Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Esoteric Wordsmyth For Enriching The Esoteric Vocabulary!


The Esoteric Wordsmyth


Rampallion

Rampallion pronounced \ram-PAL-yuhn\ A ruffian or scoundrel. Of unknown origin.

In Shakespeare's Henry IV, Falstaff exclaims, ‘Away, you scullion! you rampallion! You fustilarian! I'll tickle your catastrophe.’ A scullion is a kitchen servant or one who does menial work. Fustilarian is a synonym of yesterday's term fustilugs (a fat and slovenly person).

‘[Justin] asked, 'Why do you say that? The rampallion admitted he was to blame.’

Cynthia Morgan; Court of Shadows; Ballantine Books; 1992.


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