Author Topic: Meerkat  (Read 1137 times)

Morbius

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Meerkat
« on: March 05, 2021, 07:26:58 PM »
I played meerkat in yesterday's 10 letter puzzle and was surprised that it came up as rare.  I was also surprised to find that only about 15% of players found it.  Obviously it's a hard word to spot.  Nonetheless, I reckon pretty much everyone knows what a meerkat is, so I'd argue that it should be a common word.

TRex

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2021, 01:07:34 AM »
IMNSHO, if there is a question as to whether a word should be common or rare, it should be rare. Interestingly, the OED places meerkat in Frequency Band 3 — the frequency level of most words which get questioned regarding common/rare. Also, my browser's spell check has underlined meerkat, which suggests it isn't all that common. I don't have a strong opinion either way on this word.

pat

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2021, 01:15:20 AM »
Like TRex, I have no strong opinion on whether meerkat should be common or rare although if forced to choose I'd go for common. I know it's not helpful to compare one word with another to decided its status, but if my memory serves me correctly I believe loris is classed as common. I'd suggest that meerkats are better known than lorises.

Jacki

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2021, 07:56:55 AM »
Meerkat is very well known to me. We have annoying insurance ads in Australia with talking meerkats.
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cmh

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2021, 08:14:55 PM »
We have those ads in the UK too Jacki. That (and David Attenborough) being the reason so many people know the word!

mkenuk

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2021, 08:37:55 PM »
I think, if my memory serves me right, there's a meerkat in 'The Lion King'.
Not sure about 'Madagascar' but I've only seen the first one, not the sequels.

Anyway, my vote is for 'common'.

yelnats

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2021, 09:24:48 PM »
One of our supermarket chains sells meerkat garden gnomes...


pat

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2021, 09:51:02 PM »
They look more like bears than meerkats!   ;D ;D ;D

birdy

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2021, 02:37:40 PM »
I think meerkats came to the attention of many people through their appearance in The Lion King.  The British television program, Meerkat Manor, had a four-season run on Animal Planet - I was one of many who mourned the death of matriarch Flower. A small zoo in my borough's largest park has an exhibit of meerkcats.  I agree with Pat that they are much better known than lorises, slow or not.

Alan W

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2024, 03:08:47 PM »
In a recent discussion of the word peccary, the question of meerkat's classification popped its head up again, prompting me to - finally - answer this suggestion.

As noted in people's comments, meerkats have become much better known over the years thanks to TV and movie appearances. This started perhaps with a David Attenborough documentary "Meerkats United" in the 1980s. Then, over the following years, there was a character in "The Lion King" movie, then the TV series "Meerkat Manor". Finally, the pinnacle of celebrity achievement, TV commercials selling insurance.

As a result, the word meerkat has seen a massive surge in usage over the past few decades, according to the Google Ngram viewer:



As a further confirmation of the word's currency, it has been used a few times in this forum. Way back in 2007 biggerbirdbrain wrote (about working in a cubicle), "Had me jumping up and down like a meerkat!"

So I feel it's justified to have meerkat as a common word from now on.
Alan Walker
Creator of Lexigame websites

Wibbly Bits

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2024, 03:49:45 PM »
Yay, thanks Alan. I’m sure that Aleksandr and Sergei will be thrilled as well.  ;D

Jacki

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2024, 03:53:39 PM »
Yay! Another K word. Thanks Alan
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cmh

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2024, 09:33:10 PM »
(tongue in cheek) I offer the word Meerkatting. It is what I tell my spaniel to stop doing when she is trying to spot what food is on the worktop !!

Wibbly Bits

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2024, 10:39:43 PM »
Tongue in cheek nothing - that one is definitely a keeper. Love it. :D

Greynomad

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Re: Meerkat
« Reply #14 on: January 20, 2024, 10:27:13 AM »
I feel we have unfairly targeted the Peccaries of the world!

 :) ;)