Much like fashion, language has a way of evolving over the years. Some words and phrases have remained in use for centuries, while some have fallen out of favor. Others are still in use but have evolved considerably. Here, for instance, are 36 old words we use today but with completely new meanings.
Of all the archaic turns of phrase out there, old insults are some of the most amusing. Nowadays we might call someone a showoff, but in the early 18th century one might have used the word cockalorum, which draws to mind a strutting rooster.
These days we may refer to someone as unambitious or lazy, but a few hundred years ago the same person may have been called a scobberlotcher, a word that first appeared in print in 1697, and was used to describe idle students who count the trees to pass the time.
To find these and other colorful forgotten insults that ought to be revived, 24/7 Tempo reviewed several sources, including Merriam Webster dictionary and Reader’s Digest.
Whether they’re describing someone cowardly, dishonest, pessimistic, or vulgar, these disparaging words and phrases are bound to amuse those who use them, if not the people they are directed at. Some date as far back as the 15th century, while others were commonly in use in the 20th century but have since gone out of style. (Here are popular slang words no one uses anymore.)
To find colorful forgotten insults that ought to be revived, 24/7 Tempo reviewed several sources, including Merriam Webster dictionary and Reader’s Digest.
Afternoon farmer
> Meaning: Lazy person, procrastinator
All hat and no cattle
> Meaning: Boaster – all talk and no action/substance
Bottle-conjuror
> Meaning: A charlatan, fraud
Cacafuego
> Meaning: A swaggering braggart or boaster (literally “fire-excreter”)
Chawbacon
> Meaning: A bumpkin, hick
Cockalorum
> Meaning: A boastful and self-important person
Crepehanger
> Meaning: A killjoy, one who has pessimistic views
Death’s head upon a mop-stick
> Meaning: A poor, miserable, emaciated fellow
Gentleman of four outs
> Meaning: A vulgar fellow claiming to be a gentleman (the “four outs” means being without wit, money, credit, or manners)
Hobbledehoy
> Meaning: A clumsy, awkward youth
Jack-in-office
> Meaning: A self-important official/person in authority
Lickspittle
> Meaning: A fawning subordinate; a suck-up
Loiter-sack
> Meaning: A lazy person
Muckspout
> Meaning: One who swears a lot
Mumpsimus
> Meaning: A person who keeps adhering to a known error
Pettifogger
> Meaning: A lawyer whose methods are underhanded or disreputable
Saltimbanco
> Meaning: A charlatan or fake (literally “counter-jumper” – also the Italian word for acrobat)
Saucebox
> Meaning: A saucy, impudent, bold person
Scallywag
> Meaning: A lying, no-good rascal
Scobberlotcher
> Meaning: An idle person, someone who never works hard
Seek-sorrow
> Meaning: One who contrives to give himself vexation
Slug-a-bed
> Meaning: A lazy person who stays in bed
Smell-feast
> Meaning: One who finds out about and gets invited to good meals; parasite
Sneaksby
> Meaning: An insignificant, paltry or cowardly person
Snoutband
> Meaning: Someone who constantly interrupts a conversation
Ultracrepidarian
> Meaning: Someone who expresses opinions on matters they have no knowledge of
Unlicked cub
> Meaning: A rude, uncouth person – someone who has not been taught manners
White-livered
> Meaning: Lacking courage, cowardly