Steve Luttrell
@slluttrell.bsky.social
Bookworm. Sky watcher. Intransigent centrist.
February 17th: The outdated word for today is "secg," which depending on context can mean "man," "sea," or "sword."
Pronunciation: sedge.
Source: Bosworth, J., Toller T. N. (1921). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation: sedge.
Source: Bosworth, J., Toller T. N. (1921). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 17, 2026 at 8:46 AM
February 17th: The outdated word for today is "secg," which depending on context can mean "man," "sea," or "sword."
Pronunciation: sedge.
Source: Bosworth, J., Toller T. N. (1921). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation: sedge.
Source: Bosworth, J., Toller T. N. (1921). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 16th: The outdated word for today is "hleōr-bolster" meaning "pillow."
Pronunciation (I think): h'LEE-OOR-bowl-stir.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): h'LEE-OOR-bowl-stir.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 16, 2026 at 11:37 AM
February 16th: The outdated word for today is "hleōr-bolster" meaning "pillow."
Pronunciation (I think): h'LEE-OOR-bowl-stir.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): h'LEE-OOR-bowl-stir.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 13th: Today's outdated word is "ambesas," meaning "snake eyes" (as in dice).
Pronunciation (I think): am-BEHS-as.
Source: Coleridge, H. (1863.) A Dictionary of the First, or Oldest Words in the English Language. London: John Camden Hotten.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): am-BEHS-as.
Source: Coleridge, H. (1863.) A Dictionary of the First, or Oldest Words in the English Language. London: John Camden Hotten.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
February 13, 2026 at 10:05 AM
February 13th: Today's outdated word is "ambesas," meaning "snake eyes" (as in dice).
Pronunciation (I think): am-BEHS-as.
Source: Coleridge, H. (1863.) A Dictionary of the First, or Oldest Words in the English Language. London: John Camden Hotten.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): am-BEHS-as.
Source: Coleridge, H. (1863.) A Dictionary of the First, or Oldest Words in the English Language. London: John Camden Hotten.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
February 12th: The outdated word for today is "froward," meaning "willful."
Source: Shakespeare, W. (Approx. 1590.) The Taming of the Shrew. See Act V, Scene 2, line 131.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #ShakespeareanEnglish
Source: Shakespeare, W. (Approx. 1590.) The Taming of the Shrew. See Act V, Scene 2, line 131.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #ShakespeareanEnglish
February 12, 2026 at 11:05 AM
February 12th: The outdated word for today is "froward," meaning "willful."
Source: Shakespeare, W. (Approx. 1590.) The Taming of the Shrew. See Act V, Scene 2, line 131.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #ShakespeareanEnglish
Source: Shakespeare, W. (Approx. 1590.) The Taming of the Shrew. See Act V, Scene 2, line 131.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #ShakespeareanEnglish
February 11th: The outdated word for today is "calibogus," a 19th century term for an American drink consisting of rum mixed with spruce beer.
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
February 11, 2026 at 10:43 AM
February 11th: The outdated word for today is "calibogus," a 19th century term for an American drink consisting of rum mixed with spruce beer.
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
February 10th: The outdated word for today is "gedlyng," meaning "fellow," but in a contemptous way.
Pronunciation (I think): GEDD-ling with a hard "g" at the beginning.
Source: Anonymous. (Approx. 1435.) The York Play 'Harrowing of Hell.' See line 212.
Pronunciation (I think): GEDD-ling with a hard "g" at the beginning.
Source: Anonymous. (Approx. 1435.) The York Play 'Harrowing of Hell.' See line 212.
February 10, 2026 at 11:39 AM
February 10th: The outdated word for today is "gedlyng," meaning "fellow," but in a contemptous way.
Pronunciation (I think): GEDD-ling with a hard "g" at the beginning.
Source: Anonymous. (Approx. 1435.) The York Play 'Harrowing of Hell.' See line 212.
Pronunciation (I think): GEDD-ling with a hard "g" at the beginning.
Source: Anonymous. (Approx. 1435.) The York Play 'Harrowing of Hell.' See line 212.
February 9th: The outdated word for today is "eōton-weard," meaning "protection from giants."
Pronunciation (I think): eh-OH-tun-weh-ARD.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): eh-OH-tun-weh-ARD.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 9, 2026 at 10:28 AM
February 9th: The outdated word for today is "eōton-weard," meaning "protection from giants."
Pronunciation (I think): eh-OH-tun-weh-ARD.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): eh-OH-tun-weh-ARD.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 6th: The outdated word for today is "sunder-lupes," meaning "severally."
Pronunciation (I think): SUN-der-lup-EHS.
Source: "The Pearl Poet." (Late 1300s.) Patience; see line 12.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): SUN-der-lup-EHS.
Source: "The Pearl Poet." (Late 1300s.) Patience; see line 12.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
February 6, 2026 at 2:44 PM
February 6th: The outdated word for today is "sunder-lupes," meaning "severally."
Pronunciation (I think): SUN-der-lup-EHS.
Source: "The Pearl Poet." (Late 1300s.) Patience; see line 12.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): SUN-der-lup-EHS.
Source: "The Pearl Poet." (Late 1300s.) Patience; see line 12.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
February 5th: The outdated word for today is "extreate," meaning "origin."
Pronunciation (I think): ex-TREE-ate.
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): ex-TREE-ate.
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
February 5, 2026 at 10:28 AM
February 5th: The outdated word for today is "extreate," meaning "origin."
Pronunciation (I think): ex-TREE-ate.
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): ex-TREE-ate.
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
February 4th: The outdated word for today is "bidene," meaning "together" or "at once." This is sometimes spelled "bydene."
Pronunciation (I think): bi-DEHN-eh.
Source: Anonymous. (1300s.) The Stanzaic Morte Arthur (where it's used lots).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): bi-DEHN-eh.
Source: Anonymous. (1300s.) The Stanzaic Morte Arthur (where it's used lots).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
February 4, 2026 at 10:41 AM
February 4th: The outdated word for today is "bidene," meaning "together" or "at once." This is sometimes spelled "bydene."
Pronunciation (I think): bi-DEHN-eh.
Source: Anonymous. (1300s.) The Stanzaic Morte Arthur (where it's used lots).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): bi-DEHN-eh.
Source: Anonymous. (1300s.) The Stanzaic Morte Arthur (where it's used lots).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
February 3rd: The outdated word for today is "fen-hōp," meaning "a mound in marshland."
Pronunciation (I think): fen-HOOP.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 764.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): fen-HOOP.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 764.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 3, 2026 at 10:37 AM
February 3rd: The outdated word for today is "fen-hōp," meaning "a mound in marshland."
Pronunciation (I think): fen-HOOP.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 764.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): fen-HOOP.
Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 764.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
February 2nd: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Youthy," adjective. "Young, youthful. A bad word (sic)."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Youthy," adjective. "Young, youthful. A bad word (sic)."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
February 2, 2026 at 10:34 AM
February 2nd: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Youthy," adjective. "Young, youthful. A bad word (sic)."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Youthy," adjective. "Young, youthful. A bad word (sic)."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
January 30th: The outdated word for today is "rown," meaning "whisper."
Source: Lydgate, J. (1415.) The Siege of Harfleur and the Battle of Agincourt.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Source: Lydgate, J. (1415.) The Siege of Harfleur and the Battle of Agincourt.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
January 30, 2026 at 10:52 AM
January 30th: The outdated word for today is "rown," meaning "whisper."
Source: Lydgate, J. (1415.) The Siege of Harfleur and the Battle of Agincourt.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Source: Lydgate, J. (1415.) The Siege of Harfleur and the Battle of Agincourt.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
January 29th: The outdated term for today is "to be cagged," which is 19th-century British slang for being "sulky or out of humour."
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
January 29, 2026 at 9:52 AM
January 29th: The outdated term for today is "to be cagged," which is 19th-century British slang for being "sulky or out of humour."
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
January 28th: The outdated word for today is "unketh," meaning "unknown" or "strange." Compare the Modern English "uncouth."
Source: Source: Anonymous. (1400s.) A Little Geste of Robin Hood.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Source: Source: Anonymous. (1400s.) A Little Geste of Robin Hood.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 28, 2026 at 10:59 AM
January 28th: The outdated word for today is "unketh," meaning "unknown" or "strange." Compare the Modern English "uncouth."
Source: Source: Anonymous. (1400s.) A Little Geste of Robin Hood.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Source: Source: Anonymous. (1400s.) A Little Geste of Robin Hood.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 27th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Chark," verb. "To burn to a black cinder, as wood is burned to make charcoal."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Chark," verb. "To burn to a black cinder, as wood is burned to make charcoal."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
January 27, 2026 at 2:19 PM
January 27th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Chark," verb. "To burn to a black cinder, as wood is burned to make charcoal."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Chark," verb. "To burn to a black cinder, as wood is burned to make charcoal."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
January 26th: The outdated word for today is "encheson," meaning "by reason of" or "because."
Pronunciation (I think): en-CHEH-sawhn.
Source: Occleve, T. (1402.) The Letter of Cupid.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): en-CHEH-sawhn.
Source: Occleve, T. (1402.) The Letter of Cupid.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 26, 2026 at 12:09 PM
January 26th: The outdated word for today is "encheson," meaning "by reason of" or "because."
Pronunciation (I think): en-CHEH-sawhn.
Source: Occleve, T. (1402.) The Letter of Cupid.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): en-CHEH-sawhn.
Source: Occleve, T. (1402.) The Letter of Cupid.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 23rd: Today’s outdated word is "moreyn," meaning "plague." This is the basis of the later word “murrain.”
(www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/m...)
Pronunciation: moor-AEHN.
Source: Trivisa, J. (1387.) Translation of Higdon's Polychronicon.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
(www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/m...)
Pronunciation: moor-AEHN.
Source: Trivisa, J. (1387.) Translation of Higdon's Polychronicon.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Definition of MURRAIN
a pestilence or plague especially affecting domestic animals… See the full definition
www.merriam-webster.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:15 AM
January 23rd: Today’s outdated word is "moreyn," meaning "plague." This is the basis of the later word “murrain.”
(www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/m...)
Pronunciation: moor-AEHN.
Source: Trivisa, J. (1387.) Translation of Higdon's Polychronicon.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
(www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/m...)
Pronunciation: moor-AEHN.
Source: Trivisa, J. (1387.) Translation of Higdon's Polychronicon.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
January 22nd: The outdated word for today is "mundungus," a 19th-century British slang term for "bad or rank tobacco."
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
January 22, 2026 at 10:58 AM
January 22nd: The outdated word for today is "mundungus," a 19th-century British slang term for "bad or rank tobacco."
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
January 21st: The outdated word for today is "niȝt-olde," meaning literally "night-old." That weird letter is a yogh (pronounced "yoke").
Pronunciation (maybe): NIKT-old-eh.
Source: Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 303 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (maybe): NIKT-old-eh.
Source: Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 303 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 21, 2026 at 10:15 AM
January 21st: The outdated word for today is "niȝt-olde," meaning literally "night-old." That weird letter is a yogh (pronounced "yoke").
Pronunciation (maybe): NIKT-old-eh.
Source: Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 303 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (maybe): NIKT-old-eh.
Source: Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 303 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 20th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Fy," interjection. "A word of blame and disapprobration."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Fy," interjection. "A word of blame and disapprobration."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
January 20, 2026 at 10:50 AM
January 20th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Fy," interjection. "A word of blame and disapprobration."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Fy," interjection. "A word of blame and disapprobration."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
January 19th: The outdated word for today is "outraye," meaning "to trangress." Compare the Modern English "outré."
Pronunciation (I think): oo-TRAH-yeh.
Source: Anonymous. (1377.) On the Death of Edward III; see line 69.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): oo-TRAH-yeh.
Source: Anonymous. (1377.) On the Death of Edward III; see line 69.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 19, 2026 at 12:46 PM
January 19th: The outdated word for today is "outraye," meaning "to trangress." Compare the Modern English "outré."
Pronunciation (I think): oo-TRAH-yeh.
Source: Anonymous. (1377.) On the Death of Edward III; see line 69.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): oo-TRAH-yeh.
Source: Anonymous. (1377.) On the Death of Edward III; see line 69.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 16th: The outdated word for today is "rerd," meaning "loud voice."
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1475.) The Towneley Play of Noah; see line 100.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1475.) The Towneley Play of Noah; see line 100.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
January 16, 2026 at 1:22 PM
January 16th: The outdated word for today is "rerd," meaning "loud voice."
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1475.) The Towneley Play of Noah; see line 100.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1475.) The Towneley Play of Noah; see line 100.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
See you Monday!
January 15th: The outdated expression for today is "napper of naps," 19th-century thieves' cant for a sheep-stealer.
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
January 15, 2026 at 12:06 PM
January 15th: The outdated expression for today is "napper of naps," 19th-century thieves' cant for a sheep-stealer.
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
January 14th: The outdated word for today is "hauer-cake," meaning "oat-cake."
Pronunciation (I think): HAV-er-CAY-keh.
Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 277 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): HAV-er-CAY-keh.
Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 277 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
January 14, 2026 at 1:46 PM
January 14th: The outdated word for today is "hauer-cake," meaning "oat-cake."
Pronunciation (I think): HAV-er-CAY-keh.
Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 277 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): HAV-er-CAY-keh.
Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 277 of the B-Text.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish