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trencherman TREN-chur-muhn noun a person who eats heavily; a person who eats to the point of excess 1891VariousPunch (Vol. 100, May 23, 1891)Lower down sat John Tooker, 'Girt Jan Doubleface' he was ever called, not without a sly hint of increasing obesity, for John, though a mighty man of thews and sinews, was no small trencherman, and, as the phrase is, did himself right royally whenever porridge was in question.1930John Buchan Castle GayDougal, though very hungry and usually a stout trencherman, had not enjoyed his luncheon. 1997Nelson DemillePlum IslandDr. Zollner was arranging his large lunch in front of him with the expertise of a real trencherman.Labels: John Buchan, Nelson Demille, Various
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bibulous BI-byoo-luhs adjective a person who enjoys drinking; an alcoholic 1890Henrik IbsenHedda GablerWhen the play appeared, Holm recognised himself with glee in the character of the bibulous man of letters, and thereafter adopted 'Eilert Lovborg' as his pseudonym.1916John BuchanThe Power-HouseThis case was distinguished from the common ruck by the higher social standing of the accused. Generally the spy is a photographer or bagman who attempts to win the bibulous confidence of minor officials.1950C. S. ForesterMr. Midshipman Hornblower'To hell with care,' repeated the bibulous voice in the corner, and lifted itself in song.Labels: C. S. Forester, Henrik Ibsen, John Buchan
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bêtise bay-TEEZ noun folly; stupidity; a foolish remark; a foolish act 1932John BuchanThe Gap in the CurtainThere is a species of bêtise, which I believe at Cambridge is named after some don, and which consists in missing completely the point of a metaphor or a joke, in setting the heavy heel of literalness on some trivial flower of fancy.1990Peter MayleA Year in ProvenceHe trimmed the meat, cubed it, filled a small bag with chopped herbs, told us where to go to buy the best peppers...went through the recipe twice to make sure we weren't going to commit a bêtise, and suggested a suitable Côtes du Rhône.Labels: John Buchan, Peter Mayle
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orison AWR-uh-suhn noun a prayer 1846Dinah CraikThe OgilviesIt was as the one amen to the universal love-orison which every young heart breathes at its first awakening.1880Albion W. TourgeeBricks Without StrawThe mocking birds, one after another, were responding to each other's calls, at first sleepily and unwillingly, as though the imprisoned melody compelled expression, and then, thoroughly aroused and perched upon the highest dew-laden branches swaying and tossing beneath them, they poured forth their rival orisons.1900John BuchanFrom the Pentlands Looking North and SouthO Thou to whom man's heart is known, | Grant me my morning orison. | Grant me the rover's path—to see | The dawn arise, the daylight flee.Labels: Albion W. Tourgee, Dinah Craik, John Buchan
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ipsissima verba ip-SI-si-maw VUR-buh noun the exact words of a quote 1889Robert Louis StevensonIn the South SeasHere I think Kauwealoha's pantomime had confused me; I have no more of his ipsissima verba; and can but add, in my own less spirited manner, that the ship was reached, Mr. Whalon taken aboard, and Kekela returned to his charge among the cannibals.1936John BuchanThe Island of SheepClanroyden's letter, even if she didn't think it a forgery, couldn't prevail against the ipsissima verba of Haraldsen.1954Aldous HuxleyThe Doors of PerceptionA catalogue, a bibliography, a definitive edition of a third-rate versier's ipsissima verba, a stupendous index to end all indexes—any genuinely Alexandrian project is sure of approval and financial support…Labels: Aldous Huxley, John Buchan, Robert Louis Stevenson
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faux bonhomme FO baw-nawm phrase false good humor; a person pretending to enjoy something 1874Henry JamesMadame de MauvesWas this candid young barbarian but a faux bonhomme after all?1908H. Rider HaggardThe Yellow God'Do what you will, Alan,' said Mr. Haswell harshly, for now all his faux bonhomme manner had gone, leaving him revealed in his true character of an unscrupulous tradesman with dark ends of his own to serve.1934George Bernard ShawOn the RocksSIR ARTHUR. Oh, faux bonhomme, of course, yes. [Looking him up and down].1936John BuchanThe Island of SheepHe was the faux bonhomme, if I knew the breed, always grinning and pawing the man he spoke to, but with cold, cunning grey eyes that never smiled.Labels: George Bernard Shaw, H. Rider Haggard, Henry James, John Buchan
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kloof kloof noun a deep ravine 1916John BuchanGreenmantleSo Peter and I went up on each side of him, taking an arm apiece, as I had once seen done to a man with vertigo in the Kloof Chimney on Table Mountain.1917H. Rider HaggardFinishedIt stood on a green and swelling mound behind which was a wooded kloof where ran a stream that at last precipitated itself in a waterfall over a great cliff.1977Wilbur SmithA Sparrow Falls...Baines Kloof where the mountain fell away on his left hand sheer into the valley…Labels: H. Rider Haggard, John Buchan, Wilbur Smith
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whigmaleerie whig-muh-LIR-ee noun a whim; a strange or rare object 1918John BuchanMr. StandfastI don't say that there's not plenty of riff-raff—the pint-and-a-dram gentry and the soft-heads that are aye reading bits of newspapers, and muddlin' their wits with foreign whigmaleeries.1920Holman DayAll-Wool Morrison'Do ye let whigmaleeries flimmer in yer noddle at a time like this?'1994Julian MayDiamond MaskWould you like to stop at one of the shops and look over the whigmaleeries?Labels: Holman Day, John Buchan, Julian May
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reliquary RE-la-kwaer-ee noun a place where relics are stored; a shrine used to store relics 1886Gustave FlaubertMadame BovaryShe saw amid the illusions of her hope a state of purity floating above the earth mingling with heaven, to which she aspired. She wanted to become a saint. She bought chaplets and wore amulets; she wished to have in her room, by the side of her bed, a reliquary set in emeralds that she might kiss it every evening.1886Georg EbersThe Bride of the NileOrion looked down greatly disappointed; the idea of seeing this splendid gem hidden away in a reliquary in some dim cupboard did not please him: He could have found a much more gratifying use for it.1921John BuchanThe Path of the KingThe little chin was firm, but the mouth was pettish. Her teeth bit on a gold chain, which encircled her neck and held a crystal reliquary.Labels: Georg Ebers, Gustave Flaubert, John Buchan
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doyen DOI-uhn noun the oldest or most senior member of a group; the leader of a group; the dean of a university 1907Sarah BernhardtMy Double LifeThe news was told us by Mother St. Alexis, the doyenne, the most aged member of the community, who was so tall, so thin, and so old that I never looked upon her as a human being or as a living being.1936John BuchanThe Island of SheepAnd there were dogs of every colour and age, from Stoddart's old patriarch Yarrow, who was the doyen of the tribe…1980Ngaio MarshPhoto FinishHe approached the doyen of Australian music critics…Labels: John Buchan, Ngaio Marsh, Sarah Bernhardt
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