Word of the Day for Monday December 5, 2005 panache \puh-NASH; -NAHSH\, noun: 1. Dash or flamboyance in manner or style. 2. A plume or bunch of feathers, esp. such a bunch worn on the helmet; any military plume, or ornamental group of feathers. Dessert included a marvelous bread pudding and a fair bananas Foster, the old-time New Orleans dish, which was prepared with great panache tableside, complete with a flambé moment. --Eric Asimov, "New Orleans, a City of Serious Eaters." [1]New York Times, July 4, 1999 It is... an inevitable hit, a galvanizing eruption of energy, panache and arrogantly sure-footed stagecraft that comes at a time when theatrical dance is in the doldrums. --Terry Teachout and William Tynan, "Seamy and Steamy." [2]Time, January 25, 1999 Although Black didn't have many friends and was not among the school's leaders, he was likeable, had panache, and his contemptuous tirades were rarely taken at face value. --Richard Siklos, [3]Shades of Black: Conrad Black and the World's Fastest Growing Press Empire _________________________________________________________ Panache is from the French, from Medieval French pennache, from Italian pinnacchio, "feather," from Late Latin pinnaculum, diminutive of penna, "feather." It is related to pen, originally a feather or quill used for writing. References 1. http://www.nyt.com/ 2. http://www.time.com/time/ 3. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0433397497/ref=nosim/lexico Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=panache