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I usually know the Merriam-Webster word of the day that’s delivered to my inbox. But when Monday’s word came, not only did I not know the meaning of avoirdupois, I didn’t know how to pronounce it. Merriam-Webster gave me the American pronunciation ˈa-vər-də-ˌpȯiz (rhymes with boys and you sound like a hick saying it — a-ver-duh-poise), but clearly the word has French roots, so I found the British pronunciation ævwɑːdjuːˈpwɑː (rhymes with straw) and it’s not only more fun to say, but you sound so suave saying it — avwah-dyu-pwah. It’s a “pinkie out” kind of word. Next time you have to lift a heavy box, you can comment on its avoirdupois.
You’re welcome.
Patricia has this week’s Poetry Friday roundup at Reverie.
Hat tip to Heidi Mordhorst, inventor of the Definito form. (I broke the rules slightly by rhyming, instead of making it free verse. I felt the rhyme was necessary to help with the pronunciation.)
On another note, watch for the call for roundup hosts (Jan-June 2024) next week.
A(nother) Year of Reading 
Love this! Your poem is clever and enlightening. Thanks, Mary Lee.
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Yes, thank you Heidi for this form! It’s my favorite way of playing with new words. My goodness, a pinkies-out pronunciation? I’d pick that over hick any day. Ha! quivering muscles threatening to freeze is an apt description.
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I stumbled over that particular Word of the Day pronunciation as well… My five minutes of college French recoiled. I do love a definito, and this is such a fun one!
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I know it because I studied French throughout school, but you are so clever to make a rhyme of it, & define at the same time! Tres bien, Mary Lee!
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Pure delight!! I had seen the word here and there but never really knew the meaning (I’d been pronouncing it correctly in my head though) . . . Thanks for the smile this week!
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Wonderful poem, and thank you for the new vocabulary word!
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Pinkies out, indeed! I WILL find a way to work this very fun word into conversation this weekend! Thank you, Mary Lee!
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A new word for me. Thanks for the clever Definito, Mary Lee.
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A word that takes me back to my high school days-or daze. A rhyme this time with weighty connotations, Mary Lee. A poem about heaviness, but not in the least bit-heavy. You have definitely done the Definito proud.
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Pinkies out, indeed. So clever.
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Ooh, I’ve heard this word once or twice, but I didn’t know (or remember, anyway) its meaning. And I gave it the French, pinkie-out pronunciation, too, even before reading your post. Love this.
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Such pinkie-out fun in your wonderful rolling -rhyme definito— and as I’ve had some French too, I have une petite familiarity and agree with Linda B. Tres bien, Merci Beaucoup!
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Hahahaha your weighty poem is en”lighten”ing! Hey, my definition of free verse includes that you are free to rhyme if that’s what floats the boat. I love this. Did you see what avoirdupois actually MEANS in French? “to have of weight” or “goods sold by weight.” Good old ProtoIndoEuropean roots!
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