While working on the proofreading and editing of our latest reprint, Black Hawthorn, I've found some words and phrases I don't usually see while reading modern books, and some that were just nice images.
"Officer Roberts appeared out of the swathing fog."
Swathing: wrapping up.
"He thought, with a lover’s bromidic enthusiasm, that she looked like an angel."
The interesting origins of "bromidic": In the 1830's and 1840's, compounds which contained bromine were used as sedatives. By the early 20th century the term bromine had come to mean boring or trite and bromidic became an adjective to describe someone who used platitudes or trite sayings.
"'Certainly not. I’d love to jug those two,' he admitted."
Jug: slang for put in jail. I haven't found an origin on this one, but I hadn't heard it lately, either.
I'd enjoy hearing words and phrases any of you have found in older books, too.
"Officer Roberts appeared out of the swathing fog."
Swathing: wrapping up.
"He thought, with a lover’s bromidic enthusiasm, that she looked like an angel."
The interesting origins of "bromidic": In the 1830's and 1840's, compounds which contained bromine were used as sedatives. By the early 20th century the term bromine had come to mean boring or trite and bromidic became an adjective to describe someone who used platitudes or trite sayings.
"'Certainly not. I’d love to jug those two,' he admitted."
Jug: slang for put in jail. I haven't found an origin on this one, but I hadn't heard it lately, either.
I'd enjoy hearing words and phrases any of you have found in older books, too.
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