This term (of Germanic root) is usually given to describe a perfectly balanced spheroid associated with aquatic features but also appears to be known as dessert in one culture and an amusing slang term towards a certain generation, in another. What is it, and which two cultures does it feature?

lanfranco

I think we're talking about "kugel" here, from a Germanic root meaning "ball" or "globe." It's a dessert often associated with Jewish culture, but in South African English, it refers to a "material girl": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kugel Dec 28 06, 9:26 AM

queproblema

Please explain the association with aquatic features--I was going down bathyscaphe and eyeball (aqueous humour) trails. Dec 28 06, 12:36 PM

lanfranco

That threw me, too, at first, qp, but I suspect the explanation is "globe" -- as in a globe of the earth, with its oceans and seas. Dec 28 06, 2:08 PM

peasypod

Very nice Frankie, the Kugel is what I was after, and I'll explain the aquatic features from a tidbit out of the 2007 Guinness Book of Records: 'A kugel is a perfectly balanced polished stone sphere that fits into a base carved to match its curvature; the sphere floats on a film of water and revolves 360 degrees in all directions.' A photo of the largest one is shown here: http://www.richmond.com/museums/output.aspx?Article_ID=3195201&Vertical_ID=2&tier=1&position=2 Dec 28 06, 4:07 PM

lanfranco

Ah ha, so it is an earth globe. I think we need one at the Museum of Science and Industry here, so I can go play with it. Dec 28 06, 4:48 PM

queproblema

How velly intellesting....in Virginia of all places. Dec 29 06, 12:28 PM