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The word of the week: Shelp

Shelp yourself to a nap

January 16, 2018 at 4:06PM
Daniel Turissini relaxes in one of Recharj's napping cocoons in Washington, D.C. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey
Napping cocoons could help you shelp. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Definition: Almost being asleep (Merriam-Webster Online).

Sample usage: "There I was, shelping, when I heard the dog bringing up lunch on the good rug."

Popularity: This one's British, so the etymology is unclear. But that won't stop us from noting that someone who turns on the white-noise-generating machine is "lending a shelping hand."

JAMES LILEKS

Interested in other words we've dissected? See more at startribune.com/word.

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about the writer

about the writer

James Lileks

Columnist

James Lileks is a Star Tribune columnist.

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