The term first appeared as lighthearted slang in early 19th-century American English. Its exaggerated, nearly humorous rhythm reflects the emotion it conveys.

Word of the Day: Discombobulate reminds readers that English vocabulary is not only rich and precise but also capable of ...

Disasters and wars are great places for things to come “unglued.” There is confusion about facts. In wars, units “get lost” on their way to an objective. The wrong targets are hit by artillery, or in ...