Crying like a cowboy
‘So you’re a writer? What’s your favourite book?’
I loathe this question. I also dislike being asked to explain my reluctance to embrace the music of The Pixies, whether I’ll regret all my tattoos when I’m older, and the dreaded ‘What’s your novel about?’
I’m just going to start answering ‘Cheese’, and walk away.
But I think I’ve found the answer to the first question. If I had to choose one book to take with me to a deserted island (or a ski lodge in the middle of an avalanche, which is, let’s face it, much more my style) I know which one I’d choose.
I would take my 1400 page, $120 dictionary of etymology.
Etymology is the history of words, and without a doubt, one of the linguistic areas I love the most. I’m the word nerd my friends call during dinner party debates to ask Is it true that ‘nice’ used to mean ‘lewd?’ (yes, before 1300) or Does the word ‘caesarean’ come from Julius Caesar? (contrary to popular belief, no). How a language has changed over the centuries relies on a rich stew of history and culture, and I find the process fascinating.
Recently I found a word that made me reach for a pen immediately.
Bubulcitate: to cry like a cowboy (17th century).
Now, if that doesn’t pique your interest, there’s really no point in reading any further: this blog ain’t for the likes of you. I went looking, and found several obsolete words that give us a tantalising glimpse into another time and culture.
Blepharon: he who has great eyebrows
Chantepleur – a person who weeps and sings at the same time
Sproag – to run among the haystacks after the girls at night
Tyromancy – divination by the coagulation of cheese
Peristeronic – suggestive of pigeons
Iatrogenic – symptoms caused unintentionally by a doctor
Rapin – an unruly art student
Panurgic – ready for anything
Microphily – the friendship between two people not equal in intelligence
Redeless – not knowing what to do in an emergency
Pavonize – to act like a peacock
Elucubration – writing by candlelight
Unbepissed – not having been urinated on
The latter raises so many questions…
But without a doubt, the one that clearly pertains to me, and possibly anyone who’s read this far, is Vocabularian: one who pays too much attention to words.
And quite proud of it.
The following sites, books and people are well worth taking a look at:
http://obsoleteword.blogspot.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Burridge
‘Reading the OED’ by Ammon Shea
‘The Word Museum’ by Jeffrey Kacirk
inkymouth 
Jessica Tremp said,
July 11, 2011 at 10:29 am
Bubulcitate: to cry like a cowboy (17th century). – wow!!!!!
inkymouth said,
July 14, 2011 at 7:44 pm
You know me and my cowboys, Monty!
Leith O'Malley said,
July 13, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Well, in the presence of your writing I am but a Chantepleur my friend.
inkymouth said,
July 14, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Thank you, my friend. And if I could choose the song…well, given that I’m headed back to Berlin in three weeks, Lou Reed it is! I promise I’ll bring you back stories 🙂
Stan said,
July 14, 2011 at 4:42 am
Lovely list! Bubulcitate is a remarkable word.
But (from one vocabularian to another) I think latrogenic should be iatrogenic, from the Greek iatros, physician. I’ve come across it in technical contexts a few times, so I wouldn’t say it’s obsolete. Orthographic confusion over uppercase “i” and lowercase “L” probably played a part in the apparent popularity – or at any rate googleability – of the erroneous form.
inkymouth said,
July 14, 2011 at 9:02 pm
Thanks Stan, for the comment, and the correction. It was my mistake – I came across the word in ‘Reading the OED’ by Ammon Shea, and he did spell it with an ‘i’. I think I may have been indulging in a spot of elucubration when I first scribbled it down in my notebook 🙂 Thanks!
Michael said,
July 14, 2011 at 11:34 am
I think I’d wear the Rapin title with pride, if only I was studying again. I really like that these specific actions have a title.
I never knew that Sproag described a country jaunt so easily but I do sometimes look for a word that would mean to get drunk with friends, work out the meaning of life then forget it with the hangover the next morning.
inkymouth said,
July 14, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Hehe, I think we need to come up with one…but make damn sure I write it down in my trusty red notebook, hey?