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I confess, that one thing I love almost as much as running, is a good, interesting word. I remember Molly, a girl in my sixth-grade class, taunting me by asking “Hey Lindsay, been reading the dictionary again?” after I’d used a particularly impressive word (the answer was most likely, yes. Dictionaries are my friend.)
So I was delighted to see this post on Buzzfeed recently, about 27 delightful obsolete words. And as I read it, I thought, ‘Egads! These words are made to be used by runners!.’ We already have our own obscure words (fartlek, Yasso, tempo), so why not add a few more?
In light of that, I am sharing with you Buzzfeed’s words, definitions, and origins, but have changed the usage examples to resound with you, fellow runners. Enjoy!
Meaning: To silently watch someone while they are eating, hoping to be invited to join them.
Origin: Unknown
IN RUNNING: I hated to groak her, but I was starving after that tempo run.
Meaning: To act in a secretive manner.
Origin: 1530s
IN RUNNING: We talked about training together, but I think I’m too slow for him. He hugger-muggers whenever I ask him about meeting up.
Meaning: To feel ill because of excessive eating/drinking.
Origin: 1530s
IN RUNNING: I always overdo it in the post-race food tent. I go from ravenous to crapulous in no time at all!
Meaning: Sullen. An alternative to grumpy.
Origin: 1720s
IN RUNNING: I haven’t been able to run in two weeks. So yeah, I’m a little grumpish, okay? OKAY?!?
Meaning: Freshly melted snow.
Origin: 1590s
IN RUNNING: Let me just put on my Yaktrax, then I’ll be ready for this 12-miles in the snowbroth.
Meaning: To confuse, bamboozle.
Origin: 1690s
IN RUNNING: When I get jargogled on a run, I know I need a GU to raise my blood sugar, stat.
Meaning: The sun’s warmth on a cold winter’s day.
Origin: 1620s
IN RUNNING: It’s so hard to know how to dress for a winter marathon. The apricity can really get you late in the race.
Meaning: To gossip, or talk idly.
Origin: 1600s
As in: I wish you’d quit twattling and get on with your work.
IN RUNNING: I had to get around the gaggle of women who were doing more twattling than running.
Meaning: Tangled hair, as if matted by elves.
Origin: 1590s
IN RUNNING: Running in the humidity is brutal–plus it always gives me major elflocks.
Meaning: To have a paralyzing or mesmerizing effect on someone.
Origin: Early 17th century
IN RUNNING: The elites are just incredible to watch. I get so gorgonized I can’t even cheer.
Meaning: A little man with a high opinion of himself.
Origin: 1710s
IN RUNNING: Don’t let the mouthy short guy intimidate you. He’s just a cockalorum.
Meaning: A good-looking person.
Origin: 1500s
IN RUNNING: Man, runners are good-looking. Races are just full of snoutfairs.
Meaning: Slang term for a fat person.
Origin: 1780s
IN RUNNING: I’m so glad I found running. It saved me from becoming a complete jollux.
Meaning: The shock one feels upon first plunging into cold water.
Origin: Scots, 1800s
IN RUNNING: Not the ice bath, not the ice bath! The curglaff is worse than the 18 miler.
Meaning: To argue loudly about something inconsequential.
Origin: 1530s
IN RUNNING: Look, I’m not going to talk about the effectiveness of the Hansons method for the recreational runner with you anymore. It always just turns into brabbling.
Meaning: An alternative to twilight.
Origin: Early 1600s
IN RUNNING: The best thing about an overnight relay is hearing your team cheering for you out in the twitter-light.
Meaning: Walking while smoking a pipe.
Origin: 1820s
IN RUNNING: When I was younger, I went lunting at noon. Now, I runch.
Meaning: Stupid, imbecilic.
Origin: 1590s
IN RUNNING: Runners at dusk in all-black are about the most beef-witted people I’ve ever seen.
Meaning: Wonderful and extraordinary.
Origin: 1810s
IN RUNNING: If only people knew how monsterful the runner’s high is, everyone would be lacing up their shoes.
Meaning: Having beautifully shaped buttocks.
Origin: 1640s
IN RUNNING: I’d like to be more callipygian, so I started doing squats and lunges after my easy runs.
Meaning: To make drunk, intoxicate.
Origin: 1910s
IN RUNNING: I know I was pretty fuzzled on endorphins, and what’s wrong with that?
Meaning: A wooden puppet, controlled by strings.
Origin: 1850s
IN RUNNING: I was so sore after that hilly half-marathon; I felt like a quockerwodger for three days.
Meaning: The seemingly malevolent behaviour displayed by inanimate objects.
Origin: 1940s
IN RUNNING: I’ve neglected my training plan so long. I’m pretty sure it’s become resistentialist.
Meaning: The fear of oblivion.
Origin: 1700s
IN RUNNING: Yeah, I’m a little concerned that after I get too old to really race, I’ll just feel like I’m nothing. I think I’m developing athletic lethophobia.
Meaning: A slovenly, slobbering person.
Origin: 1650s
IN RUNNING: I have to get back on my plan. The two-week vacay turned me into a legit slubberdegullion.
Meaning: A low rumbling sound produced by the bowels.
Origin: 1880s
IN RUNNING: I thought laying off the caffeine would help my GI issues, but I wasn’t even a mile in before I could hear the curmuring start.
Meaning: Heavy rain.
Origin: Early 1900s
IN RUNNING: My shoes are soaked! It went from a sprinkle to sheer lumming while I was on my 3-miler.
Delightful, I say! Let me know if you get to incorporate any of these into your vocabulary today. Hey, they already think you’re crazy for running. Why not make them think you’re smart, too?!?
Love the new words however I am not loving those pictures! I am deathly afraid of birds, I know it is strange. I couldn’t even look at some of those pictures, I was getting chill bumps and my heart started racing…. Or maybe I just have had too much coffee?! Either way, scarrrrreeeeeyyyyyy
I’m so sorry I caused you distress, friend. I hope you did not experience any curmuring due to your fear.
I am cracking up! What a fun post, I am hoping I can remember some of these. My sister and I will randomly speak to one another in Elizabethan english… we always end up laughing til we cry. 🙂
I think we are going to have a LOT of fun in the van together, Lisa!
These are great! I love the crapulous one. Oh yeah, and I think it is amazing that there is a word that means having beautifully shaped buttocks.
Oh. My. God! Too stinking funny! I am _________ (trying to find an interesting new word to insert here that would imply ‘laughing my ass off’. I’ll get back to you later.
I love this post! From another word lover.
I would like to add that Hugger Mugger was a great board game that we used to play in the dorms. Wonderful wordsmithing, Lindsay! Can’t wait to impress all my friends on our 9 mile run this weekend. It will be 9 miles of fun running words!
I’m sure you’ll be the MOST POPULAR and LEAST ANNOYING girl on that 9-miler! 😉