NICK NINNY. A simpleton.

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): NICK NINNY. A simpleton. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Is it just me and my neurodiverse brain, or does everyone notice minutiae like this – and then feel compelled to blog about it?
👉https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/26/enough-anough-and-the-archaeology-of-small-mistakes/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social
What sorcery is this? 🪄 I often catch myself typing 'anough' for 'enough'. It's also closer to how I pronounce it. I may adopt this spelling out of spite. Does this happen in other languages?
#language #forensics #linquistics #phonetics #archaeology #cognition #signals #writing #prescription #english #ghoti #spelling #orthography #typos #enough

DUMB GLUTTON. A woman's privities.

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): DUMB GLUTTON. A woman's privities. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

GO SHOP. The Queen's Head in Duke's court, Bow street, Covent Garden; frequented by the under players: where gin and water was sold in three-halfpenny bowls, called Goes; the gin was called Arrack. The go, the fashion; as, large hats are all the go.

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): GO SHOP. The Queen's Head in Duke's court, Bow street, Covent Garden; frequented by the under players: where gin and water was sold in three-halfpenny bowls, called Goes; the gin was called Arrack. The go, the fashion; as, large hats are all the go. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

LOBKIN. A house to lie in: also a lodging.

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): LOBKIN. A house to lie in: also a lodging. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I keep discovering that deflationary philosophy attracts mystics like moths to a freshly cleared void, so I wrote about it.
👉 https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/24/why-deflationary-philosophy-keeps-attracting-mystics/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social
It's odd, because the entire point is to remove the furniture, not consecrate the space.
#philosophy #psychology #mysticism #moths #scepticism #language #deflation #maps #terrain #reality #perception #blog #podcast #Wittgenstein #silence

ARCH ROGUE, DIMBER DAMBER UPRIGHT MAN. The chief of a gang of thieves or gypsies.

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): ARCH ROGUE, DIMBER DAMBER UPRIGHT MAN. The chief of a gang of thieves or gypsies. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

TO BOLT. To run out of one's house, or hiding place, through fear; a term borrowed from a rabbit-warren, where the rabbits are made to bolt, by sending ferrets in: To bolt also means to swallow meat without chewing: farmer's servants in Kent are famous for bolting pickled pork.

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): TO BOLT. To run out of one's house, or hiding place, through fear; a term borrowed from a rabbit-warren, where the rabbits are made to bolt, by sending ferrets in: To bolt also means to swallow meat without chewing: farmer's servants in Kent are famous for bolting pickled pork. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Reality Happens Once. Facts Happen Many Times. After writing about 'The Trouble with Facts' yesterday, I realised that the polysemy of 'facts' introduces category errors. Not all facts are created equal.
👉 https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/23/reality-happens-once-facts-happen-many-times/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social
#philosophy #language #ontology #epistemology #facts #objectivity #cognition #perception #memory #law #evidence #polysemy #truth #podcast #blog #reasoning #rationality #causation

CUB. An unlicked cub; an unformed, ill-educated young man, a young nobleman or gentleman on his travels: an allusion to the story of the bear, said to bring its cub into form by licking. Also, a new gamester.

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): CUB. An unlicked cub; an unformed, ill-educated young man, a young nobleman or gentleman on his travels: an allusion to the story of the bear, said to bring its cub into form by licking. Also, a new gamester. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BREAKING SHINS. Borrowing money; perhaps from the figurative operation being, like the real one, extremely disagreeable to the patient.

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): BREAKING SHINS. Borrowing money; perhaps from the figurative operation being, like the real one, extremely disagreeable to the patient. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

LAW. To give law to a hare; a sporting term, signifying to give the animal a chance of escaping, by not setting on the dogs till the hare is at some distance; it is also more figuratively used for giving any one a chance of succeeding in a scheme or project.

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): LAW. To give law to a hare; a sporting term, signifying to give the animal a chance of escaping, by not setting on the dogs till the hare is at some distance; it is also more figuratively used for giving any one a chance of succeeding in a scheme or project. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BEAU TRAP. A loose stone in a pavement, under which water lodges, and on being trod upon, squirts it up, to the great damage of white stockings; also a sharper neatly dressed, lying in wait for raw country squires, or ignorant fops.

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): BEAU TRAP. A loose stone in a pavement, under which water lodges, and on being trod upon, squirts it up, to the great damage of white stockings; also a sharper neatly dressed, lying in wait for raw country squires, or ignorant fops. 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

CUNNING SHAVER. A sharp fellow, one that trims close, i.e. cheats ingeniously.

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): CUNNING SHAVER. A sharp fellow, one that trims close, i.e. cheats ingeniously. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I had NotebookLM create a podcast summary of a video on moral psychology interventions. Blog post to follow.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/65d25PLFIEezBiMgyf7lku?si=QEPGl-8ERRWei5uuYV9J5w
#philosophy #psychology #podcast #morality #communication #language #cognition #reasoning #enlightenment #books #reading #critique #bookreview

HUGOTONTHEONBIQUIFFINARIANS. A society existing in 1748.

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): HUGOTONTHEONBIQUIFFINARIANS. A society existing in 1748. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

CAT WHIPPING, or WHIPPING THE CAT. To whip the cat, is a term among tailors for working jobs at private houses, as practised in the country.

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): CAT WHIPPING, or WHIPPING THE CAT. To whip the cat, is a term among tailors for working jobs at private houses, as practised in the country. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I discuss Chapter 4 of 'A Language Insufficiency Hypothesis' in this video.

https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/20/language-insufficiency-hypothesis-presumption-and-horizon/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=lih

I discuss where language fails in law, politics, science, and digital culture, where we think language conveys more than it does.

#philosophy #language #politics #law #science #digitalculture #semantics #meaning #society #culture #video #blog #communication

JACKEY. Gin.

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

BEEF EATER. A yeoman of the guards, instituted by Henry VII. Their office was to stand near the bouffet, or cupboard, thence called Bouffetiers, since corrupted to Beef Eaters.

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): BEEF EATER. A yeoman of the guards, instituted by Henry VII. Their office was to stand near the bouffet, or cupboard, thence called Bouffetiers, since corrupted to Beef Eaters. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

We don't think in words (or numbers). 🧐

https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/19/thinking-without-words-and-other-heresies/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Zrt6gbJU8od7Sr00MYaTx?si=9k-th4RZRiW_XNi5Tla8MA

#Language #philosophy #cognitivescience #fmri #science #research #words #cognition #chess #fedorenko #blog #podcast #soduko #blog #podcast #perception #apologies

KNAPPERS POLL. A sheep's head. 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): KNAPPERS POLL. A sheep's head. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BRAZEN-FACED. Bold-faced, shameless, impudent.

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): BRAZEN-FACED. Bold-faced, shameless, impudent. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I've long had an issue with the English 'why'. Dan Dennett had similar misgivings.

https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/18/the-metaphysics-of-why-a-scavengers-guide-to-the-accident/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

The term in English carries a lot of metaphysical baggage – more than necessary.

#language #semantics #metaphysics #philosophy #perception #weaselwords #intent #causation #truth #meaning #notebooklm #claude #chatgpt #genai

METTLESOME. Bold, courageous.

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): METTLESOME. Bold, courageous. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

MOUTH. A noisy fellow. Mouth half cocked; one gaping and staring at every thing he sees. To make any one laugh on the wrong, or t'other side of his mouth; to make him cry or grieve.

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): MOUTH. A noisy fellow. Mouth half cocked; one gaping and staring at every thing he sees. To make any one laugh on the wrong, or t'other side of his mouth; to make him cry or grieve. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Atoms and selves share an identity: They don't really exist. https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/17/the-useful-fiction-of-atoms-and-selves/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

I've discussed selves at length, but how do they relate to atoms? Wrong answers only.

#physics #psychology #philosophy #selves #identity #heuristics #history #inertia #language #fiction #critique #science #self

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atom

FERME. A hole. 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): FERME. A hole. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I witter on about Qualified Subjectivity. Ponder with me.

https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/16/qualified-subjectivism/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

Why objective reality is an anachronistic myth.

#philosophy #politics #society #culture #mediation #truth #anythinggoes #relativism #subjectivity #language #semantics #ontology #epistemology #kant #phenomena #noumena #history #intetrfaces #blog #podcast

BEST. To the best in Christendom: i.e. the best **** in Christendom; a health formerly much in vogue.

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): BEST. To the best in Christendom: i.e. the best **** in Christendom; a health formerly much in vogue. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Claude, the Therapist, Is In to explain the challenge of academic orthodoxy
https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/16/claude-the-therapist-is-in/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social
#philosophy #llm #ai #claude #critique #language #orthodoxy #kant #reading #writing #blog #podcast #history

In a 4-minute video, I discuss The Gradient, Chapter 3 of my latest book, A Language Insufficiency Hypothesis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GeAGD0gAi4

#philosophy #video #language #semantics

SPANK. (WHIP) To run neatly along, beteen a trot and gallop. The tits spanked it to town; the horses went merrily along all the way to town.

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): SPANK. (WHIP) To run neatly along, beteen a trot and gallop. The tits spanked it to town; the horses went merrily along all the way to town. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

@lttrspc @0xabad1dea @vasilis We should probably add #conlang.

Is it a #constructed systematic #language with its own script.
Is it a #cipher using a know language.
Or is it #asemic writing, without a real system or meaning?

Do we actually know that about the Codex Seraphinianus?

HUMMUMS. A bagnio, or bathing house.

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): HUMMUMS. A bagnio, or bathing house. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

TO BULLOCK. To hector, bounce, or bully.

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 BULLOCK. To hector, bounce, or bully. 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

SPOUTING CLUB. A meeting of apprentices and mechanics to rehearse different characters in plays: thus forming recruits for the strolling companies.

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): SPOUTING CLUB. A meeting of apprentices and mechanics to rehearse different characters in plays: thus forming recruits for the strolling companies. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

In an 8-minute video, I discuss Chapter 2 of my latest book, Structural Limits of Language.

https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/14/language-insufficiency-hypothesis-structural-limits-of-language/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=lih

#philosophy #video #blog #language #limits #history #genealogy #semantics #semiotics #fitness #truth #structure #book

DEVIL'S DAUGHTER. It is said of one who has a termagant for his wife, that he has married the Devil's daughter, and lives with the old folks.

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): DEVIL'S DAUGHTER. It is said of one who has a termagant for his wife, that he has married the Devil's daughter, and lives with the old folks. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BLESSING. A small quantity over and above the measure, usually given by hucksters dealing in peas, beans, and other vegetables.

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): BLESSING. A small quantity over and above the measure, usually given by hucksters dealing in peas, beans, and other vegetables. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Mocking up a minimalist cover for my next book, When Language fails. I share an abstract on my blog.
👉https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/13/when-language-fails-abstract/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

I'm excited to put on the final touches.

This one is about ontological pluralism. It should advance moral psychology and jurisprudence. At the very least, it advances my understanding beyond A Language Insufficiency Hypothesis by giving it more foundational support.

#book #philosophy #writing #ontology #perspective #language #cover #art #minimalism #blog

JOWL. The cheek. Cheek by jowl; close together, or cheek to cheek. My eyes how the cull sucked the blowen's jowl; he kissed the wench handsomely.

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): JOWL. The cheek. Cheek by jowl; close together, or cheek to cheek. My eyes how the cull sucked the blowen's jowl; he kissed the wench handsomely. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

JOGG-TROT. To keep on a jogg-trot; to get on with a slow but regular pace.

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): JOGG-TROT. To keep on a jogg-trot; to get on with a slow but regular pace. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I'm wrapping up a monograph on plural social ontologies and the effects this brings to moral psychology. I share some early ideas on my blog. It ties together several of my earlier ideas.
https://philosophics.blog/2026/01/12/ontologically-speaking/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social
#philosophy #ontology #book #writing #language #blog #semantics #meaning #society #psychology #monograph #humancondition

FOXEY. Rank. Stinking.

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): FOXEY. Rank. Stinking. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

THE DIP. A cook's shop, under Furnival's Inn, where many attornies clerks, and other inferior limbs of the law, take out the wrinkles from their bellies. DIP is also a punning name for a tallow-chandler.

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): THE DIP. A cook's shop, under Furnival's Inn, where many attornies clerks, and other inferior limbs of the law, take out the wrinkles from their bellies. DIP is also a punning name for a tallow-chandler. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)