Wednesday 22 August 2012

Catch-Fart


With the publication of The Horologicon approaching, I thought I'd do a few posts of words that didn't make it in. There's a little over two thousand strange words in there, but there were, nonetheless, poor animals that didn't make it into the ark because I couldn't weave them in.

For example, in the section of office politics, I somehow failed to include catch-fart, which is defined in Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785) thuslyly:

A footboy; so called from such servants commonly following close behind their master or mistress.

As many modern bosses have a catch-fart following them around, the term is still eminently usable, and eminently comprehensible after a moment's thought.

5 comments:

  1. Looking forward to the publication of The Horologicon. Now reflecting on how much sweeter life is, in retirement, if only because of the absence of catch-farts!

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  2. As both my sister and I have an interest in etymology, she bought a copy of The Etymologiccn for us to share. But I gave it up in disgust at the erroneous and misleading entry on Pantaleon. Once he became Christian he took the name 'Panteleimon', meaning 'All-merciful' Therefore he cannot be referred to as Saint Pantalon, as that is not a Christian name.

    See the OrthodoxWiki article: "They named him Pantaleon, which means in all things like a lion, but when he converted to Christianity, he changed his name to Panteleimon, which means all-merciful."

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  3. Come on 'Anonymous26 August 2012 04:43', you, "...gave it up in disgust at the erroneous and misleading entry ...". over one entry that you didn't quite agree with.

    Kenn Norris

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  4. So, one would think that an appropriate name for children who follow their teacher around, annoying them with questions, instead of sitting with their hands up. Serves them right...hehe

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  5. I dont suppose I am the only person to draw it to your attention, but Grose's own, annotated copy of the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue is for sale here: http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/blog/the-original-slang-dictionary-francis-groses-own-copy-of-his-classical-dictionary-of-the-vulgar-tongue/

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