Linguistic comeback

These 10 outdated words are too good to stay buried!

Over time, language evolves, and with it, certain words fade into the background, replaced by new phrases and expressions. But some of these forgotten words have fascinating histories and meanings that will make you smile—or scratch your head. So, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and rediscover some outdated words that deserve a comeback. You’ll be surprised how much fun they are!

Image: Jornada Produtora

Remember that time you rushed out the door without breakfast and sat down in an important meeting? Just as the director began speaking, your stomach grumbled so loudly that everyone could hear it. That’s curmuring, the noise your stomach makes when it’s protesting from hunger.

Image: David Boca

Imagine jumping into the ocean on a hot summer day, and the cold water hits you like a shock to the system. You want to scream and gasp for air, and that’s called a curglaff.

It’s a Scottish term from the 1800s, and it perfectly captures that initial chill when you dive into icy waters. Who knew that there was a word for that heart-stopping moment?

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Have you ever woken up with your hair in complete disarray, as if it had a wild night? That’s elflock, a term for messy hair that looks like it was tangled by mischievous elves while you slept. It’s fun as it is specific, don’t you think?

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

If you’ve ever overheard a conversation where someone was gossiping about trivial matters, you might have caught them twattling. It’s an old-fashioned way to say that someone is talking nonsense or spreading rumors. Language evolves and changes, just like gossip and the many ways we find to name it!

Image: Kenny Eliason

This one might sound a bit fancy, but excogitate means to plan or devise something thoughtfully. It comes from Latin roots and refers to bringing something to life by thinking it through carefully. It’s a plan, but in the scheming way, not the to-do list way, you know? This is a word worth keeping; we could all do with a little more of it!

Image: Angelina

Have you ever met someone who thinks way too highly of themselves? That’s a cockalorum: A person who’s full of themselves despite not having much to show for it. The word has been around since the early 1700s and is the perfect way to describe someone with a high opinion of themselves, especially if they’re not actually as impressive as they think they are!

Image: Vitaly Gariev

You may not know the word, but you’ve surely witnessed a brabble. When two people argue over something so small and insignificant that you can’t help but shake your head, that’s a brabble. Whether it’s a petty disagreement over the last slice of pizza or a heated debate about the TV remote, you can bet it is one of these.

Image: Val Tievsky

Back in the 1800s, gentlemen enjoyed a leisurely activity called lunting, which was simply walking while smoking a pipe. It’s a charming image, don’t you think? Picture strolling along with your favorite pipe in hand, taking in the fresh air and enjoying a quiet moment. Next time you go for a walk, why not try a modern version of lunting? Just once in a while can do no harm!

Image: Jon Tyson

Imagine meeting someone and immediately thinking they’re good-looking. That’s when you can call them a snoutfair. This word, dating back to the 1500s, refers to someone with an objectively attractive face. So, if you’re ever complimenting someone’s appearance, try telling them they’re a snoutfair, it’ll certainly catch their attention!

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Have you ever met someone who could just captivate you with their charm? That’s the effect of being gorgonized. This word comes from the mythological Gorgon, Medusa, whose gaze could turn people to stone. While you won’t actually be turned into a statue, you might find yourself completely mesmerized by their presence!

IN GOOD SPIRITS

Do You Know The Origin Of These 10 Alcoholic Beverages?

Image: Adam Wilson

You probably know many alcoholic beverages that you enjoy drinking alone or combined in different cocktails, but do you know where their names come from? From whiskey and gin to rum and absinthe, the origins of spirits have fascinating stories to tell. Are you ready to explore them? You will surely learn some curious facts to share at your next party!

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Whiskey is one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world. It is produced by distilling malt fermented with cereals such as wheat, barley, corn, and rye, and the resulting spirit is subsequently aged in white oak barrels.

In the Middle Ages, alcoholic beverages were classified into two main groups: "aqua ardens" (burning water) and "aqua vitae" (water of life). Whiskey falls into the category of "aqua vitae." The Latin term was translated into Middle Irish as usque beatha, which in turn derived into usquebaugh, pronounced: "wiskyba," giving rise to "whisky" (Scotland) and "whiskey" (Ireland and the United States).

Image: Timothé Durand

The word brandy is an abbreviation of brandywine, an English term dating from the early 17th century. It comes from the Dutch brandewijn, meaning "burnt wine" or "burning wine," referring to the distillation process.

Brandy is made from the distillate of wine or fermented fruit pulp, primarily grape skins. There are different types of brandy. Perhaps one of the best known is cognac, a high-quality wine distillate, named after the city in France where it is produced.

Image: John Fornander

Gin is a distilled drink made from juniper berries, among other ingredients. The term gin is an abbreviation of the Old English word genever, which in turn derives from the Dutch jenever and the French genièvre. Moreover, all these words trace back to the Latin word for juniper, juniperus.

This drink emerged among European monks during the Middle Ages as a medicinal liquor. Then, in the 17th century, gin gained popularity in England and transitioned into the modern drink we know and love. Nowadays, gin is used to prepare different cocktails, including Tom Collins, Negroni, and the popular Gin & Tonic.

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The first references to this drink date back to the mid-17th century in Barbados, a small Caribbean island with sugar plantations that was under British rule for several centuries. When rum began to be produced on a large scale in the colonies, the English imported it to Europe and popularized it throughout the continent.

There are many theories about the origin of the word rum. The most accepted one suggests that it comes from the English slang word rumbullion which means "great tumult." This term might have originated in the Devonshire area on the southwest coast of England. From rumbullion, it became known as rum in English, rhum in French, and ron in Spanish.

Image: Deeliver

Vodka is an emblematic drink of Eastern European countries and is used to prepare a multitude of cocktails, including the Martini Vesper, Moscow Mule, White Russian, Cosmopolitan, and Bloody Mary, among others. The word vodka comes from the Russian word voda, which means "water." The ending -ka makes it diminutive, translating to "little water."

Vodka is a distillate that comes from the fermentation of potatoes, wheat, barley, grapes, beets, or any plant rich in starch. Originally, the aim was to obtain a simple, alcoholic liquid composed of ethanol and water, with no pretensions in terms of aroma or flavor. It also needed to have a high alcohol content to cope with the harsh Russian winters. Traditionally it has a graduation around 40º, although there are vodkas that reach 80º and up to 96º. It is hard to believe that it’s simply called water!

Image: Ryan Parker

This distillate made mainly from corn, was first introduced in the United States in the 18th century. The first known producer was Reverend Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister. Legend has it that the clergyman established the first distillery in Fayette County, Kentucky, with the help of a Southern farmer who provided surplus corn from his harvest.

Although it was born in Fayette, this variety of whiskey was named after another nearby county, Bourbon County, where the spirit began to be produced on a large scale. The names of both Kentucky counties have their origin in the same historical figure: Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat related to the House of Bourbon.

Image: Giorgio Trovato

The word vermouth comes from the German word wermut, which means "wormwood," one of the main herbs used to make this beverage. This fortified wine, flavored with different botanicals (flowers, herbs, roots, and spices), has been used since ancient times for medicinal purposes. However, the modern version we know today was first introduced in Turin, Italy, in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, vermouth became a global trend thanks to the rise of bars and cocktails, as it was —and still is— an essential ingredient to prepare classic drinks such as Martinis, Negronis, and Manhattans.

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Tequila is, without a doubt, a staple of Mexican culture and a famous drink around the world. In ancient times, it was considered a gift from the gods. Today it’s served as an aperitif or combined with other beverages and ingredients to prepare cocktails.

This spirit is produced from the distillation of fermented juice obtained from the heart of a plant known as "blue agave." Its name comes from the Nahuatl word Tekilan, which means "place of the workers."

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This popular anise-flavored spirit, made from wormwood oil and other herbs, has a high alcohol concentration. With a bitter taste, absinthe’s color is usually pale green. Its name derives from the Latin absinthium, which in turn comes from the Greek apsínthion, meaning "wormwood."

The use of wormwood to make alcoholic beverages dates back to the 1st century, but it was not until the end of the 18th century, in French-speaking Switzerland, that the drink we know today was created. At the end of the 19th century, absinthe, often called "Green Fairy," was the most popular spirit in Europe, enjoyed by all social classes, especially artists and bohemians. However, years later its consumption was limited because it could cause hallucinations, which gave birth to the term absinthism.

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Peru and Chile, neighboring South American countries, share many things: the Andes mountain range, common ancestors, customs, and, notably, the debate over the origin of pisco. The true birthplace of this spirit has long been questioned, with both countries claiming it as their own. What we do know is that the name pisco may derive from the Quechua word Pisku, meaning "bird."

Peruvian and Chilean pisco are different varieties but have in common that they are grape distillations, made similarly to brandy and cognac. Despite the ongoing controversy, no one should miss trying a good pisco sour!