Selfie - dark - "ringy" ('Irritable; ‘ornery’; angry.’ OED) because the boiler has packed up yet again. Growl, grrrrrr Day #80 of the second 365 project, where the daily pic is informed by the OED word of the day.
DelMarch 21, 2015
A "proem" is: 'An introductory discourse at the beginning of a piece of writing; a preface, preamble.’ (OED), which can sometimes be a teaser and these are my favourite teasers. Day #78 of the second 365 project, where the daily…
DelMarch 19, 2015
One of MisterMac's books, for he is an aspiring "prestidigitator": 'A person who practises sleight of hand or legerdemain; a conjuror; a juggler. Also in extended use.’ (OED) Day #77 of the second 365 project, where the daily pic is…
DelMarch 18, 2015
St Patrick's Day, so it's an Irish word today - "Agra" meaning: 'As a term of endearment: ‘my love’; ‘dear’', (OED). East London showed little evidence of the Guinness-drinking shenanigans that one finds in the centre of town and so…
DelMarch 17, 2015
"Busk" can mean: 'To go searching or seeking for something; to go from place to place. Chiefly with adverb or prepositional phrase. Now rare (colloq. in later use)', (OED). So I went busking around E7 looking for the unusual and…
DelMarch 16, 2015
I dreamt that it was supposed to be spring, but it was unseasonably cold and the rain was hammering on the roof. And then I realised I wasn't dreaming, I was wide awake and just having a "Daymare" ('A fearful…
DelMarch 15, 2015
A "Jobson" is: 'A country person; a yokel, a peasant', (OED) and the word is obsolete. I felt it appropriate, therefore, that the subject should also be obsolete. And I'm just guessing that he was a jobson - he might…
DelMarch 14, 2015
The eggs and butter in the background comprise the "companage", which means: 'Any food eaten as an accompaniment to bread, esp. as part of an allowance to a worker, tenant, etc.', (OED). The foreground was my choice of accompaniment, although…
DelMarch 13, 2015
Although the day warmed up, it started off feeling rather wintry and so there were limited opportunities for "nuque" ('The nape of the neck', OED) spotting, as most of the nuques were hidden under collars, hats and scarves. A lucky…
DelMarch 12, 2015
The current fashion for the "jeunesse dorée": 'Originally: the group of fashionable counter-revolutionaries formed in France after the fall of Robespierre. Later more generally: young people of wealth, privilege, or fashion', (OED). Day #70 of the second 365 project, where…
DelMarch 11, 2015
I wasn't in the same orbit as a "Nice Nelly" ('A person who is excessively concerned with maintaining an appearance of propriety or respectability; a prudish or fastidious person', OED) today, but I feel that this sculpture might have been…
DelMarch 10, 2015
Having been north, south and west, I thought it only fitting that the penultimate day of my blog week should see me in the east. The eastern parts of London are quite remarkable in terms of the changes that have…
DelMarch 10, 2015
"Peculation" is: The appropriation of money or property held in trust for another by a servant, employee, or official; esp. the embezzlement of public funds belonging to a ruler, state, or government. Also: an instance of this', (OED). I wondered…
DelMarch 9, 2015
I think this is from Murano so it fits today's word, which is, well, "Murano" meaning: 'Designating or relating to the glass-making industry of Murano, or the Venetian glass made there', (OED). I've added the masks for authenticity in case…
DelMarch 8, 2015
One of the empties from the "Church ale": 'A festivity during which ale is drunk, held by or in connection with a church esp. to raise money for church repair, the poor, etc. Also: the ale drunk at such a…
DelMarch 7, 2015
My gap-filling quest for Bleeding London took me to Tooting today. And what better place to start than Amen Corner. Even though it has nothing to do with the 60’s band of the same name, it is nonetheless photographically impressive…
DelMarch 7, 2015
Hmm, this was tough. "Phalarica" means: 'A javelin or dart wrapped in tow and pitch, set on fire, and projected as an incendiary weapon by hand or from a catapult', (OED). But I think arrows count - I'm sure I've…
DelMarch 6, 2015
My Natural History photography ability knows no bounds … and so today's word was a cakewalk. An "oxpecker" is: 'Either of two African birds which habitually cling to the backs of cattle and other large mammals to feed on ticks…
DelMarch 5, 2015
You can't beat a bit of religion if you're trying to find something to represent "oppugn", which means: 'To attack or oppose with words, action, influence, etc.; esp. to call into question, controvert, or dispute the truth or validity of…
DelMarch 4, 2015