Skip to main content

Word of the Day – Riffraff

By August 23, 2024Word of the Day

Riffraff (noun)

rif-raf

A group of people regarded as disreputable or worthless

First used in English between 1425–75 and from late Middle English rif and raf, “every particle, things of small value.” From Old French rif et raf, formed on rifler, “to spoil.”

Example sentences

“It was the riffraff that hung around the local park that were the main concern.”

Word of the Day – Mackle

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Mackle (verb) mak-ul to blur, as from a double impression in printing First used in 1585–95. A variant of earlier macle, makle; earlier macule (from the Latin macula, “spot, blemish”).…

Word of the Day – Slapdash

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Slapdash (adverb) slap-dash in a careless, hasty, or haphazard manner C17: from slap + dash (more…)

Word of the Day – Chalice

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Chalice (noun) chal-is a cup for the wine of the Eucharist or Mass./ A drinking glass or goblet. before 900; Middle English < Middle French < Latin calici- (stem of…

Word of the Day – Jocular

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Jocular (adj) jok-yu-lar Given to, characterized by, intended for, or suited to joking or jesting; waggish. First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin joculāris. (more…)

Word of the Day – Volubility

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Volubility (noun) vol-yu-bil-i-tee The quality of being talkative, wordy, or glib: First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin volūbilitās, from volūbil(is) (more…)

Word of the Day – Archipelago

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Archipelago (noun) ar-ki-pel-a-jo A large group or chain of islands. 1495–1505; alteration of Italian arcipelago, alteration of Egeopelago the Aegean Sea < Greek Aigaîon pélagos (more…)

Word of the Day – Nidificate

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Nidificate (verb) nid-if-i-kayt To build a nest Now in rare usage, first recorded in English between 1810–20; used without an object. From Latin nīdificātus, past participle of nīdificāre, “to build…

Word of the Day – Kerplunk

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Kerplunk (adverb) ker-plunk With a sudden muffled thud First recorded in 1885–90. Onomatopaeic (more…)

Word of the Day – Nephogram

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Nephogram (noun) nef-o-gram A picture of a cloud or clouds Apparently first used in the early 1900s in academic and meteorological circles. (more…)

Leave a Reply