Scrabble Bingo of the Day: URUSHIOL

URUSHIOL  61 points (11 points without the bingo)

Definition: a toxic liquid [n]

It may look like a funny word, especially since it's derived from a word meaning "lacquer" in Japan, but most of you are probably familiar with urushiol. Maybe not by name, but by its bothersome and itchy rash inducing qualities.

Urushoil is the organic toxic allergen found in the western United States as poison oak, and in the opposite side of the country as poison ivy and sumac. It's also found in Asia as sap in the lacquer tree, and even in mango tree leaves and stems—and directly in the mangoes themselves. Coming in contact with urushiol liquid causes an allergic dermal reaction that most people have endured at least once in their lifetime. Its medical name? Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.

So, the next time you get a rash from poison ivy or poison oak, you know what caused it.

Inflections: URUSHIOLS [pl.]

 Poison oak.
 Photo by Franco Folini

 A rash from poison oak.
 Photo by °Florian

So, just what is a Scrabble Bingo?

A bingo is when a player empties his or her rack in one turn, placing all seven of their letters on the board to create a word that's at least seven letters long. The term "bingo" is used primarily in the U.S., but elsewhere it's simply known as a "bonus" because you get a bonus of 50 points added to your turn's score. "Scrabble Bingo of the Day" will focus on these high scoring plays, teaching you some interesting and possibly unusual seven-letter or longer words accepted in a game of Scrabble.

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