---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 24, 1999 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mofette [n. moh-FET] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A hole in the ground from which gases emerge is a mofette. Usually, the word refers to holes that release carbon dioxide, possibly combined with smelly gases like hydrogen sulfide. The gas that emerges from the hole is also called mofette. Mofettes typically form in the last stages of volcanic action. Most mofettes have a musty, dank, moldy smell. In Italian, there is muffa (mold) and its diminutive, moffetta, which migrated into French and then English to describe smelly gaseous exhalations. More recently, the word was applied to the geological source of such gases. The gases that emerge from a mofette might be described as mephitic [adj. muh-FIT-ik] (poisonous; foul-smelling). Strangely, this similar-sounding word is unrelated. It comes from the Latin mephitis (poisonous gas emitted from the earth). Today's Cool Fact is about volcanic gases: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/09/24.html Today's sponsor: FREE Photo Greetings! http://www.zing.com/z?e40c61z11 Share your special moments with family & friends. New PHOTO greetings at Zing.com! Send animated cards starring you or choose from thousands of photos. Tons of funny, cute, cool & animated cards to customize. Zing.com - the hottest new place for online greetings! http://www.zing.com/z?e40c61z11 AOL Users:<a href="http://www.zing.com/z?e40c61z11">Click Here</a> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 146,662 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------