12-letter words containing t, w, i, r
- scram switch — (jargon) (From the nuclear power industry) An emergency power-off switch (see Big Red Switch), especially one positioned to be easily hit by evacuating personnel. In general, this is *not* something you frob lightly; these often initiate expensive events (such as Halon dumps) and are installed in a dinosaur pen for use in case of electrical fire or in case some luckless field servoid should put 120 volts across himself while Easter egging. SCRAM stands for Safety Control Rod Ax Man. In the early days of nuclear power, boron moderator rods were raised and lowered on ropes. In the event of a runaway chain reaction, a man with an axe would chop the rope and drop the rods into the nuclear pile to stop the reaction. See also molly-guard, TMRC.
- screenwriter — a person who writes screenplays, especially as an occupation or profession.
- scriptwriter — a person who writes scripts, as for movies, radio, or television.
- sea milkwort — a maritime plant, Glaux maritima, having small, pinkish-white flowers.
- sergei witte — Sergei Yulievich [sur-gey yool-yuh-vich;; Russian syir-gyey yoo-lyi-vyich] /sɜrˈgeɪ ˈyul yə vɪtʃ;; Russian syɪrˈgyeɪ ˈyu lyɪ vyɪtʃ/ (Show IPA), 1849–1915, Russian statesman.
- sharp-witted — having or showing mental acuity; intellectually discerning; acute.
- shift worker — a person who does shiftwork
- shirtwaister — a tailored blouse or shirt worn by women.
- shooting war — open conflict between hostile nations involving direct military engagements.
- short-winded — short of breath; liable to difficulty in breathing.
- signal tower — a tower from which railway signals are controlled or displayed
- sinisterwise — in a leftwards direction
- solway firth — an arm of the Irish Sea between SW Scotland and NW England. 38 miles (61 km) long.
- space writer — a journalist or copywriter paid according to a space rate. Also called space man. Compare stringer (def 6).
- speechwriter — a person who writes speeches for others, usually for pay.
- speedwriting — a system of shorthand that is based on the sound of words and utilizes letters of the alphabet rather than symbols.
- sportswriter — a journalist who reports on sports and sporting events.
- spring water — water from natural underground source
- static water — water collected and stored in reservoirs, tanks, etc., as for urban use.
- stellar wind — the radial outflow of ionized gas from a star.
- storm window — a supplementary window sash for protecting a window against drafts, driving rain, etc.
- story writer — author of prose fiction
- straightaway — straight onward, without turn or curve, as a racecourse.
- straightways — in a direct course
- subway train — a train that runs on an underground railway
- summerweight — (of clothes) suitable in weight for wear in the summer; relatively light
- swamp rabbit — any of several southern cottontails, especially Sylvilagus aquaticus, of swamps and lowlands.
- swap trading — a contract in which the parties to it exchange liabilities on outstanding debts in trading
- sweater girl — a young woman with a shapely bosom, especially one who wears tight sweaters.
- switch grass — a North American grass, Panicum virgatum, having an open, branching inflorescence.
- the brownies — (in the US) the junior division of the Girl Scouts, usually for girls six to eight years old
- the in-crowd — fashionable people; top people
- the whirlies — illness induced by excessive use of alcohol or drugs
- thirty-twomo — a book size of about 3¼ × 5½ inches (8.3 × 14 cm), determined by printing on sheets that are folded to form 32 leaves or 64 pages. Symbol: 32mo, 32°.
- this-worldly — distinguished by or relating to material or earthly concerns; not spiritual or concerned with life in a future or imaginary world
- thitherwards — in that direction
- through with — having finished with (esp when dissatisfied with)
- throw pillow — a small pillow placed on a chair, couch, etc., primarily for decoration.
- throw weight — the lifting power, or payload maximum, of a ballistic missile exclusive of the weight of the rocket itself, and including the weight of the warhead or warheads and of guidance and penetration systems; ballistic delivery power: larger Soviet missiles with a throw weight of up to 20 megatons.
- throw-weight — the lifting power, or payload maximum, of a ballistic missile exclusive of the weight of the rocket itself, and including the weight of the warhead or warheads and of guidance and penetration systems; ballistic delivery power: larger Soviet missiles with a throw weight of up to 20 megatons.
- toilet water — a scented liquid used as a light perfume; cologne.
- trial lawyer — a lawyer who specializes in appearing before trial courts.
- trickle-down — of, relating to, or based on the trickle-down theory: the trickle-down benefits to the local community.
- trigger word — a word that initiates a process or course of action
- triple crown — an unofficial title held by a horse that wins the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes in a single season.
- trolley wire — an overhead wire that provides the current required for the trolleys of electric vehicles
- tube railway — subway (def 1).
- twenty-first — next after the twentieth; being the ordinal number for 21.
- twenty-sixer — a liquor bottle of around 26 ounces (0.750 litre) capacity
- twenty-third — next after the twenty-second; being the ordinal number for 23.