Words and Phrases Disappearing from the English Vocabulary

In many ways, language is like a living thing. It grows and evolves or even dies, all the while shedding skin and growing a new one. English, in particular, is a language that recycles other languages. It combines words from different origins if not outright stealing them to form new ideas in new contexts. This process, however, is always shifting, transforming, and refurbishing. As such, many words that were commonplace a century ago now see little use. Due to new terms being invented that work better, new ideas outdoing old ones, or some combination of the two, many words and phrases are disappearing from everyday English vocabulary. Let’s learn some of these words before they vanish from use completely.

To compile a list of the phrases/words disappearing from everyday English vocabulary, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of dictionaries, lifestyle publications, and other websites, including Merriam-Webster and Education First. Next, we selected words and phrases from a wide range of usages, origins, and impacts. After that, we consulted sites like the Online Etymology Dictionary and World Wide Words for specific information and etymologies of the words.

Sometimes, old words can come back into popularity. Words like “overmorrow” appear on this list, yet they still could potentially find use in modern times. Culture doesn’t always have to progress linearly; sometimes, what used to be popular can become popular once more. What words on this list do you think could make a comeback? (For other once-common casual phrases, discover popular slang words no one uses anymore.)

Zephyr

One of the words disappearing from the English language is zephyr. Named after the Ancient Greek god Zephyrus, the word means a gentle or light wind, particularly in a western direction. Due to its exotic look and feel, the word adorns many company names and song titles and even is used as a moniker for a famous graffiti artist.

However, if you were to go up to a random person on the street and ask them to define the word zephyr, chances are, they wouldn’t have a clue. Putting aside its very archaic origin, it’s almost too exotic sounding to fit into the rapidly evolving English language. Nowadays, the English language seems to be condensing. As such, a strange-sounding word with a very simple definition like zephyr seems unnecessary.

Cuddy

Another one of the words disappearing from the English language is cuddy. In usage since colonial times in America, cuddy denotes a small cabin or room, particularly on a boat. Though the word’s origin is unknown, it’s likely to have come from the Dutch word kajuit, meaning small cabin, or the French word cahute, which means hut.

Though the word seems slightly archaic to modern ears, there are possible modern interpretations or equivalents. The slang word cutty or cuddy, used commonly in Northern California, means either something sketchy, suspicious, or hidden.

Trash mover

While many modern viewers may see this word as an antiquated way of describing garbage men, it couldn’t be further from the case. That’s because trash mover means heavy rain, so heavy that it can clear the streets of debris. Primarily used in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the phrase has slowly but surely fallen out of fashion.

Pearls Before Swine

One of the phrases that is quickly disappearing from English is pearls before swine. Its origin is found in the Bible, Matthew 7:6, when Jesus gives his Sermon on the Mount speech. While there are multiple interpretations of the phrase, its simplest meaning is wasting time by offering help to someone who does not appreciate or understand it.

Contextually, pigs were thought of as lowly animals back then, so it made sense to invoke them as incapable of understanding or receiving certain help or information. It was a common phrase in the 20th century, referenced in many novels, and used as the name of a long-running cartoon series. Nowadays, however, the phrase seems clunky and outdated.

Tacker

Another one of the words disappearing from the English language is tacker. Formally, it means a worker who fastens things by tacking them, particularly a sewer or seamstress. In terms of slang, however, it means a child or young person. Used by both Australians and Americans on the Mid-Atlantic coast, tacker has fallen out of widespread use.

Barn burner

In common parlance, Barn Burner means an exciting game, event, or party. Its origins are murkier, however, as the word first appears in English usage sometime in the 19th century. At the time it was used to describe one of two competing factions in the New York State Democratic Party. Since they were the more radical wing, barn burner was used to describe their willingness to destroy the system to rid it of abuses.

It should be noted, however, that barn burner has a different colloquial meaning in places like Pennsylvania and New Jersey. There, it was used to describe a type of match that can be struck and lit using any surface. Whatever the case or definition, Barn Burner is slowly disappearing from the English language.

Pot cheese

Another word that is slowly disappearing from the English language is Pot Cheese. Formally, it denotes a type of dry, crumbly cheese with a creamy texture. In New York State it refers to a similar dish topped with vegetables. Generally, however, it is used to describe cottage cheese. Nowadays, this word is almost unheard of in normal conversation.

With Flying Colors

Another phrase that has fallen out of usage is with flying colors or nailing your colors to the mast. It’s used to signify how well someone has completed a task. In the modern era, it’s most commonly used to describe how well someone passed a test. The phrase originated in the Age of Discovery when returning ships would raise or lower their flags to show whether they were victorious or met defeat.

Verily

Verily is so old of a word that it was used in the King James translation of the Bible, most often when Jesus is trying to impress upon his followers the importance of information. Much like its Middle English origin word verray, it means very or certainly. According to trend graphs, however, it appears to steadily disappear from usage during the 20th and 21st centuries.

Floppy Disk

A word(s) that has fallen out of favor is the floppy disk. Invented by IBM, the floppy disk is a type of disk storage device that can be plugged into a computer drive. Once a ubiquitous tool for computing, the floppy disk became obsolete as storage capabilities grew.

The word, however, may stand the test of time in terms of design. The floppy disk was so commonly used that it was incorporated by many computer companies like Apple as a save icon. Chances are, more people now know the floppy disk for its appearance rather than its original function.

Cad

Another one of the words that is disappearing from the English language is cad. It means a man who is ungentlemanly or dishonorable, particularly towards women. Though it has its origins in either the Scots language or Latin, it came into popular usage among British University students to denote the surrounding non-academic townspeople.

Nowadays, however, the word cad is most often seen as the acronym C.A.D, which means Computer-Aided Design. Though it has a very different meaning, the CAD acronym has eclipsed the original cad in terms of usage and prominence.

Overmorrow

While people still use the word tomorrow, its cousin overmorrow has mostly been relegated to the dustbin of language. It means simply, the day after tomorrow. In terms of efficiency and clarity, the word makes a lot of sense. However, as language evolves, so do its words. In the modern era, there isn’t much use for the word overmorrow. For whatever reason, people prefer to just say the day after tomorrow instead.

Supper

Not to be confused with dinner, the word supper means a late evening meal after dinner, particularly a quick and simple one like soup. The word has its origins in either the French word souper or Scandinavian words for soup. That’s because the meal most often refers to a late-night soup, particularly if it’s after an early dinner.

The word usage for different meals has shifted over the centuries. Dinner used to be served as the main meal of the day in the early afternoon so supper was the additional snack later in the evening. Dinnertime, however, crept up over the years to the evening, leaving little room for supper.

Cassette

Another one of the words disappearing from the English language is cassette. Defined as a sealed plastic case for audio or video tape, a cassette originated in the late 18th-century French word casse. While the word was everpresent in the physical media of the ’80s and ’90s, the transition to digital for much of the world has caused cassette to fall by the wayside. There’s a good chance that kids these days have never even heard the word cassette.

Facetious

Another word that is disappearing from the English language is facetious. It means to be flippant or treat a serious issue with deliberately inappropriate humor. The word facetious has its roots in the Latin word facetia or the French word facétieux, both of which mean witty.

While it was commonly used in literature during the 19th and 20th centuries, the word has sort of blended with others like ironic or sarcastic in modern usage. Though facetious formally defines a more specific type of unseriousness, that delineation seems unnecessary to many modern English speakers. (For other words that evade understanding, explore 50 words people get wrong all the time.)

Know Your Onions

Another one of the phrases quickly disappearing from the English language is “know your onions.” Its definition is relatively self-evident, as it means to be very knowledgeable about a particular thing. The phrase is first recorded in the March 1922 issue of “Harper’s Bazaar.” 

Much like the phrases “to know one’s apples” or “to know one’s oats,” know your onions originated in the flapper period of American culture which added playful twists to words and phrases. It has fallen out of fashion these days, however, save for the names of a few song titles and television shows.

A Dog’s Dinner

Another phrase that is quickly disappearing from the English language is “A Dog’s Dinner.” It is an idiom used to describe disapproval of something for being chaotic, messy, or badly organized. It can also mean to be overdressed, particularly in a garish or tacky fashion.

Though the exact origin of the phrase is unknown, it made relatively common appearances in English literature in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nowadays, however, it’s a phrase that even the most articulate of people would have trouble placing.

Hootenanny

Another one of the words that is quickly disappearing from the English language is Hootenanny. Commonly used in the Appalachian region of the United States, it means one of two things. First, it is a placeholder word for something forgotten or unknown like thingamajig. The other definition is a party or get-together, particularly one centered around live music, much like the word hoe-down.

Though a fun word to say, hootenanny is a regional-specific colloquialism. These types of words are quickly disappearing or being absorbed into other words in modern English which is more globalized.

Dungarees

Another one of the words that is quickly disappearing from the English language is dungarees. Originally used to denote denim or jeans-type fabric, the word emerged as a common parlance during the 19th century when denim became a common fabric. The origin of dungarees is from Dongri, a port city north of Mumbai in India. This is where denim-type fabric was first traded with the West in the 17th century. Nowadays, however, the word has been eclipsed by the simpler denim or jeans.

Parlor

Parlor is another one of the words disappearing from the English Language. Originally, it meant a room in a private dwelling or house used to entertain guests. The word has its roots in the French parler, which means to speak. While you will still commonly see the word in references to businesses like beauty parlors or funeral parlors, these days it is considered archaic when referencing your living room. (If you’re looking for words on the upswing, discover 30 words that didn’t exist 30 years ago.)