I’ll open with catchfart
This long-forgotten word was formerly used to describe a footman who followed so closely behind his lord and master he bore the brunt of his boss’s farts on his face.
Modern example: “Seemingly limited to laughing mirthlessly at Frankie Boyle’s “jokes”, Miles Jupp’s role on New World Order seems to extend no further than being the host’s catchfart.”
Sewer Robot says
To be fair to Miles, he seems able to explode with mirthgasm on pretty much every show – might explain why he gets so many bookings..
Moose the Mooche says
I preferred his uncle Mickey.
Rigid Digit says
Frankie’s Grandmother was Camay Soap flogging, undie-free host of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest Katie Boyle.
True dat …
Moose the Mooche says
….who also had a law about the expansion of gases.
She must have liked beans or summat.
Rigid Digit says
I would like to see the phrase nincompoop used more.
Beezer says
You want to come round to our house. Nincompoop Hall.
Moose the Mooche says
My favourite use of this is in About Schmidt when the Jack Nicholson character uses it to describe his future son-in-law.
Beezer says
Any word with poop in it does the job.
So that’s nincompoop and poop then.
I’ll be over there if you need me.
Freddy Steady says
@beezer
Over by the poop deck? Always makes me snigger.
Moose the Mooche says
“Oh they hung him by the postern…”
GCU Grey Area says
I like the nautical term ‘Lazarette’, which is the last compartment in a boat, which is often terminated by the transom – the blunt end. I also like ‘abaft’.
deramdaze says
It would be quite nice if Johnson and Rees-Mogg stopped using arcane or archaic words.
Mike_H says
..or just started making sense when they opened their gobs to speak.
Moose the Mooche says
Or just fucked off forever.
Beezer says
Hornswoggle.
GCU Grey Area says
‘Authentic Frontier Gibberish’.
Beezer says
Anything Yosemite Sam says is alright by me.
Moose the Mooche says
“Blow it out yer ass, Howard!”
Kaisfatdad says
Remember Dick Dastardly from Wacky Races?
A dastard is a person who acts treacherously or dishonestly.
We couldn’t get away from dastards in 2022.
Mike_H says
Agglomeration.
Bejabers.
Calumny.
Decrement.
Eventuate.
Fiddle-Faddle.
Gobemouche.
Humdinger.
Interstice.
Jabber.
Kaleyard.
Libation.
Mandible.
Ninny.
Orison.
Pustule.
Quaff.
Rebarbative.
Sinecure.
Truculent.
Usurp.
Voluptuous.
Whinge.
Xiphoid.
Yeti.
Zap.
Black Type says
I feel a Rowan Atkinson sketch coming on…
bobness says
Sounds like a round of Word for Word on ISIHAC.
Gatz says
I like ‘slubberdegullion’ for a rascal or wretch, and probably last heard in an Afterword friendly context in Genesis’ Colony of Slippermen. Flibbertigibbet too. Basically I’m calling for a return to polysyllabic insults. We’ve had the short, coarse Anglo-Saxon ones, the compound ones (cock-womble and the like) and it’s time to let words relax and stretch out to accommodate our disdain.
hubert rawlinson says
smoterlich: besmirched,
losengeour: flatterer
And one we’ve heard rather a lot of though what it means ??
soveraynetee
retropath2 says
Mountebank.
thecheshirecat says
Warmint
Dave Ross says
Sorry
MC Escher says
Oooh, satire! 😉
fentonsteve says
See also: expertise
Junior Wells says
Flibbertigibet of which they are many in this parish.
noisecandy says
Squiffy
bobness says
That’s never gone out of use, certainly in our house.
retropath2 says
Landslide. As in labour and victory, at least for English readers.
Jaygee says
@retropath
Policies and leadership.
As in what Labour will need to win, at least for English readers (they have fucked themselves forever in Scotland)
Moose the Mooche says
What could Scotland possibly object to in Keir’s Union-flag-draped “We’re the Tories, but more efficient” approach?
Lando Cakes says
Labour will start doing better in Scotland when it looks like they have more chance of winning a UK election. Starmer has made a good start.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Up at the manse, there’s talk of antidisestablishmentarianism.
Can’t say that I am particularly incensed, though I do prefer King James.
Gatz says
While some see merit in the cause others treat it with floccinaucinihilipilification.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Good Lord.
fentonsteve says
Oi! Fack orf, you posh muppet!
MC Escher says
*tugs forelock*
Jaygee says
@Gatz
Enough of the manse-splaining! I’ll have you know there are ladies present.
fitterstoke says
Notwithstanding…
Moose the Mooche says
In response to the OP, didn’t DONOVAN write a song about this?
Jaygee says
Probably, M. He’s invented so many of the things that make life worthwhile over the years.
It’s ultimately, Mr Leitch’s world and we’re just fortunate enough to live in it
Lando Cakes says
Poltroon.
spider-mans arch enemy says
I’ve currently got a lurgy. You don’t hear about it being around much these days, but it used to be common as muck.
Lando Cakes says
Invented by The Goons, apparently:
https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-dre1.htm
Moose the Mooche says
EeeeeeeYAKaboo!
Beezer says
Sapristi
Junglejim says
‘He was a man with a military bearing, which he tossed on the air and caught’.
Moose the Mooche says
I’ll sue you for every penny I owe you.
Beezer says
‘Ere, you do alright for fruit, don’t you.
hubert rawlinson says
Jaygee says
Rum
As in “its a rum old do this COVID business!”
Boneshaker says
Resignation.
As in “I haven’t a shred of integrity, and am doing the only decent thing and resigning immediately”.