Word on the street Titanorak

What it means:They appear suddenly out of nowhere, like icebergs in the mist, and regale you with their encyclopaedic knowledge about a certain ship that sank on its maiden voyage 100 years ago. They've seen the James Cameron blockbuster 20 times, and stayed in to watch the recent mini-series on telly. They are the Titanoraks, and when you see them approach, you get a sinking feeling as you are bombarded with "fascinating" facts about the doomed White Star liner.

Where it comes from:The term has been around a while, but this year's centenary has seen the Titanoraks come out in force. Last month, more than 1,300 people joined a memorial cruise that followed Titanic's route, and many of the passengers were self-confessed Titanoraks, proudly dressing in period costume and displaying their Mastermind-winning knowledge of the subject. Some enthusiasts, however, are not happy with the label.

A post on the blog encyclopedia-titanica.orgreads: "Such a term is shallow and superficial, as if the Royal Mail Steamer Titanic was merely a phenomenon of pop culture, not a historical event involving real-life people that took over a thousand lives."

How to say it:"We've got a real Titanorak here, Sid – wants a Harvey Wallbanger with ice cubes the exact shape of the iceberg."

Kevin Courtney