Word of the day: pogonotrophy

Pogonotrophy – too little-used make it into the Concise OED but a fabulous word that means 'beard-growing', or 'the cultivation of a beard'.

Apus, for example, is an expert in the art – or is it science? – of pogonotrophy. I assume that makes him a pogonotrophist.

Why not read about this and other pogo- words?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

art or science? you need to define beard. i'd say that anything related to the physical growth of hair from folicles in your face must be science. however, the shaping of the beard must be considered an artform. does beard imply cultivation? i think so.

Anonymous said...

Am I apogonotrohic because I shave??

Anonymous said...

Excuse the typo, should read "apogonotrophic"

Daddy Papersurfer said...

This is one of my favourite words. I've used it for years ........

-- said...

Long my favourite activity, this is now also my favourite word.

Anonymous said...

So that is what I have been doing all these years!

Anonymous said...

I believe that one who practices pogonotrophy is a pogonotropher, also known as a beard-O, beard enthusiast, beardie(y), bum, beatnic, homeless dude, pirate, wizard, lumber jack ect. I prefer "incredibly cool guy with awesome beard" but that's just me.

Anonymous said...

The -trophy suffix comes from Greek--following the convention for all English nouns with the same root, beard growers are pogonotrophs.

:D