Independent Minds Word of the Day: "Lick-spittle"

by Independent Mind

Wed, May 18, 2005 8:42AM

What's next? A Crossword Puzzle? A Comics Feature?

The Independent Minds Word of the Day is: Lick-spittle

"The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Lick-spittle Lick"-spit`tle (-spi^t`t'l), n.
An abject flatterer or parasite. --Theodore Hook.
1913 Webster

Example of Lick-spittle in the news:

"It's Mr. Coleman who's been all over the news and he's a lick-spittle, crazed neocon who is engaged in a witch hunt against all those he perceives to have betrayed the United States in their plan to invade and occupy Iraq," Galloway told Associated Press Television News.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/stories/468/5407464.html

Add Your Comments

§Yesterday's Word: "Popinjay"

by Independent Mind

Wed, May 18, 2005 10:07AM

"The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Popinjay Pop"in*jay, n. OE. popingay, papejay, OF. papegai,
papegaut; cf. Pr. papagai, Sp. & Pg. papagayo, It.
pappagallo, LGr. ?, NGr. ?; in which the first syllables are
perhaps imitative of the bird's chatter, and the last either
fr. L. gallus cock, or the same word as E. jay, F. geai. Cf.
Papagay.
1913 Webster
1. (Zool.)
(a) The green woodpecker.
(b) A parrot.
1913 Webster

The pye and popyngay speak they know not what.
--Tyndale.
1913 Webster

2. A target in the form of a parrot. Scot.
1913 Webster

3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. "To be so pestered
with a popinjay." --Shak.
1913 Webster

"The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Yaffle Yaf"fle (ya^f"f'l), n. Probably imitative of its
call or cry. (Zool.)
The European green woodpecker (Picus viridis syn. Genius
viridis). It is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called
also eccle, hewhole, highhoe, laughing bird,
popinjay, rain bird, yaffil, yaffler, yaffingale,
yappingale, yackel, and woodhack.
1913 Webster

Popinjay in the news:

Before the hearing began, the independent MP for Bethnal Green and Bow had some scorn to bestow generously upon the pro-war writer Christopher Hitchens. "You're a drink-soaked former Trotskyist popinjay," Mr Galloway informed him. "Your hands are shaking. You badly need another drink," he added later, ignoring Mr Hitchens's questions and staring intently ahead. "And you're a drink-soaked ..." Eventually Mr Hitchens gave up. "You're a real thug, aren't you?" he hissed, stalking away.

--The Guardian

Source:

http://www.counterpunch.org/galloway05182005.html

Add a Comment

Support Independent Media

We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!