The Wonderful World Of Words, 3/28/17
Today's word has more than one meaning in modern parlance, however, we prefer to focus on the more obscure definitions and usages. After all, what fun is there in using words in a common manner?
DEFINITION:
Verb
To make a joke, mock, or make sport of
To scoff
SYNONYMS:
jest
shenanigan
prank
ANTONYMS:
tragedy
ETYMOLOGY/ORIGIN:
1540-50, but the actual source is unknown
PRONUNCIATION:
[glēk]
LISTEN
SCRABBLE SCORE:
10
USAGE AND EXAMPLES
Pet. No money, on my faith, but the GLEEK; I will give you the minstrel.
First Mus. Then will I five you the serving creature's dagger on your pate. I will carry no crotchets: I'll re you, I'll fa you; do you note me?
First Mus. An you re us and fa us, you note us.
Sec. Mus. Pray you, put up your dagger, and put out your wit.
Pet. Then have at you with my wit! I will dry-beat you with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger.
--Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare, 1595
They had scarce plac'd themselves, when more came in, but were Anonymous, 'twas no matter, 1 could tell who and what they were, by this GLEEK of circumstances, the shrug, the shaking of the head, and tossing back the peruke with indignation: they had juft reacht the table, when the door-keeper with a great deal of breath cry'd out, "Make room for Caffus the Author of the Cenfure of the Rota; blefs me, faid I to my Friend, why is he called Caffus?"
--A Description of the Academy of the Athehian Virtuosi
printed for Maurice Atkins, 1673
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Wow, I thought it meant pissing in your pants.
Lol. See? You learned something! It also is an ancient card game as well as that thing some people can do where they spray saliva from the ducts beneath their tongues.
Spary saliva? See, I was pretty close, leeking liquid from one's body.
Yes. Yes, you were, just in the wrong direction. ;)