[Fictionary] HELICE results

[Joshua Randall]

Hi guys I will find a word in the next few days!

On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 12:53 PM J-J Cote <marydevinechandler at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Josha's fiddlehead takes the day. (They should be ready for harvest soon,
> but I always drag my feet and miss out, maybe this is the year. They're
> said to be quite tasty.) You're up, Joshua!
>
> Jean-Joseph
> __________________________________
>
> helice - n. - A dynamic shotgun discipline designed to mimic the erratic
> flight of live birds. Instead of traditional clay targets, this sport uses
> small plastic propellers which spin unpredictably when launched, creating
> challenging and realistic shooting scenarios.
> The real definition, adapted from the one given on the nordicclays.com
> website. I found out about this because a video popped up on my Youtube
> feed. As somebody who is not a gun guy, this looks insanely difficult.
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlSao0DVf10
> David 1, Ranjit 2, Joshua 1 = 4 points
> Ranjit:  2 points for whirly-skeet because I imagine the targets make an
> entertaining whirring-whistling sound as they flutter around.
> Elliott:  And lots of plastic debris to clean up!  At least clay pigeons
> are made of clay.
>
> helice - n. - An appendage present on male Phthiraptera, which hooks onto
> the fifth or sixth abdominal segment of the female during mating.
> From Eric.
> Jacob 1 = 1 point
> Pierre: HE+LICE. This def is lousy!
> Elliott (as a general comment, because he apparently didn't pick up on
> this):  I'm surprised no one submitted "male lice", or anything having to
> do with DNA.
> Jean-Joseph: I'm glad somebody did this.
>
> helice - n. - In cross-country skiing, a ski pole tip that is attached at
> an angle of greater than 60° (permitted in Olympic but not FIS competition).
> From Jacob.
> Ranjit 1, Pierre 1 = 2 points
> Ranjit: 1 point because they still allow combat in Olympic CCS but take
> steps like this to make it slightly safer
> Elliott: Maybe, but I wouldn't know one way or the other.
>
> helice - n. - An error in simultaneous location and mapping in which part
> of the trajectory is both displaced along and rotated around an axis.
> From Pierre.
> David 2, Joshua 2, Elliott 2 = 6 points
> Elliott:  The word looks like a back-formation from "helices" (like
> "matrice", which I've heard repeatedly in real life), and sounds plausible
> as a name for a kind of technical error.  But "mapping" sounds
> two-dimensional, and helices are three-dimensional.  Hmm.  Everything
> else on the ballot is even less plausible, so I'll give this two points.
>
> helice - n. - A combustion turbine, forerunner of the modern jet engine,
> used to blow-dry drenched sheep.
> From Elliott.
> No points
> Ranjit:  After they've been raddled with tiver, or after you try to wash
> the tiver off? Sounds like Elliott.
> Elliott: I mean, how else are you going to get them dry in a hurry?
>
> helice - n. - The tightly coiled crosier, also known as the "fiddlehead",
> of a fern.
> From Joshua.
> Eric 2, Jacob 2, Pierre 2, Elliott 1, plus one for correct guess = 8 points
> Eric: Very plausible.
> Elliott: One point for being less implausible than all the rest.
>
> helice - n. - A string tied around one’s finger as a reminder.
> From Ranjit. Two for correct guess = 2 points
> Elliott:  How often does anyone actually do that?  I leave specific
> objects in the way when I want to remember to do something with them, but
> the classic string around the finger is like counting sheep: talked
> about much more than done, I think
>
> helice - n. - A female helix.
> From David.
> Eric 1, plus one for correct guess = 2 points
> Elliott: Preposterous!
>
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