Words We Don't Use

SGM · Post by **SGM** » Mon March 12th, 2012, 8:04 pm

[quote=""Rowan""]be blowed - You be blowed, or you go and be blowed, a vulgar form of refusal or dismissal; [it] probably has a still coarser allusion underlying it, that of being "fly-blown," or rotting - that is, dying. ~ A. Wallace's Popular Sayings Dissected, 1895

Today is also the Feast Eve of St John of God the patron saint of publishers and booksellers.

[/quote]

Be blowed is still in fairly common usage over here.

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Mon March 12th, 2012, 8:50 pm

[quote=""SGM""]Be blowed is still in fairly common usage over here.[/quote]

I was going to say the same thing, but I think the current usage is somewhat different from that described. I may be wrong but I think we normally say "Well, I'll be blowed" as a statement of surprise or disbelief. (Interesting that it's "blowed", not "blown". We don't use "blowed" as a verb form elsewhere, I believe.)

SGM · Post by **SGM** » Mon March 12th, 2012, 9:57 pm

[quote=""sweetpotatoboy""]I was going to say the same thing, but I think the current usage is somewhat different from that described. I may be wrong but I think we normally say "Well, I'll be blowed" as a statement of surprise or disbelief. (Interesting that it's "blowed", not "blown". We don't use "blowed" as a verb form elsewhere, I believe.)[/quote]

I think you are probably right about the different usage and I can think of two:

"I'll be blowed if I will do that" - as in "I'll be damned if I will do that" and

"Well I'll be blowed" - as in "I am very surprised about that"

both of which I think I use.

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Thu March 15th, 2012, 4:14 pm

in planets - Rain is said to fall in planets when it falls partially and violently. ~ Rev. John Watson's Uncommon Words Used in Halifax, 1775

It rains by planets this the country people use when it rains in one place and not another, meaning that showers are governed by the planets. ~ John Ray's English Proverbs, 1670

In changeable weather, the rain and sunshine come and go by planets. A man of unsteady mind acts by planets, meaning much the same as by fits and starts. ~ Rev. Robert Forby's Vocabulary of East Anglia, 1830

englottogaster - One who speaks from his belly; a ventrilloquist. ~W. Turton's Medical Glossary . . . Deduced from Original Languages, 1802

[Related to] glother, to use flattering terms; to gloze. Engastrimyth, one who appears to speak in the belly; a ventriloquist. ~ Sir James Murray's New English Dictionary, 1901

muckinder - A handkerchief. [Also] muckender, muckinger. ~ Walter Skeat's Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, 1914

DianeL · Post by **DianeL** » Thu March 15th, 2012, 11:00 pm

I've seen muckinder. So great - it's one of those odd words like antimacassar which has this gloss of mystique (if, like me, you encounter it in one of those wonderful, sniffy Victorian novels where you can't discern a meaning for it) and when you find out what it is you kind of love it (and its context) even more.

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Mon March 19th, 2012, 2:12 pm

clepsammia - An instrument for measuring time by sand, like an hour-glass; [from] Greek klepto, to hide, and ammos, sand. ~ John Boag's Imperial Lexicon of the English Language, c. 1850

pay in cats - To "pay in cats and dogs" is to pay, not in cash, but in inconvenient or useless commodoties. ~ Richard Thornton's American Glossary, 1912

back-feast - Da Backfaeste was an entertainment giving by the princip[al] groomsman in return for the wedding festivities to which the best-man contributed nothing. ~ Alfred Johnston's Orkney and Shetland Miscellany, 1908

DianeL · Post by **DianeL** » Mon March 19th, 2012, 11:11 pm

Oh my good lord, I LOVE PAY IN CATS. This will go into my lexicon right now, and I intend to use it early and often. Thank you again, Rowan!!

Mello · Post by **Mello** » Tue March 20th, 2012, 1:55 am

Like sands through the clepsammia, so are the days of our lives. Just not the same.

TiciaRoma · Post by **TiciaRoma** » Tue March 20th, 2012, 2:21 am

Pay in cats.

In post WWII Italy up until the time the Euro became the currency, it was quite common to receive "caramelle" (penny candies) instead of coins in change. Now I know the right expression for the practice.

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Tue March 20th, 2012, 12:58 pm

[quote=""DianeL""]Oh my good lord, I LOVE PAY IN CATS. This will go into my lexicon right now, and I intend to use it early and often. Thank you again, Rowan!![/quote]

Please note that it seems to be an American term.

But you're welcome.