dudgeon \DEH-jehn\ (noun) - No, today's word has nothing to do with subterranean jails but rather the mood of someone leaving one: angry, indignant humor, resentfulness. At one time it also referred to the wood of the boxwood tree, a material favored for the handles of knives and daggers because of curly grain, unlikely to splinter, hence dudgeon-daggers. "I hope it will not put you in a dudgeon if I tell you that your purse doesn't match our dress." By apheresis from the original form endugine, which may (or may not) have come from Welsh dygen "malice, resentment" with an enhancing prefix en- added for what reason no one knows. If so, it would be related to Cornish duehah, duwhan, "grief, sorrow." |
With the new school year starting, parents can use a good laugh to start the day. The New Yorker Parenting Cartoons ezine has just what you need! Subscribers to this free ezine will receive a New Yorker cartoon every morning by e-mail -- a service available only from ArcaMax! New subscribers will also receive a New Yorker-style cartoon with their name in the caption, perfect for sharing with family and friends! For more cartoons every morning, sign up for the Dogs and Cats, Food Humor, Love & Relationships, and Office Humor ezines. Subscribe to New Yorker Parenting Humor. -- From the ArcaMax editors |