Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #133

 (a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages)

133.) Unzymotic
-adjective

a.) Fabulous.*

[Origin: From Middle English prefix un- meaning “not” and Ancient Greek (zumōtikós, “causing fermentation”).]

*Members of the tribe are known to “get fabulous” in preparation for gatherings ironically involving libations crafted by processes of fermentation.

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #132

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages)

132.) Twire
-verb or noun singular

a.) To glance shyly or slyly; look askance; make eyes; leer; peep; pry.*

b.) A sly glance; a leer.

[Origin: From Middle English twiren (“to peep out, pry about, twinkle, glance, gleam”), cognate with Middle High German zwieren (“to spy”). Perhaps related to Old English twinclian (“to twinkle”).]

*An arcane form of cruising with an extra twinkle in the eye.

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #131

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages)

131.) Orchidometer

a.) A medical instrument used to measure the volume of the testicles.*

[Origin: A combination of orchid (mid 19th century: from modern Latin Orchid(ac)eae, formed irregularly from Latin orchis) and meter from Greek metron ‘measure’.

*For all ye size queen members of the tribe.

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #130

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages)

130.) Lanceolate

a.) Shaped like the head of a lance; tapering from a rounded base toward the apex.*

[Origin: from Late Latin lanceolātus, from lanceola small lance.]

*A shape all too familiar to members of the tribe whose name also conjures images of a certain seductive Arthurian hero.

 

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #129

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages added hebdomadally on the Sabbath day)

129.) Abraxas

a.) A diety of the Gnostic faith.

b.) An ancient gem-stone carved with the name Abrasax and a composite figure, used as an amulet.*

[Origin: Unknown.]

*The word, clearly with magical portent, may have given rise to our current word, abracadabra.

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #128

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages added hebdomadally on the Sabbath day)

128.) Ebberman
-noun singular

a.) One who fishes under bridges.*

[Origin: Unknown.]

*A profession usually reserved for trolls…

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #127

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages added hebdomadally on the Sabbath day)

127.) Kantikoy
-noun singular or verb

a.) A sacred dance, especially among American Indians.

b.) To dance as an act of worship.*

[Origin: Unknown.]

*A truly ancient act found in many cultures that was later observed by intruders, offering a possible explanation of the fondness for dancing found in so many faerie legends.

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #126

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages added hebdomadally on the Sabbath day)

126.) Iceblink
-noun singular

a.) A bright reflection of sunlight, especially in polar regions, on the bottom of a low cloud, caused by ice on a distant expanse of water or land.*

[Origin: From the English words ice and blink, possibly a translation of the Dutch ijsblink or Danish isblink.]

*Like Saint Elmo’s fire, foxfire, or will-o-the-wisps, iceblinks are a physical phenomenon that would have easily fallen into the category of mysterious effects of the other side in the eyes of earlier cultures.

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #125

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages added hebdomadally on the Sabbath day)

125.) Laconicum
-noun singular

a.) A sauna, or vapor-bath.*

b.) The sweat room in a Roman bath.

c.) A Roman archaeological term referring to the chamber in a bathing-establishment warmed by means of air artificially heated.

[Origin: Possibly from the name of the Greek prefecture of Laconia (the capital of which was Sparta) since the Laconians used such a dry or sudorific bath, avoiding the use of warm water as enervating.]

*Also referred to by Cassius as the Laconium Gymnasium or “naked-place sauna” thus inevitably attracting members of the tribe.

Balderdash for the Medieval Gay #124

(a compendium of queer words for the modern fag with a passion for the Middle Ages added hebdomadally on the Sabbath day)

124.) Err
-verb

a.) To go astray.*

b.) To make a mistake.

[Origin: From Latin errare meaning “to wander.”]

*A simple word, that we associate with being mistaken, but whose original meaning had more to do with wandering (with the error being a diverging from the truth). The will-o’-the-wisps and the pixies are the most adept with making people wander. One who wanders away is said to be “pixie-led.”