Posted by: Jack Henry | October 23, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Bones

As more giant spiders and skeletons start filling local yards, Halloween is speeding toward us! I thought that now might be a good time to cover a couple of bony idioms we use. In fact, just the other day I was talking to my parents and asked them if they had “a bone to pick” with me. Then we all stopped talking and asked each other, “Where does that phrase come from?” Yep, that’s how conversations go in my family.

So I’m here with a little research about the phrase “a bone to pick,” and another idiom “(having a) skeleton in (one’s) closet.”

A Bone to Pick

When you have a bone to pick with someone, it means there’s something you need to discuss, and it might be unpleasant or involve an argument. For example, if your child consistently leaves a mess in the kitchen after you ask them to clean up after themself, you might start that conversation with “I have a bone to pick with you.”

As far as where the phrase comes from, I found this on The Idioms:

“A bone to pick” is an old idiom that dates back hundreds of years into the past. This proverb has been in use since the 1500s. It was derived from dogs and how they chewed meat off bones. The meaning is also taken from canines and how they oftentimes fight over who gets to gnaw on a bone as a snack. During the late Middle Ages, dogs were primarily owned by hunters, soldiers, and people who could afford to keep them around. They were probably the first people to coin this phrase. This saying has also evolved over time to its modern use.

Skeletons in the Closet

When referring to having a “skeleton in the closet,” most people are referring to a secret—a personal issue or something they’ve done that is really embarrassing or damaging—and it’s in the closet because they’re hiding it. If you know someone with an actual skeleton in their closet, that’s a different situation, and I’d contact the police about that. Here’s an example of the idiom in use: “Betsy’s brother Brandon knew that Betsy had skeletons in her closet from a former marriage. And he knew if her current husband Travis found out, he would never forgive her.” To find out where the phrase comes from, here is part of an article: “Skeletons in the Closet”: Where the Creepy Phrase Comes From

The expression “skeletons in the closet” can be traced back to the 19th century. While the exact origin is somewhat murky, it appears to have first emerged in British literature. One of the earliest recorded uses was in 1816, when British author Thomas De Quincey wrote about “the skeleton in the cupboard” in his essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts.” In this context, De Quincey was discussing the hidden sins and darker aspects of human nature, suggesting that everyone has secrets they would prefer to keep hidden.

The imagery of a skeleton is particularly powerful; it evokes the idea of something frightening and taboo. The closet, on the other hand, is a place where we store things away from plain sight—making it a fitting metaphor for secrets we don’t want to reveal. Combined, these elements create a vivid picture of the hidden aspects of our lives that we often conceal from friends, family, and society.

The Evolution of the Idiom

The phrase caught on in popular culture during the Victorian era, a time when societal norms placed a heavy emphasis on propriety and reputation. Victorians often believed that maintaining a polished exterior was essential, which meant that any blemish on one’s character was to be hidden away—much like a skeleton tucked away in a closet. The idiom became a way to describe the dissonance between one’s public persona and private reality.

Interestingly, the phrase has undergone several transformations over the years. While it originally carried a somewhat morbid connotation, it has evolved into a more generalized expression of keeping secrets. Today, it can refer to anything from a past relationship to a family scandal or even minor embarrassments. The versatility of the phrase has allowed it to remain relevant over the centuries, making it a staple in conversations, literature, and media.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

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Posted by: Jack Henry | October 21, 2025

Editor’s Corner: A Selection of Slang from the Military

In previous Editor’s Corners, I’ve written here and there about military jargon that’s made its way into our everyday language. I thought it would be fun to look for more, though there’s quite a bit of colorful language I have to avoid. Today I’m just going to give you a selection from a page I found. I tried to leave out most of the really naughty or grim ones, but you can see them at the link here: Military Terms, Slang, and Jargon

A

Alpha Charlie — Military alphabet used to represent a** chewing. Defines getting verbally reprimanded.

B

Bang-bang — An Army term describing a pistol or rifle.

Big Voice — Term used to describe the loudspeaker on a military base. The Big Voice warns of everything from incoming attacks to scheduled ordnance disposal.

Bird — Helicopter.

Burn Bag — A bag used to hold shredded documents, designed to be burned. May also refer to a useless person.

C

Chest Candy — Ribbons and medals worn on a uniform. Can be insulting or applauding.

Crumb Catcher — Military slang describing the mouth.

F

Fart Sack — Refers to a sleeping bag or an airman’s flight suit. [KC – Sorry, I had to include this. When we were kids, my dad always used this term for our sleeping bags and we thought it was hilarious. “OK kids, we’re going camping so everyone needs to bring their fart sack!”]

Fashion Show — A Naval punishment where a sailor is required to dress in each of his uniforms over a period of several hours.

Flight Suit Insert — Air Force slang for a pilot.

Five-Sided Puzzle Palace — The Pentagon.

Football Bat — An individual or way of doing things that is particularly odd.

Fruit Salad — Slang for a service member’s display of medals and ribbons on a dress uniform.

G

Grid Squares — A nonexistent item recruits typically are told to go find.

Gun — Term for a mortar or artillery piece. Must never be used within the military to describe a pistol or rifle.

H

Hat Up — To change one’s location. Refers to the need to wear a hat for the intended destination.

Hit the Silk — Ejecting from an aircraft and utilizing a parachute.

I

Ink Stick — Marine Corps term for a pen.

J

Jawa — Term for an Army soldier who is stationed in a desert area, named after the desert-dwelling aliens of "Star Wars."

Joe — Army term for a soldier. Shortened from G.I. Joe.

M

Meat Identifier — A dish or sauce that identifies what type of meat is being served. For example, cranberry sauce indicates turkey while applesauce indicates pork chops.

Moonbeam — Marine term for flashlight.

Moving Like Pond Water — Moving so slowly that a unique term is required to describe it.

O

Oxygen Thief — A biting piece of slang for someone who’s useless or talks too much.

P

Pad Eye Remover — A nonexistent item used by sailors to trick new service members into a fruitless search. Pad-eyes are used to secure airplanes with chains.

Puddle Pirate — Member of the Coast Guard. So called due to a fallacious belief that the Coast Guard never operates in deep water.

S

Salad Bar — Service ribbons found on a military uniform.

Scrambled Eggs — The embellishments found on some officer’s caps.

Snake Eater — Member of the U.S. Army Special Forces.

Snivel Gear — Any equipment meant for use in cold weather.

Soap chips — A psychological operations (PSYOPS) tactic where fake letters from an enemy’s home country are written and placed on bodies and battle wreckage. They include sentimental content, hint at the infidelity of loved ones back home and are designed to demoralize combatants.

Soup Sandwich — An individual, object, situation or mission that has gone horribly wrong. The thrust of the term’s meaning derives from the fact that it is incredibly difficult, some would say impossible, to make a sandwich out of soup.

U

Uncle Sam’s Canoe Club — A U.S. Navy term for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

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Posted by: Jack Henry | October 16, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Antanaclasis

It’s been a while since I introduced you to a new rhetorical device. Today’s term is antanaclasis. Merriam-Webster defines it as: “The repetition of a word within a phrase or sentence in which the second occurrence utilizes a different and sometimes contrary meaning from the first.” From a site called LitCharts, I found this additional information:

  • Antanaclasis derives from the Greek word, "antanáklasis," which literally translates to "reflection."
  • Antanaclasis, with its focus on multiple meanings of the same word or phrase, is a form of pun.

Writers use antanaclasis for a variety of reasons:

  • To spark an ironic play on words or make a joke.
  • To make a slogan, catchphrase, or line more memorable.
  • To create a rhythm through repetition that sticks in the listener’s head, much like in a song’s chorus.
  • To use the pithiness and wit of antanaclasis to convince others of an argument, especially as a concluding line (as in Ben Franklin’s "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately).
  • To contrast and emphasize the two different meanings of the repeated word in a way that can emphasize either comedy or tragedy.

This sounds a lot like anadiplosis which we discussed some weeks ago. I like this better because it mentions puns. Sometimes literature gets a little stuffy. Here are some examples from antanaclasis from the website mentioned above.

📜 Source 📝 Example 💡 Meaning Shift
Shakespeare, Henry V “To England will I steal, and there I’ll steal.” First “steal” = sneak away; second = commit theft.
Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening “And miles to go before I sleep, / And miles to go before I sleep.” First “sleep” = rest; second = death.
Vince Lombardi “If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.” First “fired” = filled with energy; second = dismissed from a job.
Coca-Cola slogan “People on the go… go for Coke.” First “go” = busy, active; second = choose or reach for.
Walter Savage Landor “He strikes all things, all alike, / But bargains: those he will not strike.” First “strike” = hit or kill; second = make a deal.

Okay, none of the puns are hilarious, but some are clever. If you’d like to see more examples and explanations, they’re available at LitCharts.

And antanaclasis’s brother, anteater. Look at that fancy fur!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

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Posted by: Jack Henry | October 14, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Miso (not the soup)

I’m getting ready for a visit to the doctor and my monthly eyeball injection, so I thought I’d be gentle with myself and share something from Mental Floss. The following words are from an article called: Words for People Who Hate Certain Things.

The prefix miso in most of these words is Greek for “hate.” I’ll leave the rest to Mental Floss:

Misodoctakleidist (pronounced MEEZ-oh-dok-tah-KLAHYD-ist)

A misodoctakleidist is someone who hates practicing the piano. See also: Someone who probably isn’t very good at playing the piano, despite how many lessons their parents tried to drag them to.

Misocapnist

Don’t like smoking? Well, it kills these people. Misocapnists hate tobacco smoke in any form.

Misoneist

Misoneists hate novelty, trends, or innovation. You can guess how fun they are at social gatherings.

Misopogonist

If someone keeps demanding you shave your facial hair, there’s a good chance they’re a misopogonist—otherwise known as someone who hates beards. (Strangely, we haven’t found the name for someone who hates mustaches.) [KC – Most of these words are Greek, and there’s no such thing as someone who hates moustaches in Greece.]

My nephews Jello (Evangelos) and Mikey (Euripides)…doing their best to grow facial hair. Only their dad is a biological Greek, so they have to try a little harder for the full ‘stache.

Misogelast

Lighten up! Victorian novelist George Meredith coined the term misogelast to describe people who hated laughter, or at the very least, considered it low-class or crude.

Misogamist

Misogynists hate women. Misandrists hate men. And misogamists hate marriage, no matter who’s getting hitched.

Nomomisist

This refers to someone who experiences nomomisia, otherwise known as a hatred or disgust for a particular name.

Misopolemist

Why can’t we all just get along? Misopolemists hate war or strife.

Misologist

Meanwhile, misologists hate arguments, debates, or enlightening discussions.

Misapodysist

Someone who hates undressing in front of others.

Misophonist

Many of us experience some form of misophonia, an extreme intolerance for certain sounds. Nails on a chalkboard is the ultimate example. Or perhaps it’s gum smacking, open-mouthed chewing, crunching on ice, or other sounds regularly heard in public. Ugh.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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Posted by: Jack Henry | October 9, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Nailed It!

As I mentioned the other day, my friend Jane asked me to cover terms like “on the struggle bus,” which means having a rough time. For balance, she also asked me about terms and synonyms for doing well, feeling good, and living the good life. She mentioned some examples, which I wasn’t familiar with, like “five by five” and “Bravo Zulu.” Today, I have some definitions, and AI provided me with a list of other phrases you might use, depending on where you are and who you’re talking to.

five by five

In pop culture, "five by five" originates from military radio communication during WWII, meaning "loud and clear" or "perfect reception." The term refers to a 1-5 scale for both signal strength and clarity; a "5×5" rating indicates maximum strength and clarity.

Bravo Zulu

A naval signal meaning "well done". The phrase comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book, where the signal flag combination BZ was used to represent this message.

Casual and slang

  • Killing it: A very common, energetic phrase for excelling or performing exceptionally well.
  • On fire: Describes a period of high achievement and success.
  • Nailing it: Means doing something perfectly or successfully.
  • Knocking it out of the park/Hitting a home run: Borrowed from baseball, this means exceeding expectations and doing an outstanding job.
  • In the zone: Describes a state of deep focus and peak performance.
  • Crushing it: The modern, high-energy term for dominating a task or performing extremely well.
  • Slaying it: A more modern, informal version of "killing it".

Idioms and expressions

· Everything’s coming up roses: A positive phrase indicating that everything is going well and leading to a good outcome.

· Going swimmingly: Describes a situation that is progressing smoothly and without problems.

· On a roll: Refers to a series of successes, where one good thing happens after another.

· Passing with flying colors: Means to pass a test or complete a task with great success.

Professional and workplace

· On top of your game: Performing at the highest level of your ability.

· Thriving/Flourishing: Used to describe success or strong growth, especially for a business or career.

· In top form: Performing at your very best.

· Achieving peak performance: Performing at the best possible level, a more formal alternative to "on top of your game".

Short and direct

  • Top-notch: Excellent, of the highest quality.
  • Stellar: Outstanding or remarkable.
  • Killing it: A high-energy way of saying someone is doing extremely well.
  • Nailed it! A simple exclamation of success.

Let’s hope that when you “nail it,” you do better than the folks on the cake baking show!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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Posted by: Jack Henry | October 7, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Struggle Bus

Several months ago, I received an email from my buddy Jane about a term I hadn’t heard: struggle bus. Here is a brief definition that I cobbled together:

When someone is "on the struggle bus," they are metaphorically riding a vehicle filled with struggles they cannot easily escape, in a situation or state of mind that is frustrating, difficult, or unfulfilling.

Jane mentioned a few more idioms for “having a hard time:”

<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Train wreck: A situation that is a total and spectacular disaster.

<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Car crash: An extremely messy, chaotic, or disastrous situation.

<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Hot mess: A disorganized, chaotic, and often spectacular failure.

She asked for even more words and idioms for having a hard time or describing disastrous situations. Well, I am happy to say that the Merriam-Webster thesaurushas just what you ordered, Jane! I edited it a bit, but the whole list is here if you want it.

apocalypse

We begin our list with a disaster of Biblical proportions. The wordapocalypseoriginally comes from the Greek apokálypsis, meaning “revelation.” Today, the word apocalypse is often used generally (and ominously) to refer to a doomsday-level scenario.

bloodbath

The word bloodbath is often used to describe violent slaughters or massacres. The word creates the mental image of a carnage so intense that someone could take a bath in the spilled blood. Figuratively, though, bloodbath is used to describe disastrous events or severe instances of bad fortune.

cataclysm

Cataclysm is a word so disastrous that it rocks the entire Earth to its core. The word cataclysm means “a violent upheaval” and is used in geography to refer to violent events that manage to alter the surface of Earth.

fiasco

The word fiasco means “a complete and ignominious failure.”

calamity

Get the tissues ready, because our next word is calamity. Calamity is a synonym of disaster, but it indicates that a horrific event specifically caused misery and lots of tears—so, like a dentist appointment?

catastrophe

Catastrophe is a synonym that can highlight the destruction and loss brought about by a tremendous event.

pandemonium

Things have gone to hell in a hand basket thanks to our next word: pandemonium. Pandemonium refers to a wild state of disorder, noise, and chaos. This disastrous word actually comes from Pandaemonium, the name that John Milton used for the capital of hell in Paradise Lost.

debacle

The word debacle is one of several that implies a failure was caused by failure or incompetence, especially ones that result from disorganization.

blunder

The word blunder is a synonym of the word mistake and is often used to describe an error resulting from severe incompetence or stupidity.

epic fail

LOL! The slang term epic fail is used to describe particularly humiliating mistakes. Our disastrous list of words has been bad so far, but epic fail might just be the worst of the bunch. Why? Because this is the phrase to use when that embarrassing mistake has been broadcast on social media! (And once that happens, only an especially clever cat meme can save you.)

meltdown

With our next word, our disaster has gone nuclear. Meltdown is a word used to refer to severe nuclear reactor accidents. It’s figuratively used to describe sudden situations that quickly spiral out of control.

dog’s breakfast

This list has really gone to the dogs. The slang term dog’s breakfast, mainly used in Canada and the UK, describes a confused, disorderly mess.

turmoil

Turmoil is another word to convey that you’re in the midst of great confusion or disorder. Fittingly, we are not actually sure where this verb-turned-noun originates from.

dumpster fire

The slang term dumpster fire means something is so disastrously bad it is beyond all hope of saving. Often, the dumpster fire is result of terribly bad decisions or extraordinary levels of incompetence.

SNAFU and FUBAR

It might be time for reinforcements. SNAFU and FUBAR are two abbreviations that can be traced back to military jargon and have some…colorful meanings. SNAFU stands for “situation normal: all f–ed up” and FUBAR stands for “f–ed up beyond all reason.”

Next time, the other half of my response to Jane: words and idioms for things going well! Until then, some cute capybaras to cheer you up!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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Posted by: Jack Henry | October 2, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Bee House

During vacation, my husband and I made our way back to the hotel on a cold and rainy night, and settled in for some fantastic YouTube nature videos. There is one fellow who is a hilarious narrator, Ze Frank. I’m not sure if he’s kid friendly, but he’s funny and you will learn a lot if you watch him. Anyway, the topic of bees came up. Not just Ze’s bees, but I mentioned to my spouse (Ray) that my manager’s husband is becoming a bee keeper, and my brother is talking about raising bees.

Then I heard the word “apiary.” I sent it to work so I would remember it for Editor’s Corner. The definition from AI:

apiary

Simply put, an apiary is a place where beehives are kept. The word comes from the Latin words for bee, apis, and place of, arium. Apiarium/apiary means “place of bees.” If you keep bees and have more than one hive at the same site — rooftop, garden, field, orchard — you have an apiary.

I found this photo online and stopped there. What an interesting hobby!

Then I thought about how similar the word apiary is to aviary (where birds are kept). Looking up similar terms, I found this list of places different animals are kept. (It’s a long and inconsistent list, but it’s here if you’d like to see it: https://www.absp.org.uk/words/placesanimals.shtml) Here are a few of the ones that I found interesting.

aerie a bird of prey’s nest.
apiary a home for bees.
aviary a large enclosure for live birds.
beavery a place where beavers are kept.
byre a cow barn.
cocoonery a building or apartment for silkworms, when feeding and forming cocoons.
dogtown a prairie dog community.
dolphinarium a place where dolphins are kept.
drey a squirrel’s nest.
formicarium an anthill, an ant colony. [KC – This makes me itch.]
goosery a place for keeping geese. [KC – Hee hee!]
hennery an inclosed place for keeping hens.
holt the lair or den of an animal, esp. an otter.
mousery a place where mice habitually gather. [KC – The other places seem like places trapped animals are kept. This sounds more like a place mice go to have tea and crumpets.]
ophidiarium a snake-house.
rathole a hole for rats. [KC – A rathole? The mice get a mousery and the rats get a hole?]
sett a badger’s home.
swannery a place for swans.
swinery a place where pigs are kept.
termitary a nest or mound of termites. [KC – No, no.]
vespiary a nest or colony of wasps. [KC – Double no.]
wormery a place where worms are bred.

Enjoy your day!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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Posted by: Jack Henry | September 30, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Calendars

Good morning, all. Today we’re going to talk about calendars! Nothing too fancy, but it seems that some of us are slightly confused about the difference between a calendar year, a fiscal year, a regular year, and a physical year.

Here are some definitions for you, from a financial context.

Physical year: This is not a common term in financial contexts. There are occasions where the term might be used, but what you are hearing at meetings and presentations at Jack Henry is fiscal, not physical.

Regular year: This is an alternate way of referring to the “calendar year.” Again, here at work you will likely hear calendar year, so throw “regular year” in the garbage.

Calendar year: This is the 12-month period beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31.

Fiscal year: (From the Grammarist) This is “a consecutive 12-month period used by organizations for accounting purposes, budgeting, and financial reporting. It does not necessarily align with the calendar year, which runs from January 1 to December 31. For example, the U.S. federal government operates on a fiscal year that runs from October 1 to September 30.” [KC – As most of you are aware, the Jack Henry fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.]

From our eager AI friends, here are some of the major differences between the calendar year and the fiscal year:

Start and End Dates:

· Calendar Year: Always starts on January 1 and ends on December 31.

· Fiscal Year: Can start and end on any date, as long as it lasts for 12 consecutive months.

Purpose:

· Calendar Year: Primarily used for personal and corporate tax reporting, aligning with the IRS requirements for most individuals and businesses.

· Fiscal Year: Used by businesses to better match their financial reporting with their operational cycles, allowing for more accurate financial analysis and planning.

Flexibility:

  • Calendar Year: Fixed and unchangeable, making it straightforward for financial comparisons across different entities.
  • Fiscal Year: Offers flexibility, allowing businesses to select a reporting period that aligns with their specific financial activities, which can be beneficial for seasonal businesses.

Additional Examples:

  • Companies Using Calendar Year: Many large corporations, such as Amazon® and Google™, use the calendar year for their financial reporting.

· Companies Using Fiscal Year: Walmart® and Target have fiscal years that do not coincide with the calendar year, often ending in January to capture post-holiday sales.

I hope that clears things up a little!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

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Posted by: Jack Henry | September 25, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Pole Screens

Good morning, folks. Today I have more for you from Ireland. I’m skipping ahead to the last place that we visited: a great town called Kilkenny (kill=church, kenny=Kenneth). I loved this place. It had a castle, a farmer’s market, gorgeous medieval streets and churches, an interesting history, and a dog café where I chatted with a couple of dog lovers by the river.

Threatening clouds above the Nore River

We borrowed umbrellas (“brellies”) from the hotel and walked up to the town’s castle. We opted for a guided tour so that we could see the old moat (now underground) and the original building material they discovered when saving the castle from disrepair.

Kilkenny Castle, from the garden side (photo from the internet) Built in 1195.

But this Editor’s Corner is actually for something in the castle that I learned about. First, is the term “drawing room.” I am not sure if this is true, but the guide showed us a room called the “withdrawing room.” It was a room off of the dining room where women would “withdraw” after dinner, to leave the men to smoke and gamble. Eventually it was referred to as a “drawing room.” I thought it sounded more feasible than it being a room of cozy couches and chairs where women would go to sketch after dinner.

The second term is “pole screens.” Pole screens were in “withdrawing” or drawing rooms, and other rooms with fireplaces. They were popular in the 1700s and later when fireplaces were the main source of heat. Their primary purpose was to shield people from the heat and glare of the fire. First, a couple of photos:

And a description of pole screens from Hammond-Harwood House:

Unlike many historic objects that have a modern-day equivalent, the pole screen provides a snapshot of a specific era. Ornamental yet practical, these screens deflected heat from your face as you sat near the fire. They could be adjusted depending on the height of the individual user. They began growing in popularity in the mid-18th century and were named for the vertical pole the screen was placed on. Typical forms have a small screen in the shape of a square, oval, or shield attached to the pole, which is placed on tripod feet. The screens themselves were decorated with embroidery, paint, or occasionally lacquer….

Pole screens were transportable art, generally placed at the center of the home, the hearth, where social interactions occurred especially in the cooler months. These items were considered status symbols that showed skill, dedication, and femininity.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

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Posted by: Jack Henry | September 23, 2025

Editor’s Corner: Quay

At Dublin airport, my husband and I decided to start our vacation frugally by taking the bus into town. We were told it was about 30 minutes, and to get out when the driver called “George’s Key.” We watched out of the windows as we neared town.

I decided to look at my map. Dublin has a river running through it, called the Liffey, and it looked like we were following it along. On my map, I saw the names of all these quays. I wondered what a quay was (in my head still saying “quay,” to rhyme with “day”). I was shocked from my reverie when I heard “George’s (something).” I ran to the front of the bus and said, “Is this George’s Quay?” Only I rhymed it with “day” again. The driver looked at me a bit disgusted and said, “George’s key!”

We grabbed our suitcases and jumped off the bus. I just stood there repeating “quay is key, quay is key.” Ray looked at me like I should’ve slept on the flight over. I couldn’t get to a dictionary fast enough.

So, as I mentioned the other day, the word has three pronunciations. You can hear them here, but they are ˈkē, ˈkā, and ˈkwā. In Ireland it is the first.

Here is a view from a quay where we are having coffee, looking across to the other side of the river. The white bridge is the Ha’penny Bridge and the Merchant’s Arch is a pub.

Here is a small tidbit of some Dublin quays:

But what is a quay? I thought maybe it was like a dock, or a landing. There are boats along the river, but where I am sitting is more of a walkway for pedestrians that cut out of the river wall. The following information was provided by AI, when I asked what the difference is:

Quay

A dock is a general term for any structure where boats are tied up, while a pier is a raised structure that extends from the shore into the water for access and recreation. A quay is a solid, stable platform built parallel to the shoreline, often used for commercial loading and unloading of ships. The specific terminology can vary significantly by region and cultural context.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

· Dock

· Function: A place to moor and tie up boats, often for smaller-scale, personal use. Docks can also be floating structures that rise and fall with the water level.

· Construction: Can be a pier, a wharf, or even a floating platform.

· Usage: Commonly used in U.S. English as a broad term for any boat mooring.

· Pier

· Function: An elevated structure built to extend from the shore into the water, providing a landing place for boats or serving as a walkway for recreation like walking or fishing.

· Construction: Typically supported by pilings that allow water to flow underneath.

· Usage: Can be used for commercial or recreational activities.

· Quay

· Function: A solid, embankment-like structure designed to provide a secure, stable area for ships to dock alongside the shore for commercial loading and unloading of cargo.

· Construction: Usually built from concrete or stone and rests on filled land.

· Usage: Common in British English and other Commonwealth countries.

Key Differentiating Factors

· Orientation:

A quay runs parallel to the shore, a pier extends out into the water, and a dock can refer to a specific area within a larger structure.

· Construction:

Quays are solid and built on filled land, while piers are raised structures with open space underneath. Docks can be either.

· Purpose:

Piers are often for access or recreation, while quays are primarily for commercial loading and unloading.

I know, probably more than you cared to know, but I bet money if you go to Ireland, you aren’t going ask where George’sˈkwā is, you’ll ask for the ˈkē, like a pro.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

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