Poltroon!

[snacky]

I was reading a book that included some historical letters today, and one young spark declared he can't "abide a poltroon".

Poltroon! What a great word for MM. It goes well with all the toffs, tossers, and dollymops.

Here's what it means (according to Wictionary):

poltroon (plural poltroons)

Etymology: From Middle French poltron, from Italian poltrone

An ignoble or total coward; a dastard; a mean-spirited wretch.
1842, Nicholas Michell, The Traduced: An Historical Romance‎, page 266-267

"To gain life by means of a breach of faith and honour, were indeed to render myself the poltroon, and the villain my accusers believe me."

Synonyms (ignoble coward): craven, dastard

Ps. The letter where I found it used was from the 17th century, so it's usage is quite venerable in England.

[snacky]

Another good period word from a 19th-century book I was reading this week (Erewhon): "cossetted".

Definition: to give a lot of attention to making someone comfortable and to protecting them from anything unpleasant

Example: William's hair got singed when lightning struck his bicycle, and his hat was quite ruined. Julia felt obliged to cosset him for a while until he felt better.

[omgurl40]

"Our favorite mutton shunter, George Crabtree, got the morbs when Edna left and went right orf chump for a while there. Wanted to batty-fang Constable Higgens but he's come around"

Got the Morbs – temporary melancholy
Mutton Shunter – the police
Batty-Fang – to thrash thoroughly
Doing the Bear – courting that involves hugging
Mafficking – getting rowdy in the streets
Orf Chump – no appetite
Poked Up – embarassed
Nanty Narking – great fun
Fly Rink - bald head

publicdomainreview.org/collections/a-dictionary-of-victorian-slang-1909/

[snacky]

Nov 29, 2015 2:43:52 GMT omgurl40 said:

"Our favorite mutton shunter, George Crabtree, got the morbs when Edna left and went right orf chump for a while there. Wanted to batty-fang Constable Higgens but he's come around"

Got the Morbs – temporary melancholy
Mutton Shunter – the police
Batty-Fang – to thrash thoroughly
Doing the Bear – courting that involves hugging
Mafficking – getting rowdy in the streets
Orf Chump – no appetite
Poked Up – embarassed
Nanty Narking – great fun
Fly Rink - bald head

publicdomainreview.org/collections/a-dictionary-of-victorian-slang-1909/

LOL!