Obfuscated Definitions Trivia Quiz

Answer: chicken soup

Edible particles of bird suspended in liquid might be a few different soups, but the classic one is chicken. Many cultures have arrived at the conclusion that soup cures colds.

Answer: canteen

This is real military terminology. A group hydration system would be something like a drinking water fountain. Dismounted infantry are soldiers not riding in vehicles.

Answer: nail

I've heard that the definition of a nail as a "fibrous material fastener" actually appeared in some bureaucratic document. A hammer provides the impact to affix it.

Answer: sandwich

"Open-matrix" is the clue that the bread is not solid like wood. The Earl of Sandwich is said to have invented the aforesaid structure so that he could eat while having a hand free to continue gambling. The British are often referred to as subjects rather than "citizens."

Answer: ice

The "cubic crystal" structure spreads out the molecules to a low density, which is why ice floats; it is coincidence that it suggests an "ice cube". It is one of the few liquids that freezes into something that floats in that liquid. It is said that if ice sank, the oceans would ice over and life would be impossible.

Answer: bay window

Bay windows seem to be less popular than they used to be, so this question may be more difficult than it once was. "Fenestrated" means "windowed," and is the key clue.

Answer: tin can

"Capped" means the ends are closed. The "anti-corrosive coating" is the "tin" of the tin can. Tin cans are still usually made of steel, but now they may be coated with plastic instead of being galvanized with tin. Philosophers are undecided as to whether a can made of aluminum is still a tin can. I believe it is.

Answer: radio

The "electromatically induced signal" is from the antenna. There is not much except a radio that has an antenna and makes sound, and nothing else I can think of with five letters.

Answer: diploma

This is an easy one. It is about the only scroll, i.e., rolled up document, around these days. The names have traditionally been inked by hand, providing one of the few regular jobs for calligraphers.

Answer: broccoli

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower have cross-shaped flowers, and you are supposed to know about them because they are good for you. The verdant (green) one is broccoli. Most of the James Bond movies were produced by Albert Broccoli, who was related to the inventor of broccoli. Yes, broccoli was invented, or at least "developed."

Answer: diamond

"Elemental" is in the sense of being purely one chemical element, carbon. The high refractive accounts for the sparkle. The high thermal conductivity is a property used to detect fakes.

Answer: cd

An "annulus" is a disk with hole in the middle, which gives it away, at least to mathematicians. The reflective coating is required for the laser to read the digital data; if the coating separates, the disk will be useless. The assumption that music of the CD is rhythmic seems to be less safe than it used to be.

Answer: Knife

All the force is concentratrated on the knife edge, which provides a tremendous force in terms of pounds per square inch so the material being cut breaks down locally. Surely you thought of that. Depending upon your household and your folding ability, a sword is also a possibility.

Answer: rock

It might be a stone, but that has five letters.

Answer: Spring

Easy if you know "vernal" is "spring." The summer solstice is the one immediately after the crossing of the vernal equinox.