basilect

Pronounced: BAY-zuh-lekt (alt: BAY-suh-lect; BAZ-uh-lekt; BAS-uh-lekt), noun

Notes: I didn’t know this word, but some of the information about it irritated me

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Yesterday’s word

The word nobby means “cleverly stylish; chic; smart”

First usage

Our word came into English in the late 1700s

Background / Comments

Our word sounds like “knobby” (having knobs), but clearly isn’t related. I have not run across our word, but I did know that “nob” is used in British English for one is a superior position in life. It turns out that our word is also British slang. The origin of “nob” is uncertain; some think it may be related to “noble” (I myself prefer this idea). Others think that “nob” was a slang word for “head”.