Word origins

• hot cocklesa children's game in which a blindfolded person had to guess who was hitting them.
• HototA breed of rabbit, characterized by having short ears and being all white except for black rings around the eyes.
• HuguenotismThe religion or doctrine of the Huguenots
• hydromancyDivination by water or other liquid.
• hyenA hyena.
• hygroscopyThe ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment.
• hypnagogicThat induces sleep; soporific, somniferous.
• -icianforming nouns denoting occupations
• idée mèreA fundamental idea or guiding principle, seen as giving rise to something.
• -ietyForming nouns denoting the quality or condition of being what is indicated by the first element of the word.
• IgnorantineDesignating an order of friars founded in 1495 who ministered to the poor, especially in France.
• imberbBeardless.
• imbricationA set of tiles or shingles that overlap like the scales of a fish.
• imitableCapable of being imitated or copied.
• imp.Printed.
• implorationThe action of imploring; begging, beseeching.
• inaccrochableUnable to be hung (or sold), especially because of sexual content.
• inaffabilityLack of affability or sociability; unfriendliness.
• indeclinableThat one cannot decline; unavoidable.
• indissolubilityThe quality or state of being indissoluble.
• indocileUnwilling to be taught or instructed; intractable or recalcitrant.
• inexactitudeA lack of exactness; something inexact or imprecise
• infantineInfantile; childish.
• inobservationLack of observation.
• intangibilityThe quality or state of being intangible; intangibleness.
• intendancyThe office or employment of an intendant.
• intercedentInterceding: Passing between; mediating
• interduceAn intertie.
• intermedeA short musical dramatic piece, of a light, pleasing, and sometimes burlesque character.
• interreignAn interregnum.
• interventiveServing to intervene or interpose; intervening.
• intituleTo entitle; to give a title to.
• Isle aux MortsA town in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• islets of LangerhansDistinctive regions of tissue in the pancreas, which contain its endocrine cells.
• Issoire lynxan extinct lynx, of species †Lynx issiodorensis, that inhabited Europe during the Pleistocene epoch.
• itineranceThe (often chaotic) movement of electrons through a material
• jab jabA person dressed up as a devil-like character, in Caribbean carnivals, who carries a whip used for hitting other devils.
• j'accuseAn accusation, especially one made publicly.
• JacobinismThe principles of the Jacobins; especially the violent opposition to legitimate government.
• JaponismAn influence of Japanese art and culture on European art and design.
• japonismeAn influence of Japanese art and culture on European art and design.
• jargonelleA variety of pear.
• JayroeA surname from French.
• jocondeA Mona Lisa.
• JoffrionA surname from French.
• jubarbThe houseleek.
• judicial officerA public officer authorized to hear and decide cases in a court of law.
• jumartThe fabled offspring of a bull and a mare.
• jusquaboutistAn extremist; a hardliner.
• jusqu'auboutistOne who believes in following something through to the very end.
• justacorpsA knee-length coat worn by men in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• juste-au-corpsA tight, knee-length men's coat worn in the late 17th and early 18th century.
• justificatorOne who justifies or vindicates.
• kaletezA type of thin buckwheat pancake in Breton cuisine.
• kippageThose sailing together on a ship, both crew and passengers.
• KoroaOne of the groups of indigenous nations who lived in the Mississippi Valley prior to the European settlement of the region.
• koumissA fermented drink made from mare's milk, common among peoples of the Central Asian steppes.
• kwassa kwassaA dance rhythm from the Congo (DRC), where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.
• La-Used in African-American female given names.
• LabayA surname from French.
• la belle indifferenceA paradoxical lack of emotional distress or concern despite the presence of an illness or serious physical symptoms.
• LabouchereA surname.
• LabrakeA surname from French.
• LabreeA surname from French.
• laccicCharacteristic of lac, such as in laccic acid.
• laccinA yellow amorphous substance obtained from lac.
• Lac La BicheA lake (Lac la Biche) in northern Alberta, Canada.
• Lac la HacheA community and lake in the Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia, Canada.
• La CouronneA commune in Charente department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• Lac qui Parle CountyOne of 87 counties in Minnesota, United States. County seat: Madison.
• lacuneA lacunar stroke or infarct.
• LafavorA surname from French.
• La FranceAn unincorporated community in Anderson County, South Carolina.
• laicA layperson as opposed to a cleric, i.e. not a member of the clergy.
• Lake BorgneA lagoon of the Gulf of Mexico, and formerly a true lake, in southeastern Louisiana.
• Lake ChamplainA north–south running lake surrounded by the Champlain Valley, in upstate New York, Vermont and southern Quebec, spanning the United States and Canada, mostly lying within the U.S.; separating the Adirondacks from the Green Mountains and Appalachians.
• Lake HuronOne of the Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, a bay of Lake Michigan–Huron.
• Lake NeuchâtelA lake in north-west Switzerland, on which the city of Neuchâtel is situated; it is the largest lake entirely within Switzerland.
• LakurawaA radical Islamic armed group operating in parts of Africa.
• lamantinSynonym of manatee.
• lamaseryA monastery for lamas.
• LamountainA surname from French.
• lampic acidA supposed acid formed by heating ether with a limited supply of air.
• lampionA small oil lamp.
• LanaudièreAn administrative region of Quebec, Canada.
• langdebeefbristly oxtongue, a type of daisy.
• languedHaving the tongue visible (and typically of a specified tincture).
• LanguedocianOf or relating to Languedoc, an area and historical region of France.
• L'AnseA village on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States, which is the county seat of Baraga County.
• L'Anse-au-ClairA town in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• L'Anse-au-DiableA ghost town in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• L'Anse-au-LoupA town in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• lapalissianVery obvious, completely apparent.
• Lapeer CountyOne of 83 counties in Michigan, United States. County seat: Lapeer.
• LapierA surname from French.
• La PointeA town and unincorporated community therein, in Ashland County, Wisconsin, United States.
• La PorteA census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States.
• LaPorte CountyOne of 92 counties in Indiana, United States. County seat: La Porte.
• LarewA surname from French.
• larmierA tearpit (in animals)