Me speak Victorian one day.
Hello again.
Blimey, but it's hot. I mean, hot for a British person, I'm sure the rest of the sun baked world is looking at our "heatwave" and laughing..but they shouldn't, because it is well documented that British people are comprised of 70% tissue paper and so we can turn to kindling if the sun gets too hot.
I few nights ago I promised that I would post a few wordy words from my new book, The Adventure of the Wordy Companion: The Handy A-Z of Sherlockian Phraseology (contractual and gratuitous book mention done) as well as a few lost words from the same era. And, true to my word, I've got some ready for you.
I thought I would kick it all off with some of the words which make my students, and those with a student mentality, giggle. I also thought the first word was a rather apt match for those who may be feeling the same due to the weather:
1. Brown Study
The means to be in a mood of deep thoughtfulness, a gloomy meditation or melancholy. The heat and quiet of Baker Street has poor Watson feeling a little moody and claustrophobic in The Adventure of the Cardboard Box. “I had tossed aside the barren paper, and leaning back in my chair I fell into a brown study. Suddenly my companion’s voice broke in upon my thoughts.”
2. Toilet
Sometimes seen as "toileted" and used frequently in the Canon. Despite what the implications may mean now, in this context it simply means the act or process of dressing or grooming which includes bathing and brushing or styling one’s hair. In The Adventure of the Three Students, Watson exclaims, “At eight in the morning he came into my room just as I had finished my toilet.”
3. Ejaculate
Regardless of its modern meaning, the meaning of the word in the 1800s was to shout out at something with shock or surprise. The word is peppered throughout the Canon but a few of my favourite examples are from The Sign of Four, “‘Thank God!’ I ejaculated from my very heart.” The Adventure of the Abbey Grange, “Finally, he sprang down with an ejaculation of satisfaction.” And in The Adventure of the Naval Treaty, Percy Phelps ejaculates three times in quick succession. “‘Surely the gate was open!’ ejaculated Phelps” “‘The key!’ ejaculated Phelps” “‘Joseph!’ ejaculated Phelps.”
And finally, although the works of Conan Doyle have a rich tapestry of interesting phrases, part of me wishes that, somewhere, there was room for this one:
Bang up to the elephantThis was a phrase used London in and around the late 1800s. It's a great phrase which means that something is perfect or brilliant. I can almost hear Watson exclaiming to Mrs. Hudson, "My good lady you have outdone yourself, this potted pheasant is certainly bang up to the elephant." Earning all but a small smirk and eyebrow raise from Holmes.
Blimey, but it's hot. I mean, hot for a British person, I'm sure the rest of the sun baked world is looking at our "heatwave" and laughing..but they shouldn't, because it is well documented that British people are comprised of 70% tissue paper and so we can turn to kindling if the sun gets too hot.
I few nights ago I promised that I would post a few wordy words from my new book, The Adventure of the Wordy Companion: The Handy A-Z of Sherlockian Phraseology (contractual and gratuitous book mention done) as well as a few lost words from the same era. And, true to my word, I've got some ready for you.
I thought I would kick it all off with some of the words which make my students, and those with a student mentality, giggle. I also thought the first word was a rather apt match for those who may be feeling the same due to the weather:
1. Brown Study
The means to be in a mood of deep thoughtfulness, a gloomy meditation or melancholy. The heat and quiet of Baker Street has poor Watson feeling a little moody and claustrophobic in The Adventure of the Cardboard Box. “I had tossed aside the barren paper, and leaning back in my chair I fell into a brown study. Suddenly my companion’s voice broke in upon my thoughts.”
2. Toilet
Sometimes seen as "toileted" and used frequently in the Canon. Despite what the implications may mean now, in this context it simply means the act or process of dressing or grooming which includes bathing and brushing or styling one’s hair. In The Adventure of the Three Students, Watson exclaims, “At eight in the morning he came into my room just as I had finished my toilet.”
3. Ejaculate
Regardless of its modern meaning, the meaning of the word in the 1800s was to shout out at something with shock or surprise. The word is peppered throughout the Canon but a few of my favourite examples are from The Sign of Four, “‘Thank God!’ I ejaculated from my very heart.” The Adventure of the Abbey Grange, “Finally, he sprang down with an ejaculation of satisfaction.” And in The Adventure of the Naval Treaty, Percy Phelps ejaculates three times in quick succession. “‘Surely the gate was open!’ ejaculated Phelps” “‘The key!’ ejaculated Phelps” “‘Joseph!’ ejaculated Phelps.”
And finally, although the works of Conan Doyle have a rich tapestry of interesting phrases, part of me wishes that, somewhere, there was room for this one:
Bang up to the elephantThis was a phrase used London in and around the late 1800s. It's a great phrase which means that something is perfect or brilliant. I can almost hear Watson exclaiming to Mrs. Hudson, "My good lady you have outdone yourself, this potted pheasant is certainly bang up to the elephant." Earning all but a small smirk and eyebrow raise from Holmes.
Comments
Post a Comment