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Category Archives: Language
Tip us your Daddle
Snippets 130. Francis Grose (1731-1791) was a noted antiquarian who wrote a series of books about medieval antiquities. Financial difficulties inspired him to branch out into other areas of writing, and in 1785 his A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar … Continue reading
Posted in 18th Century, Books, Britain, History, Humor, Humour, Language, Snippets
Tagged Francis Grose, Slang
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Funiculì, Funiculà? “One-an-threppence”
Snippets 128. When the first funicular cable car on Mount Vesuvius opened in 1880, renowned Neapolitan journalist Peppino Turco came up with the idea of a commemorative song and made the suggestion to composer Luigi Denza that he could put … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, 20th Century, Britain, England, History, Humor, Humour, Language, London, Snippets, Travel
Tagged Naples, Slang, Thomas Rees
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You Carbuncle Faced Crusty Beau!
Snippets 107. Way back in Snippets 66 we looked at A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, by Francis Grose, first published in 1785. Grose (1731-1791) was a noted antiquarian who wrote a series of books about medieval antiquities. Financial … Continue reading
Posted in 18th Century, Books, Britain, England, History, Humor, Humour, Language, Snippets
Tagged Dictionaries, Francis Grose, Slang
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Old Devonshire Dialect
Snippets 80. In the mid 18th Century Mary Palmer wrote Devonshire Dialect, a work of fiction that is highly significant from an historical perspective as it offers such a valuable insight into the language of the county at the time. … Continue reading
A Todd of Wool
Snippets 75. The following quote is taken from The New British Jewel, or Complete Housewife’s Best Companion, published in 1788. It is a collection of cookery and other practical advice. Life seems very simple now in comparison with the following … Continue reading
Posted in 18th Century, Books, Britain, History, Language, Snippets
Tagged Weights and Measures
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The First Slang Dictionary
Snippets 73. If you try to find out what was the first ever English slang dictionary, the answer you will probably find (e.g. on Wikipedia) will be The Canting Academy, written in 1673 by Richard Head. He also wrote The … Continue reading
Posted in 16th Century, Books, Britain, England, History, Language, Snippets
Tagged Dictionaries, Richard Head, Slang, Thomas Harman
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Lookeedezee the Grizzledemundy?
Snippets 70. In the mid 18th Century Mary Palmer wrote Devonshire Dialect, a work of fiction that is highly significant from an historical perspective as it offers such a valuable insight into the language of the county at the time. … Continue reading
Posted in 18th Century, 19th Century, Books, Britain, England, History, Language, Local History, Snippets
Tagged Devon, Dialects, Mary Palmer
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Slang in the 1780s
Snippets 66. Francis Grose (1731-1791) was a noted antiquarian who wrote a series of books about medieval antiquities. Financial difficulties inspired him to branch out into other areas of writing, and his first such publication was A Classical Dictionary of … Continue reading
Posted in 18th Century, Books, Britain, England, History, Humor, Humour, Language, Snippets
Tagged Dictionaries, Francis Grose, Slang
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London Dialect for the “Curous Scholard”
Snippets 59. In 1814 Anecdotes of the English Language was published, a revised and expanded edition of the 1803 original. Written by Samuel Pegge (1704-1796) but published posthumously, it was subtitled Chiefly Regarding the Local Dialect of London and its … Continue reading
Posted in 18th Century, 19th Century, Books, Britain, England, History, Language, London, Snippets
Tagged Dialects
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How to Win Customers (in 1853!)
Snippets 58. Robert Kemp Philp (1819-1882) wrote a wide variety of handbooks giving advice on different aspects of life. His work is very valuable from a social history perspective, as it offers insights into 19th Century attitudes, and hardships faced … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century, Books, Britain, England, History, Inspiration, Language, Snippets
Tagged Advice, Robert Kemp Philp, Shops
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Windows into History 