Category: Word of the Day – H

ETYMOLOGY
from Greek ὑπέροχος (eminent, distinguished) + -al + -ity

EXAMPLE
“…correspondent to the Iron-Age of Prelats, so plague the Metropoliticality of York and Canterbury, and the Hyperocality of all the other Prelats, as I will never leave them, till I have sent them to the place where the two Fulmina Belli, Alexander the Great cries Mustard and Green Sauce, and where Julius Caesar plays Plato’s Ratcatcher…”

From: The Letany of Doctor Bastwick
By John Bastwick, 1637

ETYMOLOGY
from high + stomached

EXAMPLE
“…For the which in those dayes, they had moche a do with these hygh stomaked Romanes…”

From: The Actes of Englysh Votaryes
By Iohan Bale, 1546

ETYMOLOGY
from hog + grubber (a person who gets wealth by sordid or contemptible methods)

EXAMPLE
“…The next that in our little Ease,
Came to be bit with Lice and Fleas,
Was a spruce Knave, like none of these, But sober,

As the Strand May-pole, – he did go,
In russe, – His thumb th’row ring, did show
A Gentleman seal’d, – for he was no Hog-grubber:

It was a Petty-fogging Varlet,
Whose back worse freez, but burn no scarlet,
And was tane napping with his Harlot, At noddy: …”

From: The Counter-Scuffle
Whereunto is added, the Counter-Ratt
By Robert Speed, 1626

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin habitaculum (dwelling-place)

EXAMPLE
“…of maneres and ek of resoun of hir lyuynge ben enhabyted in the clos of thilke lytul habytacule to the whiche naciouns what for deficulte of weyes and what for deficulte of langages…”

From: Boethius’ De Consolatione Philosophiae,
By Geoffrey Chaucer, 1374

ETYMOLOGY
from honey + drop

EXAMPLE
“…The younges brother he stepped in,
            Took’s sister by the hand;
            Said, Here she is, my sister Maisry,
            Wi the hinny-draps on her chin.
             ‘O if I were in some bonny ship,
            And in some strange countrie,
            For to find out some conjurer,
            To gar Maisry speak to me!’…”

From: Bondsey and Maisry
in English and Scottish Popular Ballads
By Francis Child, 1886

ETYMOLOGY
either from a) high (adj.) + -ful;
or perhaps from b) the same word as eyeful (arousing or inspiring awe, fear, or dread; terrible, dreadful)

EXAMPLE
“…So þat he was riche him sulf · & þat lond pouere al out
Sturne he was þoru out al · & heiuol & prout
Suiþe þikke mon he was · & of grete strengþe…”

From: The Metrical Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester, c1325-c1425

ETYMOLOGY
reduplicated derivative of gibber (unintelligible talking, rapid and inarticulate utterance)

EXAMPLE
“…and I wott not what maruelous egges in mooneshine: but a flye for all your flying Speculations, when one good fellow with his oddiestes, or one madd knaue with his awke hibber-gibber, is able to putt downe twentye of your smuggest artificiall men, that simper it so nicely, and coylie in their curious pointes…”

From:  Pierces Supererogation
Or A New Prayse of The Old Asse,
Gabriell Harvey, 1593

ETYMOLOGY
from hid (adj.) + -ling 

EXAMPLE
“…Anna: Yes: to come to me without loss of time. There is money for thee. Do thy errand speedily and secretly: let nobody know that I have sent thee
Bawldy: An’ she’s to come to you here, hidlings, as it war?
Anna: Yes, Bawldy; and when she comes, let her wait for me in the cattle shed…”

From: Witchcraft
By Joanna Baillie, 1836

ETYMOLOGY
of uncertain origin;
possibly from French haridelle (an old jade of a horse – 1558), (a woman (especially a servant) who is too weak to work – 1690) + a derivative suffix of uncertain origin)

EXAMPLE
“…Parret. Doest take me for a Harridan, or a Cuffey? ha!
Owmuch. I believe thee a very obliging Creature, truely.
Parret. I won’t be believed an obliging Creature by ne’re a Sir Fopling of you all, the Court know me a Creature of Heavens special Handy-work, and if I live to see the City, Bow shall Ring with thy abominations, till Mary-Overs eccho thy lewdness: Tempt me to be an obliging Creature…”

From: Tunbridge-Wells, or, A days courtship a comedy
By Thomas Rawlins, a1670