A Wondrous Word: Bodkin
April3
I ran across this week’s word while reading Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym.
Jane recalls that a talented member of her husband’s last parish had actually had a household hint published in a homemaking magazine: ‘It was a use for a thermometer case, if you had the misfortune to break your thermometer, of course. A splendid case for keeping bodkins in!’ Jane chortled.
bodkin: a blunt needle with a large eye for drawing tape or ribbon through a loop or hem
From Middle English boydekin (“dagger”), apparently from *boyde, *boide (of unknown origin) + -kin
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.
Thanks for the photo! I’ve seen that word several times before and always thought it was similar to a bobbin.
I’m beginning to think that maybe a photo would be a good thing every time, Kathy. I guess it would have to be for a noun, though. 😉
I never knew what that things was called. Mystery solved!
Yes, something we’ve probably used, Leslie, but never named. 🙂
Yay! I too, always wondered. It’s a fun word. I like the pictures as well- finding verbs could be a challenge!
This is a word I did know … I guess I had a seamstress grandmother. It’s a great word but an even greater tool.
I hope you picked some of her skills, Sue – what a gift to have a seamstress in the family!
This is on my stack for this year, so I’m glad to know, in advance, what this doo-dad looks like. It seems a perfectly Pymish word indeed.
I imagine that you’ll be able to enjoy the hum our that much more, BIP, knowing the meaning of the word. 😉