ETYMOLOGY
for n. 1. – a variant of pottinger
for n. 2, 3, 4 – from podge (anything short or thick) + ‑er
EXAMPLE
“…He cannot deal the knock-me-down blows of Old Brough, and if you watch your opportunity you may give him a podger. I am seldom in a cause of any consequence before him without getting into some squabble with him…”
From: Life of John, Lord Campbell, 1881,
Letter dated 9 March, 1816
ETYMOLOGY
of obscure formation: possibly a blend of nidiot and nodcock (a fool, a simpleton)
EXAMPLE
“…And as touching implements for warre, they were neuer such fond niddicockes, as to offer anie man a rod to beat their owne tailes, or to betake their mastiues vnto the custodie of the woolues, maruelling much that their capteine would so farre ouershoot himselfe, as to be taken with such apparent repugnancie….”
From: R. Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1577
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin tætricus, tētricus (forbidding, harsh, gloomy),
formed on tæter (foul)
EXAMPLE
“…Some so tetricous, so cross-grained, and of so corrupt a taste. …”
(from the translation of J. F. de Isla, History Friar Gerund, but replacing the original form ‘tetrical‘ with ‘tetricous‘)
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin philosophāt-, ppl. stem of philosophārī (to do the philosopher, to philosophize), from philosophus (a philosopher)
EXAMPLE
“…If, as some say, to philosophate be to doubt; with much more reason to rave and fantastiquize, as I doe, must necessarily be to doubt: For, to enquire and debate belongeth to a scholler, and to resolve appertaines to a cathedrall master…”
From: The Essayes, or Morall, Politike, and Millitarie Discourses of Lord Michaell de Montaigne
Translated by John Florio, 1603
PRONUNCIATION
fuh-LOSS-uh-fayt
ETYMOLOGY
from man + -ling
EXAMPLE
“…Marry sir euen all in all, a well lyned pursse, wherwith he could at euery call, prouide such pretie conceytes as pleased hir péeuish fantasie, and by that meanes he had throughly (long before) insinuated him selfe with this amorous dame. This manling, this minion, this slaue, this secretary, was nowe by occasion rydden to London forsothe: and though his absence were vnto hir a disfurnishing of eloquence…”
From: A Discourse of the Aduentures Passed by Master F. I.
In ‘A Hundreth Sundrie Flowres bounde vp in one small poesie’
By George Gascoigne, 1573
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin mæstus (sad, mournful) + -ful
EXAMPLE
“…The Partridge.
EMong all other birds,
moste mestfull birde am I:
Emong all fethered foules,
I first complaine and crie…”
From: Flovvers of Epigrammes, out of sundrie the moste singular authours selected
Translated by Timothy Kendall, 1577
ETYMOLOGY
from be- + flum;
perhaps influenced by Scots blaflum, bleflum (to cajole)
EXAMPLE
“…that are but ill settled yet, till they durst na on ony errand whatsoever gang ower the door-stane after gloaming, for fear John Heatherblutter, or some siccan dare-the diel, should tak a baff at them: then, on the hand, I beflum’d them wi’ Colonel Talbot – wad they offer to keep up the price again the Duke’s friend? did na they ken wha was master?…”
From: Waverley; or, ‘Tis Sixty Years Since,
By Walter Scott, 1814
ETYMOLOGY
from participle stem of Latin exosculari, from ex- + osculari (to kiss), from osculum (a kiss)
EXAMPLE
“…And thus having copulated our plebeian endeavours, we exosculate the subumbrations of your subligacles; and sooner shall the surges of the sandiferous sea ignify and evaporate, than the cone of our duty towards you be in the least uncatenate or dissolved; always wishing you health and happiness…”
From: The Works of Jonathan Swift
By Jonathan Swift, 1814
ETYMOLOGY
from opsophagy (the eating of delicacies) + -ize;
from Greek ὀψοϕαγία (opsofagia), formed on ὀψοϕάγος (opsofagos – an eater of dainties);
formed on ὄψον (opsonic) + -ϕάγος (phage, eating, eater)
EXAMPLE
“…Few men enjoyed the privilege of going ‘tick’ with the fishmonger, who, secure of a ready sale, did not encourage long bills; and even had they been complaisantly disposed, the opsonomoi, or comptrollers of the fish-market, would have interfered to prevent it. At Corinth, where the supervision was particularly strict, the law enacted that none should ‘opsophagize‘ but such as could prove their income sufficient to support the extravagance; a poor offender was first cautioned, then mulcted and, if still incorrigible, handed over to the ‘carnifex’…”
From: Prose Halieutics, Or, Ancient and Modern Fish Tattle
By David Badham, 1854
ETYMOLOGY
vb.: from Dutch snateren or Low German snat(t)ern (Greek schnattern, Swedish snattra),
of imitative origin
EXAMPLE (for vb.)
“…for if thou considerest the things are easie attained, every ditch offering the some of them, and the preparation so trinial, that there is as much art to make a mess of pottage; in this above all other I have deserved well at thy hand, if thou hast a heart to improve it, neither do I doubt, although many will be angry and snatter at it, but this entrance which I have given in this receipt will stand while the world indures and get strength, and my memory held in honor, for so good service in it…”
From: The Unlearned Alchymist His Antidote
By Richard Mathews, 1662
Lexicophilia 