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

widdershins

WI-dur-shinz

noun

counter-clockwise

1918Ian HayThe First Hundred ThousandWhen the washers are issued, however, the port-wine rule is abandoned; and the washers are despatched to you, in defiance of all the laws of superstition and tradition, 'widdershins,' or counter-clockwise. No wonder articles thus jeopardised often fail to reach their destination!1973Harlan EllisonThe DeathbirdHe walked widdershins around the room.1983R. A. MacAvoyTea With The Black DragonThe direction of his progress was against the clock, or widdershins. To cross a churchyard widdershins is not auspicious…

Labels: Harlan Ellison, Ian Hay, R. A. MacAvoy

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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shibboleth

SHI-buh-leth

noun

a common-place belief; use of a language unique to a particular group; a code word (usually a common place word with a secret meaning) used by members of a group;

1908E. M. ForsterA Room With a ViewLife is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice, and we welcome 'nerves' or any other shibboleth that will cloak our personal desire.1918Ian HayThe First Hundred ThousandThe word 'fatigue' is a shibboleth with, the British private. Persuade him that a task is part of his duty as a soldier, and he will perform it with tolerable cheerfulness; but once allow him to regard that task as a 'fatigue,' and he will shirk it whenever possible, and regard himself as a deeply injured individual when called upon to undertake it.1990Bill BrysonThe Mother TongueDialects are sometimes said to be used as a shibboleth.

Labels: Bill Bryson, E. M. Forster, Ian Hay

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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