to flatter, embellish, lie
The Smoke Enema:
was used to push smoke into a drowning victim in order to warm the victim from the inside-out.
“…A rectal tube inserted into the anus was connected to a fumigator and bellows that forced the smoke into the rectum. The warmth of the smoke was thought to promote respiration, but doubts about the credibility of tobacco enemas led to the popular phrase “blow smoke up one’s ass.” Search on “tobacco smoke enema” for illustrations of the apparatus.”
Mar 17
a knitted, unbleached cotton fabric used for underwear and hosiery.
Named after the Irish seaport town where this fabric material of the same name is made, Balbriggan arose in the 18th Century from a small fishing village to a place of commercial and manufacturing importance, thanks to Baron Hamilton, who introduced cotton manufacture in 1780.
Mar 10
Clothing, Life Algonquin, english, Native American, Native American Indian No Comments
a soft leather shoe, usually made from deerskin, originally made and worn by Native American Indians; often decorated, especially with beads.
The word moccasin in association with Native American footwear has been adopted by the greater American public but it was never a universally understood word within the different Native American tribes. Moccasin was the word for shoe in the Virginia Algonquian language and was passed into English as a generalization through the encounters early English settlers had with the native community. Captain John Smith of the Jamestown settlement is attributed with noting the translation in his 1612 glossary, ‘mockasins: shoes.’ In actuality, each tribe used words in their own language or dialect to signify shoe/slipper and it is coincidence that has made ‘moccasin’ the lasting word in English. It is more than coincidence and surely a tribute to the beauty of the design and image of the moccasin that it has been preserved as a style of shoe until today and continues to permeate the broader fashion market.
Mar 07
Leisure, Life british, english, indian, ship No Comments
classy: elegant and fashionable
It actually came from a phrase used by the East India Trading Company, which, of course, was based in London.
When it booked passengers round-trip to India, the more affluent passengers would request a cabin on the side of the ship least exposed to the Atlantic Ocean gales.
Hence, they were given cabins ‘port outbound, starboard homebound.’ It eventually was abbreviated to posh.
Mar 07
Leisure, Life american, english, gangster 2 Comments
On: no longer drinking
Off: still drinking
When the mob was running moonshine, it was required that the drivers not drink alcohol.
So, when one is On the wagon, one is not supposed to drink alcohol.
Mar 04
Clothing, Everyday, Leisure, Life clothing, french No Comments
You should acknowledge or accept a remark or a situation that applies to you
This is a misquote of another term:
John Ozell (1714) [translated] Moliere: “If the cap fits, put it on.”
© Weird Words 2012 
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