ETYMOLOGY
from bunger (probably an alteration of bungle) + -some
EXAMPLE
“… He had nothing very ill to say of Rotch; Nodder he called a drunken, bungersome nughead. (He was of Somersetshire.) …”
From: The Convict Ship
By William Clark Russell, 1896
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin empticius (obtained by purchase), from empt- ppl. stem of emere (to buy) + ‑icius (‑itious)
EXAMPLE
“… but, diverted twixt fear of detection and zeal of working more good (upon the Presbyter) for the Catholike cause, we wheel’d about and got us to Newcastle; where we found the Gentleman that ran away from Oxford playing at Stowball with his Sodalitia, his guid chapmen; who (as emptitious as he was) though they valued him not, because sese inscendi passus est, he suffered himself to be fool ridden, yet knew well enough how to overvalue him. …”
From: Mutatus Polemo. The horrible strategems of the Jesuits, lately practised in England, during the Civil-Wars, and now discovered by a reclaimed Romanist.
By A.B., 1650
also NEDDICK, NIDDOCK, NODDOCKE, NUDDICK, NUDDOCK
ETYMOLOGY
of unknown origin
EXAMPLE
“… Like Almain rutters, borespeares longe they whirle, or foynyng forks,
Their nuddockes bolstred ben, and skulles of heads with barkes of corks
Thei shine with brasen sheeldes, thei shine with swords, & rapiers bright.
And thée to warres thy countrey Nursa sent, O noble knight,
O Vfens, much renowmed both of déedes, and great good chaunce,
Whose mountayne people strong, with practise longe of sworde & launce,
And huntyng still in woods, and breakyng clottes ben hard of flesh …”
From: The whole .xii. Bookes of the Æneidos of Virgill
Translated by Thomas Phaer, 1558
also LION’S TEETH
ETYMOLOGY
from the French Dent de lion (lion’s tooth) (Latin Dens leonis)
EXAMPLE
“… It is temperate, cold, and drye with Roses and Uineger tepered togeather, it helpeth the hed in hotte diseases, the sowthistle called Sonchos hath ye same vertue & so hath Cicory: if they be sodden, the loose the belly & quencheth heat which burneth in the stomacke and defendeth the head from hot smoking vapoures, and purgeth yellow choller, and rebateth venerous & fleshly heat, & is good to be sodden & dronk in hote burning Agues: though this herbe be commonly knowen and counted of many as a vile wede, yet it is reported of Dioscorides to be an excellent herbe, & is called Lyons teeth. …”
From: Bulleins Bulwarke of Defence against all Sicknesse, Soarenesse, and VVoundes that doe dayly assaulte mankinde
By William Bullein, 1562
“The Booke of Simples”
ETYMOLOGY
perhaps from shrow (shrew, a wicked or malignant person), after frowardly
EXAMPLE
“… Now have I most unmanfully fallen foul upon some
Woman, I’le warrant you, and wounded her
Reputation shrowardly: Oh drink, drink! thou
Art a vile enemy to the civillest sort of curteous
Ladies. …”
From: The Comical Revenge, or, Love in a Tub
By George Etherege, 1664
ETYMOLOGY
Middle English from Old French destrobler, ‑troubler, from des-, Latin dis- + trobler, troubler (to trouble)
EXAMPLE
“… Debonairly, and nothing loude,
He sayde, `I prey thee, be not wrooth,
I herde thee not, to sayn the sooth,
Ne I saw thee not, sir, trewely.’
`A! goode sir, no fors,’ quod I,
`I am right sory if I have ought
Destroubled yow out of your thought;
Foryive me if I have mistake.’
`Yis, th’amendes is light to make,’
Quod he, `for ther lyth noon ther-to;
Ther is nothing missayd nor do,’
Lo! how goodly spak this knight,
As it had been another wight; …”
From: The Book of the Duchesse
By Geoffrey Chaucer, c1369
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin sævidicus; from sævus (fierce, furious) + dic- stem of dicere (to say, speak) + -al
EXAMPLE
“… Carolyn smiled and gave a crafty wink, “It means a filthy, slobbering person. That’s the way you left him wasn’t it? And I think we can assume he was quite sevidical in his comments about you, don’t you think? …”
From: Something to Crowe About
By E. W. Nickerson, 2013
also NESCOCK, NESCOOK (Eng. dial.)
ETYMOLOGY
from nest + cock
EXAMPLE
“… As for Rafe – despite his love for the theater and his determination to travel the Circuit, he was essentially a homebody, a confirmed nestcock eagerly anticipating marriage to Crisiant and a settled home with a dozen rambunctious children. …”
From: Touchstone
By Melanie Rawn, 2012
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin comitat- ppl. stem of comitari (accompany, attend, follow)
EXAMPLE
“… Thus to his guest Aeneas lodgings went
This Heroë brave, mindfull of’s high intent
And of his promis’d aid. With no lesse care
Aeneas in the morning doth prepare.
With Pallas young the king associated,
Achates kinde Aeneas comitated.
Met, they shake hands, and down together sit,
And having time for talk, and leisure fit,
The king thus first began; Great prince of Troy,
I ne’re shall think (whiles thou dost life enjoy)
Troyes crowns and comforts to be brought to thrall …”
From: The XII Aeneids of Virgil, the Most Renowned Laureat-Prince of Latine-Poets
Translated by John Vicars, 1632
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin præfacilis (very easy). from prae- pre- + facilis (easy, straightforward)
EXAMPLE
Finding examples for some old words, other than in dictionaries, is not as prefacile as you would think!
Lexicophilia 