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flibbertigibbet

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February 20, 2013, 08:02
Geoff
flibbertigibbet
Lying awake thinking about self-descriptive words, I thought of flibbertigibbet as being an accurate one. But who now uses, or even knows, this term? M-W says it's from Middle-English flepergebet, a thoroughly Germanic-sounding word if ever there were one. Who can supply a bit more etymology?


It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. -J. Krishnamurti
February 20, 2013, 11:09
arnie
Michael Quinion can, on World Wide Words.


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
February 20, 2013, 15:40
Geoff
Quinion makes it sound French in origin, and, as in the Shakespeare reference,similar to dwarf in its malevolence, as I noted in the "Midget" thread. A "Grimm" development!


It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. -J. Krishnamurti