LONG ONE. A hare; a term used by poachers.

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): LONG ONE. A hare; a term used by poachers. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

DRIPPER. A gleet.

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

In this second of two essays, I discuss the immorality of property, even deeper than the first post yesterday.

https://brywillis634737.substack.com/p/before-the-fence-the-self

#philosophy #language #ontology #criticaltheory #blog #podcast #property #rights #privateproperty #propertyrights #justification #metaphysics #consciousness #phenomenology #ethics #philosophyofmind #identity #personalidentity #apples #essay #substack

LEVITE. A priest or parson.

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): LEVITE. A priest or parson. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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I've argued that property rights are immoral. Now, I've shared a pair of posts that argue at a deeper level. This is the first:

https://brywillis634737.substack.com/p/the-fence-before-the-field

#Philosophy #substack #blog #podcast #language #ontology #criticaltheory #anarchism #politicalphilosophy #politicaleconomy #economics #locke #rousseau #propertyrights #property #privateproperty

CROAKUMSHIRE. Northumberland, from the particular croaking the pronunciation of the people of that county, especially about Newcastle and Morpeth, where they are said to be born with a burr in their throats, which prevents their pronouncing the letter r.

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): CROAKUMSHIRE. Northumberland, from the particular croaking the pronunciation of the people of that county, especially about Newcastle and Morpeth, where they are said to be born with a burr in their throats, which prevents their pronouncing the letter r. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

POLISH. To polish the king's iron with one's eyebrows; to be in gaol, and look through the iron grated windows. To polish a bone; to eat a meal. Come and polish a bone with me; come and eat a dinner or supper with me.

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): POLISH. To polish the king's iron with one's eyebrows; to be in gaol, and look through the iron grated windows. To polish a bone; to eat a meal. Come and polish a bone with me; come and eat a dinner or supper with me. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

DROP COVES. Persons who practice the fraud of dropping a ring or other article, and picking it up before the person intended to be defrauded, they pretend that the thing is very valuable to induce their gull to lend them money, or to purchase the article.

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): DROP COVES. Persons who practice the fraud of dropping a ring or other article, and picking it up before the person intended to be defrauded, they pretend that the thing is very valuable to induce their gull to lend them money, or to purchase the article. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

TO COLLOGUE. To wheedle or coax.

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 COLLOGUE. To wheedle or coax. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

FOXED. Intoxicated.

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

NOCKY BOY. A dull simple fellow.

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): NOCKY BOY. A dull simple fellow. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

APPLE CART. Down with his apple-cart; knock or throw him down.

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): APPLE CART. Down with his apple-cart; knock or throw him down. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

JUMBLEGUT LANE. A rough road or lane.

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): JUMBLEGUT LANE. A rough road or lane. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

James Ladyman and I agree that language is a fundamental impediment to understanding – and this includes notions of reality.

https://open.substack.com/pub/brywillis634737/p/everything-must-go?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

So, of course, I wrote about it. There is no spoon. A link to his interview is in the article, where I compare and contrast his Everything Must Go and my own The Architecture of Encounter.

#philosophy #blog #podcast #language #science #reality #perception #metaphysics #physics #ontology #ontologicalgrammar #realism #epistemology #books

ARBOR VITAE. A man's penis.

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): ARBOR VITAE. A man's penis. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

BAYARD OF TEN TOES. To ride bayard of ten toes, is to walk on foot. Bayard was a horse famous in old romances,

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): BAYARD OF TEN TOES. To ride bayard of ten toes, is to walk on foot. Bayard was a horse famous in old romances, A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

MISH TOPPER. A coat, or petticoat.

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): MISH TOPPER. A coat, or petticoat. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

COOLER. A woman.

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

An interaction in Chapter 2 of Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day inspired me to write a Substack article on metaphors we may not consider to be metaphors. I focus on #professionalism and #honour.

https://open.substack.com/pub/brywillis634737/p/the-metaphors-we-argue-with?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer

Check it out, and pick up a copy of the book. I hear the movie isn't half bad. In fact, I borrowed the image asset from Amazon.

#philosophy #metaphor #language #britain #france #germany #americans #versailles #books #reading #writing #substack #blog #podcast

BUTCHER'S DOG. To be like a butcher's dog, i.e. lie by the beef without touching it; a simile often applicable to married men.

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): BUTCHER'S DOG. To be like a butcher's dog, i.e. lie by the beef without touching it; a simile often applicable to married men. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

LOWRE. Money. 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): LOWRE. Money. Cant. 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.]

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CHIRPING MERRY. Exhilarated with liquor. Chirping glass, a cheerful glass, that makes the company chirp like birds in spring.

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): CHIRPING MERRY. Exhilarated with liquor. Chirping glass, a cheerful glass, that makes the company chirp like birds in spring. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Wit, unker, git: The lost medieval pronouns of English intimacy

Tales of love and adventure from 1,000 years ago reveal a dazzling range of now-extinct English pronouns. They capture something unique about how people once thought about "two-ness". But why did they die out in the first place?

By Sophie Hardach

https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20260408-the-extinct-english-words-for-just-the-two-of-us

#books #literature #language

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“The demon of evil, with his fierce ravening, greedily grasped them”. A black-and-white illustration depicting a giant monstrous figure clutching several smaller human figures in its massive clawed hands. The creature has a grotesque, snarling face and looming presence against a dark, rocky landscape. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25502/25502-h/25502-h.htm

DERBY. To come down with the derbies; to pay the 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): DERBY. To come down with the derbies; to pay the money. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I read the opening chapter of Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day through the lens of A Language Insufficiency Hypothesis and the notion of ontological grammar.

https://philosophics.blog/2026/04/14/the-butler-did-it-to-himself/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

In a manner of speaking, this chapter is about the construction of the self and personal identity through grammar

#philosophy #literature #language #grammar #aesthetics #beauty #butler #ishiguro #reading #writing #critique #ontology #blog #podcast #wittgenstein #institutions #analysis

ROUT. A modern card meeting at a private house; also an order from the Secretary at War, directing the march and quartering of soldiers.

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): ROUT. A modern card meeting at a private house; also an order from the Secretary at War, directing the march and quartering of soldiers. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

THOUGHT. What did thought do? lay'in bed and beshat himself, and thought he was up; reproof to any one who excuses himself for any breach of positive orders, by pleading that he thought to the contrary.

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): THOUGHT. What did thought do? lay'in bed and beshat himself, and thought he was up; reproof to any one who excuses himself for any breach of positive orders, by pleading that he thought to the contrary. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

CUNDUM. The dried gut of a sheep, worn by men in the act of coition, to prevent venereal infection; said to have been invented by one colonel Cundum. Also a false scabbard over a sword, and the oil-skin case for holding the colours of a regiment.

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): CUNDUM. The dried gut of a sheep, worn by men in the act of coition, to prevent venereal infection; said to have been invented by one colonel Cundum. Also a false scabbard over a sword, and the oil-skin case for holding the colours of a regiment. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

FRENCH LEAVE. To take French leave; to go off without taking leave of the company: a saying frequently applied to persons who have run away from their creditors.

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): FRENCH LEAVE. To take French leave; to go off without taking leave of the company: a saying frequently applied to persons who have run away from their creditors. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

A colleague shared a post today that inspired this, let's say, 'response'. Do #LLMs ruin everything?

https://philosophics.blog/2026/04/12/the-environment-always-wins-the-myth-of-pure-voice/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

This is always in the back of my head anyway, so it wasn't particularly difficult to write a #blog post and ask #NotebookLM to summarise it for a #podcast.

#philosophy #language #artificialintelligence #virtuesignalling #culture #gatekeeping art #creativity #innovation #psychology #society ##games #books #reading #writing #absorbtion #influence #literature #homeschool

PEG. Old Peg; poor hard Suffolk or Yorkshire cheese. A peg is also a blow with a straightarm: a term used by the professors of gymnastic arts. A peg in the day-light, the victualling office, or the haltering-place; a blow in the eye, stomach, or under the ear.

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): PEG. Old Peg; poor hard Suffolk or Yorkshire cheese. A peg is also a blow with a straightarm: a term used by the professors of gymnastic arts. A peg in the day-light, the victualling office, or the haltering-place; a blow in the eye, stomach, or under the ear. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

To HANG AN ARSE. To hang back, to hesitate.

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 HANG AN ARSE. To hang back, to hesitate. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

HELL. A taylor's repository for his stolen goods, called cabbage: see CABBAGE. Little hell; a small dark covered passage, leading from London-wall to Bell-alley.

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): HELL. A taylor's repository for his stolen goods, called cabbage: see CABBAGE. Little hell; a small dark covered passage, leading from London-wall to Bell-alley. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

LATHY. Thin, slender. A lathy wench; a girl almost as slender as a lath.

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): LATHY. Thin, slender. A lathy wench; a girl almost as slender as a lath. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

I've always been leery of the AI debate over creative content – audio or visual media, including written material. A recent interview between Rick Beato and Justin Hawkins provided me with a frame.

https://philosophics.blog/2026/04/10/art-or-content/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

It reminds me of the old argument between high and low art, another bollocksed argument in my opinion. Homey don't play dat.

#philosophy #music #art #ai #language #perception #popculture #popmusic #protectionism #psychology #society #taste #technology #video #virtue #writing

@jwildeboer The comment on the wiki page about Conway's observation being being originally a sociological one has a "citation needed" mark against it, but I think that's right on the money. I think it extends beyond tech and what we normally think of when we think of "organisations." For example, we wouldn't think of LinkedIn users as being an organisation as such, yet there are definitely the outlines of organising mechanics, and these are most definitely and obviously coded into the language used.

#Sociology #Language #Semiotics #InGroups

BUDGE, or SNEAKING BUDGE. One that slips into houses in the dark, to steal cloaks or other clothes. Also lambs' fur formerly used for doctors' robes, whence they were called budge doctors. Standing budge; a thief's scout or spy.

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): BUDGE, or SNEAKING BUDGE. One that slips into houses in the dark, to steal cloaks or other clothes. Also lambs' fur formerly used for doctors' robes, whence they were called budge doctors. Standing budge; a thief's scout or spy. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

JURY LEG. A wooden leg: allusion to a jury mast, which is a temporary substitute for a mast carried away by a storm, or any other accident. SEA PHRASE.

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): JURY LEG. A wooden leg: allusion to a jury mast, which is a temporary substitute for a mast carried away by a storm, or any other accident. SEA PHRASE. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

FIDDLESTICK'S END. Nothing; the end of the ancient fiddlesticks ending in a point; hence metaphorically used to express a thing terminating in nothing.

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): FIDDLESTICK'S END. Nothing; the end of the ancient fiddlesticks ending in a point; hence metaphorically used to express a thing terminating in nothing. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

WHIP JACKS. The tenth order of the canting crew, rogues who having learned a few sea terms, beg with counterfeit passes, pretending to be sailors shipwrecked on the neighbouring coast, and on their way to the port from whence they sailed.

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): WHIP JACKS. The tenth order of the canting crew, rogues who having learned a few sea terms, beg with counterfeit passes, pretending to be sailors shipwrecked on the neighbouring coast, and on their way to the port from whence they sailed. 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.]

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SAINT MONDAY. A holiday most religiously observed by journeymen shoemakers, and other inferior mechanics. A profanation of that day, by working, is punishable by a fine, particularly among the gentle craft. An Irishman observed that this saint's anniversary happened every week.

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): SAINT MONDAY. A holiday most religiously observed by journeymen shoemakers, and other inferior mechanics. A profanation of that day, by working, is punishable by a fine, particularly among the gentle craft. An Irishman observed that this saint's anniversary happened every week. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

JARK. A seal.

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

DOWN. Aware of a thing. Knowing it. There is NO DOWN. A cant phrase used by house-breakers to signify that the persons belonging to any house are not on their guard, or that they are fast asleep, and have not heard any noise to alarm them.

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): DOWN. Aware of a thing. Knowing it. There is NO DOWN. A cant phrase used by house-breakers to signify that the persons belonging to any house are not on their guard, or that they are fast asleep, and have not heard any noise to alarm them. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

FLASH KEN. A house that harbours thieves.

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): FLASH KEN. A house that harbours thieves. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)