This morning I awoke thinking about sex – actually gender – of borrowed Latin words. Get your mind out of the gutter.

👉 https://brywillis634737.substack.com/p/we-still-bury-the-dead

I wrote a piece about it, but I was truly conflicted on my journey, especially as I compared English and French approaches, and a potential feminist rift.

#philosophy #language #sociolinguistics #etymology #english #french #latin #gender #writing #culture #feminism #linguistics #reform #administration

HIGH FLYERS. Tories, Jacobites.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): HIGH FLYERS. Tories, Jacobites. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

EYE. It's all my eye and Betty Martin. It's all nonsense, all mere stuff.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): EYE. It's all my eye and Betty Martin. It's all nonsense, all mere stuff. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Cycling content for German-learners.

I Crossed Germany By Bike (Again)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlRrej2zmqY #Germany #BikeTooter #Language #Fahrrad

BALSAM. Money.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BALSAM. Money. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

GULLGROPERS. Usurers who lend money to the gamesters.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): GULLGROPERS. Usurers who lend money to the gamesters. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

STOCK JOBBERS. Persons who gamble in Exchange Alley, by pretending to buy and sell the public funds, but in reality only betting that they will be at a certain price, at a particular time.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): STOCK JOBBERS. Persons who gamble in Exchange Alley, by pretending to buy and sell the public funds, but in reality only betting that they will be at a certain price, at a particular time. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

SIMEONITES, (at Cambridge,) the followers of the Rev. Charles Simeon, fellow of King's College, author of Skeletons of Sermons, and preacher at Trinity church; they are in fact rank methodists.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): SIMEONITES, (at Cambridge,) the followers of the Rev. Charles Simeon, fellow of King's College, author of Skeletons of Sermons, and preacher at Trinity church; they are in fact rank methodists. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day:

Blessings

(This one is more of a general topic.)

It was said that there was always a blessing on the lips of an Irish person ("Bíonn beannacht I gcónaí I mbéal an Ghaeil"), something certainly true of an Irish person speaking Irish.

#ireland #slang #language

ROUGH MUSIC. Saucepans, frying-paps, poker and tongs, marrow-bones and cleavers, bulls horns, &c. beaten upon and sounded in ludicrous processions.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): ROUGH MUSIC. Saucepans, frying-paps, poker and tongs, marrow-bones and cleavers, bulls horns, &c. beaten upon and sounded in ludicrous processions. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

TO QUEER. To puzzle or confound. I have queered the old full bottom; i.e. I have puzzled the judge. To queer one's ogles among bruisers; to darken one's day lights.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): TO QUEER. To puzzle or confound. I have queered the old full bottom; i.e. I have puzzled the judge. To queer one's ogles among bruisers; to darken one's day lights. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day:

Bladair

(Also: bladder, bladder, bladar.)

To engage in "bladair" means to engage in cajolery or flattery, blustery talk, a gush of meaningless talk. So "he's all bladair", means "he's all senseless talk".

In some parts of Kerry the phrase "Bladar McHugh means "big mouth" - meaningless prattle.

#ireland #slang #language

HUM TRUM. A musical instrument made of a mopstick, a bladder, and some packthread, thence also called a bladder and string, and hurdy gurdy; it is played on like a violin, which is sometimes ludicrously called a humstrum; sometimes, instead of a bladder, a tin canister is used.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): HUM TRUM. A musical instrument made of a mopstick, a bladder, and some packthread, thence also called a bladder and string, and hurdy gurdy; it is played on like a violin, which is sometimes ludicrously called a humstrum; sometimes, instead of a bladder, a tin canister is used. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

🆕 blog! “This blog is written in en-GB”

Someone left a comment on my blog recently asking if I'd mind making my language more inclusive. They didn't get some of the cultural references I'd used and suggested it would be easier if I used tropes which were more globally known.

Here's the thing. No.

All my blog posts start with a simple declaration:

<!doctype html>
<html…

👀 Read more: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/07/this-blog-is-written-in-en-gb/
⸻
#blogging #English #language

CLYSTER PIPE. A nick name for an apothecary.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): CLYSTER PIPE. A nick name for an apothecary. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Hi!, I'm a bot posting selections from Francis Grose’s 1785 “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue”, a compilation of slang terms, the coded language of the underclass and the demi-monde.

[18th-century-content warning: possible racism, animal cruelty, homophobia, sexism, slut-shaming. Let me know of any problems.]

#FollowFriday #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #crime #language #slang #18thCentury

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Montage of dictionary items posted by this account

Les Années Vécues
https://philosophics.blog/2026/07/01/les-annees-vecues/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social
I’ve shared a piece of fiction writing meta content and the rôle of LLMs in my writing workflow, in particular, a punch list to track idea instantiation. I don’t, however, discuss my fondness for diacritical marks, especially those with no phonetic function.
#philosophy #writing #fiction #timetravel #LLM #scifi #process #author #time #blof #podcast #language #workflow #frnech #english #shortstory #method #ai #matrix #spreadsheet #google #claude #chatgpt

NIGHTINGALE. A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): NIGHTINGALE. A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BADGE-COVES. Parish Pensioners. Cant.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BADGE-COVES. Parish Pensioners. Cant. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BELLOWSER. Transportation for life: i.e. as long.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BELLOWSER. Transportation for life: i.e. as long. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

GINGERBREAD WORK. Gilding and carving: these terms are particularly applied by seamen on board Newcastle colliers, to the decorations of the sterns and quarters of West-Indiamen, which they have the greatest joy in defacing.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): GINGERBREAD WORK. Gilding and carving: these terms are particularly applied by seamen on board Newcastle colliers, to the decorations of the sterns and quarters of West-Indiamen, which they have the greatest joy in defacing. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

MADAM. A kept madam; a kept mistress.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): MADAM. A kept madam; a kept mistress. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Rival Patrons in French and English
https://youtu.be/Yp-GxhOU0fc
#language #french #english #satire #patron #boss #restaurants #trivia

NIG. The clippings of money. Nigging; clipping. Nigler, a clipper. Cant.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): NIG. The clippings of money. Nigging; clipping. Nigler, a clipper. Cant. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

COCK HOIST. A cross buttock.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): COCK HOIST. A cross buttock. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

GUMPTION, or RUM GUMPTION. Docility, comprehension, capacity.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): GUMPTION, or RUM GUMPTION. Docility, comprehension, capacity. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

The Viking word hidden in the Declaration of American Independence.
From Roman freedom to Viking happiness, the iconic words in the Declaration of Independence reveal thousands of years of humans wrestling with how to live well together – and the power of language to put those ideas into action.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260625-the-ancient-words-in-declaration-of-independence-and-how-they-arrived-in-english #USA250 #Vikings #language

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Vikings illustration

CROCUS, or CROCUS METALLORUM. A nick name for a surgeon of the army and navy.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): CROCUS, or CROCUS METALLORUM. A nick name for a surgeon of the army and navy. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

GOOSEBERRY. He played up old gooseberry among them; said of a person who, by force or threats, suddenly puts an end to a riot or disturbance.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): GOOSEBERRY. He played up old gooseberry among them; said of a person who, by force or threats, suddenly puts an end to a riot or disturbance. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

LOUSE BAG. A black bag worn to the hair or wig.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): LOUSE BAG. A black bag worn to the hair or wig. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

LOUSE BAG. A black bag worn to the hair or wig.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): LOUSE BAG. A black bag worn to the hair or wig. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BUG. A nick name given by the Irish to Englishmen; bugs having, as it is said, been introduced into Ireland by the English.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BUG. A nick name given by the Irish to Englishmen; bugs having, as it is said, been introduced into Ireland by the English. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

How reading shapes and enhances our cognitive activity

by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Robert Egan

https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cognitive.html

Books about Comparative linguistics at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subject/19696

#books #cognition #language #psyco_linguistics

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This is the cover for "Introduction to the Study of the History of Language", authored by: Herbert A. Strong, M.A., LL.D. — Professor of Latin at University College, Liverpool; sometime Professor of Classics at Melbourne University Willem S. Logeman, L.H.D. — Head Master of Newton School, Rock Ferry, Cheshire Benjamin Ide Wheeler — Professor of Greek at Cornell University, U.S.A. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/58650/pg58650-images.html

Got a book today that I'm very excited about. How much of a word nerd am I?

Steven Mithen's The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved.

My Inner Child is just bouncing with delight. A language book and dark chocolate. This is a party.🎉 A 400 page party. With a 50 page bibliography! And notes! 62 pages of notes.

Happy camper

#Books #Language

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Book cover, green background, of The Language Puzzle with line drawings of skeletons, ancient tools, an ear cross section in blue, pink, yellow.

THIEF TAKERS. Fellows who associate with all kinds of villains, in order to betray them, when they have committed any of those crimes which entitle the persons taking them to a handsome reward, called blood money.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): THIEF TAKERS. Fellows who associate with all kinds of villains, in order to betray them, when they have committed any of those crimes which entitle the persons taking them to a handsome reward, called blood money. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Hi!, I'm a bot posting selections from Francis Grose’s 1785 “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue”, a compilation of slang terms, the coded language of the underclass and the demi-monde.

[18th-century-content warning: possible racism, animal cruelty, homophobia, sexism, slut-shaming. Let me know of any problems.]

#FollowFriday #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #crime #language #slang #18thCentury

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Montage of dictionary items posted by this account

GUNPOWDER. An old Woman. CANT.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): GUNPOWDER. An old Woman. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

SPARROW-MOUTHED. Wide-mouthed, like the mouth of a sparrow: it is said of such persons, that they do not hold their mouths by lease, but have it from year to year; i.e. from ear to ear. One whose mouth cannot be enlarged without removing their ears.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): SPARROW-MOUTHED. Wide-mouthed, like the mouth of a sparrow: it is said of such persons, that they do not hold their mouths by lease, but have it from year to year; i.e. from ear to ear. One whose mouth cannot be enlarged without removing their ears. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)