Inspired by a picture we snapped of the Carteret Abattoir in Carteret, NJ, we launched a "You Saw WHAT?! on a Sign? Vocabulary In Signage" contest. Over the last month, we've collected loads of great examples of words like abattoir out in the world and, after much discussion, we bring you what we judged to be the top three:
First Prize: From Sabrina K., "Pungent-Aromatic-Savory," New York City
As with wine, cheese description is linked to lots of great vocabulary, as connoisseurs look for new ways to articulate subtle qualities of flavor. This delivery truck for Murray's Cheese in New York City happily celebrates not just one great word associated with cheese love but three! (Read all about pungent, aromatic, and savory, or our own "An Alternative to Just Saying 'Cheese'.")
Second Prize: From Newton P., "Promiscuous," Lake Taghkanic State Park, NY
Hikers taking in the sights and sounds of the woods might have to whip out a pocket dictionary to decipher this prohibition against "promiscuous shooting," but the peace of mind gained from knowing that hunters must carefully identify targets and not fire off rounds indiscriminately is well worth the effort.
Note: In a law enforcement context, the meaning of "promiscuous shooting" takes on a slightly different shade. There, it has come to mean reported noise that may or may not be gun fire, or as Danville, CA Chief of Police Steve Simpkins was quoted as telling the Danville Patch, "'It's an indiscriminate noise that could be shots.'"
Third Prize: From Sam C., "Detritus," Brooklyn, NY
Detritus is a fancy-sounding word for trash, referring specifically to the kind that gets left behind: the sand or silt that results from erosion, the crumpled napkins and empty soda cans abandoned after a picnic, or the shuttered movie theaters and department stores of a town that has seen better times. Not only do we appreciate Sam C.'s great detritus find, we also appreciate the humor of artist Paul Richard's installation, which puts a price tag of $584,000 on what it labels as garbage.
Miss your chance to submit your photo? Stay tuned. We'll be running another contest like this one soon!