How do you define a word with a limerick? Some examples

December 28, 2017 11:30 AM

The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form (or OEDILF) has published more than 97,000 definitions written in the singsong poetry of a five-line limerick. Here are some examples selected from the website.

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ABSTRACT

When my paint bottles spilled, how I swore!

They spread red, blue and yellow; what's more,

Purple, orange and green

Then appeared in the scene

As an abstract was formed on the floor.

—by art bates

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AEQUEOSALINOCALCALINOCERACEOALUMINOSOCUPREOVITRIOLIC

The waters where babies should frolic

Whenever they're subject to cholic

Are aequeosalino-

calcalinoceraceo-

aluminosocupreovitriolic.

—by Graham Lester

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BOILERPLATE

Here's a boilerplate limerick style:

The rhythm and meter beguile.

The lines at the core

Are too droll to ignore,

And a joke at the end makes you smile.

—by David Schildkret

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CCTV (closed-circuit television)

What's to fear from a camera or three

And appearing on CCTV?

Having every move tracked

Is a comfort, in fact.

Why, the state's like a brother to me.

—by speedysnail

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CONTROL-W

Many websites you may have been cruising.

Time to close some you're no longer using:

Hold Control plus one key:

Don't think "close" and press "C'' —

No, it's W. Ain't that confusing?

—by zqms

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DESCARTES, RENE

Trigger knows about physics, of course,

When it deals just with speed, mass or force.

But his mind tends to jam

On "I think, so I am."

So please don't put Descartes 'fore this horse.

—by zqms

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EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL

Emotional blackmail's the way

I control him. I just have to say,

"If you leave me, I'll cry,

Or possibly die."

And his guilt makes me sure he will stay.

—by AndrewB

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FIXED

When I spotted the typo, I cursed,

"Damn, this limerick is one of my worst!"

Had I fixed it, it could

Have been passably good.

I regret now not checking it first.

—by Chris J. Strolin and Bob Egg

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FULL MOON

Please, you must go! Goodnight, and adieu.

I'm just ... busy. Yes. That. Things to do ...

(It's a full moon tonight—

When that orb's round and bright,

I'll be busy, all right.) Ah_AROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

—by Reia Light

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GIZZARD

The gizzard, as most here will know,

Is the route bird's digestion must go.

This stomach, the second,

Grinds food (so it's reckoned);

The first lets digestive juice flow.

—by psheil