spizerinctum

n. energy, vigor, or vitality. Also spizerinktum, spizzerinktum, spizzerinctum, spizarinctum, pizzeringtum, spizzer inktum, etc. Subjects: English, United States, Health

Editorial Note: The ladies club mentioned in the cites seems to have taken its name from the term, which has existed in one spelling or another since at least as early as 1845. Etymological Note: As Merriam-Webster editors have pointed out in their May 2005 newsletter, it has been speculated “that the word derives in whole from Latin specie rectum, literally, ‘the right kind’—but that etymology appears to be a misguided attempt to make something more of good old American slang than is warranted.”

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Citations: 1891 Chicago Daily Tribune (May 18) p. 4: Jove sits enthroned upon his brow, his head crammed with knowledge; he’ll graduate a few weeks hence from Spizzerinctum College. [1907 Chicago Daily Tribune (Jan. 20) “In A Minor Key. The Mayor’s Dream.” p. B4: The mayor had a vistion,/In his slumbers he was troubled,/Dreamed he saw a huge petition/Signed by more than 80,000/Of the people of they city,/Praying for a referendum./…It was signed by Cephas Wojjers,/ Calthumpian Magruder,/ Garibaldi Mantilini,/…Ananias Spizzerinctum.] 1908 Charles Frederic Goss Daily News (Frederick, Md.) (Mar. 18) “On Top” p. 3: Letting down the bars, he stuck his thumb into the lean ribs of the donkey and when that resentful creature reared and kicked, chuckled with a boundless joy. “You’re [sic] spizzerinktum hasn’t all burned up yet, eh old man?” 1914 Lincoln Daily Star (Neb.) (July 9) “Be A Spizzerinktum: It’s a Brand New Word, But It Means a Lot—Here Is Its Meaning” p. 7: “What is a spizzerinktum? I have just been called that and I want to know."…"A spizzerinktum is a person who possesses initiative, vim, vigor, efficiency, intelligent persistency and an overmastering will to succeeed,” comes the explanation. 1915 Lincoln Sunday Star (Neb.) (Feb. 7) “Social Calendar” p. 17: La Spizzer Inktum will entertain their husbands at dinner Friday evening at 6:30 at the home of Mr. and Mr.s G. I. Smith, 2701 O street. 1922 Mexia Evening News (Texas) (Oct. 13) p. 2: Although a live wire, the dengue took much of the spizerinktum out of his being for the time being only, we know. 1936 Jack Wright, Frank Rogers Morning News (Florence, S.C.) (May 25) “Kiwanis Club” p. 8: “On to Washington” will be the next keynote of the program next Thursday with old reliable Kiwanian Frank Key furnishing the “spizerinktum.” 1940 Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) (Jan. 20) “How Would You Like To Be The Postman Now?” p. 8: It may be a letter from Aunt Mehetibelle, a bill for the new car, or an for Spizerinctum’s Kill or Cure, but the mail must go through. 1946 Walla Walla Bulletin (Wash.) (Mar. 12) “Mrs. J. J. Hamley Dies Sunday in Pendleton” p. 10: She was a member of the…Spizzerinctum club. 1947 G.C Graham Statesville Daily Record (Feb. 7) “Letters to the Editor” p. P2: It seems that some of the ‘dry’ leaders of the state are in danger of jeopardizing the cause of sobriety by their weak-knee statements. And, of course, they are being ably assisted by certain headline writer desk men who are most prayerful for the ‘wet’ side. The former gentlemen need a shot of spizerinctum and the latter need the darkness [put] out of their minds. 1956 Independent (Pasadena, California) (May 11) “TV Makes Ike ‘Look Old’” (in Washington, D.C.): “I think the country is entitled to know he is young, vigorous, and full of spizerinctum.” [Sen. Alexander Wiley (R) Wis.] said spizerinctum was a word coined by an old banker in his town of Chippewa Falls, Wis., to describe someone full of pep and vitality. 1958 Independent (Hawarden, Iowa) (Sept. 25) “Anonymously Yours…” p. 7: Scientists have concocted a new drug out of rocket fuel, which they claim will give a man renewed energy, like turpentine does a cat.…I’m looking forward to national distribution of this new spizzerinctum builder. 1961 Evening Sentinel (Holland, Mich.) (Oct. 13) “Publishers Told Power By Educator” (in Chicago) p. 7: For the explosive substance in the bomb hydrogen, he substituted knowledge, and for uranium, the fuse, spizzerinctum. This he defined as “energy ambition and the will to succeed.” 2004 [Cee Cee] @ Mahtomedi, Minn. Pioneer Press (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (Oct. 17) “In the realm of the coined”: Spizerinctum is invisible—an essence or energy of sorts. When beer has lost its foam, soda has lost its fizz or a balloon deflates, it has lost its spizerinctum. I suppose you would say that throughout the wedding preparations and busy weekend, I was overflowing with spizerinctum, but as things are winding down now, I think it has flown the coop for a while.

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Reader comments:

I remember my grandmother, who was born in 1883, using this word in an expression to describe someone who was highly excitable, etc. She used the phrase as “Having high perk of the spizerinktum.”
On another note, her senior yearbook at her high school in 1913 was called “The Spizerinktum”

by Kathryn Bruner 09 Jan 07, 0210 GMT

I never use ground meat but always hand cut a couple of chuck roasts. In addition, I have my own spice mixture consisting of cumin, ground dried red chilies, onion, garlic, and whole fresh jalapenos. The secret is to cook down the meat until it breaks down and the liquid is the consistency of gravy.

by bob wayne 24 Jan 07, 0656 GMT

My understanding of the definition of the word, “spizerinctum” is: the
will to succeed

Earl D. Bolen
dbolen888@msn.com

by Earl D. Bolen 22 Mar 07, 1105 GMT

My father used the word regularly to define a sports team that was not playing up to their potential. He would say, “the boys (or girls) need more spizerinctum tonight.” This would fit with the “will to succeed” definition.

by Joel Biggers 10 Apr 08, 0931 GMT