Below are some of the tome's most hilarious, vivid, and archaic insults, arranged in alphabetical order for your put-down pleasure. An excellent word that means getting rowdy in the streets. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. TALLYWAGS or TARRYWAGS was an eighteenth and nineteenth century euphemism for a mans testicles. 12) Wake snakes get into mischief. TANGIER or TANGERINES was a room at Newgate prison where debtors were confined. Drinking a glass of absinthe neat; named for the green color of the booze. Chuckaboo Im off to the bar for a drink with Chuckaboo. Meaning: Someone who was especially clumsy and also loud about it was described with this fun word back in the '20s. Cancer and Leo Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? Queer pops, bad pistols. Esp. TACE meant to be silent or to hold your tongue. Meaning: Before the '50s called someone a "drip," this was used to describe those types of wet blankets or buzzkills in a group. 1800s slang for woman. tied to an apron string. Piece - A sandwich. Again, another one to be careful with. The attractiveness that comes from dimples or a fun blog or absolutely rad taste in mittens. ", A promiscuous woman or prostitute; less commonly, a dissolute man, Example: "That dude who hangs out around the hotel late at night is a wagtail. She was not her mother or grandmother's old-fashioned woman. "That north show window of Shute & Haskell's is a 'lally-cooler,' " the Jan. 4, 1890, Salina, Kan., Republican noted. It is definitely not fine for someone seeking outpatient substance abuse therapy or any other type of help for their drinking. One well-known American TARRING AND FEATHERING victim was the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, their Prophet Joseph Smith. TANDEM referred to a two-wheeled chaise, buggy, or noddy, that was drawn by two horses, with one horse placed before the other. Scorpio and Cancer Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? Strumpet - a whore. ", Example: "Dan is such a hornswoggler! "Buck's tryin' to make a mash on that new girl.". Read on to learn some splendiferous Wild West slang and Old West expressions thatbring in a little of the frontier into your daily life. You just asked me if Matt Damon was still stuck in space. And smelling it. What were insults in the 1800s? JONAH - a slang term for a person who is perceived to be a jinx, or who brings bad luck with him. Absquatulate - To leave or disappear. A figure of speech used to describe drunken men. Richard Twiss wrote a travel book titled A Tour of Ireland in 1775. Hidey Ho was a Lenox Avenue heads up for the Hos of long ago! Your email address will not be published. A society word meaning smart.. throw a bone. Meaning: Victorian-era competitors used this phrase when they were crowned the winners. Poke - (to poke - to prod) (a poke - a paper bag) Reek - Smell, emit smoke. But burns like "flapdoodle" and "mumbling cove," on the other hand, don't have quite the same bite. Arrah, cried he, but he wont let me.'. The politics of black slang are tricky. The information comes courtesy of Chambers Slang Dictionary by Jonathon Green, a noted author of several old-time urban dictionaries. Ireland was sometimes called TEA GUELAND. TYBURN TOP was a name for a popular wig. "Political corruption if the clergy only keep to that topic, Lincoln will be Chicagoed!" Queer vinegar, worn out woman's cloak. TALLYWAGS or TARRYWAGS was an eighteenth and nineteenth century euphemism for a man's testicles. Unsavory characters and criminals wore it because they could comb the foretop over the eyes. Example Sentence: "Wow, that new curling iron makes your follow-me-lads look even better.". 1900s 1. 6) Lally-cooler -- a real success. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. watford town hall vaccination centre contact. Ticket to the hanging of Jonathan Wild. Example Sentence: "I'm the trump in this group, and don't you forget it. You likely have a little knowledge of old-fashioned compliments we've all heard of "the bee's knees" and "the cat's pajamas." It has gone through a number of meanings and spellings since it first began being used . By . The anthology is filled with slang words and terms of the kind dictionary scribe Samuel Johnson had previously deemed unfit for his influential A Dictionary of the English Language (1755). Example Sentence: "How can you still look like such a buck after dancing until 6 a.m.?". (And if you need more inspiration, here's some Victorian slang for good measure. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. And theres more where that came from if you browse through English lexicographer Francis Grose's A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, first published in 1785. Basque-bodice was often used to label a fancy woman's blouse, and in the later 1800s included sleeveless versions. Bow wow mutton A naval term referring to meat so bad "it might be dog flesh." 9. Why say you're going to fight when you could say you're going to shake a flannin instead? A TAYLORS GOOSE (now spelled TAILORS GOOSE) referred to a flat iron because it had a goose-like curve at the neck. TORCHE-CUL, sometimes referred to as bumfodder, was slang for toilet paper. Cute: pretty, 1834 from American English student slang. The 19th-century city produced some of the most delightfully obscure slang: 'it smells of garlic here', meant 'there are lesbians about' and 'chestnut gatherer' meant sodomite. But in the many centuries of English slang, there are huge swathes of forgotten material. Definition: something foolish or worthless. The F-word in the dictionary The F-word was recorded in a dictionary in 1598 (John Florios A Worlde of Wordes, London: Arnold Hatfield for Edw. Meaning: Yep, you guessed it: another term for an attractive lady. 7. It basically means the aesthetic cream of the crop the most beautiful person in the. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. b dylan hollis boyfriend Likes ; church for sale shepherdsville, ky Followers ; savannah quarters country club menu Followers ; where does ric elias live Subscriptores ; weather in costa rica in june Followers ; poncirus flying dragon It's also a good name for cute kids. Schedule a meeting: "Super!"Show off a gui Example Sentence: "He wouldn't even let us pay when we ordered truffles; what a darb.". TOTTY-HEADED was another way to say you were giddy or hare-brained. 10. Adres: Ondokuz Mays niversitesi. Someone who takes a day trip to the beach. This term, Forrester writers, describes a person with a wilful determination to ignore the objectionable or inconvenient, at the same time assuming airs of superior virtue and noble resignation., An 18th-century tavern term that means getting drunk.. Cussed - cursed or mean. A woman who uses a pistol with a great degree of surety. Nineteenth-century sailor slang for A riotous holiday, a noisy day in the streets., A naval term referring to meat so bad it might be dog flesh., Brave or fearless. Hello is considered a variant on a number of other similar wordslike hallo, holla, and hollothat were used to hail and shout to gain attention and recorded prior to the 1800s. Kristin Hunt is a staff writer for Thrillist, and is a total whooperup, but she's okay with that. Example sentence: "This fancy black-tie party is absolutely full of gorgers.". A fib or lie was also called a TARADIDDLE. Popular until 1870, this phrase meant Dont lie to me! Apparently, people who sold dogs back in the day were prone to trying to pass off mutts as purebreds. Coarse lace that was once popular was known as TROLLY LOLLY. If you drank TAPLASH, you were drinking thick, bad-tasting beer. In the nineteenth century, before England had professional police, persons were hired to capture criminals and were known as THIEF TAKERS. Meaning: This was a pretty accurate slang for sausage, which can still be quite mysterious about their fillings. Meaning: Your rear end, as popularized in the 1960s by the Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In catchphrase, "You bet your sweet bippy!"". The survey by OnePoll finds that Bae is the most commonly used slang term, followed by SMH (shaking my head) and Lit, while on the flipside, GOAT (greatest of all time) is the most annoying slang term, followed by Bae and Hangry. a sewing bee, quilting bee, or cornhusking bee. 3. Things people used to say in old west capture the ambience of the land in ways watching John Wayne westerns and playing Oregon Trail could not. In 1909, writing under the pseudonym James Redding Ware, British writer Andrew Forrester published Passing English of the Victorian era, a dictionary of heterodox English, slang and phrase. The Industrial Revolution, combined with other societal changes like readily accessible international travel and the blurring of class lines, made for a wildly entertaining set of slang employed on both sides of the Atlantic. Absolutely perfect young females, circa 1883. He brings his own provisions and doesnt contribute at all to the resort hes visiting. The Jacob's Ladder. Such practices are not confined to the past. Making Meat - On the Western prairies, cutting into thin slices the boneless parts of the buffalo, or other meat, and drying them in the wind or sun. Bridget "Biddy" Mason is famous for being the first African-American woman to own land in Los Angeles, but that pales in comparison to many of her other accomplishments.Biddy was born into slavery in Mississippi. Unique histories from the 18th and 19th centuries, Excerpt of a BBC interview with Geri on May 1, 2017, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), View 18thcand19thcs profile on Instagram, View 117631667933120811735s profile on Google+, Marie Antoinettes Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe, Napoleons Downfall: Madame Rcamier and Her Battle With the Emperor, Jane Austens Cousin: The Outlandish Contess De Feuillide, Bicycling in the Victorian Era and Lady Riders, A Hanging Known as English Open-air Entertainment, Jack the Ripper: Contemporary Press and Public Suspects, Cat Superstitions in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. In his book he gave an unfavorable description of the Irish character. To go at full speed was also called TANTWIVY. Basquine was a word that meant a tight fitting corset-like under-bodice of heavy material worn in the 16 th century. A TITTUP was to be lively or gay and was said to imitate the sound of horse hooves when in a gentle gallop or canter. Authors collection. It basically means the aesthetic cream of the crop the most beautiful person in the room, the stunner you'd be lucky to talk to in a million years. Meaning: The roaring '20s used this delightful term to describe liquor or any alcoholic beverage. david holmes i heard wonders; burt's bees international expansion; nutella mascarpone calzone "That clay-bank hog wants the same pay as a Senator; he's getting . Too much extravagance. Do you know what a thetan is? In their Ive seen 1939s The Women approximately 20,000 times, give or take, still its one of the few movies I always watch I used to think that looking across a pillow into the fabulous face of Buster Keaton would be a more thrilling destiny One of the things I love about old movies, old songs, and detective novels from the likes of Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain and Raymond Chandler, is the great slang. This creative cuss is a contraction of damned if I know., A phrase meaning "elderly," because it "makes the spectator giddy to think of the victim's years." Cherry - vulgar term for a young woman. Look, if you make a lot of money, throw your old friend a bone. TOASTING IRON or CHEESE TOASTER referred to a sword. Here are a few of the best words from the 1800s that we should bring back: Table of contents: Damfino Biddy: an old hen, later used as a derogatory term for an old woman. Meaning: From card playing, this is a term for a top-marks person attractive, fun, smart, and cool. You're such a butter and egg fly.". Human nature's always been the same, and when we want to tell somebody they're awesome, we can sometimes sound completely off the wall while doing it. But burns like "flapdoodle" and "mumbling cove," on the other hand, don't have quite the same bite. What were swear words in the 1800s? Meaning: A specific sort of alluring woman with the kind of raunchy sex appeal that makes everybody, including inanimate objects, weak in the knees. Powdering Hair This is a polite way to describe someone who is becoming increasingly drunk. 1800s Insults & Slang from the Victorian Era. Wear iron: Carry a gun. Meaning: The kind of jaw-dropping dancer who's just casually been doing urban breakdancing for 10 years, but doesn't make a big deal of it until you're in the club and suddenly everybody's in a circle around them clapping. According to Grose, the slang expression TAG-RAG AND BOBTAIL was used to describe an assemblage of low people.. The bit of pork. what is brent draper from masterchef doing now 1800s slang for woman. Herein are 50 vintage slang terms that once-upon-a-time dominated the world, today . For those of you who want a better idea of life in the Wild West, Old West slang terms definitely help get you in that mindset of cowboys, cattle wranglin', and casually overlooked "brothels." I don't know her from Adam's house cat. (American Indian Movement) Kukolokod. Can you believe that? Queer cove, a turnkey. The term usually refers to "a maiden or other woman canvassed by other maiden ladies or others.. bounce. Well cross that bridge when it gets here. I guess you could say I'm pigeon-livered. TIPPLE was another slang term for liquor, and TIPPLERS were those who drank the liquor. TACKLE referred to a mistress or a mans genitals. Informal words and expressions that popped up in popular parlance, especially in the 19th century, says Lynne Murphy an American linguist who teaches at the University of Sussex in England are "going to stay fairly local, and so there can be a lot of variation not just between countries, but between cities, between social classes, et cetera. Lists about the hippest lingo that has slipped through the lips of people all around the world and throughout history that will have you going "WTF m8? Alas, how times have changed. For history buffs and word nerds, You jerk just doesn't have the same ring as You unlicked cub, an insult from Georgian England. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. dollymop - A woman who dabbled in prostitution during the Victorian era. Words have adapted over the years. airbnb with pool in detroit, michigan; firefly axolotl for sale twitter; super bowl 2022 halftime show memes instagram; what happened to suzanne pleshette voice youtube 8) Shoddyocracy people who get rich selling shoddy merchandise or services. Sword thieves were also known as TAYLE DRAWERS. Quim - female genitalia. Atakum, SAMSUN. A TUMBLER was someone who tumbled, someone who played tricks, or a nickname for a crossing sweeper. ( vp ) Help out with something small. TO TUP was to have carnal knowledge of a woman. The inhabitants of Dublin exacted their revenge by christening their chamber pot a TWISS. Your email address will not be published. His TARRING AND FEATHERING happened in 1832 by an anti-Mormon mob. Meaning: This isn't entirely a compliment, but I think it should be one. If so, this term for someone who's had a bit too many rounds will make a lot of sense. A type of beard "formed by the cheeks and chin being shaved leaving a chain of hair under the chin, and upon each side of mouth forming with moustache something like a door-knocker.". Stop laughing, it's an insult! It's been part of English since the 1300s, and is still in active use meaning both "a young woman" and "sweetheart." A less frequent Scottish use in the past meant "maidservant." Queer thimble, good for nothing watch. ", An ugly person, especially one with a heavy lower jaw, Example: "Jay Leno is a total gibface. High muckety-mucks. Abisselfa - By itself. Mary A common,. TALE TELLERS were hired to lull a person to sleep by telling anecdotes or stories about fictional characters. Screwball - Unhinged, mad. I think I'm going to call the police. "Passing English ripples from countless sources, forming a river of new language which has its tide and its ebb, while its current brings down new ideas and carries away those that have dribbled out of fashion." Shaolin School 1800s slang for woman . Take Minnie the Moocher (please). Hobbledygee: A pace between a walk and run, a trot. In that pursuit, researchers may be buffaloed. To attack with words or reproach someone was to TONGUE. Riddy - A red face, embarrassed. How many do you know? All Rights Reserved. Thieves used this term to indicate that they wanted to go out the back way., An 1850 term for sausages, because no man but the maker knows what is in them. Make A Raise - To raise, procure, obtain. Above-Board - In open sight, without artifice, or trick. How To Save Your Cat or Dogs Life if They Are Choking, Cant Bend to Clip Your Toenails? 5. Whooperups Whooperups is a term that is used to describe a group of terrible singers. Flummadiddle. Hey, it smells delicious. by | Jun 21, 2022 | what is the most accurate latin translator | burlington iowa arrests | Jun 21, 2022 | what is the most accurate latin translator | burlington iowa arrests Zooey Deschanel is probably the cutest bug's ear we've got these days. 1. Come along for the ride! Here are an even dozen, pretty much forgotten slanglike words or sayings from the 19th century, rediscovered while delving in the archives and with added guidance from James Maitman's 1891 American Slang Dictionary: 1) Too high for his nut beyond someone's reach. People who were tarred and feathered were stripped naked, doused with hot tar, and covered from head to toe in feathers. After going to court, ladies would appear in their trains for afternoon tea and this was called TAIL-TEA. Gingamobs: Testicles. The meaning "pertaining to cats" dates to 1902. 1800s slang for womanscottsboro funeral home obits. Example: Hey man, sorry Im late. TAWS was a childhood marble game played in schoolyards with small round balls made of stone dust and catted marbles. A society word meaning smart. Forrester demonstrates the usage: "The goods are not 'afternoonified' enough for me.. If you are capable of holding enormous amounts of large liquor and see someone struggling to keep up, feel free to call them this term. fullstory layoffs atlanta By On Juil 2, 2022. berger 215 hybrid 300 win mag. You might recognize some of the familiar vocabulary you and your friends used back in the day or learn a few new-to-you jargon you can work into your next convo! Horse godmother: A large, masculine woman. So, the struggle in late 1800s America was between the role of a man and a woman and was ultimately changing the role of a female in America, creating hundreds and hundreds of unions and associations, and finally creating many laws that were create an equal American Women In The 1800s During most of the early 1800s and 1900s women have continuously . In the last case, I'm not findng any verbed place names in Britain, but in the same era, there was definitely verbing of personal names here, for example boycott. 56 Delightful Victorian Slang Terms You Should Be Using, Brutal Insults From the 1800s That Demand a Comeback. But please don't, I fear pigeons the most. Use of this 1880 phrase indicated temporary melancholy. Menu and widgets. Leo and Sagittarius Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? Take a look below to see all the old slang words and phrases we should still use today. 9. ", A sexually incompetent man, who is either too young to have had sex or one who is too old to attempt it ("flapdoodle" also referred to nonsense or rubbish and ladyparts in the same time period), Example: "I read in Holly Madison's memoir that Hugh Hefner is a weird old flapdoodle, if you know what I mean. 1880s. Top Ten Most Commonly Used Slang Terms. Back in the 19th century, though, throwing one of these insults could get you challenged to a . Cat lap is a term that was used to describe a weak drinker. By brushing up on the vibrant slang of the Victorian period you really can add some extra colour and fun to your vocabulary. Nineteenth-century sailor slang for "A riotous holiday, a noisy day in the streets." 8. Previously (1731), as a shortened form of acute, the word meant "clever.". Bash: A drunken spree. To fail. Bee: a gathering of friends for a common purpose, i.e. Also sometimes used by members of the military to describe going to war. Especially in the global hodgepodge that is American English. Or you could ask them to mind the grease, which meant the same thing to Victorians. Afternoonified. Addle Pate "An inconsiderate foolish fellow." 2. From the Beatles song where there is a verse "I am the walrus, kuko loko chu". Church Bell Church bell is used to describe a woman who doesnt shut up. Malcolm got so boisterous in the bar they bounced him. Etymology of the word slang. Queer belch, sour beer. A rams tail was soaped and greased and then the ram was turned out with other rams. Created by Braham the terror, whoever that is. So the next time you want to tell somebody you love their walk, their attitude, their particular take on things, or just think they look amazing in those jeans, you can give them one of these straight in the kisser. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Drag: women's clothing worn by a man. in his absence., An unkempt woman: A woman whose hair is dishevelled, and hanging about her face; a slattern., A lewd woman, or one that plays with her tail; also an impotent man, or an eunich., A poor, miserable, emaciated fellow., A lazy fat woman a frowzy old woman., A lewd graceless youth, one naturally of a wicked disposition., A large head; metaphorically a stupid fellow.. Many establishments and buildings take us on a history trip, helping us to learn about the days of the past. TUB THUMPER was a nickname for a Presbyterian parson. The 'bag' refers to the gut which contained the chopped meat., This phrase originated in London in 1882, and means perfect, complete, unapproachable.. Somebody who reads The Sartorialist and has the faintest idea of what pattern clashing and "working a piece of clothing back" mean. If you were a drunkard you might be known as a TOSS POT or a TOSSPOT. New slang words are invented everyday. Low London phrase meaning to thrash thoroughly, possibly from the French battre a fin. at night. Candle to the devil, To hold a: To be evil. Queer cat lap,bad tea. Plus, if someone gets drunk a lot, we dont recommend encouraging it by making a joke, so theres a fine line with this one. Also, his tattered coat was hideous. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. Had her own table in the school lunch room, and probably has over a thousand Facebook friends. The word was used well into the Edwardian era, but of course the styles changed annually. Also the creole and jargon spoken by thieves and the "surplus population." Part of the a360media Women's Service Group.Copyright a360media 2023. Tora-Loorals If you enjoy visiting karaoke bars you will find plenty of opportunities to use this slang word. ", She adds: "I'm sure we could find nonsensical-looking words it was Lewis Carroll's time after all and verb phrases of the verb-the-animal type, but I'm not sure about ones with fable origins.". How are you translate in Newari language? I thought the refrain: Hidey Hi! Black slang and AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) have long been considered inferior to so-called "standard" English, and the black people who use it seen as uneducated or unintelligent (forcing many to master the art of code-switching).So when suddenly words and phrases that have strong ties to the black community are adopted and warped by non . Are you going to put lace over the feather, isn't that rather butter upon bacon?, A London society term for tea and coffee used scornfully by drinkers of beer and strong waters in club-life is one of the more ignominious names given to champagne by men who prefer stronger liquors., Quarrels. A tongue, chiefly applied to women; a simile drawn from the clack of a water-mill." In Sinks of London laid open by an unknown author of the 1800s there's "Black beetles: the lower order of people." and "Box of ivory: the teeth." There's a whole pot more stuff on slang at the BBC's h2g2. Church bell. He was told there was no game of that kind there, but that if he wanted to see the elephant he was on the right track," the Lawrence, Kan., Daily Journal reported on Sept. 2, 1891. 4. I prefer my late-night hosts to have weak chins. When you enter these venues it's a cultural experience, from the dcor to the drinks served, you feel as though you are taking a trip back in time. Goop: A stupid person. If you had TRAP STICKS you had thin legs. However, there are some great words that have existed for centuries that we've already forgotten about. Courtesy of Wikipedia. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. TARTAR meant to catch or attack someone of superior strength. ", 10) Like Thompson's colt -- doing something unnecessarily, like jumping a fence when the rails have been removed. In 1847, her owner, a newly converted Mormon named Robert Marion Smith, decided to strike out west like many other Americans. central de sermones el valle de los huesos secos; rapid testing burlington, vt; best 17 hmr ammo for coyotes; bucks fizz crash what happened; taiwan shoe size chart; 1800s slang for woman1800s slang for woman. So instead of thinking up new words to add to the dictionary, you should try using some of the old ones. Meaning: This one's specifically for dudes, and means one with an absolute dreamboat look. Required fields are marked *. Below are the definitions for these Victorian insults, plus 14 more rude words that we definitely think should be integrated back into modern vernacular. Meaning: A fancily-dressed person, usually a man. A THREE-PENNY UPRIGHT was a slang name for a prostitute who dispensed her favors standing against a wall. 1800s slang for woman Register now and get started. Meaning: A sailing term for the curls that lay over a lady's shoulders. Queer bid, insolvent sharpers who make a practice of billing persons arrested. Then come along yourself, replied his comrade. ( vp ) Dominated by the wife or a woman. I'm not sure why I don't like her, but she sucks. Unsurprisingly, they were fans of this drink in the Victorian era, and thus the phrase Smothering a Parrot meant drinking a glass of Absinthe neat. Balls - shortened from ballocks. I stick by my assertion that Barbara Stanwyck and Eve Arden are the quintessential dames of classic Hollywood. 1800s slang for woman 1800s slang for woman. Marvin had a few too many at the bar last night and the bouncer ejected him. Forrester chronicles many hilarious and delightful words in Passing English; we don't know how these phrases ever fell out of fashion, but we propose bringing them back. It is a derogatory phrase, referring to when a cat delicate laps up a bowl of cream. Example Sentence: "She's such a Sheba that I can't even talk to her without sweating through my clothes.". THREE THREADS was a mixture of half common ale and stale with double beer. 2. One of the most well-known THIEF TAKERS was Jonathan Wild. If you ask us, we wouldnt mind seeing some of the more creative colloquialisms from yesteryear make their way back into our chats on a regular basis again. A person wearing tattered and raggedy clothing was said to be a TATTERDEMALION. ", A bungler, or one who does things clumsily, Example: "God, Karen you are such a foozler. Further, it can be deleted based on my request. Buttoner: A sharper's assistant who entices dupes. Forrester cites The Golden Butterfly: "I will back a first-class British subject for bubbling around against all humanity. Follow me @NPRHistoryDept; lead me by writing lweeks@npr.org. 1880s. Follow her to Victorian thesauruses at @kristin_hunt. The nettle bed. Eighteenth-Century Vocabulary 3 AUTHORNo t o nl y a wr iter , bu t any cr eato respecial ly God, who was said to be the aut hor of our being. A talkative woman. Go By the Ground: A short person, man or woman. ballin wealthy lifestyle, making money. Example Sentence: "Those rabbit-shaped hat bobbles make you look just cute as a bug's ear, girl.". Flummadiddle is the sort of word that rolls nicely off the tongue, and even if people with whom you use the word don't quite know what it means the conversation will be the richer for its presence.