grammar folk

Someone who is educated.

rhonchisonant

This is the imitation of a snorting noise.

paramene

An obsolete word meaning very pleasant.

battologist

This is someone who repeats the same thing for no reason. It comes from the Greek word for stammerer.

gloze

This is a note in the margin.

called on the carpet

This expression meaning to be scolded or reprimanded, comes from the late 19th century. Executives of big businesses decked out their offices with extravagant furnishings in order to impress. One such item was a nice, thick carpet. When an employee was called into the boss' office, it was usually to be criticized for something. The employee would notice the fine, thick carpet, especially if he was hanging his head in shame. The expression to be called on the carpet developed from this dreaded summons.

olcsó húsnak híg a leve

This is a Hungarian saying meaning cheap meat produces thin gravy.

So true; so true.

vomer

Not an obsolete word, but interesting. It is a small triangular bone in the septum between the nostrils in humans and other vertebrates. It comes from the Latin word for plowshare because of its resemblance to such.

kissingcrust

This is the crust that is formed where one loaf of bread baking in the oven touches the one next to it.

scumfished

Smothered.

noggle

To walk awkwardly.

This is what the piggy does when his pizzle gets boiled. Wouldn't you?

pizzle-grease

An ointment made from lard boiled from a pig's pizzle. A pizzle is the male pig's member.

Yoinks!

inhebetate

This is to make something obtuse, dull or blunt.

married all over

This old phrase was used to describe women who let their physical appearance go after getting married.

iconomicar

This one is in honor of the guy I saw at the college library where I was working today. He was walking through the hallway flipping an unshucked ear of corn in the air. Hey, don't ask me...

An iconomicar is someone who writes about agriculture.

pismire

This is an old name for the ant.

Apparently, an ant hill smells like urine and this is how they were named. Personally, I've never noticed that ant hills smell like urine.

Good to know.

jettatura

Bad luck.

mundivagant

This means to wander through the world.

nittiness

Hey, Nit, this one's for you.

This is an obsolete word meaning to be full of small air bubbles. Apparently, it was used to describe liquids such as wine.

blutterbunged

Surprised, flummoxed, discombobulated.

lambdacism

This means to use the letter "l" too frequently in writing and speaking.

Okay...

ostentiferous

Here's an obsolete word that means "that which brings monsters or strange sights" (McKean 2003).

An ostent is an omen, sign, or portent. This is from the Latin ostento or ostendo meaning to show, reveal, declare, to make clear.

glaikery

This is foolish and silly behavior.

crulge

Cramping that results from crouching too long.

taken aback

This phrase meaning to be shocked or completely surprised, dates back to the days of sailing ships. There was a maneuver that was used in case of emergency, such as the sudden appearance of a reef or rocks. It entailed bringing the ship to a quick stop or even reversing direction by turning the sails backward. The sailors called the maneuver taking aback.

knocking-up-stick

Here's an oldie and a goodie!

This is a stick used by a knocker-up. It was a long, flexible rod with buttons on the end. The knocker-up used the stick to tap on bedroom windows to wake up (knock up) workers so that they wouldn't be late for a shift and get fined. This task was also known as upknocking.

thrunched

Obsolete word for very angry and displeased.

Dealing with insurance companies makes me all thrunched.

pococurantish

This is a good word to describe your neighbor that crashes into your car while backing out of their driveway and then doesn't tell you for half the day. It means careless and indifferent.

haggersnash

This is a spiteful person.