new words

New words for this week, again courtesy of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay:

recherché - exquisite; lavishly elegant and refined; exotic or obscure

kohl - a dark powder used as eye makeup

ullage - the unfilled space in a container of liquid

peristsalsis - alternating muscular contractions and relaxations, which propel food through the gut

heliotrope - a variable color averaging a moderate to reddish purple

plimsoll mark - line painted near the waterline of a ship to indicate proper loading

aubergine - a dark purple or eggplant color

arras - a tapestry or wall hanging

parturition - the process of giving birth

trayf - non-kosher food

palooka - a stupid, oafish or clumsy person

internecine - (of conflict) within a group or organization

bricolage - construction using whatever was available at the time

obverse - the front side of an item (e.g. a book or coin)

verisimilitude - the appearance of truth or reality

plenary - full in all respects, complete

expatiate - to speak or write at great length or in great detail

mullion - a vertical window component dividing columns of panes

spandrel - a blank area between arch supports or below a window

confabulate - to speak casually with; to fabricate memories in order to fill in the gaps in one's memory

donnish - academic; marked by a narrow focus

A few of these are ones I've seen many times and thought I had a vague idea of their meaning. The rest are evidence of Michael Chabon's absurdly large vocabulary.