Is there a term for using one language's syntax with another's words?
Heh, here's a side-attack on the problem. How about looking for the word list used by the screensaver? I found a thread that says you can find it at:
/System/Library/Graphics/Quartz\ Composer\ Plug-Ins/WOTD.plugin/Contents/Resources/NOAD_wotd_list.txt
The full thread: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/95038
It's a technical approach, but I bet would be successful in tracking down the word you saw.