Welcome to the Dragon's Pen, the blog of an aspiring kiwi author ... chatting about reading, writing, querying and publishing

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Vocab Slot #1

Back in the day, after the evening meal, my Grandpa would read a page or two from the dictionary. Whether it was just because he liked words or because his own father had been a journalist and instilled the habit into him I don't know.

I love words, their history, meaning and music; they intrigue and fascinate me.

While I was musing today about the joy words bring and thinking sadly that my vocabulary is not as vast as I should like, I was struck by a flash of inspiration:

Wouldn't it be fun to include a vocabulary slot at the blog? Of course it would!

I shall share with you a new, wonderful and/or weird words I have stumbled across, and, if you want to get in on the act you can comment with one or two your own. I challenge you to a duel of words! What fun...

So, with out more ado,

lithe: pliant, supple, bending and twisting and turning easily (like an eel).

----The lithesome eel glided through the murky water.


To "hop the twig" is to depart suddenly just before being caught (like a bird taking to the air just before being shot).

----"Och, it hopped the twig!" Conner said, lowering his shotgun in disgust.


That was fun wasn't it?

12 comments:

  1. "You're a real brick..." is actually ye olde english compliment. I first read it in a 1920's teenage novel, and then late last year a uni secretary used it on me (I told her she was an old pommy), but today is "Elder Day" so the compliment is to you.

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  2. dig
    1. to understand: Can you dig what I'm saying?
    2. to take notice of: Dig those cute vampire teeth you have.
    3. to like or enjoy: I'm digging this post!

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  3. tops: ranked among the highest, as in ability, performance, quality, or favor; outstanding.

    Phil Keaggy's music is the tops!

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  4. Thanks Timothy. Glad you are really digging this! :D

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  5. By the way, I think "dig" also refers to using an instrument to make a hole in something...yes?

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  6. You liked my double entendre then? Anyway, let's keep the ball rolling...

    Tonight as I was running the last leg home, the temperature dropped like a stone and the once wet road crystallized underfoot. Thankfully, on this occasion, I was sure-footed as a wild mountain goat and made it home without incident.

    If we could only get a few more bloggers on board, then the number of posts would indubitably snowball.

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  7. Come down the pike: to emerge; come forth; appear; "To have fun was the greatest idea that ever came down the pike."
    Piker: a miserly person; "Aw come on, don't be such a piker."
    For fun, look up "skanger" on wikipedia.

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  8. Found this one in the 'dictionary of thieving slang.' It's so good i'm just going to (almost) cut and paste.

    To PIKE: to run away, flee, quit or leave the Place; also to die
    Pike on the Been: run away as fast as you can.
    Pik'd off: run away, fled, broke; also dead. To pass the Pikes: to be out of Danger. "There's a Cull knos us; if we dont pike, he'll bone us" which means "If that Fellow sees is' if we don't scour off, he'll apprehend us." Also, "then we'll pike, 'tis all Bowman" means "we'll be gone, all is well, the Coast is clear."

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  9. Love it Timothy! Keep up the good work.

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  10. I have such a long list of old saying that even a blind man going for his life would be pleased to see it.

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  11. John Keys (PM) said Trevor Mallard "blew a foo foo valve" in parliament when Mr Mallard was kicked out for insinuating Keys was a liar (it's an offense to call someone a liar in parliament, i can't think why).

    1. "Polite" kiwi slang for a vulva.
    2. A foo foo valve is a type of valve used in boilers. So this was potentially a poor choice of words considering the death in the news today regarding a boiler that blew its top.
    3. for sports persons who give out near the end of their race.
    4. an angry outburst

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  12. :) I must have missed that news broadcast!

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