419: 413: 375: 363: 353: 340: 330: 316:Eric Stewart 300:Kevin Godley 290: 276:Donald Knuth 265: 239: 221: 220: 214:The Guardian 212: 211:" column in 206: 187: 186: 179: 165:, such as a 151:dictionaries 144: 125: 116: 109: 107: 100: 91: 86: 64: 60: 56: 53:runcible cat 52: 49:runcible hat 48: 44: 36: 27:invented by 20: 18: 1149:Nonce words 1118:USgamer.net 576:Vile Bodies 554:Titansgrave 549:Wil Wheaton 507:Girl Genius 403:Richie Rich 360:14th season 292:S.F. Sorrow 194:table-spoon 88:Edward Lear 81:Edward Lear 29:Edward Lear 1138:Categories 1123:2018-03-26 1074:2016-11-18 825:3 November 594:References 540:videogame 449:Gridlinked 440:Neal Asher 365:Doctor Who 256:fossilized 25:pseudoword 304:Lol Creme 280:flowchart 248:rounceval 244:rouncival 232:Roncevaux 198:tea-spoon 33:adjective 948:AllMusic 895:(1959). 778:23 April 528:webcomic 503:webcomic 491:webcomic 480:'s 2006 473:release. 454:runcible 452:(2001), 420:Runcible 376:Playback 329:'s 1973 63:", and " 21:Runcible 925:8224014 551:'s RPG 526:In the 501:In the 489:In the 483:The End 458:ansible 433:weapons 285:In the 159:pickles 79:One of 23:" is a 1154:Spoons 923:  844:online 512:sporks 444:Polity 167:pickle 71:Origin 55:", a " 921:S2CID 207:The " 175:ladle 171:spork 1100:2017 1050:2017 1024:2017 999:2017 974:2017 879:2017 827:2015 780:2022 750:2017 725:2017 700:2017 672:2017 647:2017 622:2017 320:10cc 314:and 302:and 155:fork 911:doi 564:'s 476:In 442:'s 438:In 408:In 391:Rye 352:In 338:In 325:In 252:pea 161:or 67:". 1140:: 1116:. 1091:. 1041:. 1015:. 990:. 965:. 945:. 941:. 919:. 905:. 899:. 870:. 818:. 741:. 716:. 691:. 680:^ 663:. 638:. 613:. 602:^ 586:’. 418:, 238:. 1126:. 1102:. 1077:. 1052:. 1026:. 1001:. 976:. 951:. 927:. 913:: 907:2 881:. 829:. 805:. 782:. 752:. 727:. 702:. 674:. 649:. 624:. 579:. 570:. 322:. 19:"

Index

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
rouncival

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