Crystal Ball Stumpers 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: A form of currency

Won by drew20s of The Moops team on 6th January 2017, the likuta was once a currency used in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zaire from 1967 until 1997. Known as makuta when used plurally, the likuta/makuta was equal to one zaire. The zaire was introduced in 1967 and replaced the Congolese franc which was in use up until that time.

When this new currency was brought in, one thousand francs equalled one zaire. Those who follow numismatics as a hobby would no doubt find all this fascinating.

Answer: A rickshaw

Won by ClarkyB of The Moops on 13 January 2017, a jinrikisha is a two-wheeled cart that seats one to two people, and is pulled along manually by a third person. A rickshaw, in other words. Originating in Japan in the 1860s, rickshaws quickly began to appear in most Asian countries within a few years, and even made their way over to East and South Africa as well. Because of health problems associated with the pullers of these devices, human powered rickshaws have recently been discouraged, or even made illegal, in some countries.

These are replaced by petrol powered three-wheelers instead. How sad. Apparently though, no matter how romantic the image they convey, pulling a rickshaw along is looked upon as being a very degrading occupation, and the workers suffer from a variety of health problems as well. One wonders how they managed to pull up when going down a steep hill, and if ever a rickshaw, with a screaming occupant or two, ever mowed them down as it zoomed out of control past them.

Answer: Snuff

Guessed again by drew20s of The Moops team, this time on 14 January, 2017, Fun Trivia defines this word as "strong snuff made from dark coarse tobacco". Snuff is made by grinding up tobacco leaves very finely, and, instead of smoking same, users snuffed it up their noses instead, where it sent a very strong surge of nicotine to the receptors in the brain. Originating in South America, it eventually made its way over to the European world via the early Spanish explorers and conquerors.

It was used there by people who were mainly from the upper classes.

Not everyone was enchanted with it, however. Pope Urban VIII ordered that it be banned from all churches, under pain of excommunication if people persisted in taking it, while over in Russia, Tsar Michael, who detested it, punished snuff takers by removing their noses. Gosh, that really smells.

Answer: Triangular shape in a cross section

A wedge, for example, is considered a cuneus. Won by snapcracker who's Retired and Loving It, on 15 January 2017, surgeons would also describe cuneus as a small wedge-shaped area in the occipital lobe of the human brain. Located in the rear of the brain, that's the area that deals with our visual processes.

Answer: False

Won on 6 February by ponycargirl of Team Adz Mates, there are several definitions associated with a barrelhouse. It can be a bar or saloon, with the name deriving from the kegs and casks of alcohol stored there. It can also be a musical term - a form of early jazz or boogie-woogie, or a style of piano playing with a strong two beat rhythm.

Answer: Constipation

Won by mazza47 from the Cat People, on 6 February, obstipate is related to severe constipation. Embarrassing and very uncomfortable, this condition is no laughing matter, and can prove fatal if not resolved. Many elderly people are victims of constipation, which can be caused by poor diet, medical disorders and even some medications.

As an indication of its effect on people, Americans spend over $250 million dollars every year on a variety of medications designed to help relieve the condition. In its less severe form it can be treated with an improvement in diet (eat more fibre, fruit and vegetables) and drink lots of fresh, cool, healthy water every day - but don't overdo it.

As always, see your doctor if the condition continues to trouble you.

Answer: One who uses a particular form of reasoning

Snapcracker from Retired and Loving It got this word correct on 8 February. A syllogist is one who utilises a form of reasoning known as syllogism, a deductive form of logic that arrives at a conclusion based on two statement that are both assumed to be true. An example quoted is (a) "All humans are mortal" (the major premise or statement) and (b) "All Greeks are human" (the minor premise or statement) and (c) "All Greeks are mortal" (the conclusion).

The next question to be asked is - who really cares?

Answer: Strong apple cider

Won by postcards2go of the Regal Beagles on February 9, scrumpy is a very strong cider from the western areas of England. It isn't exactly described as a smooth and elegant drink, but one that's a big "rough" around the edges, strong and tasty though, and satisfying enough to slake a strong thirst on a hot day. Made from apples, any old apples, and not those selected for special flavours or size, scrumpy is still made today in households or small companies from the English areas of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

The word scrump itself means anything that is undersized, and a scrumpling is a small apple. In days gone by, English farm labourers, in addition to their daily wage, were also supplied with a quart of scrumpy a day as an extra incentive to keep on working.

Answer: Newcomer

Guessed by missmess of The Joy team on February 10, malahini is an Hawaiian word that refers to a newcomer to the islands. There doesn't appear to be any further information about this musically sounding word than that - except I wouldn't mind being a malahini to that lovely land.

Answer: Blood poisoning

Drewh2os from The Moops won the Crystal Ball with this word on 10 February. Sapremia is an obsolete word that describes blood poisoning which is usually brought on by gangrene. In more recent times, we know this painful condition as septicaemia, which isn't much of an improvement on the definition at all. Septicemia, with symptoms that include fever, rapid heart beat and breathing, and confusion, can be life-threatening if not treated as soon as detected.