Language

Amanuensis (noun) am-an-oo-en-sis A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what…

Folderol (noun) fol-de-rol Nonsense; foolish talk or ideas First recorded in 1695–1705, and originally referred…

Espalier (noun) es-pal-ee-yay A trellis or framework on which the trunk and branches of fruit…

Lascar (noun) las-ker An East Indian sailor First recorded in 1620–30; from Portuguese, short for…

Gynotikolobomassophile (noun) (humorous) gai-no-ti-ko-mo-bo-mas-oh-faihl One who likes to nibble on women's earlobes. 21C, humorous. (more…)

Mantua (noun) man-too-a a woman's loose gown worn as a robe or overdress in the…

Larrup (verb) lar-up To thrash or beat. 1815–25; perhaps < Dutch larpen to thresh with…

Hullabaloo (noun) hul-a-bal-oo A noise or commotion. A disturbance. Uproar. First used between 1750–60. Apparently…

Foozle (verb) foo-zl to bungle; play clumsily First recorded in 1825–35, perhaps from dialectal German…