Tag Archives: word origins

Writing Historical Fiction? Should You Use That Particular Word?

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

I admit it: I am a bit of a word geek. I am fascinated with how words came into the English language. Some words make sense in their derivation, and others not so much so. Below are some of the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Regency era, word origins | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

I am all about finding how words came into usage. How about you?  Crug is a Welsh word meaning hillock, cairn or barrow. Crug Hywel (called the Table Mountain in English) is a flat-topped hill at the southern edge of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Are You Familiar with These Words and Phrases?

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

We have a variety of words that mean “stupid or foolish person” Ninnyhammer – First Known Use: 1592 Berk – The usage is dated to the 1930s. A shortened version of Berkeley Hunt, the hunt based at Berkeley Castle in … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Uncategorized, word play | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

The Lovely World of the English Language ~ Why Do People Speak as They Do?

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

In late February, I included a post on idioms and word play. It was a huge success, so I thought to revisit the format. “Aboveboard” – No, this one has nothing to do with ships or sailing. Actually, it comes … Continue reading →

Posted in word play, writing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments