Here at Webb’s “Weird Words,” our stock-in-trade is presenting lists of oddball vocab — complete with pronunciation, part of speech, definitions and sundry other info on origin and usage.

But we’ve been on a lengthy hiatus from that, covering the Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot (loaded with unusual language) and then moving on to seasonal fare about Charles Dickens and George Bailey.

But now that Godot has closed, and Clarence has his wings — while Scrooge remains “as good as his word” — let’s get back to those regular rosters of randomly chosen gobbledygook. Here are a dozen outliers for your week:

Acromegaly (ack-roe-MEG-uh-lee [or ack-ruh-], noun) – Chronic disease featuring abnormal bodily enlargement — usually of the head, feet and/or hands. Caused by excess growth hormone from the pituitary gland. As for etymology: megaly means “growth” or “enlargement” (related to mega); and acro means “high” — as in “acrophobia.”

Anamnesis (an-am-NEE-sis, noun) – A calling to mind, or recollection; can also mean — in medicine — a complete medical history recalled by the patient. Mne(m) is a Greek base related to memory — as in amnesia, mnemonic and amnesty (literally, forgetting past crimes or accusations).

Chthonic (THAH-nik, adj.) – Of or relating to the underworld; “infernal” (alternately, chthonian). This pair, together with yacht, are virtually the only English words with a silent “ch.”

Decubitus (duh-KYOO-bit-us, noun) – The position assumed when lying down. It’s related to the Latin base cu(m)b, meaning “lie down” — as in succumb and incubate.

Goaf (GOHF [like “oaf”], noun) – Waste left in old mine workings (Collins). Origin uncertain.

Heresiarch (huh-REE-zee-ark [or see-], noun) The base arch can mean “leader,” “chief” or “ruler” — as in arch-enemy, or matriarch. So this word simply means the leader of a heresy. But … good luck using it in conversation.

Jacamar (JACK-uh-mar, noun) – Iridescent green or bronze-colored bird with a long, sharp bill; native to Central and South America. Merriam-Webster gives a pronunciation starting with “zh” (as in measure). In any case, a gorgeous bird; look up photos!

Pantywaist (PAN-tee-waste, noun) – This word is now most commonly used in its secondary slang sense: “a boy or man who is considered weak or effeminate” (American Heritage); its primary sense — and its origin as an insult — is of a child’s garment with the shirt and pants buttoned together at the waist (hence the name).

Popinjay (POP-in-jay, noun) – “A person given to vain displays and empty chatter; coxcomb; fop” (Random House Collegiate). This once-common insult originally referred to a type of parrot; according to Online Etymology Dictionary, it was at first a compliment — relating to the bird’s beauty. The derogatory sense perhaps came from the creature’s loud cry (as in, calling attention to itself) — or perhaps from imitating (“parroting”) common fashions. (That latter is my own theory and not well attested.) Another great synonym: jackanapes.

And speaking of synonyms: I should explain coxcomb in the definition above. This odd-looking term is shortened from cock’s comb, which refers to the “comb” sticking up from the head of a rooster — or “cock.” This in turn came to refer to a jester’s cap — which has a similar appearance (as on a “joker” playing card); it thus became an insult for showy dress or behavior. Phew!

Shallop (SHALL-up, noun) – Various watercraft “formerly used for sailing or rowing in shallow waters” — especially those having two masts (Dictionary.com). Related to the better-known sloop.

Taramasalata (teh-ruh-muh-suh-LA-tuh, noun) – A Greek dip or spread made from smoked fish eggs, along with other ingredients like bread crumbs, oil and lemon juice. Merriam-Webster is virtually alone in spelling it with “mo” as the third syllable; siding with other sources, taramasalata is surely our only English word where all six syllables use the same vowel!

Thrips (THRIPS, noun) – “A tiny sucking insect with four long thin wings fringed with hairs. It feeds on the sap of plants.” This looks plural but can be used in the singular (“I killed a thrips”); the plural is the same (“We hate these thrips”).

That last definition is from one of my more recent acquisitions: the gratifyingly meticulous and user-friendly Microsoft Encarta College Dictionary. Published at the start of the internet age (2001), this sprawling volume offers roughly 320,000 definitions (far more than most single-volume dictionaries) — though it manages this with exceptionally tiny type.

Kind of like a thrips.