Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian


7 Comments

Jobs of Days Gone By 16 – The Sign writer

THE SIGN WRITER

A gold leaf expert

a master calligrapher

artist to be read


Leave a comment

Unusual U.S. Place names 7 – Pipestone

PIPESTONE – (Pipestone County) Minnesota

Named for stone quarried

for hand-carved calumet pipes

Ritual peace pipes


Leave a comment

Selangor

SELANGOR

In Malaysia

famous for its pewter work

one of thirteen states


2 Comments

Obscure words explained 94. – kitch

KITCH

Art that appeals to

undiscriminating taste,

of tawdry design.

 


Leave a comment

Unusual U.K. place names 78. – Babcary

BABCARY, Somersetshire

Site of Wimble Toot

Glastonbury Zodiac

Bronze-age round barrow

Note: Toot derived from Old English tot meaning,  a lookout point.


2 Comments

Obscure words explained 81. – cavil

CAVIL

Blow against the fur*

he cavils at all I say

only to find fault

Note: To blow against the fur comes from the practice of furriers to blow against a pelt to find imperfections.


Leave a comment

Obscure words explained 80. – cacoethes

CACOETHES

Irresistable

craving, urge or mania

doodling at your desk

 


3 Comments

Obscure words explained 75. – morpheme

MORPHEME

Smallest meaningful

unit in any language

sometimes a root word


4 Comments

Unusual U.K. place names 65. – Uttoxeter

UTTOXETER, Staffordshire

Varied history

Luttuc’s homestead on the heath

Roman garrison


Leave a comment

Obscure words explained 82. – asana

ASANA

Any of the moves

or the postures in yoga

meditate on that.