Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian


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Obscure words explained 73. – nival

NIVAL

Plants that grow in snow

A Godsend for some wildlife

during the winter


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Unusual U.K. place names 31 – Bungay

BUNGAY, Suffolkshire

Called Bucincga Haye

after Bonna, Saxon chief

Now a market town

Note: Met a fellow from Bungay yesterday so I decided to write this piece.

 


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Obscure words explained 71. – hibernaculum

HIBERNACULUM

Winter quarters, home.

Such as a squirrel’s Drey nest

both warm and cosy


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Obscure words explained 72. – oneiric

ONEIRIC

Relating to dreams.

Greek Oneiros, God of dreams.

See you as I sleep!


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Unusual U.K. place names 30. – Wychbold Salwarpe

WYCHBOLD SALWARPE, Worcestershire

Salwarpe called Salop

Battlefield and  Spadesbourne

where the rivers join


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Unusual U.K. place names29. _ Droitwich Spa

DROITWICH (SPA), Worcestershire

Famous for its salt

Romans named it Salinae

On River Salwarpe


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Other words explained 1. – Recorder

RECORDER

Internal duct flute*

in the group of instruments

well known as Woodwinds

* Internal Duct flute: A flute with a whistle also referred to as “fipple mouthed”


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Obscure words explained 70. – gawsy

GAWSY

Well-dressed and cheerful

young man, out seeking a wife

meets a gawsy girl

 


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Unusual U.K. place names28. – Pucklechurch

PUCKLECHURCH, Gloucestershire

Bronze-age round barrow

Saxon royal villa site

Kingdom of Wessex


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Unusual U.K. place names27. – Wickwar

WICKWAR, Gloucestershire

Name from Winchen means

dairy farm, owned by Norman*

la Warre family

  • John la Warre given Winchen by King John and mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086. Still owned by Roger la Warre in 1285.