mooncalf |ˈmoōnˌkaf|noun ( pl. -calves )a foolish person.ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from moon + calf, perhaps on the pattern of German Mondkalb. Originally in the sense [shapeless mass in the womb,] thought to be produced by the influence of the moon.
I came across this word while looking for alternatives for the word "idiot" in my 1961 edition of Rodale's Synonym Finder. I love this book; it's so much more than a thesaurus.
In the end I didn't use mooncalf in my MS, but it's an interesting word to remember. Although, I can't imagine many occasions when I'll have reason to use it.
Georgette Heyer uses it; I thought it might be one of her inventions, but it seems not.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea, but it would fit well into historical fiction.
DeleteI think the only time I've seen it used is in a fantasy-type book, ages ago - it's definitely not a modern feeling word.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely archaic. I read the advice somewhere that you should find yourself an old thesaurus if you want to write period fiction. I don't but I like my old Rodale's. It's hardcover, even, although the spine is broken.
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