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Archaic Definition of the Week – Fistmeile
fistmeile A measurement derived from making a fist with the thumb raised. The distance between the lower part of the little finger and the tip of the thumb - Glossary of medieval words at The...
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Fantod
fantod, fantad _ And commonly, the fantods The condition of being unstrung, ill at ease; of having the heebie-jeebies … The earliest citation is 1867 nautical, “a name given to the fidgets of...
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Leith
LEITH. A channel on the coast of Sweden, like that round the point of Landfoort to Stockholm. - The Sailor’s Word Book (1867) by Admiral W. H. Smyth
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Jaculate
jaculate (n.) A variant spelling of chocolate. In 1774 John Harrower wrote, “For breakfast either coffee or jaculate.” –Colonial American English. by Richard M. Lederer, Jr.
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Measles
MEASLES. This has only been by later use restrained to one kind of spotted sickness; but ‘meazel’ (it is spelt in innumerable ways) was once leprosy, or more often the leper himself, and the disease,...
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Nappy
nappy (n.) A frothy ale. Probably because its head was nappy, frothy. A 1728 song extolled: “a jug of brown Nappy.” –Colonial American English. by Richard M. Lederer, Jr. A related note on racism: I...
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Hooker
hooker (Fr. houcre, Sp. urca): a Dutch vessel of fifty to 300 tons, single- or double-masted, with a fluyt-shaped hull. Sometimes referred to a three-mast vessel. – The Sea Rover’s Practice : Pirate...
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Cuntline
CUNTLINE. The space between the bilges of two casks, stowed side by side. Where one cask is set upon the cuntline between two others, they are stowed bilge and cuntline. – The Seaman’s Friend : A...
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Rubstone
rubstone (n.) A whetstone. In 1687 Samuel Sewall ordered, “Send me for my own proper accountt … six doz of rubstones.” –Colonial American English by Richard M. Lederer, Jr.
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Mud Hook
MUD HOOK Slang for anchor. – The Pirate Dictionary, by Terry Breverton
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Palfrey
palfrey (n.) horse for everyday riding – Shakespeare’s Words : A Glossary & Language Companion by David Crystal and Ben Crystal
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Archaic Definition of the Week – Horse-Marine
HORSE-MARINE. An awkward lubberly person. One out of place. – The Sailor’s Word Book (1867) by Admiral W. H. Smyth
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