We didn’t quite have enough ‘thumbs up and down’ contributions to run this week but keep sending them in and we’ll return the popular opinion segment shortly. In the meantime, we’re bringing to you a new column – ‘Word of the Week’.
As a news media organisation, much of our time is spent focused on words – the good, the bad and the just plain weird – the English language features them all.
We will endeavour to focus our ‘Word of the Week’ on a term associated with our reporting that week. We’ll look at its definition, its origins, the context which we used the word and some other examples where the word has been utilised.
This week’s word – frangibility – describes the quality or state of being breakable or fragile.
According to the Collins Dictionary, the word frangibility is derived from frangible which means breakable or fragile. Its origins reside in Old French, and ultimately from Latin frangere to break.
The word reached peak usage between 1987 and 1996. Why? Well, it may have something to do with increased aircraft movements. Dr Google tells us that in the 1980s, “frangibility” became a key concept in aviation safety, particularly in the design of airport structures. Frangibility, in this context, refers to the ability of a material or structure to break apart or yield upon impact, minimising damage to aircraft and personnel.
Further investigation reveals most modern airports now feature frangible airside structures – designed to break into fragments, rather than bend on impact – and are used to limit collision damage with aircraft.
Recently the Gunnedah Times reported about the village sign renewal project being undertaken by Gunnedah Shire Council.
A report to council explained that the project was delayed due to “possible changed requirements of the frangibility of the sign poles”.
We guess not even sign posts, however hardy, can withstand the freezing cold and scorching hot extremes of the Gunnedah weather gods. It’s a frangible (err, fragile) world out there!
