Lost words
I recently came upon a book my mom (known in
the family as Muz) gave me in 1978. It’s devoted to words that had once lived
happy lives, but in time, expired. Poplollies
and Bellibones by Susan Kelz Sperling has brought me many a laugh over the
years. This week’s post features several of her words whose existence and
meaning I can confirm.
titivil – related to the
word devil,
a titivil
was a knave or scoundrel. It appears the word initially referred to a very
specific sort of scoundrel, a chap who listened so closely to other monks’
prayers he collected any mumbled words and phrases and informed the
authorities. There is argument as to whether the titivil delivered this
information to the monks’ earthly superiors or to less physically established
authorities.
flerd – From the Old
English word flaerd. Flerd is nonsense, deception, folly or superstition.
murfles – a synonym for freckles.
coverslut – an apron. Also an architectural structure built for the sole purpose
of concealing some uglier structure underneath.
lickspigot – much like a brown-nose or bootlicker, a lickspigot acts in a
subservient manner, fawning all over those in authority.
wink-a-peeps – eyes.
turngiddy – someone who has become dizzy due to spinning. Secondary meanings include
vertigo, lighthearted, flighty &
childish. The term comes from the Old English word gydig, which meant mad. Gydig appears to have come from the word God, as it was understood
that someone who had gone mad had been possessed by a divine being. Hmmm.
Good readers, if you were kings or queens of the world, which of these
words would you bring back into common usage?
My thanks go out to this week’s
sources: The
OED, Etymonline, The Free Dictionary, The Times & The Mad
Logophile, & Susan Kelz Sperling’s Poplollies & Bellibones – A Celebration
of Lost Words