In an earlier essay, I asserted that the English language loves nonsense words, and named a few with origins in the UK. This current essay will show that the American speakers of the language share this same penchant for silly words. All of the following are synonyms for “nonsense.”
Applesauce (appearing in 1739 and popular in 1920s). Why this word equates to nonsense eludes me. Baloney (1915-20). Bologna, like hot dogs/wieners, is for me a junk food—a bunch of stuff ground up together and molded into a form. Sounds like nonsense to me.
Bunkum or buncombe (1820). I kind of like this word, but mainly because it sounds funny and obviously means nothing. Except nonsense, of course. Hokum (1908), like bunkum, sounds old fashioned to me—out of date. But it does rather sound like “ho hum,” which is appropriate response to hearing nonsense. Hooey (1920s), unlike Bunkum and Hokum, seems like the infamous Bronx cheer. There’s a sneer in this word.
Horsefeathers (1927) or *horse-hockey (1928). The first version of this term is excellent for pronouncing something nonsensical, as feathers are not natural for a horse. The other seems more likely to be a synonym for Polo. Malarkey or marlarky (1824). Malarkey is a good nonsense synonym as it, too, means nothing. But it also resembles a real name for a person, rather like “the real McCoy” came from a real person. Are we expected to know who this Malarkey person is and why that person is associated with nonsense? Hmm.
Nerts (1932). This is a good one, obviously not a word with meaning in English and it sounds a lot like “nuts,” another word used for ridicule. *Poppycock (1865). I love this word. It just sounds so silly, and therefore, appropriate.
Gobbledygook (first appearing in 1944)—this word always makes me think of the sound a turkey makes. If you have ever heard several of these birds sounding off at the same time, you have a good idea of what gobbledygook means. In fact, it is used to refer to abstruse technical language which is not easy to understand by the average person.
*As for other associations of these words–see starred words above, several are also synonyms for a popular abbreviation “BS” (short for bull shit). Others of these words did/do not always mean “nonsense,” but I will let you explore that on your own. While you are investigating, you may find other silly words to add to these I have given you. I wish the joy of discovery.
NONSENSE, AMERICAN STYLE
In an earlier essay, I asserted that the English language loves nonsense words, and named a few with origins in the UK. This current essay will show that the American speakers of the language share this same penchant for silly words. All of the following are synonyms for “nonsense.”
Applesauce (appearing in 1739 and popular in 1920s). Why this word equates to nonsense eludes me. Baloney (1915-20). Bologna, like hot dogs/wieners, is for me a junk food—a bunch of stuff ground up together and molded into a form. Sounds like nonsense to me.
Bunkum or buncombe (1820). I kind of like this word, but mainly because it sounds funny and obviously means nothing. Except nonsense, of course. Hokum (1908), like bunkum, sounds old fashioned to me—out of date. But it does rather sound like “ho hum,” which is appropriate response to hearing nonsense. Hooey (1920s), unlike Bunkum and Hokum, seems like the infamous Bronx cheer. There’s a sneer in this word.
Horsefeathers (1927) or *horse-hockey (1928). The first version of this term is excellent for pronouncing something nonsensical, as feathers are not natural for a horse. The other seems more likely to be a synonym for Polo. Malarkey or marlarky (1824). Malarkey is a good nonsense synonym as it, too, means nothing. But it also resembles a real name for a person, rather like “the real McCoy” came from a real person. Are we expected to know who this Malarkey person is and why that person is associated with nonsense? Hmm.
Nerts (1932). This is a good one, obviously not a word with meaning in English and it sounds a lot like “nuts,” another word used for ridicule. *Poppycock (1865). I love this word. It just sounds so silly, and therefore, appropriate.
Gobbledygook (first appearing in 1944)—this word always makes me think of the sound a turkey makes. If you have ever heard several of these birds sounding off at the same time, you have a good idea of what gobbledygook means. In fact, it is used to refer to abstruse technical language which is not easy to understand by the average person.
*As for other associations of these words–see starred words above, several are also synonyms for a popular abbreviation “BS” (short for bull shit). Others of these words did/do not always mean “nonsense,” but I will let you explore that on your own. While you are investigating, you may find other silly words to add to these I have given you. I wish the joy of discovery.
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“FOREST OF THE HEART” was first published in 1960 by The American Bard.
KALEIDOSCOPE— an essay by Kathleen Roxby
“NONSENSE, AMERICAN STYLE” was written to accompany the essay appearing last week as the Kaleidoscope feature and continues the author’s series on the oddities of the English language.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“SUCKED DRY” is another of the author’s poems in her series titled, “Singular Prism.” It is included this week as Olive is an appropriate color in the season.
SPLINTERS FOR OCTOBER 2022
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Readers who write in response to one of the prompts listed each month in Splintered Glass, may see their work presented here on the last week of that month. Though poems are preferred, short prose work will also be considered for publication.
Guidelines for submission:
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL WHO CRIED WHILE THE SUN SHINED IN HER SMILE
There once was a little girl in whose laugh the bluebird sang while the sun shined in her smile. Yet, when the gas line broke killing the young elm tree, when explorer ants were smashed so the picnic was safe, when a snail curled in upon itself when for a game some salt was poured onto its path, when the bright-brave freesias faded to straw without protest—then, without a sound, the little girl cried.
And no one knew except her stuffed gray bunny who understood the silent language the heart knows that human ears almost never hear—the sound a star makes splintering light upon the night as if alive although in fact it died a million years ago.
Just so, in the apricot dawns when fairy tears sprinkled the lawns, as the little girl ran laughing with her arms outspread to gather all the goodness in, the people heard the bluebird sing. And they smiled, the deep inside, precious gift smile.
For no one saw the shadow of goodbye in the eyes of the little girl as she ran to catch each fleeting joy before it whispered away, because like the glow of a lost star, the brilliance of her once-child joy still lit the shadows of their days.
ON THE EVE OF MY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY
Forty passed me by
I barely felt the cold wind.
My son was born just that year.
But last night I fell into a dream tunnel
and standing there confused,
looking first this way and then that,
I perceived at one end of the tunnel
a circle of light which grew
larger…larger…like the sun.
At the other end of the tunnel
another circle of light grew
smaller…smaller…until it fled
like a fading star.
Though I stood rooted to the spot
my spirit tore from me and raced
toward that diminishing circle
crying “Come back, come back”
for I could not bear to part
with the little star.
But then I woke to morning
and knew that I was in no tunnel,
that the diminishing star
and the growing sun
were one and the same
and the light was all about me
and I was part of it.
Birthday ‘93
When your birthday comes
I think of train whistles
Far off on the night air
Echoing down the valley
The taste of fresh fallen snow
Of winter raindrops falling
A spring flower, fall leaves
Of a heart so gentle
It grieves even small loss
A soul that reaches out
Easing someone else’s hurt
May your day glow as old gold
And bask itself in my love
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“MY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY” is one of the first poems the author wrote on the subject of aging. It is interesting to note that her son was born the year of her fortieth birthday which means at fifty she was mother to a ten-year-old boy and a daughter who was a freshman in college.
REFRACTIONS— a poem by Robert Roxby
“Birthday ’93” was intended as a birthday gift for the poet’s wife. It was discovered in his poetry journal. It is included this week as she was born on October 12. Many of the images used reflect their shared history in Wheeling, West Virginia.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL WHO CRIED WHILE THE SUN SHINED IN HER SMILE” first appeared in 2000 in the author’s chapbook, Chameleon Woman. This piece is another the author wrote during her battle with depression. It is included this week for United Nations Day of the Girl Child.
SPLINTERS FOR OCTOBER 2022
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Readers who write in response to one of the prompts listed each month in Splintered Glass, may see their work presented here on the last week of that month. Though poems are preferred, short prose work will also be considered for publication.
Guidelines for submission: