Obstropolous gets good usage where I currently work. Whether it is applied, to users, managers or other entities, I couldn't possibly comment.
Nippy, palaver and cockwomble: Greatest words in English?
It was decidedly nippy yesterday morning, and in remarking the fact to my pandiculating and yawning daughter, I was struck by the sheer magnificence of the word nippy when used to describe a crisp autumnal chill in the air. Given the biting cold, it was a right bloody palaver to scrape the frost off the van, and there's …
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Saturday 17th October 2015 17:27 GMT Anonymous Coward
I think the correct word is obstreperous
No, that's a different word, and you perhaps are being blinkered by the narrow scope of dictionaries. Obstropolous is a most marvellous new word that should be added to the OED forthwith.
However, this fine invention does not address the tragic shortage of good quality obscenities in English. The primary colours of obscenity are about seven core words, then extended with modifiers and combinations. The number one position is held by "fuck" a fine obscenity, and a short blunt word with a lovely mouth feel to it, even onomatopoeic when used as an adjective, but you very quickly run out of swear words after that. As any Two Pint Screamer demonstrates after they've had a few on Saturday night:
"Yer fuckin fook-headed fooker, yer spilt me fooking drink, fook yer, yer f-ffucking fookwit fooker!"
So, commentards, could we have some new swear words. Ideally not related to the existing rather small collection.
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Friday 16th October 2015 09:46 GMT Chris Miller
Nippily [0]
I've got a 1933 edition of the OED. In it, words are sometimes marked [1], indicating that there was (at the time of compilation) only a single occurrence of their use in English. A few words are marked [0], meaning that no instance could be found of the word being used, but it had been included in earlier dictionaries. An example of such a [0] word was nippily; so up to about 1930, it had (so far as the OED could ascertain) never been used in English texts. Today it's common parlance, particularly by motoring correspondents describing a car's handling. English has many such words, lying dormant, waiting for their turn to shine.
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Saturday 17th October 2015 19:11 GMT John Brown (no body)
Re: Nippily [0]
"English has many such words, lying dormant, waiting for their turn to shine."
,,,and are often in use in other dialects of English. American "english" still uses many quaint old words which we have since moved on from. I heard wainscotting the other day, a word I suspect has not been used in England for many a year but certainly has a bit more gravitas than skirting board!
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Tuesday 20th October 2015 16:38 GMT Michael Wojcik
Re: Nippily [0]
I heard wainscotting the other day, a word I suspect has not been used in England for many a year
But wainscoting1 figures so prominently in the Monty Python sheep sketch! Admittedly that was some 45 years back, so I suppose that qualifies as "many a year". Still, kids these days &c.
Also, of course, the word "wainscoting" is invaluable in discussions of philosophical realism, as it figures in one of the most commonly used examples.
1The single-T spelling appears to be preferred by dictionary authors. Google Ngram Viewer suggests it's been the more common one since about 1825.
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Friday 16th October 2015 11:26 GMT I ain't Spartacus
I rather like clusterfuck - as sometimes you need a bit of extra emphasis when describing a totally messed up situation. For example, I can find no other way to describe the ongoing disaster that is the Eurozone - where the predicted future problelms have now come to pass, but the political will to centralise that was supposed to solve them has gone away.
Even better, when in fear of filters, or while being polite, you get to use the excellent bowdlerisation: Fustercluck.
Which still manages to convey confusion, but with the added suggestion of headless chickens.
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Friday 16th October 2015 09:53 GMT Blank-Reg
Rumpus has been a favourite of mine. As in causing a rumpus, or scene.
I applaud this article and champion the full use of the English language lexicon. Too often, I am ridiculed for usage of fine, if little used, word even though the usage is correct. What is so wrong in using our beautiful language to its full extent.
Though, privately, I would love to see the return of the Aesc; æ. For use in words such as Dæmons, Archæology, Mediæval, fæces and so on.
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Wednesday 21st October 2015 02:08 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Ye Olde Rumpus Room
Pretty much every Australian house is advertised as having a rumpus room. Now I know why they're so popular!
I live in Australia and yes I do have a rumpus room in my house. Its main purpose is as a play-room for the kids, and that is the usual meaning down under. However I do confess that the missus and I have indeed been known to partake in some intimate shenanigans in that room (after the kids were safely in bed asleep, of course).
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Friday 16th October 2015 10:51 GMT Phil O'Sophical
On a topical note I'm quite fond of Autumnal, not a rare or seldom heard word, but it's one of those words that sounds as pleasing as the season it describes.
I also like the pure illogicality of English. When the prefix 'in' usually means 'not', why does flammable mean the same as inflammable? Any why is discontent harboured in a hotbed, when a hot bed usually gives me quite the reverse sensation?
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Friday 16th October 2015 11:46 GMT Alfie
RE: Autumnal
I also like the word autumnal, but have taken to using the word autumny instead, mostly to wind up my english teaching better half. Inspired by Baldrick's interpretation of irony; "Like goldy and silvery, only made of iron."
Actually the whole Blackadder the Third episode Ink and Incapability is a joy.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
