codswallop

Pronounced: KODZ-wall-up, noun

Notes: This is a word that knew, but I liked the origin story

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Yesterday’s word

The word anon means

• in a short time; soon; immediately
• at another time

First usage

Very old; the word dates back to before 1000.

Background / Comments

I learned this word as a freshman in high school, where Romeo and Juliet was taught in English class. I don’t have the Act or Scene, but there is a point in which character calls to another (I think Juliet to a nurse or governess or vice versa) and the response is “I come anon”. I understood this to mean “right away”; I was not fully aware of the second meaning above. Our word comes from the Middle English word anon or anoon, which came from Old English on āne (in one course; straightaway).