The English language is full of twists and tricks wherever you look, but sometimes the quirks make sense if you look at the roots. English is influenced by foreign words and cultures, as well as shifts in society and technological advancements. Some words are just plain silly, though. Let’s take a look at some of the strangest, funniest, and most bizarre English words in the lexicon.
Lollygag
To fool around, dawdle, or procrastinate
“Lollygag” was first documented as “lallygag” in 1862. The exact origins are unknown, but it likely came from merging the colloquial “lolly,”meaning “tongue,” and “gag,” or “trick.” Perhaps it was originally a tongue-twister, but now “lollygag” is a verb meaning “to dawdle or procrastinate.”
Collywobbles
Stomachache, nausea
Here’s another one from the 1800s: “Collywobbles” is most likely a mashup of the not-so-fun “colic” (a medical condition involving severe abdominal pain) and the slightly-more-fun “wobble.” It’s basically the old-fashioned version of a tummy ache.
Diphthong
A linguistic phenomenon when two vowels work together in a word to produce a sound that neither of them makes on their own
Linguists started talking about diphthongs in the 15th century. Some prime examples of diphthongs in action are in the shifting vowel sounds of “sound,” “noise,” and “annoy.
Gubbins
Gadgets or any bits and pieces
“Gubbins” might be more familiar to British English speakers. For example, across the pond, someone with a fancy new car might describe it as having “all the gubbins.” That mystery drawer in the kitchen could also be “full of gubbins.” The word, meaning “fragments” or “gadgets,” has been in use since the 16th century, but the definition of “miscellany” dates to the early 20th century.
Borborygmus
The sound of a stomach rumbling
Everyone has experienced borborygmus. This technical-sounding word is perhaps a more polite description for what you might call “tummy rumbles.” Let’s just hope your next borborygmus doesn’t lead to collywobbles.
Widdershins
Counterclockwise, a contrary direction
This 16th-century Scottish slang means “a direction contrary to the sun’s course, considered as unlucky.” It’s basically the original way of saying “counterclockwise,” or “in the wrong direction.”
Hobbledehoy
A clumsy or awkward young person
The mid-16th century was a tough time. There was no running water, wars and religious disputes were breaking out all over Europe, and even tomatoes were thought to be poisonous. But times must have been particularly tough for teenagers — so much so that a new word was coined to describe the clumsiest of the bunch: “hobbledehoy.”
Mugwump
A person who is independent on the political spectrum
This term was adopted from the Algonguin word for great chief, “mugquomp,” but the evolution of the definition has been a bit of a rollercoaster. It became an insult for someone who considers themself to be very important, and was then used against independents in politics in the 1880s — but those independents embraced it. The Mugwumps were an unofficial party of activists in the 1880s who were against political corruption.
Troglodyte
A person who lived in a cave
In the prehistoric context, a troglodyte was someone who lived in a cave. The term can still be applied to a modern hermit, but they don’t have to reside in a cave. Additionally, you can probably imagine this being used as an insult in an ’80s comedy flick — “What a troglodyte!” In that usage, you’re calling someone deliberately ignorant or old-fashioned. It’s a fun word to say, but we’re of the opinion that if you can’t say anything nice, well, you know.
