by Kevin Burton
My first reaction upon reading that Merriam-Webster plans to eliminate words from the dictionary was protective: “keep your hands off my words!”
Then I read the list.
Well all right then, go ahead and chop them. Except for mugwump. I need that one to stay.
The Mugwumps was a band formed by members of three bands that broke up, which in turn spun off into the core of the Lovin Spoonful and the Mamas and the Papas. I would like to have their word stick around. But words do come and go over time.
“Living languages are constantly evolving and adapting to the needs of their speakers, and shedding some of their least-used vocabulary is a natural part of the process,” Merriam-Webster writes on the Dictionary Scoop website.
What follows is their list of nine words that although barely breathing, offer a fascinating glimpse into our linguistic past:”
1–Groak To stare silently at someone while they are eating, hoping to be invited to join.
It sounds like an onomatopoeic crossbreed between a dog’s growl and a toad’s croak, however, it is actually quite an established verb! The origins of this peculiar word are hard to trace, though some linguists propose it may come from Scots or Gaelic.
In a single word, groak captures the universal experience of both dogs and insatiable teenagers. Though it might seem like an oddly specific term, its meaning has been somewhat fluid throughout its history. It has also been used as a noun or to refer to looking over your shoulder suspiciously.
2–Snollygoster: A shrewd, unprincipled person, particularly a politician.
This term originated in 19th-century America and is a delightful example of political slang. Though its origins are fuzzy, it describes a manipulative individual who ventures into politics solely for personal gain (sound familiar?). Some etymologists argue that the term derives from the word “snallygaster,” a mythical creature from rural Maryland that is half reptile and half bird, but historical evidence suggests that this use emerged later.
Though it has faded from use, its meaning has remained relevant over time and thus has reemerged now and then, for instance when President Harry S. Truman used it (albeit somewhat incorrectly) in a 1952 speech.
3-Brabble: To argue stubbornly about trifles; squabble.
“Brabble” was a word commonly used in the 16th and 17th centuries to describe petty arguments. Curiously, despite its similarity to “babble” in both sound and meaning, these two words are not related. According to some etymologists, “brabble” likely derives from the Middle Dutch verb “brabbelen,” meaning “to quarrel.”
In any case, its sonorous qualities perfectly convey the noise of pointless bickering.
4–Lanspresado: One who arrives at a party without money.
No, it’s not a fancy term for an artisanal espresso or anything like that. Originating in the early 19th century, “lanspresado” is sort of a playful yet piercing term. The word combines elements of Latin and Romance languages to label what we would now call a mooch or a freeloader.
A dictionary that compiled thieves’ or street slang in 1736 clearly defines it as: “He that comes into company with but Two-pence in his Pocket.”
5-Twattle: To gossip or talk idly.
A popular English word in the 16th century, “twattle” encapsulates the concept of idle chatter and gossip. Unlike “babble,” which often refers to incoherent speech, “twattle” specifically pertains to pointless or frivolous talk. “Twattle” is actually a cousin to “twaddle,” which still sees occasional use.
6-Mugwump: A person who remains aloof or independent, especially from party politics.
Popularized in the late 19th century, “mugwump” was originally a very specific word that referred to a member of the Republican Party who refused to support the party’s main candidate at the time. Eventually, the word evolved to describe any politician who remained politically independent.
Interestingly, the word might derive from an Algonquian term meaning “great man” or “big chief,” though its later usage was ironic rather than flattering. While “mugwump” has remained a part of American political slang, it is not commonly used today.
7-Smaze: A combination of smoke and haze.
Similar but less prevalent than “smog”—itself a combination of smoke and fog—”smaze” emerged in the 20th century as a portmanteau of smoke and haze. The term is almost intoxicatingly self-explanatory, and it was particularly relevant during periods of intense industrial pollution, before stricter laws reduced emissions and controlled air pollutants in cities and residential areas.
Curiously, there have been many similar word combinations to refer to various atmospheric conditions, such as “vog,” coined in Hawaii to describe a dangerous mixture of toxic gases, volcanic dust, and fog.
8-Quockerwodger: A wooden toy figure that moves when a string is pulled; a puppet.
This whimsical term from 19th-century England describes a wooden toy whose limbs can be controlled by pulling a string—in simpler words, a puppet. By extension, the word came to refer to a person who is controlled by someone else, especially in political contexts.
Some argue that the “quock” part of the word might be related to a lost dialectal term meaning “tremble or shake,” like “quake.” Since real quockerwodgers weren’t exactly like typical puppets, where each string controls a limb with purpose, but rather were made to jerk uncontrollably by pulling a single string, this interpretation makes sense.
9-Fudgel: Pretending to work when you’re not actually doing anything.
“Fudgel” is a humorous word that perfectly captures the well-known office phenomenon of appearing busy while accomplishing nothing. Allegedly originating in the 18th century, its absence from unabridged editions of various dictionaries suggests it might be a more recent term, though it never quite gained widespread use.
Interestingly, its similarity to “fudge” goes just beyond the sound, as “to fudge” can also mean “to change or falsify evidence.” It’s easy to imagine someone fudgeled a bit too much at the office and ended up creating an entirely new word.
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