WORD OF THE DAY: Woodshed
[WOOD-shed]
Part of speech: Verb
Origin: English, 18th century
Definition: To practice a musical instrument
Examples of Woodshed in a sentence
“A musician who woodsheds several times a day will soon become a master of her instrument.”
“The Band’s guitarist Robbie Robertson woodshedded so insistently he was known to take his guitar to the restroom.”
About Woodshed
“Woodshed” is a simple compound of “wood” and “shed,” a variant of “shade” derived from the Old English “sced.”
Did you Know?
As a noun, a woodshed normally describes an outdoor storage area for firewood — though it can also be a euphemism for an outhouse. Both places are located away from prying ears, so a woodshed has long been a place a musician can practice for long periods without fear of exasperating nearby listeners. “Woodshedding” as a verb resulted from the commonality of this practice.
