Joy of joys! A new eggcorn.

#humour Me in response to sth my partner did: 'It's a Pavlovian reaction.' He: 'I haven't eaten Pavlova. It was trifle.'

Finishing the year on a high - I've signed a contract with Cambridge University Press for my book: Metal and Literary Production in Early Modern England: Labour, Value, Violence. Transforming my PhD into a book whilst on a series of lectureships wasn't easy, so I WILL be celebrating every milestone

The Concept of Dictatorship Through History The Age of Dictatorship refers to the mid-twentieth century, marked by despotic leaders like Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin. The term originates from Old English, linked to Roman history, where "dictator" denoted a temporary, absolute ruler. Today, the…

I guess I should share this, as I'm in it. On the other hand, if you read it and don't think you'll be interested in the conversations with any of the other lexicographers in the book, then you're that much less likely to buy the book. But what the hell. lithub.com/how-to-build...

Bookes are like cheese!!! Yes!!!!

Gunboat Diplomacy: A matter of definition A lexicographer's look at the history and definitions of 'gunboat diplomacy'.

Understanding the Difference: Disinterested vs Uninterested The debate between "uninterested" and "disinterested" has a long history rooted in semantics. Traditionally, some people insist, "disinterested" meant "impartial" while "uninterested" referred to being "indifferent." However, overlapping…

Complacent vs Complaisant: Understanding the Difference The distinction between "complacent" and "complaisant" is often blurred, leading to misuse. Complacent means smug or self-satisfied, while complaisant refers to a desire to please. Despite clear definitions, confusion persists, influenced by…

Happy Advent (and Happy Hanukkah when it comes!)

The Fascinating World of Oodle Words – Part II The discussion explores verbs and nouns containing the *oodle* string, highlighting three snuggling verbs: croodle, canoodle, and snoodle. It delves… https://jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/05/the-fascinating-world-of-oodle-words-part-ii/

The fascinating world of ‘oodle’ words The exploration of the letter sequence -oodle- reveals a range of verbs suggesting leisurely or aimless actions: to poodle, soodle, noodle, moodle, flap-doodle, and doodle. There's a notable connection between others of these words and concepts of sound,…

The Etymology of ‘A Gogo’: From French Roots to Pop Culture The author reflects on their infrequent posting, contemplating the phrase "a gogo," meaning "in abundance," which originated from French. They explore its usage and historical references, linking it to Parisian nightclubs and the famous…

A great conversation about dictionaries and dictionary making.

As @emckean.bsky.social said to @grammargirl.bsky.social, they are "imitation," not "intelligence."

#english As far as is known, there's only one station in the UK devoted to phrasal verbs. And it's on one of the country's most scenic routes.

Lend your support to entrepreneurs in low-income countries through @lendwithcare.bsky.social Make your first loan for free with this link! lendwithcare.org/referral/HHO...

The cultural significance of ladybirds across languages I’m not sure when I first knew about ladybirds – perhaps as a child of five or six. At that age you’re closer to the ground and so much closer to small creeping things than you’ll ever be again, able to observe them with that goggle-eyed…

What’s the opposite of a placebo? You’ll probably have come across placebo in one or other of its two modern meanings; a) ‘a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect’; or b) ‘a substance that has no therapeutic effect,…

Gazebos and Jane Austen – or not Which language do you think gazebo comes from? Perhaps Italian, because of it’s -o ending, like piano or casino or ghetto? Or maybe Spanish? Or even Arabic, a gazebo being a bit like a tent travellers on a caravanserai might pitch?

Another cod etymology bites the dust

Our cover this week.

If no one in onomastics has never written a paper called ‘Hoo, Wat, Wen, Wye, Howe’, I will be very disappointed.

Ganglion

Wishing everyone a very merry #TartanDay. slàinte mhath! Here's what I wrote about the history and language of Tartan. blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...

👇 www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...

#bbctkc Are you ready for this week's word bingo? #english #cooking

I've got my affectionate word bingo ready for today's Kitchen Cabinet. #bbctkc. Do join in if you fancy.

An expert talks about ‘Words of the Year’ – what they are and what they’re not.

Anyone?

From ye meowy olde England - Cats in Joseph Wright's English Dialect Dictionary (1898-1905): boar cat (tomcat), scattle cat (thieving mischievous cat), tibcat (female cat), to meowl (to cry like a cat) #dialectology #linguistics 🧪 #caturday

Anyone can become a narcissist if you just believe in yourself

A common sight in the centre of York, when the Ouse bursts its banks. This is a particularly high level.

Don't do it when I come over. @bossproofreader.bsky.social

Happy Birthday, President Zelenskyy.

Burns Night and Burns Suppers It’s popularly believed that Burns wrote this grace. He didn’t. It existed in the seventeenth century as ‘The Covenanters’ Grace’. Burns recited it at supper at the Earl of Selkirk’s – there’s still an earl of that title – in 1794, and at other times, so it became…

#santa Here's a lovely surprise from Santa. Santa and I love it when a certain expert is on the Kitchen Cabinet. @dranniegray.bsky.social

#quizzes I'll try another one, then. Which book of the Bible contains the name of a fabled Lancashire cake?

Ouch.

Aaagh! #writing You've just put a chapter to bed and heaved a sigh of relief. Then you decide to look at a discarded version from yonks before. And it contains some real gems. Now, how to work them in?🙂🤔

#languages #russian My Word of the Day has thrown up this one again - a year on, I guess, and I now have to face it, I'll never read Чехов in the original, even if I can key Cyrillic blindfold - well, almost. But what's not love about кукуруза: corn, maize?

Is it worth trying one of my purloined quizzes? Here goes. Which of the seven traditional colours of the rainbow is the only one not to contain any letters of the word 'mackerel'? PS: Do they do hashtags on here?

This is wild. I actually feel almost emotional (get a grip, man!) that people from Twitter have followed me on here over the last day. It's like a school reunion, but without the one-uppersonship! You know who you are. Thank you. Nice to see you again. 😁

And well worth a browse or two.

The OED (1887 entry) is very snooty about how to pronounce beho(o)ve: 'Historically, it rhymes with move, prove, but being now mainly a literary word, it is generally made to rhyme with rove, grove, by those who know it only in books.' Miaow! Puss, puss.

I love it when the penny drops about another dansk-engelsk cognate. (I'm trying to learn Danish.) at behøve - to need to, to have to I øvrigt behøver du ikke råbe. Jeg er ikke døv. By the way, you don't need to shout. I'm not deaf. behove or (US) behoove. Both from (Middle) Low German.

Great Horned Owl in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 🪶🦉 #birds #owls #nature #naturephotography