Veronica Penny of Ancaster, Ont., spelled gosling, sericeous and paleethnology but missed étagère. (Scripps National Spelling Bee)

The seven surviving Canadians in a major U.S. spelling bee were eliminated Friday for flubbing such words as accordatura (the notes to which a stringed instrument is tuned), tonneau (an early style of touring car) and otacariasis (an infestation of the ear with mites).

Although no Canadian has yet won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, last year's runner-up was Nate Gartke of Spruce Grove, Alta.

This year, there were 22 Canadians — ranging from 10 to 14 years of age and from fourth to eighth grade in school — in a field of 288 in Washington, D.C.

Seven spelled their way through four rounds before stumbling in Friday's semifinals. The seven (and the words they missed) are:

• Curtis Bogetti, a 14-year-old eighth grader from Kamloops, B.C. (otacariasis).
• Anqi Dong a 13-year-old eighth grader from Saskatoon, Sask. (hooley).
• Julie Huttemann, a 12-year-old eighth grader from Kelowna, B.C. (ressaulted).
• Émilie Lafleur, a 12-year-old sixth grader from Saint-Lambert, Que. (tonneau).
• Veronica Penny, a 10-year-old fourth grader from Ancaster, Ont. (étagère).
• Grace Tsai, a 14-year-old eighth grader from Abbotsford, B.C. (cinerea),
• Jessica Zung, a 13-year-old eighth grader from Don Mills, Ont. (accordatura).

The finals were to air on U.S. television Friday night.