Clever words emanating from Barnet Council's golden towers last Tuesday had even the most experienced of Hendon Times journalists scrambling for their dictionaries last week.
We say words,' but rather it was one word - bund'.
Extolling the council's action in dealing with a favourite fly-tipping spot by Friern Bridge Retail Park, on the Muswell Hill-Barnet border, Councillor Matthew Offord, cabinet member for environment and transport, said a 2.5-metre bund' of earth would deter dumpers.
Collins' Concise English Dictionary (third edition) has no such entry under bund', nor does Chambers' Concise Dictionary (2004).
But just when we were beginning to fret (while simultaneously secretly hoping the normally immaculate Mr Offord had used the wrong word), the 1998 Chambers' edition came up trumps. Bund: man-made embankment or dam.
He's just too good, that Mr Offord.
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