pullulate

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 28, 2010 is: pullulate • \PUL-yuh-layt\  • verb 1 a : germinate, sprout b : to breed or produce freely 2 : swarm, teem Examples: The coastal resort town is quiet now, but with summer approaching it will soon be pullulating with tourists. Did you know? To remember the history of "pullulate," think chickens. This may sound like odd advice, but it makes sense if you know that "pullulate" traces ultimately to the Latin noun "pullus," which means not only "sprout," but also "young of an animal" and, specifically, "chick." "Pullus" is also an ancestor of "pullet" ("young hen"), "poult" (meaning "young fowl" and especially "young turkey"), and even "poultry" ("domesticated fowl"). At first "pullulate" referred to sprouting, budding, and breeding around the farm; only later did it gain its "swarm" sense. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.