single-word-requests
Some people use specific words out of habit that they have used since childhood. Without their knowledge, these words will be the first to come out of their mouths. Examples of what I'm talking about include actually and what the fuck.
Is there a particular term to describe such words? I've searched for it but failed to come up with anything.
It's a "stormy petrel." The idea, as described on the linked page, is that (for example) you never (or, at least, rarely) find a petrel that's not stormy. Similarly, "all shrift is short," and lots of other examples. One of the ones there is in fact "every skirl is of bagpipes."
The simple umbrella term in which bees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets, etc. belong to is
Stinging insects. The more scientific term is Hymenoptera
Stinging insects have long been known to cause allergic reactions in humans. The earliest recorded death from an allergic reaction caused by a stinging insect was that of Pharaoh Menes of Egypt who died in 2641 B.C. after being stung by either a hornet or a wasp.
- Bees, wasps, and ants are stinging insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera, which is Latin for "membrane-winged." The 3 families of greatest medical significance within this order are Apidae (honeybees and bumblebees), Vespidae (yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps), and Formicidae (fire ants).
- Hymenoptera stings cause a wide spectrum of illness ranging from benign nuisance to life-threatening toxicity and anaphylaxis.
The scientific journal, Scientific American, uses the expression “stinging insects” several instances in their article entitled Ouch! An Interview with Entomology's King of Sting
Best Answer
I've heard the term verbal tic used in this context, for habitual expressions that the speaker jams into sentences irrespective of meaning or sense; I overheard one a man say:-
As no-one could doubt his honesty in reporting a football score, or entertain any doubts as to the meaning, I'd guess this is the sort of phrase you are interested in. He'd add one (or both) of those little fragments to practically everything he said.