To lye downe and sleepe. Peddelar's Frenche.
--Thomas Harman's A Caveat, or Warening, for Common Cursetors, 1567
To go to bed. -- B.E.'s Dictionary of the Canting Crew, 1699
Hogshead, humorously applied to the head [couch meant to lie down]. -- Sir James Murray's New English Dictionary, 1893
Enjoy old phrases that are harmless enough but really sound like taking a B.M.
, Bp
[From: Jeffrey Kacirk Forgotten English 2008 Calendar: A Calendar of Vanishing Vocabulary and Folklore
]Bp
5 comments:
Two of my recent favorites:
June 10: ambiloquy: the use of ambiguous expressions; double speaking
July 9: stultiloquy: foolish speech.
Both now enshrined on our refrigerator, held in place by my Cartman-has-an-anal-probe South Park magnet.
Excellent choices sir.
It's the earliest cant term found in English, even before Harman -- see _Coke Lorrel's Bote_ (c. 1510).
Robin
Having a hell of a time finding info on Coke Lorrel's Bote -- can you provide a link I'm interested.
Also, very cool to see something back in the archives getting comments. Welcome to the blog.
Bp
Just come on this -- missed your question originally. (Nearly a year ago!)
I don't think Cock Lorrel's Boat is on the web, but if you're still interested, backchannel me -- robin.hamilton3[at]virginmedia.com -- and I'll send you a copy. I'm doing some work on couching a hogshead at this very moment.
Robin
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