Samuel Johnson's Insults: A Compendium of Snubs, Sneers, Slights and Effronteries from the Eighteenth Century MasterJack Lynch Lackbrain, oysterwench, wantwit, clotpoll--Samuel Johnson's famous dictionary of 1755 contained some of the ripest insults in the English language. In Samuel Johnson's Insults, Jack Lynch has compiled more than 300 of the curmudgeonly lexicographer's mightiest barbs, along with definitions only the master himself could elucidate. Word lovers will delight in flexing their linguistic muscles with devilishly descriptive vituperations that pack a wicked punch. Many of these zingers have long lain dormant. Some have even come close to extinction. Now they're back in all their prickly glory, ready to be relished once more. |
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Samuel Johnson's Insults: A Compendium of Snubs, Sneers, Slights and ... Jack Lynch Limited preview - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
abuse belly better blockhead Boastful Boswell buffoon called cant word Catherine Macaulay century Charles Churchill coglione corrupted coward coxcomb Curmudgeon David Garrick derived dolt Dryden dull dunce Dunciad Dutch English etymology famous fond fool foolish Frances Burney French Garrick hated Henry IV Hester Thrale Hudibras idiot idle idler insolence insult Islandick Italian jack JACK LYNCH John Johnson thought Jonathan Swift Junius King Lear knave L'Estrange lady Latin laugh lazy LEVENGER PRESS Lord low word lubber mean fellow never obsolete old word Oliver Goldsmith once paltry perhaps petty plaguy poem poet poltron Pope Pope's prig probably rascal replied ridiculed rude Samuel Johnson Saxon Scotland Scots Scottish scoundrel sense Shak Shakesp Shakespeare signifies simpleton Skinner sluggard someone strumpet stupid fellow Swift talk term of reproach thing thou Thrasonical vile villain wench Whig whore whoreson woman worthless wretch writer wrote young zany