FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about May Is Amazing
Quiz about May Is Amazing

May Is Amazing Trivia Quiz


Can you believe how many words contain the word "may"? Maybe you can; maybe you can't. In any case, this is a quiz about those words. May you live long and prosper...and do well on this quiz. Come what may.

A multiple-choice quiz by JepRD. Estimated time: 3 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Humanities Trivia
  6. »
  7. Vocabulary
  8. »
  9. Words Within Words

Author
JepRD
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
405,361
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
576
Last 3 plays: Guest 108 (9/10), Guest 216 (6/10), DaMoopies (9/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What six-letter "may" word is often repeated in radio communications to signal distress in many kinds of situations -- a sinking ship, a malfunctioning airplane, for example? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which "may" word means chaos, madness, confusion, or wild disruption? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What "may" word is a North American wildflower with white blossoms and edible, egg-shaped fruit? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which six-letter word containing "may" means "a fleeting feeling of deflatedness", "being drained of courage" or "temporary hopelessness"?

Answer: (One Word)
Question 5 of 10
5. This winged insect is prevalent in the U.S. summer season and does not live very long. People who fish for trout often use lures patterned after this little creature. What is the six-letter "may" word for the bug? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This seven-letter "may" word is a tall, wooden stake, traditionally bestrewn with flowers and leaves to resemble a tree. The stake is stuck into the ground on the first of May, or sometimes on other significant days of summer. Often colorful ribbons dangle from the top and people dance around and around, entwining the streamers. What is it called? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. A creamy condiment created from oil and eggs, what "may" word is often served on hamburgers and various sandwiches in America and on fried potatoes in Belgium? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg and Bill di Blasio all served as which top official in New York City government?

Answer: (One Word)
Question 9 of 10
9. The type of essential grape of Beaujolais nouveau wine, which five letter "may" word has a fresh and fruity taste. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Also known as purple passion flower and wild apricot, which "may" word is a vine with big and elaborate purplish flowers and drinkable juice? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 108: 9/10
Mar 05 2024 : Guest 216: 6/10
Feb 14 2024 : DaMoopies: 9/10
Feb 07 2024 : Upstart3: 7/10
Feb 07 2024 : Guest 68: 5/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What six-letter "may" word is often repeated in radio communications to signal distress in many kinds of situations -- a sinking ship, a malfunctioning airplane, for example?

Answer: mayday

The rhyming vocal alarm "mayday" was devised by an air-traffic controller in London in the 1920s. It coincided with the French distress call "m'aidez", meaning "help me". Other acknowledged calls for assistance include "pan pan" and "declaring emergency".
2. Which "may" word means chaos, madness, confusion, or wild disruption?

Answer: mayhem

The word "mayhem", as we know it, dates back to the 1400s and stems from the Anglo-French action verb "maheimer", or "to maim". Originally it meant to attack someone so as to cause disfigurement of the victim. Today "mayhem" is used more loosely to describe a general sense of disorder.
3. What "may" word is a North American wildflower with white blossoms and edible, egg-shaped fruit?

Answer: mayapple

The word has been in use since the early 18th century. The name probably stems from the fact that the flower appears in May; the "apple", which is yellowish and ovoid, comes on later. Every part of the mayapple plant is poisonous, except the fruit when it is completely ripe.

It is also dangerous for pets. The mayapple is a member of the barberry family -- as are heavenly bamboo, Oregon grape and bishop's hat.
4. Which six-letter word containing "may" means "a fleeting feeling of deflatedness", "being drained of courage" or "temporary hopelessness"?

Answer: dismay

The Yiddish expression "oy vey" can also be an expression of dismay. The word dates back to the 13th century. It is probably derived from Vulgar Latin "exmagere", to take away the strength of, and the Old French word "dismaier", to frighten or trouble.
5. This winged insect is prevalent in the U.S. summer season and does not live very long. People who fish for trout often use lures patterned after this little creature. What is the six-letter "may" word for the bug?

Answer: mayfly

Female mayflies lay their eggs in water. The offspring stay in the water as nymphs for a large part of their lives -- about a year. When they finally emerge as adults, they fly. But a day or two later, they die. The popular term for the insect, mayfly, has been in use since the 17th century. It is also called an ephemerid.
6. This seven-letter "may" word is a tall, wooden stake, traditionally bestrewn with flowers and leaves to resemble a tree. The stake is stuck into the ground on the first of May, or sometimes on other significant days of summer. Often colorful ribbons dangle from the top and people dance around and around, entwining the streamers. What is it called?

Answer: maypole

Maypole festivities are still celebrated in various countries, including England and Spain. Originally the ritual symbolized fertility. According to Guinness World Records, the largest maypole dance was in Pennsylvania, USA, in 2015. Some 326 people participated. The ritual has existed for centuries and the word maypole has been in popular parlance since the mid-16th century.
7. A creamy condiment created from oil and eggs, what "may" word is often served on hamburgers and various sandwiches in America and on fried potatoes in Belgium?

Answer: mayonnaise

Perhaps named for the Spanish harbor town Mahon on the island of Menorca (or Minorca), mayonnaise has been in use as a sauce since at least the early 19th century. Richard Hellmann and his wife, Margaret -- the daughter of two deli owners -- opened a delicatessen in New York in 1913 and soon thereafter began marketing Hellmann's Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise -- which today is one of the top brands in the world.

Some people swear mayo is better than butter on grilled cheese sandwiches. Since the 1930s, the word has sometimes been shortened to "mayo" in popular American discourse.
8. Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg and Bill di Blasio all served as which top official in New York City government?

Answer: mayor

Other notable New York City mayors through the years include John Lindsay, Ed Koch and David Dinkins. LaGuardia Airport was named for Fiorella LaGuardia, who was elected mayor in 1934. Dinkins, who served in the early 1990s, was the city's first African American mayor.

He died in 2020. Mayor is a Middle English word that comes from "maire", an Old French adjective and "major", a Latin adjective meaning "greater".
9. The type of essential grape of Beaujolais nouveau wine, which five letter "may" word has a fresh and fruity taste.

Answer: gamay

The grape is thought to be named for Gamay, a village in France. Perhaps dating back to the 14th century in France, the gamay grape ripens quicker than the pinot noir grape and is easier to grow. Today the gamay grape is also grown in California, Oregon, Canada, Australia and other places besides France.
10. Also known as purple passion flower and wild apricot, which "may" word is a vine with big and elaborate purplish flowers and drinkable juice?

Answer: maypop

The scientific name for maypop is Passiflora incarnata. Butterflies and bees appreciate the ornate blossom. The fruit and the juice are used to flavor desserts, drinks and jellies. The plant has also been used in folk medicines -- for treatment of pain, insomnia and other problems. One etymological possibility is that maypop is derived from a Virginia Algonquin word: "maracock".
Source: Author JepRD

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. Over and Over (and Over) Very Easy
2. Looking for a 'MAN' Very Easy
3. In the Long Run Very Easy
4. Flag Down a Laggard Very Easy
5. A Very Short Quiz Very Easy
6. Better "Late" Than Never Very Easy
7. A Quiz About POTs and PANs Very Easy
8. Words With the Word Red in Them Very Easy
9. Jack-in-the-Box Very Easy
10. 'Tea'-terring on the Brink Very Easy
11. Hidden Dogs in Other Words... Very Easy
12. Vocabulary: Some Like It 'Hot' Very Easy

3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us