toenadering

Pronounced: TOO-nah-duhr-ing, noun

Notes: My (incorrect) guess what that it had something to do with toes

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Yesterday’s word

The word cocooning is “the practice of spending leisure time at home in preference to going out”

First usage

Our word came into English in the 1980s from America

Background / Comments

I find it interesting that a person who enjoys an active life in other people’s company is called “a social butterfly”, which makes our word quite appropriate. Perhaps someone who enjoys cocooning will eventually emerge as a social butterfly? The word cocoon has been around for hundreds of years; over time, it has mutated into (first) the idea of wrapping oneself as if in a cocoon, and second, the idea of being trapped (cocooned in restrictions) or being in a safe, protected place. Our word was just another extension of the meaning.