‘droll, v. < obsolete French drôler ‘to play the wag’, etc. . . 1. intr. To make sport or fun; to jest, joke; to play the buffoon. Const. with, at, on, upon. . . 1665 Earl of Marlborough Fair Warnings 19 There was no greater argument of a foolish and inconsiderate person, than profanely to droll at Religion. . . 1680 Vindic. Conforming Clergy (ed. 2) 32 An Author..that drolls with every thing.
. . drolling n. . . 1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. i. 19 [They] use but drolling and impertinence in their Arguments . . ‘
‘interest n. < French interest . . 6. Influence due to personal connection; power of influencing the action of others . . . . 1653 Act Govt. Commw. 45 Several persons of Interest and Fidelity in this Commonwealth. 1676 tr. G. Guillet de Saint-Georges Acct. Voy. Athens 365 Her interest with him is such, that she governs him absolutely. . . 1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxxvi. 293 To raise the people in the counties..where his interest lay.’
‘knave < Old English cnapa . . . . 3. a. A dishonest unprincipled man; a cunning unscrupulous rogue; a villain; (in early use also) †an unpleasant or disagreeable man (obs.). Often contrasted with fool. Freq. as a term of abuse. Now the most common sense, but somewhat arch. in modern use. . . 1668 S. Pepys Diary 29 Jan. (1976) IX. 41 The veriest knave and bufflehead* that ever he saw in his life . . ‘
‘wainscot, n. < Middle Low German wagenschot . 2. Panel-work of oak or other wood, used to line the walls of an apartment. . . a1616 Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. i. 79 This fellow wil but ioyne you together, as they ioyne Wainscot, then one of you wil proue a shrunke pannell. . . 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 235. ¶2 A certain Person..who when he is pleased with any thing that is acted upon the Stage, expresses his Approbation by a loud Knock upon the Benches or the Wainscot. 1716 J. Addison Drummer i. 6 Like a Rat behind a Wainscot. . . ‘
‘acquittance, n. < Anglo-Norman acquitance . . 1. A document showing that a debt has been paid; a receipt in full, barring further demand for payment; a written or printed release. Now hist. . . 1672 H. Oldenburg Let. 2 May in I. Newton Corr. (1959) I. 151 Our Treasurer was not present..so yt I could not deliver him your quarters paymt: wch I shall doe the first time I find him there; and then send you his acquittance. 1684 London Gaz. mdccccxciv. 4 Lost..a File with Writings and Acquittances, supposed to be dropt not far off the Exchange, London. . . ‘
‘ . . Whether or not Nell herself ever aspired to promote the ‘protestant cause’ . . her political associations, in conjunction with her English birth and protestantism, meant that Nell was usually compared favourably with the duchess of Portsmouth in opposition satire, such as that of 1682, A Dialogue between the Duchess of Portsmouth and Madam Gwin at Parting, which celebrates both Nell's Britishness
In my clear veins best British bloud does flow Whilst thou like a French tode-stool first did grow
and her relative low cost:
I neither run in court or city's score, I pay my debts, distribute to the poor.
The well-known anecdote of Nell's coach being surrounded by an angry mob who thought she was the duchess of Portsmouth until she put her head out of the window and reassured them with the words, ‘Pray good people be silent, I am the Protestant whore’, is usually dated to March 1681 . . While the story has not been confirmed from any contemporary source, it is from about this date that the epithet ‘the protestant whore’ is applied to her in contemporary satire . . ‘
‘last, n.2 < cognate with Old Frisian . . last cargo, load, duty, unit of measure . . . . 3. A large commercial unit of weight, capacity, or quantity, varying for different kinds of goods and in different localities . . a. A measure for . . pitch . .a last . . was formerly . . of pitch 12 (sometimes 14) barrels . . . . 1486 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 15 A last of pitch and Tarre. . . 1612 W. Symonds Proc. Eng. Colonie Virginia in Narr. Early Virginia (1907) 184 In 3 monthes, we made 3 or 4 Lasts of pitch, and tarre. . . 2006 S. Murdoch Network North vi. 212 An associate..procured a recommendation from the British ambassador for the free export of 150 lasts of pitch from Sweden . . ‘
‘weekend . . 3. a. The period between two working weeks, typically regarded as a time for leisure or recreation . . The usual sense. Since the advent of the five-day working week, the weekend has usually been characterized as extending from Saturday morning or Friday evening until Sunday night. During the late 19th century, a British worker's leisure period often began on Saturday at noon. 1793 W. B. Stevens Jrnl. 27 Feb. (1965) i. 70 Wrote to Dewe that I would put on my seven league boots next weekend and stretch my course to Appleby. . . 1870 Food Jrnl. 1 Mar. 97 ‘Week-end’, that is from Saturday until Monday,—it may be a later day in the week if the money and credit hold out,—is the season of dissipation. . . 1937 Times 26 Nov. 21/5 The letter began with old Lady Chervil's unvarying formula:—My dear Mrs. Miniver, Chervil and I shall be delighted if you and your Husband will stay with us from Friday 19th to Monday 22nd November. (She would have gone to the guillotine sooner than use the expression ‘week-end’ . . ‘
Those who didn’t have to work for a living avoided the term but I never heard of it being regarded as ’common’ in Britain.
As a kid, 60 years ago, I learnt up '12 twelves is 144' by heart and I notice ot this day that I don't know without thinking what, e.g. '13 nines', is but have to think and do mental arithmetic. I would have thought that someone of his quick wits, working all the time with 'farthings' (1/4 d), 'hundredweights (8 stone), 'dozens' (12), 'baker's dozens' (13 - true: I've just checked with OED), 'stones' (= 14 lb), 'ounces' (16 to a lb.), 'scores' (20), 'guineas' (21/-) and 'chains' (22 yards), etc. etc. would have mastered the tables up to 20 twenties = 400.
What do they learn nowadays? I have a quiverful of grand nieces and nephews so I will make enquiries.
‘several, adj. < Anglo-Norman several . . 2. Qualifying a pl. n.: Individually separate; different. . . b. Preceded by the def. article, a possessive, etc.: Each and all of the, these, †one's (etc.) various or different. . . 1600 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 2 Draw aside the curtaines and discouer the seuerall caskets to this noble Prince. . . 1689 W. Popple tr. J. Locke Let. conc. Toleration 52 All the several separate Congregations,..will watch one another . . ‘
‘coat < Middle English cote, < Old French . . . . 6. Garb as indicating profession (e.g. clerical); hence, profession, class, order, sort, party; chiefly in such phrases as a man of his coat, one of their own coat, etc. Very common in 17th c. . . . . 1647 T. May Hist. Parl. i. iii. 28 The Archbishop of Canterbury..a man..of a disposition too fierce and cruel for his Coat. 1686 Catholic Representer ii. 60 Reports..carried about..by Men of all Coats . . ‘
‘boot, n.1 < Common Germanic: Old English bót . . I. Good, advantage, profit, use. 1. a. Good: in phrase to boot: ‘to the good’, to advantage, into the bargain, in addition; besides, moreover. . . 1660 S. Pepys Diary 13 Feb. (1970) I. 54 For two books that I had and 6s. 6d to boot, I had my great book of songs . . ‘
‘backside, n. . . 4. . . the reverse side or ‘back’ of a document, page, book, etc.; cf. back n.1 3, 4. Obs. . . 1720 London Gaz. No. 5910/5 Lost..a Pocket-Book..writ on the backside John Bennett.
‘back n. . . 4. spec. . . c. The convex part of a book, opposite to the opening of the leaves. ’
‘trouble, n. < Middle English < Old French truble . . 1. a. Disturbance of mind or feelings; worry, vexation; affliction; grief; perplexity; distress. . . 1611 Bible (King James) Job v. 7 Man is borne vnto trouble, as the sparkes flie vpward. 1667 Milton Paradise Lost v. 96 The trouble of thy thoughts..in sleep . . ‘
‘umbles, n. < variant of numbles n. < Middle French nombles . . 1. a. The edible inward parts of an animal, usually of a deer. . . 1665 S. Pepys Diary 13 Sept. (1972) VI. 222 He did give us the meanest dinner—of beef—shoulder and umbles of venison.
. . 2. attrib. in umble-pie . . 1663 S. Pepys Diary 8 July (1971) IV. 221 Mrs. Turner..did bring us an Umble-pie hot out of her oven.
. . 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 188/1 Noombles, or Umbles; the Hart or Bucks plucks, as Heart, Lights, Liver, with other appendices.’
‘viol, viall n.1 < Anglo-Norman and Old French viele, 1. a. A musical instrument (in common use from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century) having five, six, or seven strings and played by means of a bow. Now Hist. or arch. . . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 28 Sept. (1971) V. 282 At home I find Mercer playing on her Vyall, which is a pretty instrument . .
2. a. With distinctive modifiers, denoting esp. the form or tone of the instrument. . . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 5 Oct. (1971) V. 290 The new instrument was brought, called the Arched Viall..being tuned with Lutestrings and played on with Kees like an Organ . . ‘
‘peremptory, adj. < Anglo-Norman peremptorie . . . . 5. Intolerant of refusal or opposition; insisting on compliance or obedience; imperious, dictatorial. . . a1616 Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 71 To morrow be in readinesse, to goe, Excuse it not: for I am peremptory. . . 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews iii. xii, This Proposal was answered with an angry Look and a peremptory Refusal by Joseph . . ‘
‘to fall to . . 3. To set to work, make a beginning . . 1597 Shakespeare Richard II v. v. 98 My Lord, wilt please you to fall to? 1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 101 Let us fall too, and consider of some good things to advance the Woollen Manufactures . . 1886 E. Whitaker Tip Cat (new ed.) xv. 199 Dick, finding a spare rake, fell to and worked with a will.’
and
‘ to fall to ——
. . 4. To apply or betake oneself to; to have recourse to; to take to; to begin, proceed to. With n., inf., or gerund . . , , 1644 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 112 In Marston corn feilds [the Parliamentary army] falls to singing psalms. 1707 London Gaz. No. 4329/5 They fell to their Oars . . '
‘gimp < Of obscure origin . . 1. Silk, worsted, or cotton twist with a cord or wire running through it . . 1664 J. Wilson Cheats ii. iv. 25, I have three or four as rich Suits, for Flanders Lace, Gimp, and Embroydery, as any in the Town . .
. . gimp lace n. 1661 S. Pepys Diary 9 June (1970) II. 117 My wife put on her black silk gown, which is now laced all over with black gimp lace, as the fashion is.’ . . ‘
OED has: ‘nightgown, n. 1. A loose gown usually worn over nightclothes; a loose informal robe worn by men; a dressing gown. . . 1667 S. Pepys Diary 27 Aug. (1974) VIII. 404 She..ran out in her smock into her Aviary..and thither her woman brought her her nightgown . . ‘
Comments
Second Reading
About Monday 4 August 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘droll, v. < obsolete French drôler ‘to play the wag’, etc. . .
1. intr. To make sport or fun; to jest, joke; to play the buffoon. Const. with, at, on, upon.
. . 1665 Earl of Marlborough Fair Warnings 19 There was no greater argument of a foolish and inconsiderate person, than profanely to droll at Religion.
. . 1680 Vindic. Conforming Clergy (ed. 2) 32 An Author..that drolls with every thing.
. . drolling n. . .
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. i. 19 [They] use but drolling and impertinence in their Arguments . . ‘
About Thursday 7 August 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘interest n. < French interest . . 6. Influence due to personal connection; power of influencing the action of others . .
. . 1653 Act Govt. Commw. 45 Several persons of Interest and Fidelity in this Commonwealth.
1676 tr. G. Guillet de Saint-Georges Acct. Voy. Athens 365 Her interest with him is such, that she governs him absolutely.
. . 1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxxvi. 293 To raise the people in the counties..where his interest lay.’
About Tuesday 29 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘knave < Old English cnapa . .
. . 3. a. A dishonest unprincipled man; a cunning unscrupulous rogue; a villain; (in early use also) †an unpleasant or disagreeable man (obs.). Often contrasted with fool. Freq. as a term of abuse.
Now the most common sense, but somewhat arch. in modern use.
. . 1668 S. Pepys Diary 29 Jan. (1976) IX. 41 The veriest knave and bufflehead* that ever he saw in his life . . ‘
* = ‘buffalo-head’
About Friday 18 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘wainscot, n. < Middle Low German wagenschot .
2. Panel-work of oak or other wood, used to line the walls of an apartment.
. . a1616 Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. i. 79 This fellow wil but ioyne you together, as they ioyne Wainscot, then one of you wil proue a shrunke pannell.
. . 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 235. ¶2 A certain Person..who when he is pleased with any thing that is acted upon the Stage, expresses his Approbation by a loud Knock upon the Benches or the Wainscot.
1716 J. Addison Drummer i. 6 Like a Rat behind a Wainscot. . . ‘
About Thursday 17 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has;
‘acquittance, n. < Anglo-Norman acquitance . .
1. A document showing that a debt has been paid; a receipt in full, barring further demand for payment; a written or printed release. Now hist.
. . 1672 H. Oldenburg Let. 2 May in I. Newton Corr. (1959) I. 151 Our Treasurer was not present..so yt I could not deliver him your quarters paymt: wch I shall doe the first time I find him there; and then send you his acquittance.
1684 London Gaz. mdccccxciv. 4 Lost..a File with Writings and Acquittances, supposed to be dropt not far off the Exchange, London. . . ‘
About Wednesday 16 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
DNB has:
‘ . . Whether or not Nell herself ever aspired to promote the ‘protestant cause’ . . her political associations, in conjunction with her English birth and protestantism, meant that Nell was usually compared favourably with the duchess of Portsmouth in opposition satire, such as that of 1682, A Dialogue between the Duchess of Portsmouth and Madam Gwin at Parting, which celebrates both Nell's Britishness
In my clear veins best British bloud does flow
Whilst thou like a French tode-stool first did grow
and her relative low cost:
I neither run in court or city's score,
I pay my debts, distribute to the poor.
The well-known anecdote of Nell's coach being surrounded by an angry mob who thought she was the duchess of Portsmouth until she put her head out of the window and reassured them with the words, ‘Pray good people be silent, I am the Protestant whore’, is usually dated to March 1681 . . While the story has not been confirmed from any contemporary source, it is from about this date that the epithet ‘the protestant whore’ is applied to her in contemporary satire . . ‘
About Monday 14 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘last, n.2 < cognate with Old Frisian . . last cargo, load, duty, unit of measure . .
. . 3. A large commercial unit of weight, capacity, or quantity, varying for different kinds of goods and in different localities . .
a. A measure for . . pitch . .a last . . was formerly . . of pitch 12 (sometimes 14) barrels . .
. . 1486 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 15 A last of pitch and Tarre.
. . 1612 W. Symonds Proc. Eng. Colonie Virginia in Narr. Early Virginia (1907) 184 In 3 monthes, we made 3 or 4 Lasts of pitch, and tarre.
. . 2006 S. Murdoch Network North vi. 212 An associate..procured a recommendation from the British ambassador for the free export of 150 lasts of pitch from Sweden . . ‘
About Saturday 12 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘weekend . . 3. a. The period between two working weeks, typically regarded as a time for leisure or recreation . . The usual sense. Since the advent of the five-day working week, the weekend has usually been characterized as extending from Saturday morning or Friday evening until Sunday night. During the late 19th century, a British worker's leisure period often began on Saturday at noon.
1793 W. B. Stevens Jrnl. 27 Feb. (1965) i. 70 Wrote to Dewe that I would put on my seven league boots next weekend and stretch my course to Appleby.
. . 1870 Food Jrnl. 1 Mar. 97 ‘Week-end’, that is from Saturday until Monday,—it may be a later day in the week if the money and credit hold out,—is the season of dissipation.
. . 1937 Times 26 Nov. 21/5 The letter began with old Lady Chervil's unvarying formula:—My dear Mrs. Miniver, Chervil and I shall be delighted if you and your Husband will stay with us from Friday 19th to Monday 22nd November. (She would have gone to the guillotine sooner than use the expression ‘week-end’ . . ‘
Those who didn’t have to work for a living avoided the term but I never heard of it being regarded as ’common’ in Britain.
About Friday 11 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
As a kid, 60 years ago, I learnt up '12 twelves is 144' by heart and I notice ot this day that I don't know without thinking what, e.g. '13 nines', is but have to think and do mental arithmetic. I would have thought that someone of his quick wits, working all the time with 'farthings' (1/4 d), 'hundredweights (8 stone), 'dozens' (12), 'baker's dozens' (13 - true: I've just checked with OED), 'stones' (= 14 lb), 'ounces' (16 to a lb.), 'scores' (20), 'guineas' (21/-) and 'chains' (22 yards), etc. etc. would have mastered the tables up to 20 twenties = 400.
What do they learn nowadays? I have a quiverful of grand nieces and nephews so I will make enquiries.
About Thursday 10 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘several, adj. < Anglo-Norman several
. . 2. Qualifying a pl. n.: Individually separate; different.
. . b. Preceded by the def. article, a possessive, etc.: Each and all of the, these, †one's (etc.) various or different.
. . 1600 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 2 Draw aside the curtaines and discouer the seuerall caskets to this noble Prince.
. . 1689 W. Popple tr. J. Locke Let. conc. Toleration 52 All the several separate Congregations,..will watch one another . . ‘
About Wednesday 9 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘coat < Middle English cote, < Old French . .
. . 6. Garb as indicating profession (e.g. clerical); hence, profession, class, order, sort, party; chiefly in such phrases as a man of his coat, one of their own coat, etc. Very common in 17th c. . .
. . 1647 T. May Hist. Parl. i. iii. 28 The Archbishop of Canterbury..a man..of a disposition too fierce and cruel for his Coat.
1686 Catholic Representer ii. 60 Reports..carried about..by Men of all Coats . . ‘
About Tuesday 8 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘boot, n.1 < Common Germanic: Old English bót . .
I. Good, advantage, profit, use.
1. a. Good: in phrase to boot: ‘to the good’, to advantage, into the bargain, in addition; besides, moreover.
. . 1660 S. Pepys Diary 13 Feb. (1970) I. 54 For two books that I had and 6s. 6d to boot, I had my great book of songs . . ‘
About Monday 7 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘backside, n.
. . 4. . . the reverse side or ‘back’ of a document, page, book, etc.; cf. back n.1 3, 4. Obs.
. . 1720 London Gaz. No. 5910/5 Lost..a Pocket-Book..writ on the backside John Bennett.
‘back n. . . 4. spec. . . c. The convex part of a book, opposite to the opening of the leaves. ’
About Sunday 6 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘trouble, n. < Middle English < Old French truble . .
1. a. Disturbance of mind or feelings; worry, vexation; affliction; grief; perplexity; distress.
. . 1611 Bible (King James) Job v. 7 Man is borne vnto trouble, as the sparkes flie vpward.
1667 Milton Paradise Lost v. 96 The trouble of thy thoughts..in sleep . . ‘
About Saturday 5 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘umbles, n. < variant of numbles n. < Middle French nombles . .
1. a. The edible inward parts of an animal, usually of a deer.
. . 1665 S. Pepys Diary 13 Sept. (1972) VI. 222 He did give us the meanest dinner—of beef—shoulder and umbles of venison.
. . 2. attrib. in umble-pie . .
1663 S. Pepys Diary 8 July (1971) IV. 221 Mrs. Turner..did bring us an Umble-pie hot out of her oven.
. . 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 188/1 Noombles, or Umbles; the Hart or Bucks plucks, as Heart, Lights, Liver, with other appendices.’
About Friday 4 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re ‘viall’: OED has:
‘viol, viall n.1 < Anglo-Norman and Old French viele,
1. a. A musical instrument (in common use from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century) having five, six, or seven strings and played by means of a bow. Now Hist. or arch.
. . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 28 Sept. (1971) V. 282 At home I find Mercer playing on her Vyall, which is a pretty instrument . .
2. a. With distinctive modifiers, denoting esp. the form or tone of the instrument.
. . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 5 Oct. (1971) V. 290 The new instrument was brought, called the Arched Viall..being tuned with Lutestrings and played on with Kees like an Organ . . ‘
About Wednesday 2 July 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘peremptory, adj. < Anglo-Norman peremptorie . .
. . 5. Intolerant of refusal or opposition; insisting on compliance or obedience; imperious, dictatorial.
. . a1616 Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 71 To morrow be in readinesse, to goe, Excuse it not: for I am peremptory.
. . 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews iii. xii, This Proposal was answered with an angry Look and a peremptory Refusal by Joseph . . ‘
About Monday 30 June 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘to fall to
. . 3. To set to work, make a beginning . .
1597 Shakespeare Richard II v. v. 98 My Lord, wilt please you to fall to?
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 101 Let us fall too, and consider of some good things to advance the Woollen Manufactures
. . 1886 E. Whitaker Tip Cat (new ed.) xv. 199 Dick, finding a spare rake, fell to and worked with a will.’
and
‘ to fall to ——
. . 4. To apply or betake oneself to; to have recourse to; to take to; to begin, proceed to. With n., inf., or gerund . .
, , 1644 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 112 In Marston corn feilds [the Parliamentary army] falls to singing psalms.
1707 London Gaz. No. 4329/5 They fell to their Oars . . '
About Sunday 29 June 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘gimp < Of obscure origin . .
1. Silk, worsted, or cotton twist with a cord or wire running through it . .
1664 J. Wilson Cheats ii. iv. 25, I have three or four as rich Suits, for Flanders Lace, Gimp, and Embroydery, as any in the Town . .
. . gimp lace n.
1661 S. Pepys Diary 9 June (1970) II. 117 My wife put on her black silk gown, which is now laced all over with black gimp lace, as the fashion is.’ . . ‘
About Friday 27 June 1662
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has: ‘nightgown, n. 1. A loose gown usually worn over nightclothes; a loose informal robe worn by men; a dressing gown.
. . 1667 S. Pepys Diary 27 Aug. (1974) VIII. 404 She..ran out in her smock into her Aviary..and thither her woman brought her her nightgown . . ‘