@jembutters.bsky.social
Non-fiction writer about language(s). Editor of Fowler's Modern English Usage. Dictionary buff. Polyglot.
The Fascinating World of Oodle Words – Part II
The discussion explores verbs and nouns containing the *oodle* string, highlighting three snuggling verbs: croodle, canoodle, and snoodle. It delves…
https://jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/05/the-fascinating-world-of-oodle-words-part-ii/
The discussion explores verbs and nouns containing the *oodle* string, highlighting three snuggling verbs: croodle, canoodle, and snoodle. It delves…
https://jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/05/the-fascinating-world-of-oodle-words-part-ii/
November 5, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The Fascinating World of Oodle Words – Part II
The discussion explores verbs and nouns containing the *oodle* string, highlighting three snuggling verbs: croodle, canoodle, and snoodle. It delves…
https://jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/05/the-fascinating-world-of-oodle-words-part-ii/
The discussion explores verbs and nouns containing the *oodle* string, highlighting three snuggling verbs: croodle, canoodle, and snoodle. It delves…
https://jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/05/the-fascinating-world-of-oodle-words-part-ii/
The fascinating world of ‘oodle’ words
The exploration of the letter sequence -oodle- reveals a range of verbs suggesting leisurely or aimless actions: to poodle, soodle, noodle, moodle, flap-doodle, and doodle. There's a notable connection between others of these words and concepts of sound,…
The exploration of the letter sequence -oodle- reveals a range of verbs suggesting leisurely or aimless actions: to poodle, soodle, noodle, moodle, flap-doodle, and doodle. There's a notable connection between others of these words and concepts of sound,…
The fascinating world of ‘oodle’ words
The exploration of the letter sequence -oodle- reveals a range of verbs suggesting leisurely or aimless actions: to poodle, soodle, noodle, moodle, flap-doodle, and doodle. There's a notable connection between others of these words and concepts of sound, emphasizing subdued noises or triviality.
jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The fascinating world of ‘oodle’ words
The exploration of the letter sequence -oodle- reveals a range of verbs suggesting leisurely or aimless actions: to poodle, soodle, noodle, moodle, flap-doodle, and doodle. There's a notable connection between others of these words and concepts of sound,…
The exploration of the letter sequence -oodle- reveals a range of verbs suggesting leisurely or aimless actions: to poodle, soodle, noodle, moodle, flap-doodle, and doodle. There's a notable connection between others of these words and concepts of sound,…
The Etymology of ‘A Gogo’: From French Roots to Pop Culture
The author reflects on their infrequent posting, contemplating the phrase "a gogo," meaning "in abundance," which originated from French. They explore its usage and historical references, linking it to Parisian nightclubs and the famous…
The author reflects on their infrequent posting, contemplating the phrase "a gogo," meaning "in abundance," which originated from French. They explore its usage and historical references, linking it to Parisian nightclubs and the famous…
The Etymology of ‘A Gogo’: From French Roots to Pop Culture
The author reflects on their infrequent posting, contemplating the phrase "a gogo," meaning "in abundance," which originated from French. They explore its usage and historical references, linking it to Parisian nightclubs and the famous Whisky a Go-Go in Hollywood. The phrase shows resilience, still appearing in contemporary contexts.
jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The Etymology of ‘A Gogo’: From French Roots to Pop Culture
The author reflects on their infrequent posting, contemplating the phrase "a gogo," meaning "in abundance," which originated from French. They explore its usage and historical references, linking it to Parisian nightclubs and the famous…
The author reflects on their infrequent posting, contemplating the phrase "a gogo," meaning "in abundance," which originated from French. They explore its usage and historical references, linking it to Parisian nightclubs and the famous…
Reposted
A great conversation about dictionaries and dictionary making.
I guess I should share this, as I'm in it. On the other hand, if you read it and don't think you'll be interested in the conversations with any of the other lexicographers in the book, then you're that much less likely to buy the book. But what the hell.
lithub.com/how-to-build...
lithub.com/how-to-build...
How to Build a Dictionary: On the Hard Art of Popular Lexicography
At the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century, about 400 million people are native English speakers. With those for whom English is a second language, the number reaches far above: betw…
lithub.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
A great conversation about dictionaries and dictionary making.
Reposted
As @emckean.bsky.social said to @grammargirl.bsky.social, they are "imitation," not "intelligence."
Somebody smarter than me should write a piece about how in theory, LLMs are descriptivism machines because they produce language that resembles usage in the training data; but in practice there's often that slick flatness, the regression to the mean, the homogeneity that feels generic and synthetic.
October 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
As @emckean.bsky.social said to @grammargirl.bsky.social, they are "imitation," not "intelligence."
#english As far as is known, there's only one station in the UK devoted to phrasal verbs. And it's on one of the country's most scenic routes.
June 30, 2025 at 5:44 PM
#english As far as is known, there's only one station in the UK devoted to phrasal verbs. And it's on one of the country's most scenic routes.
Lend your support to entrepreneurs in low-income countries through @lendwithcare.bsky.social Make your first loan for free with this link! lendwithcare.org/referral/HHO...
Microfinance from CARE International UK
CARE International's microfinance lending initiative
lendwithcare.org
May 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Lend your support to entrepreneurs in low-income countries through @lendwithcare.bsky.social Make your first loan for free with this link! lendwithcare.org/referral/HHO...
The cultural significance of ladybirds across languages
I’m not sure when I first knew about ladybirds – perhaps as a child of five or six. At that age you’re closer to the ground and so much closer to small creeping things than you’ll ever be again, able to observe them with that goggle-eyed…
I’m not sure when I first knew about ladybirds – perhaps as a child of five or six. At that age you’re closer to the ground and so much closer to small creeping things than you’ll ever be again, able to observe them with that goggle-eyed…
The cultural significance of ladybirds across languages
I’m not sure when I first knew about ladybirds – perhaps as a child of five or six. At that age you’re closer to the ground and so much closer to small creeping things than you’ll ever be again, able to observe them with that goggle-eyed curiosity born of novelty. The age when a lifelong passion for insects first fires up to forge you as an entomologist.
jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The cultural significance of ladybirds across languages
I’m not sure when I first knew about ladybirds – perhaps as a child of five or six. At that age you’re closer to the ground and so much closer to small creeping things than you’ll ever be again, able to observe them with that goggle-eyed…
I’m not sure when I first knew about ladybirds – perhaps as a child of five or six. At that age you’re closer to the ground and so much closer to small creeping things than you’ll ever be again, able to observe them with that goggle-eyed…
What’s the opposite of a placebo?
You’ll probably have come across placebo in one or other of its two modern meanings; a) ‘a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect’; or b) ‘a substance that has no therapeutic effect,…
You’ll probably have come across placebo in one or other of its two modern meanings; a) ‘a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect’; or b) ‘a substance that has no therapeutic effect,…
What’s the opposite of a placebo?
You’ll probably have come across placebo in one or other of its two modern meanings; a) ‘a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect’; or b) ‘a substance that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs’ (definitions taken from the Online Oxford Dictionary).
jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com
May 21, 2025 at 9:28 AM
What’s the opposite of a placebo?
You’ll probably have come across placebo in one or other of its two modern meanings; a) ‘a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect’; or b) ‘a substance that has no therapeutic effect,…
You’ll probably have come across placebo in one or other of its two modern meanings; a) ‘a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect’; or b) ‘a substance that has no therapeutic effect,…
Gazebos and Jane Austen – or not
Which language do you think gazebo comes from? Perhaps Italian, because of it’s -o ending, like piano or casino or ghetto? Or maybe Spanish? Or even Arabic, a gazebo being a bit like a tent travellers on a caravanserai might pitch?
Which language do you think gazebo comes from? Perhaps Italian, because of it’s -o ending, like piano or casino or ghetto? Or maybe Spanish? Or even Arabic, a gazebo being a bit like a tent travellers on a caravanserai might pitch?
Gazebos and Jane Austen – or not
Which language do you think gazebo comes from? Perhaps Italian, because of it’s -o ending, like piano or casino or ghetto? Or maybe Spanish? Or even Arabic, a gazebo being a bit like a tent travellers on a caravanserai might pitch?
jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com
May 14, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Gazebos and Jane Austen – or not
Which language do you think gazebo comes from? Perhaps Italian, because of it’s -o ending, like piano or casino or ghetto? Or maybe Spanish? Or even Arabic, a gazebo being a bit like a tent travellers on a caravanserai might pitch?
Which language do you think gazebo comes from? Perhaps Italian, because of it’s -o ending, like piano or casino or ghetto? Or maybe Spanish? Or even Arabic, a gazebo being a bit like a tent travellers on a caravanserai might pitch?
Another cod etymology bites the dust
Another cod etymology bites the dust
jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com
April 30, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Another cod etymology bites the dust
Reposted
Our cover this week.
April 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Our cover this week.
Reposted
If no one in onomastics has never written a paper called ‘Hoo, Wat, Wen, Wye, Howe’, I will be very disappointed.
April 13, 2025 at 10:21 PM
If no one in onomastics has never written a paper called ‘Hoo, Wat, Wen, Wye, Howe’, I will be very disappointed.
Reposted
Wishing everyone a very merry #TartanDay.
slàinte mhath!
Here's what I wrote about the history and language of Tartan.
blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
slàinte mhath!
Here's what I wrote about the history and language of Tartan.
blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
Tartan Day and the language of tartan - Collins Dictionary Language Blog
Think Scotland, see tartan. From shortbread biscuit tins to carpets to the kilts of the Tartan Army, this pattern shouts … Continued
blog.collinsdictionary.com
April 6, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Wishing everyone a very merry #TartanDay.
slàinte mhath!
Here's what I wrote about the history and language of Tartan.
blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
slàinte mhath!
Here's what I wrote about the history and language of Tartan.
blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
Reposted
March 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted
An expert talks about ‘Words of the Year’ – what they are and what they’re not.
An expert talks about ‘Words of the Year’ – what they are and what they’re not.
jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com
February 17, 2025 at 12:18 PM
An expert talks about ‘Words of the Year’ – what they are and what they’re not.
Anyone?
Anyone out there a fan of the James Bond books? The Internet tells me (ha ha) that Ian Fleming liked potted shrimp and passed this to Bond. I really can't bring myself to read them all (or any) to find out if this is true (I.e. find something quoteable). Can anyone help?
February 8, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Anyone?
Reposted
From ye meowy olde England - Cats in Joseph Wright's English Dialect Dictionary (1898-1905): boar cat (tomcat), scattle cat (thieving mischievous cat), tibcat (female cat), to meowl (to cry like a cat) #dialectology #linguistics 🧪 #caturday
February 8, 2025 at 10:13 AM
From ye meowy olde England - Cats in Joseph Wright's English Dialect Dictionary (1898-1905): boar cat (tomcat), scattle cat (thieving mischievous cat), tibcat (female cat), to meowl (to cry like a cat) #dialectology #linguistics 🧪 #caturday
Reposted
Anyone can become a narcissist if you just believe in yourself
February 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Anyone can become a narcissist if you just believe in yourself
A common sight in the centre of York, when the Ouse bursts its banks. This is a particularly high level.
England has had the second worst harvest on record. This is what erratic weather because of a heating climate does. We are genuinely walking into a calamity beyond comprehension. 40 years of ignored warnings. eciu.net/media/press-...
Confirmed: England has second worst harvest on record with fears…
Data released shows England experienced it’s second worst harvest since 1983 after record breaking wet weather last winter, with recent downpours leaving many farmers unable to drill crops again
eciu.net
February 8, 2025 at 12:04 PM
A common sight in the centre of York, when the Ouse bursts its banks. This is a particularly high level.