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

foofaraw

FOO-fa-raw

adjective

something gaudy and/or frilly; a commotion over something inconsequential

1973Louis L'AmourThe Ferguson RifleIt ain't only the way it shoots, but all that silver foofaraw you got on the stock.1992John VarleySteel BeachAll in all, it was the goldarndest, Barnum-and-Baileyest, rib-stickinest, rough-and-tumblest infernal foofaraw of a media circus anybody had seen since grandpaw chased the possum down the road and lost his store teeth, and I was heartily sorry to have been a part of it.2000Harry TurtledoveSentry Peak...there's some kind of foofaraw back at the camp.

Labels: Harry Turtledove, John Varley, Louis L'Amour

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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jimjams

JIM-jamz

noun

the jitters; a case of delirium tremens

1900Henry LawsonOver the SliprailsSeveral whalers watched the procession until they got the jimjams by force of imagination, and when their bodies began to float down with the bottles, the down-river people got anxious.1968Charles PortisTrue GritDon't go to sleep and don't get the 'jimjams.'1990Harry TurtledoveThe Pugnacious PeacemakerPark hurried home to take care of Eric Dunedin, who, as he'd thought, still had a case of the galloping jimjams.

Labels: Charles Portis, Harry Turtledove, Henry Lawson

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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meseems

mi-SEEMZ

verb

it seems to me

1896William MorrisThe Well at the World's End'Yea, Sir Aymer,' quoth Oliver; 'And now meseems I know him better than he knoweth me.'1898Edmond RostandCyrano de BergeracCyrano: Meseems that yesterday I had not all these friends!1904J. Walker McSpaddenStories of Robin Hood and His Merry OutlawsMeseems I have heard of this same Robin Hood, and his men, and also seen somewhat of their prowess.1988Harry Turtledove A Different Flesh 'Youngster, meseems you've thrown your dart dead center,' he said.

Labels: Edmond Rostand, Harry Turtledove, J. Walker McSpadden, William Morris

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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eyrie

AI-ree

noun

a bird nest located on a cliff face or at a high elevation; a house or fortress located at a high elevation; a mountain top stronghold

1849Edward Bulwer-Lytton The CaxtonsWe shall mourn and miss you; but who can chain the young eagles to the eyrie? 1954J. R. R. TolkienThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...a dizzy eyrie above the mists of the world.1968Robert E. Howard and Ramsey CampbellThe Children of AsshurKane heard the trumpets blaring upon the wall, and the roll of kettle-drums. Steel clanged in the streets, and the sound of men marching rose to his eyrie.1996Harry TurtledoveUpsetting the Balance...from this airy eyrie, he seemed to be the king of infinite space, with the whole world set out below for his inspection.

Labels: Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Harry Turtledove, J. R. R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard and Ramsey Campbell

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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