popcorn

Etymology

Short for popped + corn.

noun

1. (chiefly uncountable) A snack food made from corn/maize kernels popped by dry heating.
2. (chiefly uncountable) A type of maize with a hard outer hull that, along with the type of starch it contains, makes it suitable for popping.
3. (knitting) A kind of stitch similar to a bobble.
   From the top the sample shows four stitch popcorns, five stitch bobbles, two rows of bells and a central leaf with leaves sloping to the left and right each side. 2008, Claire Compton, Sue Whiting, The Knitting and Crochet Bible, page 45
4. (humorous, by extension) Entertainment.
   And not at all about how a state picks which group of electors to send, which is the whole basis of the NaPoVoInterCo plan, and will yield plenty more Supreme Court popcorn if it ever gets enacted. 10 July 2020, CGP Grey, 3:55 from the start, in Supreme Court Rules on Faithless Electors in the Electoral College

verb

1. (of a guinea pig or chinchilla) To stand or jump up quickly.
   Popcorning behavior is a fun sight—as long as you know what it is. Otherwise, it can scare you. During this action a pig runs around very fast and suddenly leaps straight up in the air, twitching and squeaking. It then lands and takes off again, often in another direction. This activity shows pure joy. Babies start to popcorn when they are about two weeks old or so—they may try it earlier, but they usually fall down instead. 2000, Dale L. Sigler, A Grown-up's Guide to Guinea Pigs, iUniverse, page 58