ROUNDABOUT
ADJECTIVES
— BACKASSED pert. to a manner that is backward, awkward, or roundabout → Bk2006 US sl.
— CIRCUMAMBAGIOUS roundabout in speech, etc.; not keeping to the point → 1834
— RIGMAROLE roundabout, nonsensical → Bk1903 sl.
— SINUOUS intricate, complex; roundabout → 1853
— UNGAIN not near at hand; indirect; roundabout; difficult of access; inconveniently situated; generally used of a direction or road → Bk1905 Eng. dial.
ADVERBS
— CIRCUMVENGEMOUS in a roundabout manner → 1927 Amer. dial.
NOUNS
— ABOUT-SPEECH a roundabout phrase; circumlocution → 1513 obs.
— BOUT-GATE a roundabout way; an underhand means; a deceitful course → Bk1911 Sc.
— CIRCUMBENDIBUS a roundabout or indirect way or method; a roundabout, long-winded story; circumlocution → 1681
— DO-DANCE a roundabout way to a place or to the accomplishment of a purpose; a fool’s errand, a useless journey → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
— DOUGHNUT a traffic roundabout → 1981 UK sl.
VERBS
— CIRCUMBILIVAGINATE to speak in a roundabout way; to use circumlocution → a1693 obs.
— GO ALL AROUND THE ELEPHANT’S SNOUT TO GET TO HIS TAIL to follow a roundabout course or course of action → 1965 Amer. dial.
— GO ALL AROUND THE HOUSES to take an unnecessarily circuitous route to one’s destination; to get to the point in a lengthy or roundabout way → 1958 Brit. colloq.
— GO ALL THE WAY ROUND THE WORLD to engage in a roundabout course of action → 1927 Amer. dial.
— GO AROUND ONE’S ELBOW to follow a roundabout course or course of action → 1965 Amer. dial.
— GO AROUND ONE’S ELBOW TO GET TO HIS THUMB to follow a roundabout course or course of action → 1965 Amer. dial.
— GO AROUND ONE’S FINGERS TO GET TO HIS THUMB to follow a roundabout course or course of action → 1914 Amer. dial.
— GO ROUND ONE’S FIST TO GET HIS THUMB to follow a roundabout course or course of action → 1965 Amer. dial.
— GO ROUND THE DEVIL’S ELBOW to follow a roundabout course or course of action → 1965 Amer. dial.
Lexicophilia 