Gee
Good Evening.*
It comes as no surprise to any of you that I have a fondness for words. I like to play with them. Roll them 'round in sonorous sentences. Stack them slyly in perilous paragraphs. Bat them playfully around the room until they get stuck under the bookcase, then lie in the sun until I get fed again.**
And I have recently noticed that some of my favorite words are falling into disuse. I've noticed this, because my use of them has been met with reactions ranging from snorts of surprise, to querilous stares not unlike those of a dog watching a card trick.
And interestingly enough, all three words start with the same letter.
I would like to take this moment to request your aid in bringing these words back into favour*** in our everyday lexicon.
I think you will find this triad of tired terms to be both delightful and adventuresome:****
Guff
Gumption
Galoot
These are good words, strong and proud. They've served our language well, and deserve a better fate than to be tossed aside like so much linguistic litter. They deserve a better fate than snozzle, swoopstake, and gardyloo.****
So, as a favor to me: the next time someone gives you some guff, tell them not to give it to you. All it takes is some gumption, ya big galoot!*****
Thank you, and good night*
Yeharr
*Or morning or afternoon, as the case may be.
**I think that last one might actually refer to my cats.
***A show of solidarity with my cohorts in the Commonwealths.
****Why, no, I haven't been drinking. Why do you ask?
*****Admittedly, our modern septic system has left gardyloo in the lurch, but really, what a word!
******Now that you mention it, I suppose I could use a little more sleep...
It comes as no surprise to any of you that I have a fondness for words. I like to play with them. Roll them 'round in sonorous sentences. Stack them slyly in perilous paragraphs. Bat them playfully around the room until they get stuck under the bookcase, then lie in the sun until I get fed again.**
And I have recently noticed that some of my favorite words are falling into disuse. I've noticed this, because my use of them has been met with reactions ranging from snorts of surprise, to querilous stares not unlike those of a dog watching a card trick.
And interestingly enough, all three words start with the same letter.
I would like to take this moment to request your aid in bringing these words back into favour*** in our everyday lexicon.
I think you will find this triad of tired terms to be both delightful and adventuresome:****
Guff
Gumption
Galoot
These are good words, strong and proud. They've served our language well, and deserve a better fate than to be tossed aside like so much linguistic litter. They deserve a better fate than snozzle, swoopstake, and gardyloo.****
So, as a favor to me: the next time someone gives you some guff, tell them not to give it to you. All it takes is some gumption, ya big galoot!*****
Thank you, and good night*
Yeharr
*Or morning or afternoon, as the case may be.
**I think that last one might actually refer to my cats.
***A show of solidarity with my cohorts in the Commonwealths.
****Why, no, I haven't been drinking. Why do you ask?
*****Admittedly, our modern septic system has left gardyloo in the lurch, but really, what a word!
******Now that you mention it, I suppose I could use a little more sleep...
posted by Balloon Pirate at 11:01 PM
9 Comments:
Galoot is what I scream at useless football players who are big and useless.
To their faces, Daniel?
Yeharr
galoot makes me think of some old lady hitting a guy with her purse, or some nerdy woman trying to hit on a really hot guy. those two women would say galoot
See? That's just the sort of thing that we've got to fight against. Anyone can use galoot. It's a liberating word.
Yeharr
woohoo yeah for words that are awesome !
Galumphing along are we?
Mal--I've gyred and gimbled on many a wabe, and not once have I seen a borogrove that was even remotely mimsy.
And don't get me started on the mome raths!
Outgrabe, my ass!
Yeharr
No, via the medium of TV.
Good words. I like them, too. I use a lot of weird words in the classroom and my kids tend to look them up because they don't like not knowing what I mean. Words are cool!
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