Thursday, December 1, 2011

Just for Fun

In doing research for my bibliography on dictionaries I was able to come upon some "low" and "cant" words, or in other words, slang or jargon words. They were recorded by Samuel Johnson and help to show his personality and writing style, which can prove to be difficult when writing a dictionary.
Here are some interesting words:
Dandiprat: a little fellow; a urchin; a word used sometimes in fondness, sometimes in contempt.
To conjobble: to settle, to discuss. A low cant word.
Clodplate: a stupid fellow; a dolt; a thickscull.
Kicksey-wicksey: a made word in disdain or ridicule of a wife.
To phog: to rob; to steal; a low word.

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