Thursday, June 17, 2010

WONDROUS WORDS TO TICKLE YOUR FANCY

A few words from the 18th century to entertain and amuse.

Noodle- A silly, naive person. The next time you call a person a noodle I guarantee you will get a very strange look.

Nicknackery- A petty contrivance or trick. I like this word. It's fun to say and I bet no one will know what you mean.

Cripple- A swamp. OK then....Definitions have really changed over the years.

Crowdy- A thick oatmeal. This sure does NOT sound appetizing and I think children would cringe upon hearing they were having crowdy for breakfast.

Slur- To conceal. I can kind of see this one.

Valetudinary- Sickly or weak. Boy if you use this one you will sound quite well educated.

Go forth and have fun and dazzle your friends.

P.S. The phrase "tickle your fancy" came from England from around the 1750's.

28 comments:

  1. Too fun! Lol, nicknackery sounds like all those little things we collect and display on book cases ;) I will now snatch that word for that purpose, hehehe.....
    These are great fun!~

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Donna~
    I am so honored that you are following my blog! Such a nice compliment! I too am a lover of words as well as names, and LOVE the word "nicknackery" as well!! Thankyou for sharing these with us!! They truly "tickle my fancy!"
    Blessings,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh you adorable noodle! What fun and thank you for sharing!

    Hugs,

    Zwee!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Donna,
    Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world ... After reading your profile, I see we have a lot in common. I am but a simple person who has had a fondness for antiques since I was 18 years old. I also LOVE New England, but just to visit now ... toooo cooold! My old bones cannot take the deep freeze any more. I am now a follower of yours and hope to learn a lot about the 17th and 18th century. Stop by anytime!
    Teri♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. Teri,

    Thanks for stopping by. New England is magical. I feel it everytime I go there to visit friends. I also love early American history so... please keep on checking back. I have lots to share.

    Thank you again for your interest.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  6. Julie,

    I've found another friend. Thank you for stopping and introducing yourself. I hope you will enjoy this blog.
    Thanks again and have a nice day.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  7. What fun!!! Definitions have certainly changed over the years haven't they!!!

    Wishing you a most wonderful day!
    Hugs, Doreen

    ReplyDelete
  8. Donna, what a delightful blog you have. I want to properly thank you for stopping by and visiting me. Love reading your "words" and learning their "definations" and "origins." Now here is one you may be able to help me with (maybe you have heard or read this saying) "Is it dark under the table" A saying my 80 year old mom has used for years. Interpertation, Is it dark enough to put my night clothes on? I am not sure if this is a New England, Maine or Island saying, I hope you can help. Blessings to you.Julie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Julie

    Hi! Thanks for stopping by. Boy that is a good one. I've never heard of it before so... I will have to do some research. I'll let you know if I find out anything.

    Cheers!

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  10. Julie,

    Hi! I did a little research on the saying "Is it dark under the table?" and what I found was it is a North Carolina slang saying meaning its time to go home. I couldn't find how old the saying is but I think it is kind of a cool saying.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  11. Donna, Thank you so much!!! I am coping them all down and I will find a way to use them, especially with my husband. He already thinks I am making up words. LOL!!!!
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  12. Donna, thank you so much for taking the time to uncover the origin of "Is it dark under the table". I can't wait to tell my mom!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an interesting lesson Donna! I remember hearing some old timers using a few of those words when I was a little girl. I'm 43 but I had grandparents born in the 1890s. I only knew my grandfathers (my grandmothers passed away before I was born), but they used some interesting phrases.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love this, Donna! I especially love Noodle and Nicknackery...those are just fun words to say!

    ReplyDelete
  15. (3rd time lucky to post this comment!)
    Donna,
    I wrote tickle your fancy on my blog today!
    I also like Noodle!
    love
    Lyn
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Donna,

    You are always so sweet to comment at oldgreymare and I'd like to reply right back via email but you have no email on your profile. I didn't either when I first started but I've learned how easy and convenient it is to just hit reply and go directly back to someone via email. I have never had anyone abuse my email address and it has been 2 years

    I also realized that responding to someone's comment in the same comment section often meant they never saw it, because they never revisited the comment section. I never do, because of time constraints.

    Anyhoot, just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all your comments and I would love to thank you quickly each time.

    also, it seemed to help me get to know people faster and a little more personally because we'll say things in an email we won't say in a comment section sometimes...hehe

    Suzan

    ReplyDelete
  17. BTW- me again...
    have you noticed that the word verifications are awfully similar to your "wondrous" words?

    hmmm?

    z
    as in this one comigin

    ReplyDelete
  18. My grandmother, born in Maine in 1881, used "dark under the table" to mean "it's too late to do this task today without making mistakes; let's save it for tomorrow." She usually applied this to sewing. Now that my eyeballs are aging I can easily understand that when it's dark under the table, there just isn't enough light to see to sew.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for stopping by to visit today. I sure appreciate the kind words.

    Suzan

    ReplyDelete
  20. Language has definitely changed throughout the years. I would love to see them wearing exquisite motown tress wigs, that would definitely be stylish back then. Well, setting aside the candidness of them wearing a beautiful women's lace wigs, you've got a great thing going with your blog. Thank you for letting us partake in the knowledge that you have about the culture of the bygone eras, where nobility actually meant something. More power to you.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Donna, thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog regarding the passing of our sweet pup.

    I enjoyed reading through this list! How fun to see how words have either derived from other words or changed meanings. And I can see why some of these words are no longer in use; ie, Valetudinary?? That one is too difficult to pronounce! :)

    Thanks again for your visit.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Earl,

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and all the encouragement. It's such fun to learn new old things.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  23. Suzanne,

    Words are so much fun. I wonder sometimes how many have gone out of style or lost all together. Thanks for stopping by.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  24. Top Ten Classified Website List, Pakistani Classified Sites, USA Classifieds, Indian Classifieds, Entertainment Articles, Entertainment News, Entertainment Pictures, Bollywood, Hollywood and Lollywood Pictures and Videos, Entertainment Latest updates, Hot Entertainment News and Pictures Funny Entertainment Pictures, lol Pictures, Funny Pictures and every thing you want...
    www.hotcurrentaffairs.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Make Money Online is very easy now, In Internet system we have now best earning system without any work, Just Invest some Money into your Business and Make Perfect Life time Earnings with this Business.
    Join Now for Make Perfect Business and Earn Money online from home.
    www.hotfxearnings.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Latest cars and vehicles, Latest Mazda Models, Racing Cars, International Sport Cars, Concept Cars, PS-Pod, Strange Vehicles, Nissan, Royce Corniche, Ford Concept Cars, Strange Vehicles, Mercedes and More Sport Cars and Vehicles with Pictures and Info
    WorldLatestVehicles.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. aPhotoshop Fail Peoples in this Network... Fail Prank Peoples, Fail Videos, Fail Pictures, Troll Images, Prank Peoples, Funny Peoples, funny planet, funny facts, funny cartoons, funny movies pics, iphone funny, funny jokes, Prank Images, Fail Pictures, Epic Pictures, Lols and Gags, Lol Pictures, Funny Pictures, Lol is the Laugh out of Laugh where you can Fun Unlimited and Laughing Unlimited.
    lolsgag.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Awesome blog.
    Nice to see your site.
    some important information is here.

    Cheap wigs uk

    ReplyDelete