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fossick FAW-sik verb to rummage; to prospect in worked over or abandoned areas 1896G. A. HentyIn the Heart of the Rockies'Oh, I see. The Utes had come upon them, and they knew that if they stopped there they would lose their scalps sooner or later, so they came up here and made north for a bit to hunt and fossick about in the hills, and then go back when the Utes had quieted down.'1995Wilbur SmithSeventh ScrollStill, it gives us a wonderful excuse to fossick about in the bushes.1999Stephen OliverUnmanned...we found a hand-hold to jemmy open an illegal window, fossick the disused office…Labels: G. A. Henty, Stephen Oliver, Wilbur Smith
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dilatory DIL-uh-tor-ee adjective procrastinating; slow; loitering; intending to miss a deadline; time wasting 1871Sir Henry M. StanleyHow I Found LivingstoneThe soldiers' point of character leaked out just a little. Bombay turned out to be honest and trusty, but slightly disposed to be dilatory.1880G. A. HentyThe Young BurglersAn energetic man, who, at the head of a handful, had performed some daring feats, would find himself a week afterwards the leader of many hundreds, while a chief who was slow and dilatory would find his band melt away like snow in summer.1964Brian AldissGreybeardNorsgrey beat at his reindeer with a stick, goading it into a less dilatory walk.1970Harry HarrisonThe Stainless Steel Rat's RevengeIf there were an investigation it would be dilatory…Labels: Brian Aldiss, G. A. Henty, Harry Harrison, Sir Henry M. Stanley
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nautch nawch noun an Indian dancing girl; a professional Indian dancer; Indian dancing 1879Sir Edwin ArnoldThe Light of AsiaThe nautch-girls in their spangled skirts and bells | That chime light laughter round their restless feet.1897Mark TwainFollowing the EquatorThe most gorgeous costume present were worn by some children. They seemed to blaze, so bright were the colors, and so brilliant the jewels strum over the rich materials. These children were professional nautch-dancers, and looked like girls, but they were boys, They got up by ones and twos and fours, and danced and sang to an accompaniment of weird music. Their posturings and gesturings were elaborate and graceful, but their voices were stringently raspy and unpleasant, and there was a good deal of monotony about the tune.1901G. A. HentyRujub the JugglerWhen this was over, the ladies began to arrive, and for their amusement there had been a native nautch upon a grand scale, followed by a fine display of fireworks, and then by supper, at which the Rajah had made a speech expressive of his deep admiration and affection for the British.Labels: G. A. Henty, Mark Twain, Sir Edwin Arnold
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holus-bolus ho-luhs-BO-luhs adverb all at once 1883Robert Louis StevensonTreasure Island'I know, I know,' he cried. 'We can't help that, Jim, now. I'll take it on my shoulders, holus bolus, blame and shame, my boy; but stay here, I cannot let you. Jump! One jump, and you're out, and we'll run for it like antelopes.'1897G. A. HentyAmong Malay PiratesI have heard, sir, that in Africa the natives bait a big hook with a lump of pork, or something of that sort; then, when an alligator has swallowed it, they haul him up, holus bolus.1900Joshua SlocumSailing Alone Around The WorldBut, as ill luck would have it, a young gentleman of another party on board, in the full uniform of a very great yacht club, with brass buttons enough to sink him, stepping quickly to get out of the wet, tumbled holus-bolus, head and heels, into a barrel of water I had been coopering, and being a short man, was soon out of sight, and nearly drowned before he was rescued.1906Andrew Barton PatersonAn Outback MarriageShe fished in deep pools for the great, sleepy, hundred-pound cod-fish that sucked down bait and hook, holus-bolus, and then were hauled in with hardly any resistance, and lived for days contentedly, tethered to the bank by a line through their gills.Labels: Andrew Barton Paterson, G. A. Henty, Joshua Slocum, Robert Louis Stevenson
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riposte ri-POST noun, verb a verbal retort; a returning thrust in fencing; a response 1888G. A. HentyBonnie Prince Charlie I tell you I have work to hold my own with him; he knows every trick and turn as well as I do, and is quicker with his lunge and riposte. 1938William FaulknerThe Unvanquished...and this no poste and riposte of sweat-reeking cavalry which all war-telling is full of…1988Fritz LeiberIll Met in LankhmarThe Mouser made a very small parry in carte so that the thrust of the bravo from the east went past his left side by only a hair's breadth. He instantly riposted. His adversary, desperately springing back, parried in turn in carte.1998Dick FrancisField of 13'Sandy Nutbridge,' the mediator riposted, 'is paying to her what she advanced to free him…'Labels: Dick Francis, Fritz Leiber, G. A. Henty, William Faulkner
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commination kaw-muh-NAY-shuhn noun a threat of punishment; a denunciation; a service of the Church of England dealing with God's wrath against sinners 1874Thomas HardyFar From the Maddening CrowdThe dog took no notice, for he had arrived at an age at which all superfluous barking was cynically avoided as a waste of breath—in fact, he never barked even at the sheep except to order, when it was done with an absolutely neutral countenance, as a sort of Commination-service, which, though offensive, had to be gone through once now and then to frighten the flock for their own good.1906E. NesbitThe Incomplete AmoristHe's cursed me forever—Put it all down in black and white—a regular commination service.1918G. A. HentyWulf the SaxonEven the bishops and abbots of Norman blood disregarded the commination, and remained staunch to Harold.Labels: E. Nesbit, G. A. Henty, Thomas Hardy
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