We note with dismay that, despite our solemn
assurances [Issue 137, letters],
some readers are still skeptical that any English words begin with wl-. Let us
assure you that, tucked away in a back corner of its attic, the English
language has more than a few words which begin with this ungainly
mouthful. They may be a little unfashionable but they can still be
found in the better dictionaries. Yes, we know that most are
labeled "obsolete" (lexicographers can be so cruel) but chip off
the rust, give 'em a lick of paint and they'd be as good as new.
So, just for the record, here they are:
every wl- word we know, dusted off and wheeled out into the
sunlight...
wlaffe
"To waffle", "to
blather". From Old English wlaffian, "to stammer;
to speak indistinctly"
By comyxtioun with Danes and
Normans, in meny the contray longage is apayred [impaired], and som vseth straunge
wlaffyng. -
Polychronicon, Ranulph
Higden,
translated by John of Trevisa,1387
wlak, wlach, wleach, wlech or wlecch
"Lukewarm ". Related to
Middle Low German wlak "lukewarm".
In comparisoun to
that hote brennyng lyghe, oure fier is but as it were wlache
hoot.
[In
comparison to that hot, burning lye, our fire is but, as it were,
lukewarm.] -
Polychronicon, Ranulph
Higden,
translated by John of Trevisa,1387
wlappe
This obsolete verb appears to be a hybrid
of to lap (i.e. "to fold [cloth]") with to wrap
. It seems to have survived until quite late as it found a 19th
century champion...
In wlapping there is more of folding over, placing one layer over another, than in wrapping. We wrap up any thing in a silk handkerchief: the laundress wlaps up the shirt which she has
ironed.
- Hallamshire
Glossary, J. Hunter, 1829
wlat
"Nauseous, loathsome". Hence...
wlatness
"Nausea, loathing, disgust".
I
use therof comforteth the stomak, and abateth wlatnesse.
- De
Proprietatibus Rerum Bartholomeus Anglicus,
translated by John of Trevisa, 1398
wlatful
"Nauseous, loathsome". Or,
more rarely, [stop laughing you lot] it sometimes meant "having a
loathing of", as in:
Ful
unpacient of pees and wlatful of sleuthe.
[Completely impatient with peace and loathing sloth]
- Polychronicon,
Ranulph Higden,
translated by John of Trevisa,1387
wlating, wlatingness
Abhorrence
Cursse droppide on vs, and wlatyngnesse.
[Curses, and detestable things, dropped on us.]
Wyclif,
1382
wlatsome
Loathsome, detestable.
Mordre is so wlatsom and
abhomynable To god.
[Murder is so loathsome and abominable to God]
- Nun's
Priest's Tale, Chaucer, 1386 wlench
To make proud.
wlessche
An old form of flesh.
Ine wlessche ioyneth man and wyf, Children to
multeplye.
- Shoreham,
about 1315
wlf
Like ulf, this is an obsolete form
of "wolf".
wlga(i)r
Don't bother trying to guess how one
pronounces wlgar (or wlgair) as they are both obsolete
forms of vulgar.
wlisp
"A lisp" or "lisping",
from Old English wlispian "to lisp". (Well, you
try saying it!)
wlite
As a noun - "beauty, splendour, appearance,
form".
wlite
As a verb - "to pipe, chirp or
warble".
wlo
A hem, a fringe or the nap on cloth.
wlonk, wlaunke
A word for all seasons, it
meant "proud and haughty" in Beowulf but could also mean
"rich, splendid, fine or magnificent". Occasionally, it
could even mean "lush" and "rich in moisture":
Snow...
norischeth and fedeth good herbes and maketh hem wlonke.
[Snow nourishes and feeds vegetables, making them lush.]
- Polychronicon,
Ranulph Higden,
translated by John of Trevisa,1387 wlonkful,
Wlonc (pride) + -ful.
wlough, wlouh,
Adorned, opulent.
Thou art riche mon and wlough And of richesse hast inouh.
[You are a rich and opulent man and of richness have enough.]
Vernon
Manuscript, 14th century wlt
Obscure spelling of vult,
an equally obscure word meaning "face" or
"expression".
wluine
Another way of spelling wolfen.
Just as a a female fox is a vixen, a wolfen is "a
she-wolf".
While we are airing the relics
of English, how about wman? It is found in some dictionaries
as an obscure, dialect form of woman. We think anyone who
pronounces woman as "wman" can be justly accused of wlaffing.
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