Master English one word at a time. World of Words provides a daily English word with its precise meaning, pronunciation, and practical usage examples to help you build a powerful vocabulary.
Scuttlebutt is that unofficial information that circulates before the facts are fully known. The word originated aboard ships, where sailors gathered around a cask of drinking water called a "scuttlebutt" to chat and exchange news. The scuttlebutt isn't always accurate, but it can be more entertaining than the official story.
Example: The scuttlebutt around the office was that the director would lose the promotion to someone less qualified.
If something is ligneous, it's made of wood or has a wood-like appearance or texture. The word is especially common in botany, where it helps distinguish hard, woody growth from softer plant tissue. A ligneous stem may not look as dramatic as a towering trunk, but it's built from the same sturdy stuff.
Example: The old shrub developed a tough, ligneous stem that seemed more like a tree branch.
