Dear List and DN,

 

An expression that might convey a certain hardwood testiness and capture the devoiced “v” at the end of the name, as well as the schwa sound of the unstressed final “o,” is: “oak huff”. In the spirit of Molly from Wisconsin, I offer the following—

 

The writer who suffered an oak huff

At the mere mention of Freud?

That’s right, mein Freund,

It’s Nabokov!!!

 

Best wishes,

Jerry Katsell