LOST LANGUAGE

Shrinking Language: 10 Words About To Be Removed From The Dictionary

Image: Pisit Heng

Living languages are constantly evolving and adapting to the needs of their speakers, and shedding some of their least-used vocabulary is a natural part of the process. English is, of course, no exception to this rule, and each year both speakers and dictionaries make room for newer words that often fit their realities better. But don’t despair for these lost terms, because here we gathered 10 that, despite being almost completely obsolete, offer us a fascinating glimpse into our linguistic past.

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Definition:To stare silently at someone while they are eating, hoping to be invited to join.

It sounds like an onomatopoeic crossbreed between a dog’s growl and a toad’s croak, however, it is actually quite an established verb! The origins of this peculiar word are hard to trace, though some linguists propose it may come from Scots or Gaelic.

In a single word, groak captures the universal experience of both dogs and insatiable teenagers. Though it might seem like an oddly specific term, its meaning has been somewhat fluid throughout its history. It has also been used as a noun or to refer to looking over your shoulder suspiciously.

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Definition:A shrewd, unprincipled person, particularly a politician.

This term originated in 19th-century America and is a delightful example of political slang. Though its origins are fuzzy, it describes a manipulative individual who ventures into politics solely for personal gain (sounds familiar?). Some etymologists argue that the term derives from the word "snallygaster," a mythical creature from rural Maryland that is half reptile and half bird, but historical evidence suggests that this use emerged later.

Though it has faded from use, its meaning has remained relevant over time and thus has reemerged now and then, for instance when President Harry S. Truman used it (albeit somewhat incorrectly) in a 1952 speech.

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Definition:To argue stubbornly about trifles; squabble.

"Brabble" was a word commonly used in the 16th and 17th centuries to describe petty arguments. Curiously, despite its similarity to "babble" in both sound and meaning, these two words are not related. According to some etymologists, "brabble" likely derives from the Middle Dutch verb "brabbelen," meaning "to quarrel."

In any case, its sonorous qualities perfectly convey the noise of pointless bickering. And while the word might have fallen out of favor, the behavior it describes remains timeless, an inevitable part of human interactions.

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Definition:One who arrives at a party without money.

No, it’s not a fancy term for an artisanal espresso or anything like that. Originating in the early 19th century, "lanspresado" is sort of a playful yet piercing term. The word combines elements of Latin and Romance languages to label what we would now call a mooch or a freeloader.

A dictionary that compiled thieves’ or street slang in 1736 clearly defines it as: "He that comes into company with but Two-pence in his Pocket". Hundreds of years later, we might not use the word anymore, but there is no shortage of lanspresadoes. So we just might bring it back. Apparently, humanity never changes.

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Definition:To gossip or talk idly.

A popular English word in the 16th century, "twattle" encapsulates the concept of idle chatter and gossip. Unlike "babble," which often refers to incoherent speech, "twattle" specifically pertains to pointless or frivolous talk. "Twattle" is actually a cousin to "twaddle," which still sees occasional use.

Despite its disappearance from everyday language, the behavior it describes is still very much alive. Who hasn’t engaged in a bit of twattle in the street after bumping into a neighbor?

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Definition:A person who remains aloof or independent, especially from party politics.

Popularized in the late 19th century, "mugwump" was originallya very specific word that referred to a member of the Republican Party who refused to support the party's main candidate at the time. Eventually, the word evolved to describe any politician who remained politically independent.

Interestingly, the word might derive from an Algonquian term meaning "great man" or "big chief," though its later usage was ironic rather than flattering. While "mugwump" has remained a part of American political slang, it is not commonly used today.

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Definition:A combination of smoke and haze.

Similar but less prevalent than "smog"—itself a combination of smoke and fog—"smaze" emerged in the 20th century as a portmanteau of smoke and haze. The term is almost intoxicatingly self-explanatory, and it was particularly relevant during periods of intense industrial pollution, before stricter laws reduced emissions and controlled air pollutants in cities and residential areas.

Curiously, there have been many similar word combinations to refer to various atmospheric conditions, such as "vog," coined in Hawaii to describe a dangerous mixture of toxic gases, volcanic dust, and fog.

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Definition:A wooden toy figure that moves when a string is pulled; a puppet.

This whimsical term from 19th-century England describes a wooden toy whose limbs can be controlled by pulling a string—in simpler words, a puppet. By extension, the word came to refer to a person who is controlled by someone else, especially in political contexts.

Some argue that the "quock" part of the word might be related to a lost dialectal term meaning "tremble or shake," like "quake". Since real quockerwodgers weren’t exactly like typical puppets, where each string controls a limb with purpose, but rather were made to jerk uncontrollably by pulling a single string, this interpretation makes sense.

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Definition:Pretending to work when you’re not actually doing anything.

"Fudgel" is a humorous word that perfectly captures the well-known office phenomenon of appearing busy while accomplishing nothing. Allegedly originating in the 18th century, its absence from unabridged editions of various dictionaries suggests it might be a more recent term, though it never quite gained widespread use.

Interestingly, its similarity to "fudge" goes just beyond the sound, as "to fudge" can also mean "to change or falsify evidence." It’s easy to imagine someone fudgeled a bit too much at the office and ended up creating an entirely new word.

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Definition:Divination by observing cheese.

We can all agree that cheese can be quite mesmerizing, especially good Italian cheese. But did you know there used to be a whole branch of divination involving cheese? Tyromancy, the practice of telling fortunes with cheese, was regularly performed in 2nd century Greece by professional soothsayers.

These specialists would analyze the cheesiest details to predict the year’s harvest or determine future marriages. They scrutinized the number and size of holes in a block of cheese, any patterns on its surface, or the shapes it formed as it coagulated.

HARVEST SOME KNOWLEDGE!

Howdy, Folks! Did You Know These Ten Bountiful Farming Idioms?

Image: Frances Gunn

A quote often attributed to American author Herman Melville says: "They say you can’t make a living on farming, but doing anything else isn’t really living at all." We are pretty certain that anyone who has tasted the joys of farm life will at least partly agree with this mentality. Life in the countryside can surely be hard work, but the feeling of waking up to the first light of dawn shining over golden fields of hay can’t be compared to anything else.

Farms are truly the backbone of many nations, and their influence can even be seen in the way we speak. We have compiled ten of our favorite idioms based on farm life for your enjoyment. So make hay while the sun shines and take a look!

Image: Ryan Song

The year was 1990 and a family of animated yellow characters was taking the world by storm. At the peak of their popularity, The Simpsons were featured in any promotional object you could think of: coffee mugs, frisbees, and, most importantly for this story, t-shirts. Bart Simpson t-shirts were a staple of the early 90s, usually featuring the laidback enfant terrible saying his now iconic phrase: "Don’t have a cow, man!"

Whenever someone says this idiom, it usually means that someone is overreacting and should calm down. While its exact origins are not clear, they can be traced to at least the 1950s.

Image: Marylou Fortier

If, for whatever reason, someone decides to show their affection by gifting you an equine companion, you’ll be glad to have this idiom to teach you the proper etiquette for receiving such a gift. Don’t worry, no need to thank us.

This idiom means that you shouldn’t show ingratitude or a lack of appreciation after receiving a gift. Curiously, its first usage comes from the writings of St. Jerome, on which a Latin version of this idiom can be found. Apparently, the practice of looking into a horse's mouth was done in order to determine its age.

Image: Oliver Sharp

While it is fairly common, most people fail to address how heartbreaking this idiom is. After all, how adorable would a little piggy flying around be? But alas, that’s what this idiom mercilessly describes: a complete impossibility.

This idiom can be traced back to at least the 17th century: its first recorded use comes from a 1616 dictionary by lexicographer John Withals. Most famously, English author Lewis Carroll included it in his iconic book Alice in Wonderland.

Image: Anna Kaminova

A brief disclaimer: no donkeys were hurt in the making of this article.

Sometimes that chatty coworker who doesn’t seem to be able to stop talking seems like a menace. Well, if we take this idiom at face value, the danger of amputation seems to be a real possibility of being caught in an endless monologue about past holidays.

However, this idiom, which obviously means to talk incessantly, might actually be less violent than what it sounds. Some believe that it comes from Ireland, and that it originates from the fact that donkeys don’t usually sit down on their rear ends. In that sense, the phrase, which is a direct Gaelic translation, would actually mean talking so much that you made an exhausted donkey sit down.

Image: Ray Shrewsberry

We won’t blame you if you, like us, are not particularly proficient in using farm tools. Having said that, you are probably familiar with this idiom, which is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as "a difficult situation to deal with."

Its origins date back to 19th century America, where a big portion of the population was a farmer or worked on farms. Interestingly, folk hero Davy Crockett used this idiom in his Tour to the North and Down East, written in 1835. In it, he states: "I never opposed Andrew Jackson for the sake of popularity. I knew it was a hard row to hoe, but I stood up to the rack."

Image: Crispin Jones

We understand if you aren’t as happy in the mud, but it can’t be denied that pigs seem to love it. The idiom’s meaning is fairly self-explanatory: it simply means to be extremely happy, enjoying a situation that brings joy to your heart.

Other variants for this idiom exist, and some can be traced as far back as the 19th century. According to these other versions, pigs are also happy in clover, puddles, or muck

Image: Anand Thakur

An idiom that means to face a difficult situation in a brave manner, to take the bull by the horns certainly sounds like the most dangerous idiom in this list. At the very least, this idiom does give a certain wild and exciting sense to that task you keep pushing back.

The origins of this idiom are certainly debatable. Many believe that it comes from Spanish matadors, although wrestling down a bull by the horns doesn’t seem like a standard matador practice. Most agree that it likely originated in American barnyards, and from a 19th century sport called "bulldogging."

Image: Timothy Eberly

This idiom brings to mind the image of an Old West poker table, on which a farmer decides to bet his entire farm on that poker of aces that certainly can’t lose. And while that might certainly be the case, the truth is that the origins of this idiom are uncertain.

Some believe that the meaning of this idiom, which is to take a substantial risk, comes from the fact that farm life involves a great deal of risk-taking itself. For farmers, choosing the best time to grow a crop or when to harvest it might mark the difference between profitability and financial ruin.

Image: Daniel Quiceno M

"Beef up" is a pretty common idiom that means to build up or increase something. You might be wondering what, for example, an airport that recently strengthened security has to do with adding cuts of cow’s meat. However, when put into context, this idiom is fairly straightforward.

Apparently, the phrase "beefing up" comes from American college students from the 1940s, who exercised in order to increase their mass. Therefore, to beef up would literally mean adding more muscle (or strength) to something.

Image: Michelle @Shelly Captures It

We’ll end this article with a tasty entry. Bacon is definitively a breakfast staple and, according to this idiom, a synonym for bringing money home. Nowadays, someone who can "bring home the bacon" is someone able to provide for themselves or their family.

Etymologists are not entirely sure about the origins of this phrase, but most agree that it originated in a 1906 telegram sent to boxer Joe Gans by his mother, in which she urged her son to "bring home the bacon" and win a difficult fight. Apparently, sports journalists were fascinated by this idiom and they quickly popularized it throughout their articles.