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Medieval words that changed meaning

Started by Imperial Dave, December 17, 2024, 04:11:37 PM

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Imperial Dave

Former Slingshot editor

Erpingham

Well, it seems to have left you in good cheer  :)

Imperial Dave

I find these things fascinating as you know  :)
Former Slingshot editor

Erpingham

For a more military one, try chariot.  In medieval English this could mean a vehicle for battle (e.g. in reference to classical times) but what the reader/listener envisaged may have been different to the modern view. It could also mean a fancy carriage for the nobility but a common meaning was a lighter four wheeled wagon used in agriculture, haulage and military baggage roles. The two-wheeled vehicle meaning comes to the fore later, due to a confusion of the words chariot and charette, the latter being a light two wheeled cart.


Imperial Dave

Former Slingshot editor

Erpingham

Another good one is naughty, which originally held  quite a strong meaning of wicked or malevolent but softened over time to mean mischievous and applied to children and cream cakes. It also developed a euphemistic meaning of promiscuous in Victorian times and, according to the OED, Australia has both noun and verb forms relating to this use.

Cantabrigian

Quote from: Imperial Dave on December 18, 2024, 12:20:00 PMAs in your chariot awaits....
I can't help thinking that you're reading a little too much Jane Austen for a Wargamer...

Imperial Dave

Former Slingshot editor

Jim Webster

I did entitle a story 'A nice discrimination'

Which rather flummoxed a younger editor  8)