Author: James Clark
Each of the strings can be used to construct the name of a thing, by removing one consonant and filling in the missing vowels (including Y in some cases). For instance, FRTNDSHP becomes FRIENDSHIP and T.
These things can be grouped into seven categories:
Here are the results, grouped into categories and ordered alphabetically within the categories:
Knots | ||
bwlbn | bowline | B |
tdmnd | diamond | T |
frtndshp | friendship | T |
grnrn | granny | R |
psqr | square | P |
fstvdr | stevedore | F |
wndsrl | windsor | L |
Fortune 500 Companies | ||
chvcrn | chevron | C |
ccctl | coca-cola | T |
fcbrk | R | |
mcprsft | microsoft | P |
lffcdpt | office depot | L |
sxtpls | staples | X |
trglt | target | L |
wrstrnnn | western union | R |
Arcade games | ||
strdsc | asteroids | C |
dftndr | defender | T |
gnntlt | gauntlet | N |
mrbtrs | mario bros | T |
pcmpn | pacman | P |
drmpg | rampage | D |
Sports | ||
bscbll | baseball | C |
bthrln | biathlon | R |
bxncg | boxing | C |
ftncng | fencing | T |
tnnks | tennis | K |
tltmt | ultimate | T |
Music festivals | ||
llflplz | lollapalooza | F |
zzfrst | ozzfest | R |
ptcfhfrk | pitchfork | F |
brcklhm | rocklahoma | B |
wdsltck | woodstock | L |
Cocktails | ||
bldmrg | bloody mary | G |
csmrpltn | cosmopolitan | R |
hrsrcn | hurricane | S |
ksmkz | kamikaze | S |
mnhthtn | manhattan | H |
pmrgrt | margarita | P |
mnptjlp | mint julep | P |
mdtsld | mudslide | T |
wrhtrssn | white russian | R |
Solitaire card games | ||
ccrdnl | accordion | L |
lstrntn | alternation | S |
cnflcd | canfield | C |
klrndk | klondike | R |
prmdp | pyramid | P |
ynkn | yukon | N |
With the things grouped by category and alphabetically sorted within, the extra letters create seven more strings of consonants. Apply the same technique to them (form names of things by removing a letter and filling in vowels), to get seven more things. Each thing thus created is also a member of the category. For instance, the knots set produces "butterfly", which is also a type of knot. Ordering those alphabetically:
bttrpfl | butterfly | P |
ctrplxlr | caterpillar | X |
ctntpd | centipede | T |
crctkt | cricket | T |
frfbl | firefly | B |
grsshpptr | grasshopper | T |
lscrpn | scorpion | L |
In addition to being in their source sets, these new words form a new category: bugs. The extra letters (after removing X) can be used to spell the name of another bug, the POTATO BEETLE.