ETYMOLOGY
from opine + -ant,
possibly from French opinant (someone who gives an opinion in a deliberation)
EXAMPLE
“…The opinions differ pretty much according to the nature of the opinants. I say the Duke and Tom could have held out, that they meant to hold out, that they did hold out, and that there has been fistifying enough…”
From: Roundabout Papers.
On Some Late Great Victories
By William Makepeace Thackeray, 1860
ETYMOLOGY
from ruggy (Sc. – rough, hard, difficult) + duggy (Sc. – ? diminutive of dog)
EXAMPLE
“…Noo loudly swell’d, wi’ cheery soun’
Ye banks an’ braes o’ bonnie Doon,
When Watty, daiz’d, said, lookin’ roun’,
We’re a’ as fou as puggies!
Syne Jamie Gould, an Embro’ chiel’,
Grew fidgin’ fain at ilka heel –
Up wi’ a a dance! – a reel! – A reel!
A reel, ye ruggy-duggies!…”
From: The Merry Bridal O’ Firthmains
And Other Poems and Songs
By James Smith, 1866
ETYMOLOGY
– from pow, variant of poll (the top of the head) + fagged (extremely tired)
EXAMPLE
“…Ther’s some sort o’ rumption gooin on ‘ith country, no deawt, an’ wi’st be gettin lurked, or lawmt, or powfagged some road, so let’s turn back while us booan are whul…”
From: Tales and Sketches of Lancashire Life
By Benjamin Brierley, 1862
ETYMOLOGY
– from hob-nob (vb. to be on familiar terms with)
EXAMPLE
“…how the officers hob-nobbled with our Maine brethren in New York…”
From: Portland Transcript,
Volume 25
Army Correspondence
Camp of 1st Maine Regiment
Letter from the First Regiment, June, 1861
ETYMOLOGY
– unknown
ETYMOLOGY
– probably from undercumstumble (to understand, Eng. dial.)
EXAMPLE
“…Well, he stole on behind a rock, like a coastguard man watching a boat, and got very near the noise. He couldn’t umble-cum-stumble the words – they were Greek and Hebrew to him…”
From: Greatheart
By Walter Thornbury, 1866
ETYMOLOGY
– of unknown origin
EXAMPLE
“…A got him cuddle-muddlin’ wee ane anither at the back o’ a dyke.”
From: The Dialect of Banffshire
Walter Gregor, 1866
ETYMOLOGY
– local variant of squeal
EXAMPLE
“…And to ilk bellow, roust, and roar,
He lustily cried out, encore!
Till echo, for ten miles around,
Did the horrid scoil resound…”
From: The Life, Letters and Poems of George Beattie, of Montrose, 1882
John O’ Arnha”. A Tale
ETYMOLOGY
– from Norwegian dialect flog (flight) + drift (busyness, diligence).
The -a- possibly represents a reduced form of Norwegian og (and).
ETYMOLOGY
? from jounce to bump, thump and jolt, as a vehicle in deep ruts
FIRST DOCUMENTED USE
1857 – Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial English
– Thomas Wright, 1857
Lexicophilia 