(Does it scare you that I knew how to spell that without looking?)

Katherine has discovered a new coping mechanism. When asked a question to which she doesn’t know the answer, she stretches her mouth open, sticks out her tongue all the way and screeches, emulating, for all the world, what I imagine a young pterodactyl would sound like.

To pterodactyl:  to imitate the imagined behaviour of a pterodactyl at whatever stage in life corresponds to your own. (Derivative of Calvin & Hobbes, in which not only do dinosaurs figure prominently, but, “verbing words weirds language.”)

The practical applications for this among adults probably merit further exploration. For instance, you’re in a board meeting and a touchy issue comes up. In a desperate attempt to avoid the question, you flap your wings, stick out your tongue and screech. Undoubtedly, the questions previously at hand would become completely irrelevant.

John thought it could be handy in court, especially Supreme Court, in which they wear the funny robes. The wings would be most impressive then.