swede

[Alan W]

Recently a player emailed me as follows:

In the Standard Game, “shrewdest,” my final word, after a really wild guess, was “Swede.” Is this not a proper noun, and therefore not allowed (as “Norse” was disallowed in a previous game)? Or is there another common-noun definition that us Yanks don’t use? Thanks for your input. I continue to enjoy all the games available!

The word swede is also the name of a root vegetable. But apparently this is known in north America as a rutabaga.

Both these words have been classed as common in Chihuahua, but I'll switch them to rare, given that they're not well known everywhere.

[TRex]

By this way of thinking, shouldn't beetroot be made rare?

[Maudland]

It’s funny when a word that seems indisputably normal to you, turns out to be dubious to someone else. Is a swede the same as a mangelwurzel, too?

[Hobbit]

Is a swede the same as a mangelwurzel, too?

Oh Madeleine that make me think of a group from many moons ago called Adge Cutler & The Wurzels.  Sorry totally unrelated to the topic in question!

[Maudland]

Tbh, I just wanted to say mangelwurzel, so it’s just as apt!

[TRex]

It’s funny when a word that seems indisputably normal to you, turns out to be dubious to someone else. Is a swede the same as a mangelwurzel, too?

No, a mangelwurzel is a variety of beet(root).

[ridethetalk]

By this way of thinking, shouldn't beetroot be made rare?

...and courgette/zucchini???

[Jacki]

For what it’s worth, when I read Alan’s decision and reasoning regarding this I felt very uneasy.

[Maudland]

By this way of thinking, shouldn't beetroot be made rare?

...and courgette/zucchini???

And eggplant / aubergine. But - this is where I think Alan might be coming from - I might call vegetables one of these names but I’m aware of the other. I have never heard of a rutabaga, in my life! Maybe because it doesn’t feature in many recipes / cuisines? Except when they’re called neeps.