Whiffletrees and Goobers: 1,001 Fun and Fabulous Forgotten Words

by W.R. Runyan and Dashka Slater

Book Overview

Did you know that a horse apple is actually a type of orange? Or that a whiffletree is not a tree at all? You will, after you pore through this delightful dictionary of old-fashioned words that are... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1602391319
• ISBN13: 9781602391314
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Guide to Vanishing American Vocabulary

This book can best described as a tribute to dying areas of American vocabulary. As we add words such as "bling" "bio-mass" and acronyms like "BFF" to our national lexicon we no longer use words like "butterine" or expressions like "pie supper". The book contains 1,001 forgotten words and phrases which are no longer in common usage in this country. Many of the words relate to farm related activities and reflect a time when the vast majority of Americans lived on farms or in rural settings. Others refer to products once in common use across the country but which are now either unknown or anachronisms. For example how many of you remember flash bulbs? Lastly are the words (Durant, Duesenberg, Aermotor Company, etc.) which refer to once famous companies which are now part of American industrial history. This book will be enjoyed by all lovers of words and will prove especially useful for writers who wish to give their works a period flavor. It will also be handy for Scrabble players who want to surprise their opponents with uncommon words.

Fun Facts in here!

This book is awesome. A great look into the past, Whiffletrees and Goobers, fills your vocabulary with some of the best (and often hilarious) forgotten words. Learn what bark spud, gully washer, and sacque all mean. Astound your friends, and increase your knowledge with this truly great buy.