bellwether

As a verb, to check out library books that one has no interest in reading so as to create a false impression of demand. From the novella Bellwether, by Connie Willis, where the protagonist routinely checks out copies of classic literature that she has already read, and frequently owns, after finding that the library was discarding copies of Dickens because of a lack of circulation. Similar to phyrangulation/freeping, but offline.

I only picked up Ragged Dick because I was bellwethering at the beginning of the alphabet, but I got bored and started reading it, and now I've got the rest of Alger's stuff on hold.

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Bellwether

Archaic term for a geriatric genital nib (specifically in males) that has been exposed to harsh weather conditions for a prolonged period of time.

. . "Tales told of the old man and the sea, the great bellwether exposed windswept head and rude as a thorn."

bellwether state

A state of the United States that historically votes for the winning candidate in a given election.

Arizona is a bellwether state.