Haggard Hawks
@haggardhawks.bsky.social
The bird with the words. // Obscure words, etymology & language facts // New book A WINTER DICTIONARY, a collection of obscure words for the festive season, is OUT NOW! // New look website haggardhawks.com launching soon...
A COCK-OF-THE-COMPANY is a man who associates with unpleasant people just so he can act as their leader.
(A Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811)
(A Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811)
January 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM
A COCK-OF-THE-COMPANY is a man who associates with unpleasant people just so he can act as their leader.
(A Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811)
(A Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811)
🧵 33. A word coined by Antarctic research scientists in the 1990s, GREENOUT is a feeling of relief or gladness felt on seeing the first fresh green growth of the springtime.
January 2, 2025 at 7:04 PM
🧵 33. A word coined by Antarctic research scientists in the 1990s, GREENOUT is a feeling of relief or gladness felt on seeing the first fresh green growth of the springtime.
🧵 32. A word borrowed into English from Manx—the Celtic origin language of the Isle of Man—the QUAALTAGH is the first person you encounter on New Year’s Day.
January 2, 2025 at 7:04 PM
🧵 32. A word borrowed into English from Manx—the Celtic origin language of the Isle of Man—the QUAALTAGH is the first person you encounter on New Year’s Day.
🧵 31. An ÉTRENNE is a gift given at New Year.
December 31, 2024 at 2:32 PM
🧵 31. An ÉTRENNE is a gift given at New Year.
🧵 30. According to a 17th century proverb, a COCKSTRIDE—literally, one step of a cockerel—is the amount by which the days seem to lengthen after the New Year.
December 30, 2024 at 7:51 PM
🧵 30. According to a 17th century proverb, a COCKSTRIDE—literally, one step of a cockerel—is the amount by which the days seem to lengthen after the New Year.
🧵 29. A BAUSON is a badger—or figuratively, someone who has recently gained weight, like a badger fattening itself before winter.
December 30, 2024 at 7:48 PM
🧵 29. A BAUSON is a badger—or figuratively, someone who has recently gained weight, like a badger fattening itself before winter.
🧵 28. THERMOPOSIA is the consumption of hot drinks.
December 28, 2024 at 10:26 AM
🧵 28. THERMOPOSIA is the consumption of hot drinks.
🧵 27. A SUNNYBANK is a cosy wintertime fire.
A SONROCK is a cosy fireside chair.
A HOWFF is a cosy and familiar haunt or regular meeting place.
A SONROCK is a cosy fireside chair.
A HOWFF is a cosy and familiar haunt or regular meeting place.
December 27, 2024 at 3:00 PM
🧵 27. A SUNNYBANK is a cosy wintertime fire.
A SONROCK is a cosy fireside chair.
A HOWFF is a cosy and familiar haunt or regular meeting place.
A SONROCK is a cosy fireside chair.
A HOWFF is a cosy and familiar haunt or regular meeting place.
🧵 26. In 19th century English, an OLD-DAY was the day after a party or celebration on which nothing constructive was done or achieved.
December 27, 2024 at 2:57 PM
🧵 26. In 19th century English, an OLD-DAY was the day after a party or celebration on which nothing constructive was done or achieved.
🧵 25. APOLAUSTICISM is a total devotion to enjoying yourself.
December 27, 2024 at 2:57 PM
🧵 25. APOLAUSTICISM is a total devotion to enjoying yourself.
🧵 24. A running together of ‘Yule’s jade’—meaning a festive fool or butt of the joke—a YULESHARD is someone who leaves work unfinished on the night of Christmas Eve.
December 24, 2024 at 4:00 PM
🧵 24. A running together of ‘Yule’s jade’—meaning a festive fool or butt of the joke—a YULESHARD is someone who leaves work unfinished on the night of Christmas Eve.
🧵 23. To be WINTER-PROUD is to be precociously or confidently prepared ahead of time.
December 23, 2024 at 4:46 PM
🧵 23. To be WINTER-PROUD is to be precociously or confidently prepared ahead of time.
🧵 22. Derived from a Latin word for feasting, ABLIGURITION is excessive spending on food and drink.
December 22, 2024 at 9:38 AM
🧵 22. Derived from a Latin word for feasting, ABLIGURITION is excessive spending on food and drink.
🧵 21. To CAUDLE is to perform housework in a disorganised or slapdash manner.
December 21, 2024 at 11:25 AM
🧵 21. To CAUDLE is to perform housework in a disorganised or slapdash manner.
🧵 20. According to an 1850 dictionary of The Dialect of South Lancashire, to POWL is to leave work early to go to the pub.
December 20, 2024 at 1:47 PM
🧵 20. According to an 1850 dictionary of The Dialect of South Lancashire, to POWL is to leave work early to go to the pub.
🧵 19. Derived from an older verb meaning ‘to make ready’, to BOUN is to decorate your home with evergreen branches.
December 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM
🧵 19. Derived from an older verb meaning ‘to make ready’, to BOUN is to decorate your home with evergreen branches.
🧵 18. Named after Austrian architect Victor Gruen, the GRUEN EFFECT is the tendency of shoppers to become disoriented in shopping malls—making them more susceptible to forgetting what they went in for, and more receptive to special deals and promotions.
December 18, 2024 at 8:51 PM
🧵 18. Named after Austrian architect Victor Gruen, the GRUEN EFFECT is the tendency of shoppers to become disoriented in shopping malls—making them more susceptible to forgetting what they went in for, and more receptive to special deals and promotions.
🧵 17. FEETINGS are animals’ or fellow walkers’ footprints left in snow.
December 17, 2024 at 1:35 PM
🧵 17. FEETINGS are animals’ or fellow walkers’ footprints left in snow.
🧵 16. Often found alongside streams or over puddles in wintertime, CAT-ICE is a floating layer or overhang of ice, from beneath which water has receded or drained away—the implication being that only something as light-footed as a cat could walk on it without breaking it.
December 16, 2024 at 1:03 PM
🧵 16. Often found alongside streams or over puddles in wintertime, CAT-ICE is a floating layer or overhang of ice, from beneath which water has receded or drained away—the implication being that only something as light-footed as a cat could walk on it without breaking it.
🧵 15. Derived from PEEL-THE-BONES—a 19th century word for especially cold weather—to PEEL is to travel or go outdoors in wintertime wearing unsuitable or insufficient clothing.
December 16, 2024 at 11:09 AM
🧵 15. Derived from PEEL-THE-BONES—a 19th century word for especially cold weather—to PEEL is to travel or go outdoors in wintertime wearing unsuitable or insufficient clothing.
🧵 14. A SPICULA is a single needle-like growth of frost or ice.
December 14, 2024 at 9:52 AM
🧵 14. A SPICULA is a single needle-like growth of frost or ice.
🧵 13. An ANTIFOGMATIC is a drink taken to combat the effects of cold weather.
December 13, 2024 at 5:25 PM
🧵 13. An ANTIFOGMATIC is a drink taken to combat the effects of cold weather.
🧵 12. Ground that is CHIBBLY is crisp and crackly with frost.
December 12, 2024 at 3:29 PM
🧵 12. Ground that is CHIBBLY is crisp and crackly with frost.
🧵 11. A DROW is a thick, cold mist—almost thick enough to feel like drizzle. According to one Scots definition of 1825, unlike other mists a drow “wets an Englishman to the skin.”
December 11, 2024 at 9:10 AM
🧵 11. A DROW is a thick, cold mist—almost thick enough to feel like drizzle. According to one Scots definition of 1825, unlike other mists a drow “wets an Englishman to the skin.”
🧵 10. Especially fine, clear weather in wintertime is known as OPEN-WEATHER. The term originally described stormless conditions at sea that would allow ships easy entry into port.
December 10, 2024 at 9:07 AM
🧵 10. Especially fine, clear weather in wintertime is known as OPEN-WEATHER. The term originally described stormless conditions at sea that would allow ships easy entry into port.