Ever come across a word in an old document or article you didn’t know what it meant? I’m sure you have.

Language changes. Words change. They go in and out of fashion. So I thought it would be interesting to have a look at few a few old school (aka “archiac”) words and their original meanings.

There are oodles of “old word” lists online which you’ll find helpful, but for my list I decided to head to Google Books and look through “A Dictionary of the English Language” which was compiled in 1828 by Samuel Johnson, John Walker and Robert S. Jameson.

You may be familiar with some of the words below, afterall some appear in the current Oxford Dictionary. But I believe that many will be as foreign to you as they were to me.

A
Abactor – One who drives away or steals cattle in herds
Adulatress – She that flattereth
Animaclue – A minute animal
Antipestilential – Efficacious against the plague
Arcanum – A secret
Arcubalist – A crossbow

B
Base-Born – Born out of wedlock; of low parentage; vile
Basenet – An helmet or headpiece
Becloud – To dim; to obscure
Belmetal – The metal of which bells are made; being a mixture of three parts copper and one of tin
Black-Jack – The leathern cup of elder times

C
Carle – A mean, rude, rough, brutal man
Carouseer – A drinker
Cataphract – A horseman in complete armour

D
Deep-Read – Profoundly versed
Demy – A term relating to the size of paper; as demy, royal or large; of which demy is the smallest
Dentifrice – A powder made to scour the teeth
Deuterogamist – He who enters into a second marriage
Domesman – An umpire; a judge
Dun – A colour partaking of brown and black

E
Edentated – Deprived of teeth
Enditer – A composer; a writer
Enjoyer – One that has fruition or possession
Enneagon – A figure of nine angles
Eyetooth – The tooth on the upper jaw next to each side to the grinders; the fang

F
Faulchion – A crooked sword
Fay – A fairy; an elf
Felo-de-se – He that committeth felony by murdering himself
Footpace – A pace no faster than a slow walk
Fop – A simpleton; a coxcomb; a man of small understanding and much ostentation; a pretender; a man fond of show, dress and flutter

G
Gasconade – to boast; to brag; to bluster
Gavelkind – A custom whereby the lands of the father are equally divided at his death amongst all his sons
Gazingstock – A person gazed at with scorn or abhorrence
Gelid – Extremely cold
Giddypaced – Moving without regularity

H
Hemiplegy – A palsy, or any nervous affection that seizes one side at a time
Hewer – One whose employment is to cut wood or stone
Hiccough – A convulsion of the stomach producing sobs
Hoariness – The state of being whitish; the colour of old men’s hair; mouldiness
Hobble-de-Hoy – A stripling; a young lad between fourteen and twenty-one; neither man nor boy
Horseway – A broad way by which horses may travel
Hostler – One who has the care of horses as an inn
Hummums – Sweating places or baths

I
Ignify – To form into fire
Imbosk – To be concealed
Immartial – Not warlike
Inamorato – One in love
Indagator – A searcher; an enquirer; an examiner

J
Jactancy – Boasting
Jakes – A privvy
Janitor – A door-keeper; a porter
Jet – A sort of bitumen, of a fine deep black colour, susceptible of a beautiful polish

K
Kennel – To lie, to dwell
Kern – Irish foot soldier; and Irish boor
Kidder – An engrosser of corn to enhance its price
Kirtle – A gown; a jacket; a petticoat; a mantle; a cloak
Knavish – Dishonest; wicked, fraudulent; waggish; mischievous

L
Lac– A concrete brittle substance of a dark red colour bought from the East Indies, and taken from the tree called Croton lacciferum. This substance is principally used in making sealing-wax
Lady-Day – The twenty-fifth of March; the day on which the annunciation of the blessed virgin is celebrated
Landjobber – One who buys and sells lands for other men
Leechcraft – The art of healing
Ledgerdemain – Sleight of hand; juggle; power of deceiving the eye by nimble motion; trick
Leman – A sweetheart; a gallant; a mistress

M
Minute-Glass – Glass of which the sand measures a minute
Mohock – The name of a cruel nation of America, given to ruffians who infested the streets of London
Moiety – Half; one of two equal parts
Mope-Eyed – Short-sighted; purblind
Mumper – A beggar
Mustermaster – One who superintends the muster to prevent frauds
Muting – The dung of birds

N
Nacker – A collar-maker; a harness-maker
Nappy – An old epithet applied to ale; hairy; full of down
Neatherd – A cowkeeper; one who has the care of black cattle
Nenia – A funeral song; an elegy
Nobless – Nobility; dignity; greatness; noblemen collectively
Nuthook – A stick with a hook at the end to pull down boughs that the nuts may be gathered
Nyctalops – One who sees best in the night

O
Obnubliation -The act od making obscure
Octateuch – A name for the eight first books of the Old Testament
Oglio – A dish made by mingling different kinds o meat; a medley; a hotchpotch
Oleous – Oily
Oppugn – To oppose; to attack; to resist
Ostler – The man who takes care of horses at the inn
Overween – To think too highly; to think with arrogance

P
Palfrey – A small horse fit for ladies
Panoply – Complete armour
Peeper – One that peeps; a young chicken just breaking the shell
Priestcraft – Religious frauds; management of wicked priests to gain power
Prig – A thief; a pert, conceited, saucy, pragmatical, little fellow
Primero – A game of cards
Prog – To go a begging; to wander about like a beggar; to procure a by a beggarly trick; to rob; to steal; to shift meanly for provisions
Propinquity – Nearness; proximity; neighbourhood; nearness of time; kindred; nearness of blood
Pulsifick – Moving or exciting the pulse

Q
Quadrireme – A galley with four banks or oars
Quarterday – One of the four days in the year on which rent or interest is paid
Quassia – A medicinal bitter
Quid – Something chewed; a, in vulgar language, a quid of tobacco

R
Rack-Renter – One who pays the uttermost rest
Racker – One who torments; a wrester, as a racker of laws
Rakehell -A wild, worthless, dissolute, debauched, sorry fellow
Rainbeat – Injured by the rain
Rapper – One who strikes; the knocker of a door; an oath or a lie

S
Schimachy – Battle with a shadow
Scrag – Anything thin or lean, as a scrag of mutton (i.e.) the small end of the neck); the man is a scrag (i.e. he is rawboned)
Searoom – Open sea; spacious main
Seatost – Tossed by the sea
Sedan – A kind of portable coach; a chair, first made in Sedan
Setting-Dog – A dog taughter to find game, and point it our to the sportsman
Sevennight – A week; the time from one day of the week to the next day of the same denomination predecing or following
Siccity – Dryness; aridity; want of moisture
Sigil – Seal; signature
Stomachick – A medicine for the stomach
Strappado – A kind of military torture, formerly practiced by drawing up an offender to the top of a beam, and letting him fall; in consequence of which, dislocation of a limb usually happened

T
Tarpawling – Hempen cloth smeared with tar
Taverning – Act of feasting at taverns
Testificator – One who witnesses
Tete – False hair; a wig worn by ladies
Tisick – Corrupted from phthisick; Consumption; morbid waste
Toothsome – Palatable; pleasing to the taste
Traducer – A false censurer; a calumniator
Trapanner – A deceiver
Tunicle – Natual cover; integument; formerly a kind of cape worn by the officiating clergy
Twinter – A beast of two winders old

U
Ultramontane – A foreigner
Ululate – To howl; to scream
Umbrageousness – Shadiness
Unmellowed – No fully ripened
Unquiet – Moved with perpetual agititation; not calm; not still
Unshod – Having no shoes
Ursuline – Denoting an order of nuns
Ustion – The act of burning; the state of being burned

V
Vamp – The upper learer of a show; a sock
Van – The front of an army; the first line
Vaultage – Arched cellar
Viaticum – Provisions for a journey; the last rites used to prepare the passing soul for its departure
Viduity – Widowhood
Vominca – An encysted tumour in the lungs

W
Wainscot – The inner wooden covering of a wall
Walleyed – Having white eyes
Wallop – To boil
Wesand – The windpipe; the larynx
Wheedle – To entice by soft words; to flatter
Wimple – A hood; a veil

X
Xebec – A sea term, a small three-masted vessel, navigated in the Mediterranean
Xerophagy – Dry food; subsistence on dry victuals; the eating of dry meats
Xyster – A surgeon’s instrument to scrape and shave bones with

Y
Yardwand – A measure of a yard
Yare – Ready; dextrous; nimble; eager
Yore – Long since; of time; long ago
Yonker – A young person in contempt
Yux – the hiccough

Z
Zechin – A gold coin worth about nine shillings sterling
Zone – A girdle
Zoophorus – A part between the architraves and cornice, so called on account of the ornaments carved on it, among which were the figures of animals
Zootomist – A dissector of the bodies of brute beasts

So the above words are just a small fraction of what you’ll find in the 831 page book. So when you’re looking for the meanings of old words, remember to check out old dictionaries.

The “Rockstar Genealogist” Awards is back again for a sixth year, but this time it’s actually back “due to popular demand”, and as always John D. Reid from the Anglo-Celtic Connections blog, (one of my fav bloggers by the way) plays host to this.

So let’s start with his definition of what a Rockstar Genealogist is …

Rockstar genealogists are those who give “must attend” presentations at family history conferences or as webinars, who when you see a new family history article or publication by that person, makes it a must buy, or who you follow avidly on social media.

Last week he announced the 2017 Rockstar Genealogist nominees, and called for any extras to be added. There are so many on that list that I admire, through what they write be it in magazines, books, or on their blog, as well as those who I love to listen and learn from when I can.

The list of those nominated is long and has people from all around the world listed (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland and Scotland. So it’s great that people from all corners of the globe getting recognition.

Many I know, and totally admire for many reasons. Others I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting yet. But what I can say for sure is that the amount of knowledge between (at least those that I know) is phenomenal.

And somehow my name has made it on to the list on nominees. So thankyou to whoever has nominated me. I really am flattered. But I’m still not sure I’m there, as I’m not a public speaker, and I haven’t written books, I just write on my blogs. So to be named amongst such a great group is a true priviledge. So thankyou.

Anyway … don’t forget to VOTE for your fav’s.

John Reid writes …

Choose your favourites from a galaxy of stars from the English-speaking genealogy world. Let them know you appreciate their contributions. By voting you help folks organizing a speaker program to know who is popular internationally and in different regions.

Voting is open until Saturday 21 October, Canada time
(which is Sunday 22 October, Australian time).

VOTE NOW

This is the first of two posts that I’m writing about wine, history and convicts! And I must say, that this topic is my newest fascination addiction.

So let me introduce you to the “717 Convicts”wine.

Made by Darren and Suz Westlake of Westlake Vineyards. They run a small, family operated business in the heart of the Barossa Valley, South Australia’s wine country. And their range “717 Convicts” is one of their brands, and is a tribute to the First Fleet, and tribute to Darren’s ancestors.

The story starts back in the county of Devon in England where Edward Westlake was tried for stealing 40 pounds of mutton to the value of 10/-., back in 1786. He was found guilty, and was sentenced to 7 years transportation, along with his father in law, John Mortimer and brother-in-law Noah Mortimer. All three got their “free ticket” to Australia aboard the “Charlotte”, which one of the 11 ships in the First Fleet., which left England in May 1787. You can read more about the ships (and the convicts ) here.

Edward, John and Noah were just three of the 100 males, 32 females and 30 crew aboard the “Charlotte” for a total of 252 days – that’s an incredible 8 months, 1 week, and 1 day. I’ve been on cruise ships and by day 12 I tend to get stir crazy – and that’s pure luxury compared to the conditions that these ships would have been, so there is no comparison. After all they were prisoners, and were treated like it too.

Anyway all three survived the voyage to New South Wales (not everyone did), and by March 1788 all three were then transferred on to Norfolk Island, as part of the founding group of prisoners sent there. You can read what the Westlake Vineyards writes about their convict history here.

Well-known Australian historian, Cathy Dunn who knows everything there is to know about Norfolk Island history, has a whole article on Edward Westlake, which you can read here.

Anyway back to the wine … there are four varieties available, although the first two were hard to find (but if you’re interested, keep an eye on ebay) …
– The Felon (Shiraz)
– The Warden (Shiraz)
– VP Durif
– VP Shiraz

the front of the bottles

The back labels on both The Felon and The Warden bottles have the following written …

“This wine is a tribute to the 717 convicts that survived the voyage to Port Jackson as part of the First Fleet in 1788. Edward Westlake was one of those convicts arriving aboard the “Charlotte”. Their stories of survival and hardship in this unforgiving land are an inspiration to us all … whether free of condemned man.”

While the VP Durif and VP Shiraz bottles have actual entries of Edward Westlake and John Mortimer with all the date of trial, place of trial, accused, age, sex, residence, crime, value, verdict, sentence and so on printed on the back label.

and the back

As a family historian, and one particularly fond of convicts (well, who isn’t eh) …. I find this totally awesome, and it’s such a nice way to not only remember their history, but honour their ancestors as well.

Spending 8 months on a boat, then arriving in a place that had basically nothing meant that both the officers and convicts faced starvation as supplies ran low, particularly when little could be grown on the land. While I don’t know the exact population of Sydney in 1788, I image it wasn’t much more than the 717 convicts who arrived, plus a number officers … but by 1800 Sydney had a population of around 3,000.

Edward Westlake survived the hardships that life threw at him. He married, had a family, and lived till to the good ol’ age of 76. And in 2017, 189 years after his death … he would have thousands of descendants. And despite the fact that he was a convict, he was a founding member of Australia’s history. Afterall, the convicts helped establish our country, making Australia what it is today.

And just one last comment, us genie folk totally love our convicts. To us having a convict in the family tree is “Australian royalty”. And if you’re lucky enough to be descended from a First Fleeter then that is “True Australian Royalty”.

So I’d like to say next time you visit your local liquor store why not pick up a bottle, but I doubt you’ll find it there. So if you’re interested why not buy one from Westlake Vineyards themselves, and support a small Australian business as well.

And for more info on the First Fleet, check out Wikipedia, as it has great page with a lot of stats.

October 3rd is my 6 year blogiversary. Sometimes I can’t believe that it’s gone that quick, and other times, it seems forever. Anyway 6 years on, and I’m still blogging, and I still love it.

For this post, I thought I’d take a little look back at some of my favourite posts. I do write on a number of different topics, so I’ve groups them into various categories, and have chosen six from each. This post took a lot longer to compile that I expected, partly because I relooked at each and every post I’d written which was a very interesting exercise, but also because it was so hard choosing which ones to include. I would have loved that list more …

FAMILY HISTORY
– Anzac Day Blog Challenge: He Was Proud to be Australian
– Family History Through the Alphabet Challenge: P is for … Charlotte PHILLIPS
– Trove Tuesday: The Saddest News of All
– Diaries, and the Stories They Can Tell!
– A Wedding in the Midst of War
– Looking Back: Photos of My Grandmas

FUNNIES
– Ten, Eleven, Twelve Commandments of Genealogy
– 13 Signs You Have Genealogy OCD
– Favourite Family Tree Quotes
– All I Want For Christmas Is A New Surname
– Genealogy, As the World Sees It
– Are You a Genealogist or a Family Historian?

HISTORY
– History Meets Street Art in Adelaide
– History Under Your Feet
– Australian History – the Bits You Didn’t Know About
– Trove Tuesday: 1 March 1954, The Day the Earth Shook South Australia
– A List of Don’ts for Women on Bicycles Circa 1895
– Australia Day, 26 January … or is it May or July?

RECORDS AND RESEARCH
– Australian Government Gazettes – Have You Discovered Them?
– Australian Birth, Death and Marriage Records
– Finding Genealogy Evidence in the Most Unlikely Place
– Obituaries Really ARE Genealogy Gold!
– Trove Tuesday: Deaths of South Australian Pioneers
– South Australia’s First Motor Car and Early Registrations

REFERENCE
– 20 Tips for Genealogists
– 27 Golden Rules of Genealogy
– 50 Genealogy Blogs You Need to Read
– Societies Need to Adapt, or They Will Die
– The Importance of a Catalogue
– It Pays to Read the Ts&Cs

SOCIAL MEDIA AND BLOGGING
– Tips for Geneablogger Writers and Readers
– Use Social Media to your (Genealogy) Advantage
– Facebook vs Mailing Lists
– Tips for Genealogy Bloggers
– 17 Websites to Find Photos for Your Blog
– Do You Have an “About Me” Page on Your Blog?

and just a few more that are worthy of a mention:
– Arrggh, the Power is Out Again!!
– More Free Websites for South Australia Genealogy and History
– Family Tree Photo Wall Part 2: Almost Done
– DNA Testing and Bullying

Thanks to my readers to taking the time to read my posts. While I do write for me, simply because I enjoy writing, it is always nice to know that I have readers, and I hope you find them useful, and interesting.

Anyway happy reading, and now on with the next 6 years of blogging.