Just for fun! I’ve compiled a top 20 list of medieval words we should bring back, just because they’re awesome (and because I’m a super geek)!!!
I’m a medieval and I often come across words that are just simply amazing! We all know that Shakespeare contributed so much to the English language, but there was an age before him. An age where Old English was being fused with French following the Norman Conquest of 1066. This was an exciting time for the development of the English language! It saw the retirement of some old Anglo-Saxon words in place of some newly introduced Norman words. French was perceived as the superior language as it was that of those who had conquered the land. Old English was the language spoken by the peasantry, whereas French was of the language of the upper classes. Here follows my list of 20 medieval words I would love to bring back and see in regular use once again!
- Wind-sucker – A jealous person.
- Hufty-tufty – A person who brags
- Pitchkettled – Confused, bewildered.
- Grammarcy -To give thanks, thank you.
- Woodness – Insanity, absurdity
- Prithee – Please
- Iswonk – To work
- Rattoner – Exterminator, pest controller
- Bellytimber – Food
- Fadoodle – Foolish, nonsense
- Wheeple – A man’s feeble and unsuccessful attempt at whistling
- Wink-a-peeps – Eyes
- Sloomy – Lazy, idle
- Bedswerver – A cheat, a person unable to be faithful
- Adam’s Ale – Water
- Fonkin – A small fool
- Flag – fallen – Out of work, jobless
- Misgloze – To misinterpret
- Pumpkinificiation – Haughty conduct
- Hudder-mudder – Discretion, privacy
Are there any other medieval words you would like to bring back? Which on my list were your favourite medieval words?
I hope you enjoyed this post. For something similar, see My Favourite Latin Phrases.
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