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

darraign

DAR-ayn

verb

to ready for battle

1591William ShakespeareKing Henry VIMESSENGER: Royal commanders, be in readiness; | For with a band of thirty thousand men | Comes Warwick, backing of the Duke of York, | And in the towns, as they do march along, | Proclaims him king, and many fly to him. | Darraign your battle, for they are at hand. 1885Sir Richard Francis BurtonThe Book of the Thousand Nights and a NightThen Luka went out from the presence and the accursed one mounted a sorrel horse; he was clad in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set with jewels, and he bore a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on the day of drewing out his hosts war to darraign.

Labels: Sir Richard Francis Burton, William Shakespeare

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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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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kickie wickie

kik-ee-WIK-ee

noun

wife

1602William ShakespeareAll's Well That Ends WellHe weares his honor in a boxe unseene, | That hugges his kickie wickie heare at home…

Labels: William Shakespeare

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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pursuivant

PUR-swi-vuhnt

noun

an attendant; a follower or lackey

1593William ShakespeareRichard III[Enter a Pursuivant.] | HASTINGS. Go on before; I'll talk with this good fellow. | [Exeunt STANLEY and CATESBY.] How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee? | PURSUIVANT. The better that your lordship please to ask.1876James Russell LowellAmong My BooksThe fleeting skies like flying pursuivant, Against foul fiends to aid us militant!1903Thomas Bailey AldrichPonkapog PapersIt has recently become the fashion to speak disparagingly of Leigh Hunt as a poet, to class him as a sort of pursuivant or shield-bearer to Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats.

Labels: James Russell Lowell, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, William Shakespeare

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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