Words and Meanings

There are many whimsical lists around that give words with the same spelling and vastly different meanings. Most often those words are from different parts of speech--comparing a verb to a noun (wind up the clock vs. the wind blew hard).

But here are some nouns that are spelled the same and have different meanings. I pulled these randomly from Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh edition.

• tender (n)
  1) an unconditional offer of money or service in satisfaction of a debt or obligation made to save a penalty of forfeiture for nonpayment or nonperformance.
  2) one that tends as a ship employed to attend other ships (e.g. to supply provisions).
• barrow (n)
  1) a large mound of earth or stones over the remains of the dead.
  2) a male hog castrated before sexual maturity.
  3) a cart with a shallow box body, two wheels, and shafts for pushing it.
• date (n)
  1) the oblong edible fruit of a palm
  2) the time at which an event occurs
• gimlet (n)
  1) a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and cross handle for boring holes.
  2) a drink consisting of sweetened lime juice and gin or vodka and sometimes carbonated or plain water.

This list could get quite long, but I'm stopping with the word (second meaning) I like best. :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!