Are you BOGGLISH (uncertain or doubtful) about what to buy your loved ones for Christmas? A brand new book, More Weird and Wonderful Words, published on 4 December by Oxford University Press, might well bring them EADNESS (happiness). Erin McKean has dug deeper into forgotten corners of the English language, gathering a host of spectacular words which will fascinate and astonish you and your family and friends throughout the festive season.
Are you always on the lookout for a GEASON (amazing) gift? Do you LIMBECK (wear yourself out in the effort to have a new idea) every year? What about a FINNIMBRUN (a knick-knack or trinket) from the KNACKATORY (a place to buy knick-knacks)?
More Weird and Wonderful Words might just be the CURWHIBBLE (thingamajig or whatchmacallit) you are looking for!
Children know Father Christmas is coming and that this is SCOPPERLOIT (a time for play), though Santa himself may be in danger of suffering from RACHISAGRA (pain in the spine) from carrying too many sacks of gifts down the chimney. And while it could be a MOLIMINOUS (extremely laborious) task not to JARGOGLE (confuse or mix up) the presents, there may well be PEENGING (peevish complaining) if you do!
Too many BRANNIGANS (drinking bouts) at the Christmas HARBERGERY (a place of entertainment) and we are in danger of becoming HODDYPEAKS or GILLY-GAUPUSES (silly people), KENCHING (laughing loudly), engaging in GLAIKERY (foolish behaviour) and likely to JIRBLE (spill) our drinks, while the sensible AQUABIB (water drinker) looks on.
Entertain and amuse with colourful conversation, spiced up with examples from More Weird and Wonderful Words!
The HASTERY (a collection of roast meats) is ready and the COSHERING (feasting) can begin. And when we've eaten so much Christmas fare it's surprising we don't JOLLOP (make a noise like a turkey!). It"s all too easy to DRUMBLE (be lazy) and become a JOLLUX (a fat person) because we have KNABBLED (bitten or nibbled) too YAPLY (eagerly or hungrily). It's a time of ABLIGURATION (spending an unconscionable amount on food) few can resist.
Scrooges say Yuletide is such a WAHALA (an inconvenience or trouble), involving HOFLES (excessive or unreasonable) expense, but most of us don"t want to be a HEINSBY (a mean wretch) at this time of the year and see it as a time to DELICIATE (revel or indulge yourself) and perhaps for a few LORANTHACEOUS kisses (ones given or received under the mistletoe)!
More Weird and Wonderful Words is a new book featuring hundreds of entries not found in any normal dictionary, guaranteed to amuse and astonish.
*NITTINESS = being full of small air bubbles (referring to wine)
KENCHING = laughing loudly