ETYMOLOGY
from clunch (to clench) + fist
EXAMPLE
“…such a quoile with pro and con, such vrging of Ergoes, til they haue gone fro Art togither by the eares, and made their conclusions end with a Clunchfist, right like the old description of Logicke…”
From: Plaine Percevall, the Peace-maker of England:
Being a Reply to Martin Mar-Prelate
By Richard Harvey, 1590
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin pacificus (peace-making, peaceful) + -ous,
from pax, pacem (peace) + -ficus (-fic)
EXAMPLE
“…These, belike, were not acquainted with the Exploits of the Graecian Xenophon, the Roman Caesar, the English Sidney, Montjoy and Ra∣leigh, Gentlemen that were renowned both in Arms and Letters. Yet such as were transported with Warmth to be a sighting, prevail’d in Number, before the Pacificous…”
From: Scrinia Reserata A Memorial offer’d to the Great Deservings of John Williams
By John Hacket, 1693
ETYMOLOGY
from cluster in sense of lump, clumsy mass + fist
EXAMPLE
“…Saturday Night passed with much Perplexity to the Monks, who were at their Wits Ends, and Lives too (they could not hope better things) about the Charter, which was no where extant but in the Noddles of these Cluster-fists. But Day and Comfort broke out together upon them; suddenly this Overflow of Pride, and Arrogancy abated, their Loftiness fell, and their Bristles were somewhat laid…”
From: The Works of Mr. John Cleveland
By John Cleveland, 1687
The Rustick Rampant, or Rural Anarchy Affronting Monarchy, a1658
ETYMOLOGY
either from French opiniastre (adj. – opinionated) + -ous,
or from opiniastre (n. – an opinionated person) + -ous
EXAMPLE
“…Next, in matter of death, the Laws of England, wherof you have intruded to bee an opiniastrous Sub advocate, and are bound to defend them, conceave it not enjoyn’d in Scripture, when or for what cause they shall put to death, as in adultery, theft, and the like; your minor also is fals, for the Scripture plainly sets down for what measure of disagreement a man may divorce…”
From: Colasterion
A Reply to a nameless Answer against the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce
By John Milton, 1645
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin proditorius proditory (traitorous, treacherous) + -ous
EXAMPLE
“…The seide lordes did holde solenne parliamentes by usurpacion of that proditorious commission into the grete preiudice of youre regaly…”
From: Polychronicon
By Ranulf Higden, a1475
ETYMOLOGY
from half + headed
EXAMPLE
“…And there is not a man that is for Paritie, all Fellows in the Church, but he is not for Monarchie in the State. And certainly either he is but Halfe-headed to his owne Principles, or he can be but Halfe-hearted to the House of David…”
From: Seven Sermons Preached Upon Severall Occasions
By William Laud, 1625
ETYMOLOGY
? from cob (a big man, a great man, a leading man) + castle
EXAMPLE
“…’Twixt the wood and the castle they see at high water
The storm, the place makes it a dangerous matter;
And besides, upon such a steep rock it is founded,
As would break a man’s neck, should he’scape being drowned:
Perhaps though in time one may make them to yield,
But ’tis prettiest Cob-castle e’er I beheld…”
From: Poems on Several Occasions written by Charles Cotton, 1689
A Voyage to Ireland in Burlesque
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin spissus (thick, close, compact)
EXAMPLE
“…Methought this Drink had a kind of a sweet taste, like Asses Milk, yet it could not properly be called a liquor, but rather a certain concreted Mist or spiscious Froath; for being with no small paine got out againe, I found it had not so much as moistned my Cloaths…”
From: The Comical History of Francion
By Charles Sorel, 1655
ETYMOLOGY
from snuff + -y
EXAMPLE
“…I’m sure she makes a very Tarquinius Sextus of me, and all about this Serenade,—I protest and vow, incomparable Lady, I had begun the sweetest Speech to her—though I say’t, such Flowers of Rhetorick—’twou’d have been the very Nosegay of Eloquence, so it wou’d; and like an ungrateful illiterate Woman as she is, she left me in the very middle on’t, so snuffy I’ll warrant…”
From: Sir Patient Fancy
By Aphra Behn, 1678
ETYMOLOGY
of unknown origin
EXAMPLE
“…That tells vs of Proiects beyond the Moone, of Golden Mines, of Deuices to make the Thames run on the North side of London (which may very easily be done, by remouing London to the Banke-side) of planting the Ile of Dogs with Whiblins, Corwhichets, Mushromes and Tobacco. Tut I like none of these, Let mee see, as I take it, it is an inuectiue against Coaches, or a proofe or tryall of the Antiquitie of Carts and Coaches…”
From: All the vvorkes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet
By John Taylor, 1623
The VVorld runnes on VVheeles
Lexicophilia 