Tidbit: Words

It's been 186 years since Noah Webster published his two-volume American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828. It took him 28 years to complete because he had to learn 26 languages, including Ancient Greek, Latin, Sanskrit and Old English. The final draft listed and defined 70k words. Oh yeah, and did I mention the dude was 70 years old at the time?

Too bad it only sold 2500 copies and he had to mortgage his home.

He went to his grave at the age of 84, never knowing that nearly 200 years later, most of the English speaking peoples of the world would be using his dictionary.

So in honor of Mr. Webster and World Dictionary Day (which was last Thursday), here are some super freaking sweet words that I shall endeavor to use in an upcoming novel . . . 

BABBLEMENT (n.)
"Senseless prattle" or "unmeaning words."

DAGGLE-TAIL (adj.)
As a verb, to daggle is "to befoul" or "dirty", or more specifically, "to trail in mud or wet grass". The adjective daggle-tail ultimately describes someone "having the lower ends of garments defiled with mud."

FOPDOODLE (n.)
An insignificant fellow. Webster described this word as "vulgar and not used."

JACKPUDDING (n.)
A "merry-andrew" or "a zany" according to Webster. Basically, a joker who acts the fool to make other people laugh.

MAFFLE (v.)
To stammer or stumble on your words.

QUADRIN (n.)
A quadrin was old copper coin, which Webster explains was "in value [worth] about a farthing". Its name can also be used figuratively of any tiny amount of something.

RAKESHAME (n.)
A vile, dissolute wretch. Also known as a rampallion, a scroyle, a runnion, apander, or a cullion.

WRANGLESOME (adj.)
To dispute angrily or to involve in contention. If you're wranglesome, then you're quarrelsome.