Grace Tierney
@wordfoolery.bsky.social
Word history - books, blog, LMFMRadio
Comedyfic - Channillo
Love to read, craft, garden in Ireland
My Books - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
Weekly Word Blog - http://www.wordfoolery.wordpress.com/
Newsletter - subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers
Comedyfic - Channillo
Love to read, craft, garden in Ireland
My Books - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
Weekly Word Blog - http://www.wordfoolery.wordpress.com/
Newsletter - subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers
Pinned
Grace Tierney
@wordfoolery.bsky.social
· Nov 20
“Words Christmas Gave Us” festive history
“Words the Vikings Gave Us” Norse nouns
“Words the Sea Gave Us” nautical words
"Modern Words with Old Roots" avatar to zarf
“How To Get Your Name In The Dictionary” eponyms
#etymology paperback #Kindle
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
“Words the Vikings Gave Us” Norse nouns
“Words the Sea Gave Us” nautical words
"Modern Words with Old Roots" avatar to zarf
“How To Get Your Name In The Dictionary” eponyms
#etymology paperback #Kindle
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
This week on Wordfoolery - the fiery history and meaning of lunting - an obscure word with Dutch roots. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/t... #etymology
The Fiery History of Lunting
Hello, This week’s word is lunting, with thanks to a writing friend Maera Black, who suggested it to me years ago as an interesting obscure word. It made it to my list but never made it to th…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:38 AM
This week on Wordfoolery - the fiery history and meaning of lunting - an obscure word with Dutch roots. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/t... #etymology
Here's another fun word history from the Wordfoolery Archives - rambunctious - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/r... First used in 1830s Boston. #etymology
November 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Here's another fun word history from the Wordfoolery Archives - rambunctious - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/r... First used in 1830s Boston. #etymology
#OnThisDay 1883 "Treasure Island" first published as a book (previously serialised in “Young Folks” a magazine for children).
Here's a fun fact about Long John Silver for your next nautical pub quiz. 🧵🏴☠️🦜
Here's a fun fact about Long John Silver for your next nautical pub quiz. 🧵🏴☠️🦜
a man with a beard and hat is smiling
ALT: a man with a beard and hat is smiling
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
#OnThisDay 1883 "Treasure Island" first published as a book (previously serialised in “Young Folks” a magazine for children).
Here's a fun fact about Long John Silver for your next nautical pub quiz. 🧵🏴☠️🦜
Here's a fun fact about Long John Silver for your next nautical pub quiz. 🧵🏴☠️🦜
Reposted by Grace Tierney
Im looking to interview Irish women who will be celebrating #womenschristmas #littlechristmas this year. Please message me if you’re up for it or share! Thank you! #irish #ireland #irishwoman #nollaignamban
November 13, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Im looking to interview Irish women who will be celebrating #womenschristmas #littlechristmas this year. Please message me if you’re up for it or share! Thank you! #irish #ireland #irishwoman #nollaignamban
Reposted by Grace Tierney
Today is #RLSDay which marks the birthday of the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson who would have been 175 today.
It's also a good day to remember that it is NOT actually his birthday because in 1891 he gave it away to a young girl because she didn't like her birthday. 🧵
It's also a good day to remember that it is NOT actually his birthday because in 1891 he gave it away to a young girl because she didn't like her birthday. 🧵
November 13, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Today is #RLSDay which marks the birthday of the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson who would have been 175 today.
It's also a good day to remember that it is NOT actually his birthday because in 1891 he gave it away to a young girl because she didn't like her birthday. 🧵
It's also a good day to remember that it is NOT actually his birthday because in 1891 he gave it away to a young girl because she didn't like her birthday. 🧵
My newsletter Wordfoolery Whispers is out on Fri 14th Nov. Read about a Mystery Tour, Podcasting, Blog Highlights, Good Books and histories for opsimathy, ramfeezled, pettifogging, crenelate, and drench.
Subscribe at subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers & remember to confirm email. #etymology
Subscribe at subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers & remember to confirm email. #etymology
November 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
My newsletter Wordfoolery Whispers is out on Fri 14th Nov. Read about a Mystery Tour, Podcasting, Blog Highlights, Good Books and histories for opsimathy, ramfeezled, pettifogging, crenelate, and drench.
Subscribe at subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers & remember to confirm email. #etymology
Subscribe at subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers & remember to confirm email. #etymology
The latest story from my librarian serial is now live on Channillo. Nina is back from illness and running an author event. All she needs to do it stop any difficult questions. Subscribe to read at www.channillo.com/series/the-l...
#librarylife #cosyserial #irishfiction
#librarylife #cosyserial #irishfiction
The Librarian's Secret Diary
<p>Nina is the new librarian on the block. She’s learning the shelves with her buzzword-spouting boss and the senior librarian who hates reading and can’t wait to retire. She records the crazy reader ...
www.channillo.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The latest story from my librarian serial is now live on Channillo. Nina is back from illness and running an author event. All she needs to do it stop any difficult questions. Subscribe to read at www.channillo.com/series/the-l...
#librarylife #cosyserial #irishfiction
#librarylife #cosyserial #irishfiction
Amalgamate is the word, thanks to a subscriber suggestion, on Wordfoolery this week - one thanks to the Greeks and the alchemists. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/t... #etymology #words
The Alchemical History of Amalgamate
Hello, This week’s word was a suggestion by blog subscriber, Philip – amalgamate – and it sent me off to photograph our barometer. To trace the history of amalgamate (to combine i…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Amalgamate is the word, thanks to a subscriber suggestion, on Wordfoolery this week - one thanks to the Greeks and the alchemists. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/t... #etymology #words
Ever wonder about the #history of the humble cardigan? It's this week's gem from the Wordfoolery Archives (and later made it into my book about #eponyms - How To Get Your Name in the Dictionary). wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/t... #etymology
The Eponym Series – Cardigan
Hello, Regular readers will know that I sometimes delve into the world of eponyms – objects named after their inventor, wearer or place of origin. Having examined Bowler hats and Wellington b…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Ever wonder about the #history of the humble cardigan? It's this week's gem from the Wordfoolery Archives (and later made it into my book about #eponyms - How To Get Your Name in the Dictionary). wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/t... #etymology
Love Christmas histories, traditions, and quirky words?
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology
#Christmas paperback hardback 🎄📚💙 #booksky
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology
#Christmas paperback hardback 🎄📚💙 #booksky
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
November 6, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Love Christmas histories, traditions, and quirky words?
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology
#Christmas paperback hardback 🎄📚💙 #booksky
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology
#Christmas paperback hardback 🎄📚💙 #booksky
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
“Nina, you look dreadful.”
I waved a hand, and my head spun as I did so. “Yeah, head cold. I’ll be grand. I’ve got some cough syrup in the break room.”
She stepped back a little as if I were a plague victim.
#1linewed The Librarian's Secret Diary
I waved a hand, and my head spun as I did so. “Yeah, head cold. I’ll be grand. I’ve got some cough syrup in the break room.”
She stepped back a little as if I were a plague victim.
#1linewed The Librarian's Secret Diary
a snowman with a carrot sticking out of his nose
ALT: a snowman with a carrot sticking out of his nose
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
“Nina, you look dreadful.”
I waved a hand, and my head spun as I did so. “Yeah, head cold. I’ll be grand. I’ve got some cough syrup in the break room.”
She stepped back a little as if I were a plague victim.
#1linewed The Librarian's Secret Diary
I waved a hand, and my head spun as I did so. “Yeah, head cold. I’ll be grand. I’ve got some cough syrup in the break room.”
She stepped back a little as if I were a plague victim.
#1linewed The Librarian's Secret Diary
The latest episode in "The Librarian's Secret Diary" is now live at www.channillo.com/series/the-l... and this week Nina, the ever energetic librarian, falls ill. Can the library survive without her? And should she decontaminate her secret diary? #serial #irishfiction #librarylife
The Librarian's Secret Diary
<p>Nina is the new librarian on the block. She’s learning the shelves with her buzzword-spouting boss and the senior librarian who hates reading and can’t wait to retire. She records the crazy reader ...
www.channillo.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The latest episode in "The Librarian's Secret Diary" is now live at www.channillo.com/series/the-l... and this week Nina, the ever energetic librarian, falls ill. Can the library survive without her? And should she decontaminate her secret diary? #serial #irishfiction #librarylife
Spent some time chatting about Christmas words, facts, Dickens, and Muppets yesterday with Val from Cozy Christmas Podcast and it was great. I love connecting with word history enthusiasts around the world. Will share link when the pod is live.
a muppet wearing a top hat is standing in front of a door and saying `` and tiny tim ... '' .
ALT: a muppet wearing a top hat is standing in front of a door and saying `` and tiny tim ... '' .
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Spent some time chatting about Christmas words, facts, Dickens, and Muppets yesterday with Val from Cozy Christmas Podcast and it was great. I love connecting with word history enthusiasts around the world. Will share link when the pod is live.
#OnThisDay in 1993, the death of Léon Thérémin, whose name entered the English dictionary and whose life was extraordinary.
A theremin is an electronic musical instrument which is controlled without physical contact by the musician playing it.
#etymology 🧵
A theremin is an electronic musical instrument which is controlled without physical contact by the musician playing it.
#etymology 🧵
November 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
#OnThisDay in 1993, the death of Léon Thérémin, whose name entered the English dictionary and whose life was extraordinary.
A theremin is an electronic musical instrument which is controlled without physical contact by the musician playing it.
#etymology 🧵
A theremin is an electronic musical instrument which is controlled without physical contact by the musician playing it.
#etymology 🧵
What does mediocre have to do with #mountains? Pop over to Wordfoolery's blog to find out, with thanks to the #Romans - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/t... #etymology
The Mountainous Word History of Mediocre
Hello, Haggard Hawks (otherwise known as language author, Paul Anthony Jones) mentioned mediocre’s roots on twitter ages ago and I’m only getting to checking it out now. A mediocre effo…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:37 AM
What does mediocre have to do with #mountains? Pop over to Wordfoolery's blog to find out, with thanks to the #Romans - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/t... #etymology
A movie you’ve seen more than seven times in a gif.
a man says " you seem a decent fellow .. i hate to kill you "
ALT: a man says " you seem a decent fellow .. i hate to kill you "
media.tenor.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A movie you’ve seen more than seven times in a gif.
Happy #Halloween from Wordfoolery, and Batty!
Here's a couple of spooky word histories to get your evening off to a properly eldritch and macabre start...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/e...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/m...
#etymology 👻🎃
Here's a couple of spooky word histories to get your evening off to a properly eldritch and macabre start...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/e...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/m...
#etymology 👻🎃
October 31, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Happy #Halloween from Wordfoolery, and Batty!
Here's a couple of spooky word histories to get your evening off to a properly eldritch and macabre start...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/e...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/m...
#etymology 👻🎃
Here's a couple of spooky word histories to get your evening off to a properly eldritch and macabre start...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/e...
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/m...
#etymology 👻🎃
Tune in today at 2pm on LMFM Radio where I'll be looking at the history of some spooky words - mummy, jettatura, occult, and oblivion. Our mystery word is collieshangie. Listen live at www.lmfm.ie and I'll share podlink later.
#etymology #Halloween 👻🎃📚
#etymology #Halloween 👻🎃📚
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Tune in today at 2pm on LMFM Radio where I'll be looking at the history of some spooky words - mummy, jettatura, occult, and oblivion. Our mystery word is collieshangie. Listen live at www.lmfm.ie and I'll share podlink later.
#etymology #Halloween 👻🎃📚
#etymology #Halloween 👻🎃📚
Words the Vikings Gave Us - 300 words from ships, food, farming, romance, myths, daily life, politics - akimbo, kiss, ombudsman, bluetooth, frisbee, thing, and yule.
Ideal for word & history lovers.
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology #vikings #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
Ideal for word & history lovers.
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology #vikings #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
October 30, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Words the Vikings Gave Us - 300 words from ships, food, farming, romance, myths, daily life, politics - akimbo, kiss, ombudsman, bluetooth, frisbee, thing, and yule.
Ideal for word & history lovers.
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology #vikings #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
Ideal for word & history lovers.
#Kindle #FunFacts #etymology #vikings #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
She looked thoroughly miserable, hair more unkempt than usual, jumper pulled to one side, tissue to her nose and eyes rimmed with red.
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
a fluffy cat is sitting on a box with the words good morning below it
ALT: a fluffy cat is sitting on a box with the words good morning below it
media.tenor.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:10 AM
She looked thoroughly miserable, hair more unkempt than usual, jumper pulled to one side, tissue to her nose and eyes rimmed with red.
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
Despite her Senior Librarian growling and being grumpy, Nina counts her blessings and decides it's going to be a Good Year. Subscribe and Read the latest from Castle Bailey Library at www.channillo.com/series/the-l...
The Librarian's Secret Diary
<p>Nina is the new librarian on the block. She’s learning the shelves with her buzzword-spouting boss and the senior librarian who hates reading and can’t wait to retire. She records the crazy reader ...
www.channillo.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Despite her Senior Librarian growling and being grumpy, Nina counts her blessings and decides it's going to be a Good Year. Subscribe and Read the latest from Castle Bailey Library at www.channillo.com/series/the-l...
This week on Wordfoolery - the word origins of crenelations on castles. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/t... and beware of defensive crannies and grannies. #etymology
The Latin Roots of Crenelate
Hello, This week’s blog is a day late as I was away for the weekend, staying in a tiny castle, pictured below. It’s a gate lodge in Cork at Anne’s Grove, restored by the Irish Lan…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:44 AM
This week on Wordfoolery - the word origins of crenelations on castles. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/t... and beware of defensive crannies and grannies. #etymology
Take a weekend off. Return to eight different writer scams in my inbox. Sigh.
Delete, repeat.
#writinglife
Delete, repeat.
#writinglife
October 28, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Take a weekend off. Return to eight different writer scams in my inbox. Sigh.
Delete, repeat.
#writinglife
Delete, repeat.
#writinglife
Happy Book Birthday to "Words Christmas Gave Us" which launched on this day last year. We managed the merry part of Merry Christmas pretty well at the event in Academy Books! Still available in ebook, paperback, and hardback - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/ and the National Library of Ireland.
October 24, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Happy Book Birthday to "Words Christmas Gave Us" which launched on this day last year. We managed the merry part of Merry Christmas pretty well at the event in Academy Books! Still available in ebook, paperback, and hardback - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/ and the National Library of Ireland.