Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: freez, noun Notes: When I read the first definition, I didn’t understand it at all; it used three key words that I did not understand Yesterday’s phrase The phrase trouser role is used in opera, drama, film, etc and is First usage Our phrase came into English in the 1950s Background / Comments OurContinue reading “frieze”

Pronounced: TROW-zurh roll, noun Notes: You can probably guess the meaning of this phrase Yesterday’s word The word gyre is “a circular or spiral motion or form; especially a giant circular oceanic surface current.” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments It is odd how one hears something, andContinue reading “trouser role”

Pronounced: jire (alt: jigh-uhr), noun Notes: I’ve come across this word (but it is a little specialized) Yesterday’s word The word shirtsleeve means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments All of our definitions derive from the sleeves of one’s shirt. In warmer weather, shirtsleeves are often rolled up.Continue reading “gyre”

Pronounced: SHIRT-sleeve, adj Notes: I know the noun (what a shirtsleeve is), but not the meaning of the adjective Yesterday’s word The word colligate means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1400s Background / Comments Our word traces back to the Latin word colligare, which is made up of com- (with) andContinue reading “shirtsleeve”

Pronounced: KAH-luh-gate, verb Notes: I thought of “collegiate”, but this word is not that one Yesterday’s word The word supercargo is First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments I would not have thought that a supervisor of cargo would be what a supercargo is. The word is an alterationContinue reading “colligate”

Pronounced: soo-purr-CAR-go, noun Notes: I thought perhaps “important cargo”, but that’s not right Yesterday’s word The word fossick means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, I don’t feel too bad about not knowing this word, since it is primarily used in Australia and NewContinue reading “supercargo”

Pronounced: FAH-sick, verb Notes: I don’t feel too bad about not knowing this word Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Jedburgh justice means “punishment before trial” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1600s Background / Comments Apparently, our word is also known by the names “Jedwood justice” or “Jeddart justice”. The town ofContinue reading “fossick”

Pronounced: JED-buh-ruh juhs-tihs, noun Notes: I’ve not heard this phrase Yesterday’s word The word yeasty means First usage Our word came into English in the 1500s Background / Comments The first definition above seemed like the obvious one; the other ones were new to me. Even though our word is from the 1500s, the wordContinue reading “Jedburgh justice”

Pronounced: YEE-stee, adj Notes: There is an obvious definition, but there were meanings I didn’t know Yesterday’s word The word Pactolian means “golden; lavish” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments I really like having another word for “lavish”. Our word came from the river Pactolus in ancientContinue reading “yeasty”

Pronounced: pak-TOE-lee-uhn, adj Notes: I hope I remember this word; it’s useful — but it was new to me Yesterday’s word The word calumny is First usage Our word came into English in the first half of the 1400s Background / Comments Somewhere, I have read the phrase “lies and calumnies”, and so I hadContinue reading “Pactolian”