March 27th: The outdated term for today is "faking a cly," a 19th-century British slang term for picking a pocket.
Source: "A London Antiquary" (1860.) A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words. London: John Camden Hotten.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
See you Monday!
March 26th: The outdated word for today is from Old English. It's "munuc," meaning "monk."
Pronunciation (I think): muh-NUK.
Bessinger, J. B. (1960.) A Short Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. University of Toronto Press.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
March 25th: The outdated word for today is "falx," a wrestling term meaning "a grip round the small of the back."
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
March 24th: The outdated term for today is "Brian O'Linn," 19th-century rhyming slag for gin.
Source: "A London Antiquary" (1860.) A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words. London: John Camden Hotten.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
March 23rd: The outdated word for today is "tǣlwierđlicnes," meaning "reprehensible conduct."
Pronunciation (I think): tail-WY-erth-LIKE-ness.
Source: Clark Hall, J.R. (1960). A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. University Of Toronto Press.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
March 20th: The outdated term for today is "gape-feed," meaning "whatever the gazing crowd idly stares and gapes after."
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
See you Monday!
March 19th: The outdated word for today is the Old English "hagu-steald," meaning "bachelor" or "celibacy."
Pronunciation (I think): HAY-oo-STEH-ald.
Bessinger, J. B. (1960.) A Short Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. University of Toronto Press.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
March 18th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Abactor," noun. "Those who drive away or steal cattle in herds."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
March 17th: The outdated term for today is "whilom," meaning "formerly" or "previously."
Source: Gower, J. (Circa 1390.) Confessio Amantis; see Book IV ("Ceix and Alceone").
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
March 16th: The outdated word for today is "lǣdenword," meaning "a word in Latin."
Pronunciation (I think): LAY-den-word.
Source: Clark Hall, J.R. (1960). A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. University Of Toronto Press.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
March 13th: The outdated term for today is "unrigged," 19th-century British slang meaning "stripped of money and clothes."
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1848.) Sinks of London Laid Open. London: J. Duncombe.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
See you Monday! Good luck, and may you remain rigged.
March 12th: The outdated word for today is from Old English. It's "swiđre," meaning "right hand."
Pronunciation (I think): SWITH-reh.
Bessinger, J. B. (1960.) A Short Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. University of Toronto Press.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
March 11th: The outdated word for today is "myrknes," meaning "darkness."
Pronunciation (I think): MEHRK-nes.
Source: Rolle, R. (Circa 1400.) Love is Life (Cambridge University Library manuscript DD.5.64, III).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
March 10th: The outdated term for today is "paper hanger," early 20th-century slang meaning "counterfeiter."
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
March 9th: Today's outdated word is "nab-cheat," meaning "a hat or cap." Note: "Nab" was a Tudor-era slang term for "head."
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
March 6th: The outdated term for today is "ben fordon," meaning "come to grief."
Source: Mannyng, R. (Circa 1338.) Mannyng's Chronicle; see line 85 in the Prologue.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
The outdated word for today is from Old English. It's "sciernicge," meaning "actress" or "comedienne."
Pronunciation (I think): SHY-ern-ik-YEH.
Bessinger, J. B. (1960.) A Short Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. University of Toronto Press.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
March 4th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Paraphrast," noun. "A lax interpreter; one who explains in many words."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
March 3rd: The outdated word for today is "recreant," a 19th-century sailors' term for anyone "who had yielded in single combat."
Source: Smyth, W. H., Belcher, E. (1867.) The Sailor's Word-Book. Blackie and Son, London.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
March 2nd: The outdated word for today is "eisell," meaning "vinegar."
Pronunciation (I think): eyes-ELL.
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1540.) Untitled carol from a manuscript at Balliol College, Oxford.
First line: "Now, blessed bird, we pray thee a boon."
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
February 27th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Candlewaster," noun. "That which consumes candles; a spendthrift."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
See you Monday!
February 26th: The outdated word for today is "hagherlych," meaning "as is fitting" or "decently."
Pronunciation (I think): hag-HER-leek.
Source: "The Pearl Poet." (Late 1300s.) Cleanness; see line 18.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
February 25th: The outdated word for today is "wone," meaning "to dwell." Compare the German "wohnen."
Pronunciation: woh-NEH.
Source: de Worde, W. (1510). The Ballad of Robin Hood.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
February 24th: The outdated word for today is "gryre-leōþ," meaning "song of terror."
Pronunciation (I think): gry-REH-LEE-oath.
Source: Bosworth, J., Toller T. N. (1921). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 23rd: The outdated word for today is "heggen," meaning "to trim hedges."
Pronunciation: heg-GEN (with a double hard "g").
Source: Langland, W., Wright, T. (1877). Piers Plowman (C-text; see line 19). London: Reeves and Turner.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
February 20th: The outdated word for today is "tendeþ," meaning "to set on fire."
Pronunciation: tend-ETH.
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1250.) Floris and Blanchefleur. See line 672.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
February 19th: The outdated word for today is "targeþ," meaning "delay."
Pronunciation: tar-GETH (with a hard "g").
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1250.) Floris and Blanchefleur. See line 226.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
February 18th: The outdated word for today is "tajaso," a 19th-century US sailors' term for "the jerked beef supplied to ships."
Pronunciation (I think): tah-JASS-oh.
Source: Smyth, W. H., Belcher, E. (1867.) The Sailor's Word-Book. Blackie and Son, London.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
February 17th: The outdated word for today is "secg," which depending on context can mean "man," "sea," or "sword."
Pronunciation: sedge.
Source: Bosworth, J., Toller T. N. (1921). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 16th: The outdated word for today is "hleōr-bolster" meaning "pillow."
Pronunciation (I think): h'LEE-OOR-bowl-stir.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
