Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Wednesday Word: Mooncalf

mooncalf |ˈmoōnˌkaf|noun ( pl. -calves )a foolish person.ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from moon calf, perhaps on the pattern of German MondkalbOriginally 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.

4 comments:

  1. Georgette Heyer uses it; I thought it might be one of her inventions, but it seems not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had no idea, but it would fit well into historical fiction.

      Delete
  2. I 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, 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.

      Delete