Old words

My well-used 1925 edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary... one of those books that smells slightly musty (n. Stale, antiquated), and is always a pleasure to browse.

 

Talking of which - among the interesting definitions are…

Wilhelmstrasse (n.) The German Foreign Office;

skittles (n. & int. slang.) Rubbish, nonsense;

Sinn Fein (n.) A 20th-c patriotic movement & party in Ireland aiming at national revival in language &c as well as at Home Rule;

penciller (n. slang.) Bookmaker’s clerk at race-meetings;

Naboth’s vineyard (n.) Possession that one will stick at nothing to secure;

forewoman (n.) President & spokeswoman of jury of matrons;

gay (a.) Full of or disposed to or indicating mirth, light-hearted sportive; airy, off-hand; [euphem.] dissolute, immoral, living by prostitution; showy, brilliant, bright-coloured, finely dressed;

segar [Incorrect for] cigar;

so long (int.) Good-bye till we meet. [perh. naut. corrupt. of Salaam];

Bond Street (n.) A London street, esp. as resort of fashionable loungers.

Done