WONDROUS WORDS – Smokers of the Past
This week’s words come from two stories in the anthology A Body in the Library edited by Rex Collings, published 1991.
The first is from the story By the Sword by Selwyn Jepson, first published in 1938
“Alfred shifted restlessly in his armchair and banged the dottle out of his pipe against the hearth.”
dottle: the plug of tobacco residue or ashes left in the bottom of a pipe after it is smoked.
The origins of dottle are straight-forward: late Middle English, dot: denoting a plug for a barrel or other container.
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The second word is from the story Superfluous Murder by Milward Kennedy, originally published in 1935, in the same anthology.
“He filled his pipe and struck one of the wax vestas.”
A vesta is a short wooden match. Its derivation is also straight-forward. It is Latin and derived from the name of the Roman goddess of the hearth, Vesta.
These stories were both written in the 1930s. I suppose that we’re not so familiar with these words today as pipe smoking is relatively rare now. Had you ever heard these words before?
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love. It’s hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion. Hop on over and see what wondrous words other bloggers have discovered this week.
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I like your two new words centered around pipe culture. I remember those little boxes of matches as well as the small books of matches. Haven’t seen either in ages. And, that’s a good thing.
I’m just as happy not to see matches about, too, Margot although sometimes I curse their absence when the ashes have gone cold and I need to start up the wood furnace. 😉
The matches looked familiar didn’t know they were known as vestas.
I’ve never seen this brand before, Mary Ann, and I don’t ever recall seeing or hearing them called vestas either.
I haven’t seen either of them before, but then again, I grew up with cigarette smokers not pipe smokers. And matches were little books rather than boxes. We used to use the boxes to start fires in the woodstove, but it is much easier to use the lighter. A new smoking word to me was when I first read the PG Wodehouse books years ago, and cigarettes were called ‘gaspers!’
I grew up around cigarette smokers, too, Nan but was married to a pipe smoker in a previous life. I think he used small boxes. They sat near the pipe stand.
Those are both new to me but I’ve never been a smoker.
Dottle was new to me though I remember my grandfather banging the dottle out of his pipe! Vesta is a word I have read somewhere, probably in books from that era and I did know it meant a match.
I keep forgetting to keep track of words I have looked up and learned. Aha, checked my history on Safari. Here is one for you:
cantrip: a magic spell; trick by sorcery. –From Uprooted by Naomi Novik, this year’s Nebula winner.
I’ve never heard of cantrip, Judy. I often forget to note which words are new, as well. If I remember to use my book darts, I can find them at the end of the book. 🙂
Two very interesting words – it’s nice that there are still new words we can learn.
I just came across the slang word “gaspers” for cigarettes in “The Lacuna.” How funny that here you are talking about it! It must be in the air . . . .