The Death of Fissiparous and Other Words: A Dictionary of Words & Phrases on the Verge of Extinction

younker

YUHN-kur

noun

a young person; a youngster

1596William ShakespeareThe Merchant of VeniceHow like a younker or a prodigal | The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, | Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind!1868Edward S. EllisThe Huge HunterHello, younker! what in thunder yer tryin' to make?1978Louis L'AmourBendigo ShafterYou think right. You was keerect. What I mean is somebody lately. A man and a couple of younkers, maybe?

Labels: Edward S. Ellis, Louis L'Amour, William Shakespeare

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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gimcrack

JIM-krak

noun, adjective

a flashy object of little or no value; a flashy object with no practical use

1868Edward S. EllisThe Huge HunterNo, I see how it works; them 'ere thingumbobs and gimcracks do it all.'1922James JoyceUlysses...she broke off the hand off that little gimcrack statue with her roughness…1954Aldous HuxleyThe Doors of PerceptionThis suffocating interior of a dime-store ship was my own personal self; these gimcrack mobiles of tin and plastic were my personal contributions to the universe.1962Ian FlemingThe Spy Who Loved Me...I was very happy to be back in it after my brief taste of the rackety round of Chelsea pubs and gimcrack journalism…

Labels: Aldous Huxley, Edward S. Ellis, Ian Fleming, James Joyce

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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