27 Delightful Obsolete Words It's High Time We Revived

Quit groaking me, you slubberdegullion.

1.

Flickr: pe_ha45 / Via obsoleteword.blogspot.co.uk

Meaning: To silently watch someone while they are eating, hoping to be invited to join them.

Origin: Unknown

As in: It’s hard to enjoy your meal when the guy opposite is groaking you the whole time.

2.

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Meaning: To act in a secretive manner.

Origin: 1530s

As in: I’m sick of all these sneaky types, creeping around and hugger-muggering the whole time.

3.

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Meaning: To feel ill because of excessive eating/drinking.

Origin: 1530s

As in: Blerg. The morning after St. Patrick’s Day. I feel crapulous.

4.

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Meaning: Sullen. An alternative to grumpy.

Origin: 1720s

As in: I’m hungover, and I’ve got a ton of work to do. Think I’m allowed to be grumpish.

5.

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Meaning: Freshly melted snow.

Origin: 1590s

As in: Yesterday we woke up to a perfect carpet of white, but now it’s just snowbroth. :-(

6.

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Meaning: To confuse, bamboozle.

Origin: 1690s

As in: I don’t get string theory. It utterly jargogles my brain.

7.

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Meaning: The sun’s warmth on a cold winter’s day.

Origin: 1620s

As in: Even in darkest December you sometimes get a moment of beautiful apricity.

8.

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Meaning: To gossip, or talk idly.

Origin: 1600s

As in: I wish you’d quit twattling and get on with your work.

9.

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Meaning: Tangled hair, as if matted by elves.

Origin: 1590s

As in: Jeez, dude, look at the state of those elflocks — have you not heard of a comb?

10.

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Meaning: To have a paralyzing or mesmerizing effect on someone.

Origin: Early 17th century

As in: Don’t look into his eyes. He’s so charismatic, you’ll be gorgonized.

11.

epeolotry.tumblr.com / Via Flickr: jasonidzerda

Meaning: A little man with a high opinion of himself.

Origin: 1710s

As in: He’s a boastful shortarse. Total cockalorum.

12.

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Meaning: A good-looking person.

Origin: 1500s

As in: Alison Brie? Total snoutfair.

13.

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Meaning: Slang term for a fat person.

Origin: 1780s

As in: Time to go on a diet, I’m getting to be a right jollux.

14.

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Meaning: The shock one feels upon first plunging into cold water.

Origin: Scots, 1800s

As in: Those outdoor swimmers must have balls of steel to cope with that kind of curglaff.

15.

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Meaning: To argue loudly about something inconsequential.

Origin: 1530s

As in: I can’t stand Question Time, it always descends into brabbling.

16.

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Meaning: An alternative to twilight.

Origin: Early 1600s

As in: London is at its most beautiful by twitter-light.

17.

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Meaning: Walking while smoking a pipe.

Origin: 1820s

As in: I’m off for a post-lunch lunt, anyone care to join me?

18.

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Meaning: Stupid, imbecilic.

Origin: 1590s

As in: The Only Way Is Essex is a TV show for the terminally beef-witted.

19.

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Meaning: Wonderful and extraordinary.

Origin: 1810s

As in: The Breaking Bad finale was every bit as monsterful as I’d hoped.

20.

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Meaning: Having beautifully shaped buttocks.

Origin: 1640s

As in: I admire Beyoncé for her musical talent. The fact she is highly callipygian is neither here nor there.

21.

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Meaning: To make drunk, intoxicate.

Origin: 1910s

As in: It’s never a good idea to operate heavy machinery while fuzzled.

22.

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Meaning: A wooden puppet, controlled by strings.

Origin: 1850s

As in: The president has no real power, he is a mere quockerwodger.

23.

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Meaning: The seemingly malevolent behaviour displayed by inanimate objects.

Origin: 1940s

As in: That water bottle looks like it wants to kill me. It exhibits resistentialism.

24.

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Meaning: The fear of oblivion.

Origin: 1700s

As in: I'm terrified the world is about to end. I am lethophobic.

25.

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Meaning: A slovenly, slobbering person.

Origin: 1650s

As in: Look at that sluberdegullion, sprawled on the sofa with his tongue lolling out.

26.

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Meaning: A low rumbling sound produced by the bowels.

Origin: 1880s

As in: Nothing worse than audibly curmuring during a job interview.

27.

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Meaning: Heavy rain.

Origin: Early 1900s

As in: Christ, it’s absolutely lumming down.