I had this thread on another site. Enjoy!
Croodle
Croo"dle\ (kr??"d'l), v. i. [Cf. Cruddle, Crudle.]
1. To cower or cuddle together, as from fear or cold; to lie close and snug together, as pigs in straw. [Prov. Eng.] --Wright. Forby.
A dove to fly home her nest and croodle there. --C. Kingsley.
2. To fawn or coax. [Obs.]
3. To coo. [Scot.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Ignipotent
Ig*nip"o*tent\, a. [L. ignipotens; ignis fire + potens powerful.] Presiding over fire; also, fiery.
Vulcan is called the powerful ignipotent. --Pope.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Chaffer
–noun 1. bargaining; haggling.
–verb (used without object) 2. to bargain; haggle: to chaffer over a price.
3. to bandy words; chatter: to chaffer about nothing in particular.
–verb (used with object) 4. to bandy (words).
5. Obsolete. to trade or deal in; barter.
The peasant, not having much money to squander, was such a good chafferer that he went home from the faire with change still in his pockets.
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[Origin: 1175–1225; ME chaffare, deriv. of chapfare trading journey, equiv. to OE céap trade (see cheap) + faru journey; see fare]
—Related forms
chaff·er·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Miss B a request maybe?
Could you use the word in a sentence please?
I do like this topic.
How about a word for all the Norman personas out there? Here's a favourite from North of the border - tabernacle!!!!
TEENFUL Causing annoyance and vexation, from the word teen, meaning annoyance and irritation.
In 1386 Chaucer wrote in his Knight's Tale
Never was there no word him between of jealousy or any other teen.
In 1594 Shakespeare wrote in Richard III (Act IV, Scene 1),
"Each hour's joy wracked with a week of teen."
*sigh* The word seems so appropriate with my 4 boys either being teenagers or coming on soon. *sigh*
Pillion
–noun 1. a pad or cushion attached behind a saddle, esp. as a seat for a woman.
2. a pad, cushion, saddle, or the like, used as a passenger seat on a bicycle, motor scooter, etc.
3. a passenger's saddle or seat behind the driver's seat on a motorcycle.
The lady was most comfortable seated upon the pillion behind her knight.
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[Origin: 1495–1505; < ScotGael pillinn or Ir pillín, dim. of peall skin, rug blanket, MIr pell < L pellis skin]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Thank you Miss B!
*waving from behind the pillion*
chanking
Part of Speech: n
Definition: food that is spit out, like pits or seeds
Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
Copyright © 2003-2008 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC
The oaffish knight's habit of talking whilst eating left numerous chankings on the ground.
agerasia
noun
youthful appearance in an old person
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
The senile dowager was severely mistaken in her belief of her own agerasia.
My personal favorite
Nice
noun
1. A foolish or simple person; a fool.
a1425 (?a1400) CHAUCER Romaunt Rose 5043 If it be ony fool or nyce, In whom that Shame hath no justice.
from the Oxford English Dictionary.
ca·thol·i·con [kuh-thol-i-kuhn]
–noun a universal remedy; panacea.
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[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < ML < Gk katholikón neut. of katholikós catholic]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The pirate believed in rum as his catholicon to his ailments.
Great word! catholicon. Will have to figure out a way to use that one!
This weekend, I believe mead will be my catholicon.
Does that work?!? ;D
Mead always works.
And beer helps.
Cribble
Crib"ble\ (kr?b"b'l), n. [F. crible, LL. criblus sieve, fr. L. cribrum.]
1. A coarse sieve or screen.
2. Coarse flour or meal. [Obs.] --Johnson. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
The peasant woman used a cribble of woven grass to sift the bugs out of her flour.
bour·don [boor-dn, bawr-, bohr-]
–noun Music. 1. a. the drone pipe of a bagpipe.
b. the drone string of a stringed instrument.
2. a low-pitched tone; bass.
3. a pipe organ stop of very low pitch.
4. the bell in a carillon having the lowest pitch.
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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < MF; see burden2]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006
The bourdon of the pipers vibrated through her soul.
Dwale
Dwale\, n. [OE. dwale, dwole, deception, deadly nightshade, AS. dwala, dwola, error, doubt; akin to E. dull. See Dull, a.]
1. (Bot.) The deadly nightshade (Atropa Belladonna), having stupefying qualities.
2. (Her.) The tincture sable or black when blazoned according to the fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures.
3. A sleeping potion; an opiate. --Chaucer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
The distraught maiden had to resort to taking a dwale each night.
Pintle
/?p?ntl/ –noun
1. a pin or bolt, esp. one on which something turns, as the gudgeon of a hinge.
2. a pin, bolt, or hook by which a gun or the like is attached to the rear of a towing vehicle.
3. a cast iron or steel base for a wooden post, often cast in a single piece with a cap for a lower post.
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[Origin: bef. 1100; ME pintel penis, OE; c. ODan pintel]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The pintle in the top hinge had broken, causing the door to sag.
Swarf
/sw?rf/ –noun
an accumulation of fine particles of metal or abrasive cut or ground from work by a machine tool or grinder.
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[Origin: 1560–70; < ON svarf, akin to sverfa to file, or continuing OE geswearf, gesweorf]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The smithy was surrounded by swarf after a hard day's work.
Valgus
/?vælg?s/ [val-guhs]
–noun 1. an abnormally turned position of a part of the bone structure of a human being, esp. of the leg.
–adjective 2. of or in such a position; bowlegged, knock-kneed, or the like.
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[Origin: 1790–1800; < L: knock-kneed]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
After spending numerous hours on the joust field, the valgus knight had troubles walking straight.
Abderian
Ab*de"ri*an\,
a. [From Abdera, a town in Thrace, of which place Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher, was a native.] Given to laughter; inclined to foolish or incessant merriment.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Copious amounts of mead added to the abderian mood of the group.
Amphigory
[am-fi-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee]
–noun, plural -ries. a meaningless or nonsensical piece of writing, esp. one intended as a parody.
Also, amphigouri.
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[Origin: 1800–10; < F amphigouri, equiv. to amphi- amphi- + gouri; perh. modeled on F equiv. of phantasmagoria]
—Related forms
am·phi·gor·ic Audio Help /?æmf??g?r?k, -?g?r-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[am-fuh-gawr-ik, -gor-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The irreverent bard was a master of amphigory, at the expense of the King.
Saulie
Sau"lie\,
n. A hired mourner at a funeral. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
The undertaker always had a group of saulies on hand for his less popular customers.
Abligurition
Ab*lig`u*ri"tion\, n. [L. abligurito, fr. abligurire to spend in luxurious indulgence; ab + ligurire to be lickerish, dainty, fr. lingere to lick.]
Prodigal expense for food. [Obs.] --Bailey.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
With the abligurition of edibles at some faires, I had to buy a bigger pouch to hold the necessary coinage.
Farctate
Farc"tate\,
a. [L. farctus, p. p. of farcire. See Farce, v. t.] (Bot.) Stuffed; filled solid; as, a farctate leaf, stem, or pericarp; -- opposed to tubular or hollow. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
I was completely farctate after eating the pie, mash and liquor at WIRF.
hisbid
- ( )
Having stubble or being unshaven
http://www.islandnet.com/~egbird/dict/h.htm
The rogue's face always had the hisbid appearance of someone who woke up somewhere too far from his razor.
Rasorial
[ruh-sawr-ee-uhl, -sohr-]
–adjective 1. given to scratching the ground for food, as chickens; gallinaceous.
2. pertaining to a bird's foot adapted for scratching.
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[Origin: 1830–40; < NL Rasor(es) former name of the order, LL r?sorés, pl. of r?sor scratcher (L r?d(ere) to scrape, scratch + -tor -tor, with dt > s; cf. raze) + -ial]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The rasorial peasants looked like a flock of chickens as they searched for food after the noble's feast.
Miss B, I just love your posts! Thank you.
Quote from: Baron Doune on July 19, 2008, 02:32:44 PM
Miss B, I just love your posts! Thank you.
It's been fun trying to find something different each time.
Panjandrum
[pan-jan-druhm] –noun
A self-important or pretentious official.
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[Origin: 1745–55; pseudo-Latin word (based on pan-) coined by Samuel Foote (1720–77), English dramatist and actor]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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The most notable panjandrum at the faire must be the Lord High Sheriff.
fascinating stuff!
Alegar
[al-uh-ger, ey-luh-] –noun British Informal.
Ale vinegar; sour ale.
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[Origin: 1535–45; ale + (vin)egar]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The mistakes the novice brewer made resulted in a batch of unusable alegar.
Attercop
At"ter*cop\, n. [AS. attercoppa a spider; [=ae]tter poison + coppa head, cup.]
1. A spider. [Obs.]
2. A peevish, ill-natured person. [North of Eng.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
The judge was an attercop; ruining the lives of the petitioners who came before him as he sat in the middle of his web of power.
(how's that for using both definitions of the word at once?)
Huzzah and well done MissBubu!
;D
(gee, my photo kinda resembles the smiley!)
Bafflegab
[baf-uhl-gab]
–noun Slang. confusing or generally unintelligible jargon; gobbledegook: an insurance policy written in bafflegab impenetrable to a lay person.
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[Origin: 1950–55; baffle + gab1]
—Related forms
baf·fle·gab·ber, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The poor mother couldn't comprehend the bafflegab of her teenagers.
Blatherskite
[blath-er-skahyt] –noun
1. a person given to voluble, empty talk.
2. nonsense; blather.
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[Origin: 1640–50; blather + skite skate3]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Blatherskite is first recorded in an old Scots ballad called Maggie Lauder, attributed to Francis Sempill (or Semple) and dated about 1643, still well known today. There are various transcriptions of the first verse, one being:
Wha wadnae be in love
wi' bonnie Maggie Lauder?
A piper met her gaun tae Fife
and speirt what was't they ca'd her.
Right dauntingly she answered him,
"Begone ye hallanshaker.
Jog on your gate ye blether skyte,
my name is Maggie Lauder".
A rough translation into modern English is:
Who wouldn't be in love
with beautiful Maggie Lauder?
A piper met her going to Fife
and asked what people called her.
Discouragingly she answered him,
"Go away, you vagabond!
Be on your way, you talkative boaster,
my name is Maggie Lauder".
Boscage
[bos-kij]–noun
A mass of trees or shrubs; wood, grove, or thicket.
Also, boskage.
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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME boskage < MF boscage. See bosk, -age]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The peasant thief hid in the boscage to avoid being captured by the sheriff's men.
Brummagem
[bruhm-uh-juhm]
–adjective 1. showy but inferior and worthless.
–noun 2. a showy but inferior and worthless thing.
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[Origin: 1630–40; local var. of Birmingham, England (Compare Bromwichham, Bromecham (17th century), ME Burmingeham); orig. in allusion to counterfeit coins produced there in the 17th cent.]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The crafter was banned from participating in the faire after substituting brummagen wares for their usual inventory.
Caitiff
[key-tif]
–noun 1. a base, despicable person.
–adjective 2. base; despicable.
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[Origin: 1250–1300; ME caitif < AF < L capt?vus captive]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The landowner was such a caitiff that not only did he order weekly beatings for his shareholders, he made them do the beatings.
(here's a favorite of mine)
Callipygian
[kal-uh-pij-ee-uhn]
–adjective having well-shaped buttocks.
Also, cal·li·py·gous Audio Help /?kæl??pa?g?s/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kal-uh-pahy-guhs] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation.
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[Origin: 1640–50; < Gk kallipýg(os) with beautiful buttocks; referring to a statue of Aphrodite (kalli- calli- + pyg() rump + -os adj. suffix) + -ian]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Callipygian women have the best bahookies! (and I like to think I'm in that number)
Cenatory
Cen"a*to*ry\, a. [L. cenatorius, fr. cenare to dine, sup, fr. cena, coena, dinner, supper.] Of or pertaining to dinner or supper. [R.]
The Romans washed, were anointed, and wore a cenatory garment. --Sir T. Browne.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
This is one of 22,889 words and senses marked in the Oxford English Dictionary as being both obsolete and rare. The OED's only record for it is from a work of 1646 by the physician Sir Thomas Browne. He's immortalised in the OED by 3792 other citations, which include many equally rare words, such as bicipitous (having two heads); elychnious (having the nature of a wick); latirostrous (broad-beaked); stillicidious (falling in drops); and zodiographer (a person who writes about animals).
Cenatory isn't quite so rare as the OED entry might suggest. It turns up, for example, in Camp-Fire and Cotton-Field, by Thomas W. Knox, published in 1865: "On one line of boats, the cold meats on the supper-table were from carefully selected pieces, cooked and cooled expressly for the cenatory meal." And it's in James Branch Cabell's Chivalry (1921), in a passage that follows a description of a meal: "Richard was replete and contented with the world. He took up the lute, in full consciousness that his compliance was in large part cenatory."
World Wide Words copyright © Michael Quinion, 1996–2008
Quote from: MissBubu on July 28, 2008, 08:34:55 AM
Boscage
[bos-kij]–noun
A mass of trees or shrubs; wood, grove, or thicket.
Also, boskage.
The MNRF group can be found at the boskage, to the left of the main gate, every morning at fest. ;D
Good and useful word!
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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME boskage < MF boscage. See bosk, -age]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The peasant thief hid in the boscage to avoid being captured by the sheriff's men.
So would that make it the Breakfast Boskage?
Clerihew
[kler-uh-hyoo] –noun
Prosody. a light verse form, usually consisting of two couplets, with lines of uneven length and irregular meter, the first line usually containing the name of a well-known person.
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[Origin: 1925–30; named after E. Clerihew Bentley (1875–1956), English writer, its inventor]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Example of a clerihew (written by Edmund Clerihew Bentley):
Sir Humphry Davy
Abominated gravy.
He lived in the odium
Of having discovered sodium.
Clinquant
[kling-kuhnt]
–adjective 1. glittering, esp. with tinsel; decked with garish finery.
–noun 2. imitation gold leaf; tinsel; false glitter.
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[Origin: 1585–95; < MF: clinking, prp. of clinquer (< D klinken to sound); see -ant]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The misguided newbie tried to portray himself as royalty with clinquant costuming.
(yes, I have someone specific in mind for this one)
A super new newbie or an old newbie...one that really hates swedish fish and pirates now?
What an a$$hat
Swedish fish
Did you hear that he's married and has a child on the way?
Cockaigne
[ko-keyn]
–noun a fabled land of luxury and idleness.
Also, Cockayne.
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[Origin: 1250–1300; ME cokaygn(e) < MF (paide) cocaigne (land of) Cockaigne, idler's paradise < MLG k?kenje, equiv. to k?ken (see cookie) + -je dim. suffix]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Many hard working impoverished peasants dream of finding their own cockaigne and living a life of ease.
Codswallop
(kodz'wahl'up)
n. Chiefly British Slang
Nonsense; rubbish.
[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The idea that peasants could overthrow the king was thought to be codswallop.
Coxcomb
[koks-kohm]
–noun 1. a conceited, foolish dandy; pretentious fop.
2. Archaic. head; pate.
3. Obsolete. cockscomb (def. 2).
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[Origin: 1565–75; sp. var. of cockscomb]
—Related forms
cox·comb·i·cal Audio Help /k?ks?k?m?k?l, -?ko?m?-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[koks-kom-i-kuhl, -koh-mi-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, cox·comb·ic, adjective
cox·comb·i·cal·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. dude, popinjay, jackanapes.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The afore mentioned royalty-wanna-be was the epitome of a coscomb.
Darg
[dahrg]
–noun 1. Scot. and North England. a day's work.
2. Australian. a fixed or definite amount of work; a work quota.
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[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME dawerk, daiwerk, OE dægweorc, equiv. to dæg day + weorc work]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The landowner kept his peasants happy, ensuring a good darg from each of them.
Deasil
[dee-zuhl]
–adverb Chiefly Scot. clockwise or in a direction following the apparent course of the sun: considered as lucky or auspicious.
Compare withershins.
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[Origin: 1765–75; < ScotGael, Ir deiseal, MIr dessel, equiv. to dess right, south + sel turn, time; opposed in Ir to túaithbel]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Sir Walter Scott, Chronicles of the Canongate: "In the meantime, she traced around him, with wavering steps, the propitiation, which some have thought has been derived from the Druidical mythology. It consists, as is well known, in the person who makes the deasil walking three times round the person who is the object of the ceremony, taking care to move according to the course of the sun".
Deray
De*ray"\, n. [OF. derroi, desroi, desrei; pref. des- (L. dis-) + roi, rei, rai, order. See Array.]
Disorder; merriment. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Without their lord about, the peasants quickly fell into dancing and deray.
Empasm
Em*pasm"\, n. [F. empasme, fr. Gr. ? to sprinkle in or on; ? in + ? to sprinkle.]
A perfumed powder sprinkled upon the body to mask the odor of sweat.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
The fastidious lady often used an empasm on warm days.
Esculent
[es-kyuh-luhnt]
–adjective 1. suitable for use as food; edible.
–noun 2. something edible, esp. a vegetable.
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[Origin: 1615–25; < L ésculentus edible, full of food, equiv. to ésc(a) food (cf. escarole) + -ulentus -ulent]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
I enjoyed an excellent esculent spinach pie at the faire.
Quote from: MissBubu on August 05, 2008, 11:24:28 AM
Swedish fish
Did you hear that he's married and has a child on the way?
Yes unfortunatly I did hear that, I also heard that his new wife has like 2 young girls ick. BTW...if you see him before I think 5th weekend let SS know.
Estovers
[e-stoh-verz]
–plural noun Law. necessaries allowed by law, as wood and timber to a tenant or alimony to a spouse.
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[Origin: 1250–1300; ME < AF, n. use of OF estovoir, estover to be necessary ? L est opus there is need]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Thanks to the estovers regarding the landowner's forest, the peasants were able to fuel their fires.
Eyot
[ahy-uht, eyt]
–noun British Dialect. ait.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Ait\, n. [AS. ?, ?, perh. dim. of [=i]eg, [=i]g, island. See Eyot.] An islet, or little isle, in a river or lake; an eyot.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
J R R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: "That night they camped on a small eyot close to the western bank".
Fanfaronade
[fan-fer-uh-neyd]
–noun bragging; bravado; bluster.
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[Origin: 1645–55; < F fanfaronnade < Sp fanfarronada. See fanfaron, -ade1]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Sir Walter Scott, The Surgeon's Daughter, Chronicles of the Canongate, dated 1827: "Dr Gray ... was an enemy to every thing that approached to fanfaronade, and knew enough of the world to lay it down as a sort of general rule, that he who talks a great deal of fighting is seldom a brave soldier, and he who always speaks about wealth is seldom a rich man at bottom."
Fantod
[fan-tod]
–noun 1. Usually, fantods. a state of extreme nervousness or restlessness; the willies; the fidgets (usually prec. by the): We all developed the fantods when the plane was late in arriving.
2. Sometimes, fantods. a sudden outpouring of anger, outrage, or a similar intense emotion.
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[Origin: 1835–40; appar. fant(igue) (earlier fantique, perh. b. fantasy and frantic; -igue prob. by assoc. with fatigue) + -od(s), of obscure orig.; see -s3]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Atlanta Journal in March 1999: "He is beside himself, in flaming fantods, screeching histrionics in the direst of foreboding and doom".
These are great! Thanks for keeping us educated!
Thanks, Lady Fig! It's fun finding the words. I have to start working some of these into my everyday conversation. There have been times our office has had a case of the flaming fantods. Sounds like we should be buying some Preparation H.
Farb
An inauthentic re-enactor of battles.
"This is a jargon word of those groups of enthusiasts who go from place to place re-enacting historic battles. It's American in origin, but has also become known in other countries. Re-enactors are deadly serious about getting the details of uniform and equipment correct. They are dismissive of the people they call farbs who come for the fun but who don't make the effort to get things right, the sort of people who will mix up items of uniform or carry a mobile phone or wear sunglasses.
The term dates from the 1960s; an explanation for its origin was given in July 1986 in a re-enactors' magazine, the Camp Chase Gazette, in which an early group leader, George Gorman, was said to have formed it from the beginning of 'Far be it from me to criticise inauthentic uniforms ...'."
However, some dispute this explanation of the word's origin. (see website)
http://wesclark.com/jw/forigin.html
Fardel
[fahr-dl]
–noun Archaic. a bundle; burden.
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[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < AF, OF < OPr, equiv. to fard(a) bundle (? Ar fardah load) + -el < L -ellus; see -elle]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: aye, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.-- Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.
William Shakespeare
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
You got imaginative over the weekend didn't you. :D
Hey, gotta keep my peeps happy! ;D
Fescennine
[fes-uh-nahyn, -nin]
–adjective scurrilous; licentious; obscene: fescennine mockery.
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[Origin: 1595–1605; < L Fescenn?nus of, belonging to Fescennia, a town in Etruria noted for jesting and scurrilous verse; see -ine1]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Gordy, aka Scratch the Beggar, has the most fescennine poetry I have ever heard. (ask him for his Irish poem)
Fimbriate
[adj. fim-bree-it, -eyt; v. fim-bree-eyt]
–adjective 1. Also, fim·bri·at·ed. Botany, Zoology. having a border of hairs or filiform processes.
–verb (used with object) 2. Heraldry. to line (an ordinary) with a thin border of a different tincture.
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[Origin: 1480–90; < L fimbri?tus fringed. See fimbria, -ate1]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The flag was resplendantly fimbriated with gold fringe.
Flagitious
[fluh-jish-uhs]
–adjective 1. shamefully wicked, as persons, actions, or times.
2. heinous or flagrant, as a crime; infamous.
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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME flagicious < L fl?giti?sus, equiv. to fl?giti(um) shame, scandal + -?sus -ous]
—Related forms
fla·gi·tious·ly, adverb
fla·gi·tious·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The flagitious owner of the faire kept raising the price of mead.
Quote from: MissBubu on August 28, 2008, 08:12:36 AM
Flagitious
[fluh-jish-uhs]
–adjective 1. shamefully wicked, as persons, actions, or times.
2. heinous or flagrant, as a crime; infamous.
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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME flagicious < L fl?giti?sus, equiv. to fl?giti(um) shame, scandal + -?sus -ous]
—Related forms
fla·gi·tious·ly, adverb
fla·gi·tious·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The flagitious owner of the faire kept raising the price of mead.
Now that is a word one could have fun with!
How about this:
The cast was having a case of the screaming fantods on Sunday over the flagitious owner's decision to pull them off their gridded schedules and make them go to front gate.
I like that. Although "screaming fantods" doesn't really fit.
I would call it "overly dramatic whiney reaction".
"Flagitious owner" definately fits though.
I was using the second definition of "fantod". The state most of them were in when they came pouring out through my gate was definitely "a sudden outpouring of anger, outrage, or a similar intense emotion"
I got to check FO's pass on Saturday and made sure he had a hand stamp to get back in on Sunday.
I guess that would be appropriate. I only spoke with a few people who had been asked and they seem midly irritated and the emails that I have seen on the listserve were more whiney & dramatic than anything. You having seen it first hand...well I stand sit corrected. ;D
"FO"... I like that, we should start using that as a codename for him.
Foudroyant
[foo-droi-uhnt; Fr. foo-drwa-yahn]
–adjective 1. striking as with lightning; sudden and overwhelming in effect; stunning; dazzling.
2. Pathology. (of disease) beginning in a sudden and severe form.
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[Origin: 1830–40; < F, prp. of foudroyer to strike with lightning, deriv. of foudre lightning < L fulgur]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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The foudroyant plague swept through the unprepared village, leaving death in its wake.
(such a cheery thought to begin the weekend)
Funambulist
[fyoo-nam-byuh-list]
n. One who performs on a tightrope or a slack rope.
[From Latin f?nambulus : f?nis, rope + ambul?re, to walk; see ambhi in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Tuey is the funambulist extraordinaire at MNRF.
furbelow
[fur-buh-loh]
–noun 1. a ruffle or flounce, as on a woman's skirt or petticoat.
2. any bit of showy trimming or finery.
–verb (used with object) 3. to ornament with or as if with furbelows.
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[Origin: 1670–80; var. of falbala]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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With the extra wide hoop, it took many yards of of fabric to make the furbelow on the Queen's skirt.
Fustilug
Fus"ti*lug`\, Fustilugs \Fus"ti*lugs`\, n. [Fusty + lug something heavy, to be drawn or carried.]
A gross, fat, unwieldy person. [Obs.] --F. Junius.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
From The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton: "Every lover admires his mistress, though she be ... a vast virago, or an ugly tit, a slug, a fat fustilugs".
Galligaskins
[gal-i-gas-kinz]
–noun (used with a plural verb) 1. loose hose or breeches worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
2. loose breeches in general.
3. leggings or gaiters, usually of leather.
Also, gallygaskins.
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[Origin: 1570–80; earlier gallogascaine(s), galigascon(s), of obscure orig.; final element is perh. Gascon (later assimilated to -kin)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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His galligaskins had so much fabric in them, it was wondered if he could use them as a sail.
Gallimaufry
[gal-uh-maw-free]
–noun, plural -fries. Chiefly Literary. 1. a hodgepodge; jumble; confused medley.
2. a ragout or hash.
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[Origin: 1545–55; < MF galimafree kind of sauce or stew, prob. a conflation of galer to amuse oneself (see gallant) and Picard dial. mafrer to gorge oneself (< MD moffelen to eat, nosh)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The Peasant Union Meeting is a gallimaufry of the various types of peasantry present at the fest.
gazump
[guh-zuhmp]
–verb (used with object) 1. to cheat (a house buyer) by raising the price, at the time a contract is to be signed, over the amount originally agreed upon.
–noun 2. an act of gazumping.
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[Origin: 1925–30; earlier gazoomph to swindle, argot word of uncert. orig.]
—Related forms
ga·zump·er, noun
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
I almost had some nice acreage until his lordship gazumped me with the aid of the unscrupulous seller.
Gonfalon
\?gän-f?-?län, -l?n\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian gonfalone
Date: 1595
1 : the ensign of certain princes or states (as the medieval republics of Italy)
2 : a flag that hangs from a crosspiece or frame
The sun was setting over the western mountains when the last dhow entered the bay. This was the largest of them all, and at the peak of her stubby mast she flew the snarling leopard head gonfalon and the gaudy colours of the House of Trok Uruk.
— Warlock, by Wilbur Smith.
Gongoozler
an idle spectator, esp. one who stares for a long time at something
Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
Copyright © 2003-2008 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC
By the end of the day, many tired patrons turn into gongoozlers, barely remembering to applaud at the end of a show.
Gorbelly
[gawr-bel-ee]
–noun, plural -lies. Obsolete. a protruding belly.
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[Origin: 1510–20; perh. gore1 + belly; cf. Sw (dial.) går-bälg]
—Related forms
gorbellied, adjective
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
His lordship, with his ample gorbelly from fine foods, had troubles getting through the door to the privy.
Hebetude
[heb-i-tood, -tyood]
–noun
the state of being dull; lethargy.
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[Origin: 1615–25; < LL hebet?d? dullness, bluntness, equiv. to L hebet- (s. of hebes) dull + -?d?; see -tude]
—Related forms
heb·e·tu·di·nous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Joseph Conrad, in Nostromo: "From that solitude, full of despair and terror, he was torn out brutally, with kicks and blows, passive, sunk in hebetude".
Higgler
[hig-ler] – noun
a peddler or huckster.
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[Origin: 1630–40; higgle + -er1]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The higgler made the rounds of the small faires, hoping to turn a profit with his gaudy wares.
Hobbledehoy
[hob-uhl-dee-hoi] –noun
an awkward, ungainly youth.
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[Origin: 1530–40; var. of hoberdyhoy, alliterative compound, equiv. to hoberd (var. of Roberd Robert) + -y2 + -hoy for boy (b > h for alliteration; see hob2)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Anthony Trollope's The Small House at Allington: "Such young men are often awkward, ungainly, and not yet formed in their gait; they straggle with their limbs, and are shy; words do not come to them with ease, when words are required, among any but their accustomed associates. Social meetings are periods of penance to them, and any appearance in public will unnerve them. They go much about alone, and blush when women speak to them. In truth, they are not as yet men, whatever the number may be of their years; and, as they are no longer boys, the world has found for them the ungraceful name of hobbledehoy".
HODENING, an ancient Christmas custom still surviving in Wales, Kent, Lancashire and elsewhere. A horse's skull or a wooden imitation on a pole is carried round by a party of youths, one of whom conceals himself under a white cloth to simulate the horse's body, holding a lighted candle in the skull. They make a house-to-house visitation, begging gratuities. The "Penitential" of Archbishop Theodore (d. 690) speaks of "any who, on the kalands of January, clothe themselves with the skins of cattle and carry heads of animals." This, coupled with the fact that among the primitive Scandinavians the horse was often the sacrifice made at the winter solstice to Odin for success in battle, has been thought to justify the theory that hodening is a corruption of Odining.
Honorificabilitudinitatibus
The state of being able to achieve honours.
Wiktionary
William Shakespeare (in Love's Labour Lost)
Act 5, Scene 1:
I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word;
for thou art not so long by the head as
honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier
swallowed than a flap-dragon.
Quote from: MissBubu on September 19, 2008, 08:58:56 AM
Honorificabilitudinitatibus
The state of being able to achieve honours.
Wiktionary
William Shakespeare (in Love's Labour Lost)
Act 5, Scene 1:
I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word;
for thou art not so long by the head as
honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier
swallowed than a flap-dragon.
Can we get a phoenetic spelling on that one? :o ;)
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay
Honorificabilitudinitatibus!
Even though the sound of it Is something quite atrocious
If you say it loud enough
You'll always sound precocious
Honorificabilitudinitatibus!
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay........
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Marietta Graziella on September 19, 2008, 10:22:50 PM
Can we get a phoenetic spelling on that one? :o ;)
hawn or if ih ca bil ih too din ih tat ih bus
;D
Incarnadine
[in-kahr-nuh-dahyn, -din, -deen]
–adjective 1. blood-red; crimson.
2. flesh-colored; pale pink.
–noun 3. an incarnadine color.
–verb (used with object) 4. to make incarnadine.
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[Origin: 1585–95; < MF, fem. of incarnadin flesh-colored < It incarnatino, equiv. to incarnat(o) made flesh (see incarnate) + -ino -ine1; see carnation]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Shakespeare's Macbeth: "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red".
Inglenook
[ing-guhl-nook] –noun
a corner or nook near a fireplace; chimney corner.
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[Origin: 1765–75; ingle + nook]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear: "Finally he lit his pipe, and sitting in the inglenook of the old village inn he talked slowly and at random about his case, rather as one who thinks aloud than as one who makes a considered statement".
Jocund
[jok-uhnd, joh-kuhnd]–adjective
cheerful; merry; gay; blithe; glad: a witty and jocund group.
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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME jocound < LL jocundus, alter. of L j?cundus pleasant, equiv. to ju(v?re) to help, benefit, please, delight + -cundus adj. suffix]
—Related forms
joc·und·ly, adverb
—Synonyms joyous, joyful, blithesome, jolly. See jovial.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet: "Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day / stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops".
Killick
[kil-ik] –noun
1. a small anchor or weight for mooring a boat, sometimes consisting of a stone secured by pieces of wood.
2. any anchor.
Also called killock.
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[Origin: 1620–30; orig. uncert.]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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The fishermen dropped their killick in a small bay rumored to be rife with fish.
Lexiphanic
(l[e^]ks`[i^]*f[a^]n"[i^]k)
Using, or interlarded with, pretentious words; bombastic; as, a lexiphanic writer or speaker; lexiphanic writing.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
I suppose, as the main contributor to this thread, that I could at times be considered lexiphanic.
liripipe
[lir-ee-pahyp] –noun
1. a hood with a long, hanging peak, worn originally by medieval academics and later adopted for general wear in the 14th and 15th centuries.
2. a long strip or tail of fabric hanging from a garment or headdress, esp. the peak of this hood or a streamer on a chaperon; tippet.
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[Origin: 1540–50; < ML liripipium, of obscure orig.]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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His liripipe was so long it tripped him as he walked.
Macaronic
[mak-uh-ron-ik]
–adjective 1. composed of or characterized by Latin words mixed with vernacular words or non-Latin words given Latin endings.
2. composed of a mixture of languages.
3. mixed; jumbled.
–noun 4. macaronics, macaronic language.
5. a macaronic verse or other piece of writing.
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[Origin: 1605–15; < ML macar?nicus < dial. It maccarone macaroni + L -icus -ic]
—Related forms
mac·a·ron·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
I've noticed that most "foreigners" at faires tend to speak in macaronic sentences, throwing in made up words.
Machicolation
[muh-chik-uh-ley-shuhn]–noun Architecture.
1. an opening in the floor between the corbels of a projecting gallery or parapet, as on a wall or in the vault of a passage, through which missiles, molten lead, etc., might be cast upon an enemy beneath.
2. a projecting gallery or parapet with such openings.
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[Origin: 1780–90; machicolate + -ion]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The chemotherapy to fight my cancer was like dropping boiling oil on the enemy from the machicolations.
Macilent
[mas"i*lent] -
Lean, shrivelled, or excessively thin.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
"A reviewer of Britney Spears's album In the Zone in 2003 described it as 'Britney's most personal statement. Because it's as lost and macilent and alluring and eager to please and disturbingly empty-eyed as she is.' "
hahaha!
That's Britney, allright!
Makebate
[meyk-beyt] –noun Archaic.
a person who causes contention or discord.
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[Origin: 1520–30; make1 + bate contention, discord (ME, deriv. of baten to fight, strive; see bate2)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Sir Walter Scott in The Abbot (1820): "Elsewhere he may be an useful and profitable member of the commonweal — here he is but a makebate, and a stumbling-block of offence."
Malapert
[mal-uh-purt]
-adjectective 1. unbecomingly bold or saucy.
–noun 2. a malapert person.
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[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME: insolent < MF: unskillful. See mal-, pert]
—Related forms
mal·a·pert·ly, adverb
mal·a·pert·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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"Caxton's Book of Curtesye of about 1477-78. In modern form, the line would be 'Don't play Jack Malapert, that is, don't be presumptuous'."
Mattoid
Mat"toid\, n. [It. matto mad (cf. L. mattus, matus, drunk) + -oid.] A person of congenitally abnormal mind bordering on insanity or degeneracy.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
H G Wells, in Mankind in the Making, "Among such theorists none at present are in quite such urgent need of polemical suppression as those who would persuade the heedless general reader that every social failure is necessarily a 'degenerate', and who claim boldly that they can trace a distinctly evil and mischievous strain in that unfortunate miscellany which constitutes 'the criminal class'... These mattoid scientists make a direct and disastrous attack upon the latent self-respect of criminals."
Merrythought
[mer-ee-thawt] –noun Chiefly British.
The wishbone or furcula of a fowl.
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[Origin: 1600–10; so called from the custom of pulling the bone apart until it breaks, the person holding the longer (sometimes shorter) piece supposedly marrying first or being granted a wish at the time]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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As children, my brother and I would get to make wishes on the merrythought of the Thanksgiving turkey.
Mudlark
[muhd-lahrk]
–noun
1. Chiefly British. a person who gains a livelihood by searching for iron, coal, old ropes, etc., in mud or low tide.
2. Chiefly British Informal. a street urchin.
3. either of two black and white birds, Grallina cyanoleuca, of Australia, or G. bruijni, of New Guinea, that builds a large, mud nest.
–verb (used without object)
4. to grub or play in mud.
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[Origin: 1790–1800; mud + lark1]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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The Peasant Union #2 gained a group of young mudlarks this year.
Mugwump
[muhg-wuhmp] –noun
1. a Republican who refused to support the party nominee, James G. Blaine, in the presidential campaign of 1884.
2. a person who is unable to make up his or her mind on an issue, esp. in politics; a person who is neutral on a controversial issue.
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[Origin: 1830–35, Americanism; artificial 19th-cent. revival of Massachusett (E sp.) mugquomp, syncopated form of muggumquomp war leader (equiv. to Proto-Algonquian *memekw- perh., swift + *-a·pe·w man)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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In an effort to be unbiased between my liberal friends and conservative family members, I have unfortunately become an ineffective mugwump when it comes to politics.
Mulligrubs
[muhl-i-gruhbz]
–noun (used with a singular or plural verb) Southern U.S. ill temper; colic; grumpiness.
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[Origin: 1590–1600; earlier mulligrums, appar. alter. of megrims]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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I usually find myself in a state of mulligrubs when fest season ends.
Mundungus
[muhn-duhng-guhs]
–noun Archaic. malodorous tobacco.
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[Origin: 1630–40; Latinized var. of Sp mondongo tripe]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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The cheap man left the air fouled with the smoke of the mundungus in his pipe.
Nepenthe
[ni-PEN-thee] –noun
1. a drug or drink, or the plant yielding it, mentioned by ancient writers as having the power to bring forgetfulness of sorrow or trouble.
2. anything inducing a pleasurable sensation of forgetfulness, esp. of sorrow or trouble.
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[Origin: 1590–1600; < L népenthes < Gk népenthés herb for soothing, n. use of neut. of népenths sorrowless, equiv. to né- not + pénth(os) sorrow + -és adj. suffix]
—Related forms
ne·pen·the·an, adjective
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Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven: "Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore! / Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore'."
Nescience
[nesh-uhns, nesh-ee-uhns, nes-ee-] –noun
1. lack of knowledge; ignorance.
2. agnosticism.
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[Origin: 1605–15; < LL nescientia ignorance, equiv. to ne- not + scientia knowledge; see science]
—Related forms
nescient, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
G K Chesterton, The Innocence of Father Brown: "Flambeau had been missed at Harwich; and if he was in London at all, he might be anything from a tall tramp on Wimbledon Common to a tall toast-master at the Hotel Metropole. In such a naked state of nescience, Valentin had a view and a method of his own".
Ninnyhammer
[nin-ee-ham-er] –noun
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
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[Origin: 1585–95; ninny + hammer]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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John Arbuthnot's satirical pamphlet of 1712, The Law is a Bottomless Pit: "Have you no more manners than to rail at Hocus, that has saved that clod-pated, numskull'd ninnyhammer of yours from ruin, and all his family?"
Nipperkin
Nip"per*kin\, n.
A small cup. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
English West Country song, the Barley Mow:
We'll drink it out of the nipperkin, boys,
Here's a health to the barley-mow!
The nipperkin and the jolly brown bowl,
Here's a health to the barley-mow, my brave boys,
Here's a health to the barley-mow!
NUBBING-CHEAT
The gallows.
World Wide Words is copyright © Michael Quinion, 1996–2008.
Henry Fielding, Tom Jones (1745): "I will shew you a way to empty the pocket of a queer cull, without any danger of the nubbing cheat"
Nympholepsy
[nim-fuh-lep-see] –noun, plural -sies.
1. an ecstasy supposed by the ancients to be inspired by nymphs.
2. a frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable.
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Origin:
1765–75; formed on nympholept, on the model of epilepsy
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
George Moore, Memoirs of My Dead Life:
I have always thought it must be a wonderful thing to believe in the dryad. Do you know that men wandering in the woods sometimes used to catch sight of a white breast between the leaves, and henceforth they could love no mortal woman? The beautiful name of their malady was nympholepsy. A disease that every one would like to catch.
Obnubilate
[ob-noo-buh-leyt, -nyoo-] –verb (used with object), -lat?ed, -lat?ing.
to cloud over; becloud; obscure.
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Origin:
1575–85; < L obn?bil?tus, ptp. of obn?bil?re to darken, obscure, equiv. to ob- ob- + n?bil?re to become cloudy, v. deriv. of n?bilus cloudy; see nubilous
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Neal Stephenson, Quicksilver: "This was a wonder all by itself, with its ropewalks — skinny buildings a third of a mile long — windmills grinding lead and boring gun-barrels, a steam-house, perpetually obnubilated, for bending wood, dozens of smoking and clanging smithys including two mighty ones where anchors were made ...".
Oxter
[ok-ster] –noun Scot. and North England.
The armpit.
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Origin:
1490–1500; akin to OE ?custa armpit, ON (h)?str throat
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George Macdonald Fraser, Flashman and the Mountain of Light: "A lackey serving the folk in the gallery put a beaker in my hand. What with brandy and funk I was parched as a camel's oxter, so I drank it straight off".
Palimpsest
[pal-imp-sest] –noun
A parchment or the like from which writing has been partially or completely erased to make room for another text.
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Origin:
1655–65; < L palimps?stus < Gk palímps?stos rubbed again (pálin again + ps?stós scraped, rubbed, verbid of psân to rub smooth)
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Many important historical writings have been found on palimpsests which have been used to write vastly inferior dross.
Pecksniffian
[pek-snif-ee-uhn] –adjective
Hypocritically and unctuously affecting benevolence or high moral principles.
Also, Peck·sniff·ish.
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[Origin: 1850–55; named after Seth Pecksniff, character in Martin Chuzzlewit, a novel (1843) by Dickens; see -ian]
—Related forms
Peck·sniff·er·y, Peck·sniff·i·an·ism, Peck·sniff·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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The pecksniffian financial advisor fawned over his clients, telling them what to invest in and when to sell, but put his own money in a sock under his mattress.
Pelf
[pelf] –noun
money or wealth, esp. when regarded with contempt or acquired by reprehensible means.
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[Origin: 1300–50; ME < OF pelfre booty]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Sir Walter Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel:
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.
Petard
[pi-tahrd] –noun
1. an explosive device formerly used in warfare to blow in a door or gate, form a breach in a wall, etc.
2. a kind of firecracker.
3. (initial capital letter) Also called Flying Dustbin. a British spigot mortar of World War II that fired a 40-pound (18 kg) finned bomb, designed to destroy pillboxes and other concrete obstacles.
—Idiom
4. hoist by or with one's own petard, hurt, ruined, or destroyed by the very device or plot one had intended for another.
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[Origin: 1590–1600; < MF, equiv. to pet(er) to break wind (deriv. of pet < L péditum a breaking wind, orig. neut. of ptp. of pédere to break wind) + -ard -ard]
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Pilgarlic
[pil-gahr-lik] –noun
1. a person regarded with mild or pretended contempt or pity.
2. Obsolete. a baldheaded man.
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Origin:
1520–30; earlier pyllyd garleke lit., peeled garlic, orig. metaphor for a bald man, whose head is compared to a peeled garlic bulb. See pill 2 , garlic
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Gargantua and Pantagruel, by Rabelais: "After this, we e'en jogged to bed for that night; but the devil a bit poor pilgarlic could sleep one wink — the everlasting jingle-jangle of the bells kept me awake whether I would or no".
Pinchbeck
[pinch-bek]
–noun
1. an alloy of copper and zinc, used in imitation of gold.
2. something sham, spurious, or counterfeit.
–adjective
3. made of pinchbeck.
4. sham, spurious, or counterfeit: pinchbeck heroism.
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Origin:
1725–35; named after Christopher Pinchbeck (d. 1732), English watchmaker and its inventor
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The unscrupulous cad sold the lady a pinchbeck pendant, letting her think it was real gold.
Plenilune
Plen"i*lune\, n. [L. plenilunium; plenus full + luna the moon.] The full moon. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
James Joyce's Chamber Music: "What counsel has the hooded moon / Put in thy heart, my shyly sweet, / Of love in ancient plenilune, / Glory and stars beneath his feet".
Portolano
[pawr-tl-ah-noh, pohr-] –noun, plural -nos, -ni ?/-ni/
a descriptive atlas of the Middle Ages, giving sailing directions and providing charts showing rhumb lines and the location of ports and various coastal features.
Also called rutter.
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Origin:
1855–60; < It: shipmaster's guidebook; earlier, harbor master < ML portul?nus. See port 1 , -ule, -an
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Sailors would be utterly lost in the British Isles with out a good portolano.
Pridian
Prid"i*an\, a. [L. pridianus.]
Of or pertaining to the day before, or yesterday. [R.] --Thackeray.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
William Makepeace Thackeray, A Shabby Genteel Story: "Thrice a-week, at least, does Gann breakfast in bed — sure sign of pridian intoxication".
Pulchritudinous
[puhl-kri-tood-n-uhs, -tyood-] –adjective
physically beautiful; comely.
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Origin:
1910–15, Americanism; < L pulchrit?din- (s. of pulchrit?d?) + -ous
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper article described Eartha Kitt as a septuagenarian sex kitten and pulchritudinous purrer.
Cardinal Wolsey, in a speech to Henry VIII in which he described the king as "Your noble persone, so formed and figured in shape and stature with force and pulchritude."
pusillanimous
[pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs] –adjective
1. lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.
2. proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit.
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Origin:
1580–90; < LL pusillanimis petty-spirited, equiv. to L pusill(us) very small, petty + -anim(is) -spirited, -minded (anim(us) spirit + -is adj. suffix); see -ous
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In the comic strip, Wizard of Id, the pusillanimous knight, Sir Rodney, is often seen running away from battle.
Quidnunc
[kwid-nuhngk] –noun
a person who is eager to know the latest news and gossip; a gossip or busybody.
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Origin:
1700–10; < L quid nunc what now?
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables: "What a treasure-trove to these venerable quidnuncs, could they have guessed the secret which Hepzibah and Clifford were carrying along with them!".
Quillon
[kee-yawn] –noun,
either of two transverse projecting members forming the cross guard of a sword.
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Origin:
< F, deriv. of quille pin, club < MHG kegel club
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Oathbreakers by Mercedes Lackey: "The sheath looked as if it had once had metal fittings; there were gaping sockets in the pommel and at the ends of the quillions of the sword that had undoubtedly once held gemstones."
Rantipole
Rant"i*pole\, n.
A wild, romping young person.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: "This rantipole hero had for some time singled out the blooming Katrina for the object of his uncouth gallantries, and though his amorous toyings were something like the gentle caresses and endearments of a bear, yet it was whispered that she did not altogether discourage his hopes."
Rodomontade
[rod-uh-mon-teyd, -tahd, -muhn-, roh-duh-] noun, adjective, verb, -tad?ed, -tad?ing.
–noun
1. vainglorious boasting or bragging; pretentious, blustering talk.
–adjective
2. bragging.
–verb (used without object)
3. to boast; brag; talk big.
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Origin:
1605–15; < MF < It Rodomonte, the boastful king of Algiers in Orlando Innamorato and Orlando Furioso + MF -ade -ade 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Brontë: "She knows what she's about; but he, poor fool, deludes himself with the notion that she'll make him a good wife, and because she has amused him with some rodomontade about despising rank and wealth in matters of love and marriage, he flatters himself that she's devotedly attached to him."
Sciolism
[sahy-uh-liz-uhm] –noun
Superficial knowledge.
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Origin:
1810–20; < LL sciol(us) one who knows little (dim. of scius knowing; see conscious, -ole 1 ) + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Thomas Henry Huxley in the Fortnightly Review in 1878: "Judged strictly by the standard of his own time, Bacon's ignorance of the progress which science had up to that time made is only to be equalled by his insolence toward men in comparison with whom he was the merest sciolist".
Scutch
(sk?ch)
v. scutched, scutch·ing, scutch·es
To separate the valuable fibers of (flax, for example) from the woody parts by beating.
n. An implement used for scutching.
[Obsolete French escoucher, from Anglo-Norman escucher, from Vulgar Latin *excutic?re, frequentative of Latin excutere, to shake out : ex-, ex- + quatere, to shake; see kw?t- in Indo-European roots.]
scutch'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Sennight
[sen-ahyt, -it] –noun Archaic.
a week.
Also, se'nnight.
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Origin:
bef. 1000; ME sevenyht, seoveniht(e), sennyght, etc., OE seofon nihta. See seven, night
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Sir Thomas Malory, Le Mort d'Arthur: "They sojourned there a sennight, and were well eased of their wounds, and at the last departed".