Triska-what?!

And, now for the latest item in the "words really do have meaning" file in honor of Friday the 13th and all its associated paranoia.

Ye socks who fear that day are said to suffer from TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA.

A daunting word for something so inane, no?

Not so daunting if you break it down into the original Greek components, though:

TRIS = Three
KAI = And (ye brothers of Beta Theta Pi already knew that one)
DEKA = Ten
PHOBIA = Fear

Methinks it behooves us to be a bit more specific in labeling today's fears, though. I mean, after all, it's more than just the fear of three-and-ten. It's a fear of the combination of 13 AND Friday, right?!

In that case, I would say those of you who fear Friday the 13th actually suffer from: FRIGGATRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA.

Whaddaya mean, that doesn't sound nice?!

FRIGGA just means Friday!

Ah, well. So, sometimes words take on a greater meaning than is sometimes intended. I'm not the first person to make that mistake . . . there's a town full of people like that on the banks of the Potomac!