num_pages: 208
description: This is a book of words that urgently need your help. Fopdoodle salmagundi kissingcrust runnion and stingo are all endangered for lack of use. Since Samuel Johnson completed his dictionary scores of words such as fizgig jobbernowl and sponk have slipped away from common usage. You will very likely never have heard of most of them while some will be known but not used. Scores of others have definitions so obscure that you wonder why a word was needed at all. Was it necessary to have quite so many different words to describe the less fortunate members of society? Many such as atom (cannot be split) and urinal (where water is kept for inspection) have changed their meaning completely often with hilarious consequences. Some such as tea (lately drunk in Europe) and coffee (comforteth the brain and heart) are included to provide a glimpse of life 250 years ago. Others such as Dragon (perhaps imaginary) and Swallow (a bird that hides in winter) show as yet unfilled gaps in understanding. This book Fopdoodle and Salmagundi will delight anyone who is fascinated by the evolution humor and eccentricity of the English language or enjoys the challenge of a word game. In compiling this selection of little used and unfrequented gems of the language the editor makes the simple request that you slip them into conversation in the hope that their use will be perpetuated. They really are too go to lose.
language: English
title: Fopdoodle and Salmagundi: Words and meanings from Dr Johnson's dictionary
publisher: Old House Books