I’ve become aware recently of a bunch of fairly obscure words which are only ever used in one particular circumstance – usually in a phrase – but would never be used in general conversation. At least not without sounding rather odd.
A few examples:
Bandwagons are only for jumping on.
Champing can only be done on a bit.
I have no idea where my petard is, I’d certainly rather avoid getting hoisted by it.
You’ll only alight from public transport.
Any other good examples? And is there a name for these types of words? A quick Google didn’t throw up anything.
In most of those cases they’re archaic words that are only still used with those phrases. Petard was an explosive, we don’t have any type of wagon anymore, etc
Interesting question! I don’t think “archaic” is right in this particular context, that would be more like using an outdated word in a normal sentence (for comic or whatever effect)
In most of those cases they’re archaic words that are only still used with those phrases.
No they don’t, trying to be smart and looking stupid there.
Elephant herd wandering across the plains.
Let’s address the elephant in the room..
Sorry, you’re correct in the context of the op, elephant doesn’t fit, but nor does derailleur in any way.
The only way “derailleur only has one use” is if you mean it’s only used to refer to a derailleur, and on that basis “elephant” is only ever used to refer to a large land mammal with a trunk. Eg a [large land mammals with trunks] herd wandering across the plain.
This is true of most nouns.
I can’t agree on alight.
Birds alight on telphone wires, butterflies on leaves people alight off horses, tanks, buses, planes, boats, ladders, steps, may be public or private, it just means to step down or land. See it regular like.
alight
intransitive verb
To spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from a carriage; to dismount.
To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop
I think your source material for dead words has several contenders. Apricity is a dead word though isn’t it, eg not in use at all (outside of a vegan restaurant in that there London)?
That wikipedia article on fossil words seems to have a fundamental flaw in the first sentence:
“A fossil word is a word that is broadly obsolete but remains in current use due to its presence within an idiom, word sense, or phrase.[1][2] An example for a word sense is ‘navy’ in ‘merchant navy’, which means ‘commercial fleet’ (although that sense of navy is obsolete elsewhere). “
yes, but, as it says – the modern use of “navy” is to refer to the branch of the armed forces, not to literally describe a collection of ships as “a navy” (which is the archaic use)
I understand ‘merchant navy’ to specifically describe using commercial ships for military/state purposes in times of conflict – i.e. an expansion of the existing navy. So theoretically still possible and not archaic.
I thought it meant the warmth of the sun on a winters day , I could well be wrong.
It does, though I’m not sure anyone uses it except as a crossword clue maybe, or Boris, he probably uses it in day to day conversation. It’s a bit like pinguid, it’s a real word but it’s (I think) never used in any way, not in an idiom nor in general usage. It’s essentially dead and only really used to confuse people. Like Latin or Welsh 😉
I understand ‘merchant navy’ to specifically describe using commercial ships for military/state purposes in times of conflict
no, I don’t think it’s ever meant that. It’s just a collective noun for “All of the trading and commercial ships registered in a country (usually excluding fishing vessels), as opposed to those involved in military activity.” (that is the OED definition, by the way, not just something I’ve made up or randomly googled!!)
I know what you’re referring to – like at Dunkirk – but I don’t know that there’s a particular special word/phrase to describe it (at least, I’m not aware of one). (Although, according to Wiki, the title “merchant navy” was originally bestowed on the ships after their actions during WW1)
It’s just a collective noun for “All of the trading and commercial ships registered in a country (usually excluding fishing vessels), as opposed to those involved in military activity.” (that is the OED definition, by the way, not just something I’ve made up or randomly googled!!)
Elephant herd wandering across the plains.
Let’s address the elephant in the room..
The second instance refers very specifically to an elephant. It’s from a play in which the characters are constantly avoiding an issue which is represented by an elephant in the middle of the set that they have to squeeze around all the time to act but noone ever says ‘why the hell is this elephant here? Can’t we get rid of it?’
So the second usage is a metaphor but the word elephant clearly is used in its original meaning all the time unlike the fossil words which are the subject of this thread.
