Poplollies & Bellibones: A Celebration of Lost Words Along with Tenderfeet and Ladyfingers: A Compendium of Body Language

by Susan Kelz Sperling

Together in one volume Susan Kelz Sperling's delightful excursions into the English Poplollies & Bellibones and Tenderfeet & Ladyfingers. The first explores its most remote corners to rediscover long-lost verbal gems, such as liripoop, poopnoddy and squeck. The second looks at the most familiar of all territories, our own bodies, delving into the surprising derivations and histories of phrases like “to give someone the cold shoulder” or “the walls have ears.” In short, here is a treasure trove for word lovers — a perfect diversion for a winter's night or a summer's afternoon, an eyewitching volume bursting with fellowfeeling.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction, Reference, Linguistics

266 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2005

Reviews

[Nothing Heretosee · Rating 5 out of 5]

do you like a silly word? I do.

[l · Rating 4 out of 5]

my dad's book. quite amusing words/phrases though most of them are unusable like sparrow-fart. they're presented in cutesy stories i.e. one about a knight

"Ha-ha. the kind of ditch that one could not see from a distance to avoid."

"Nose of wax. This term came to be used to describe an accommodating person as easily molded as wax, and was also often used to describe those who changed their faith. Roman Catholics used the term to apply to writers who interpreted the Holy Scriptures in several ways."

lol english.

[Nicholas Zacharewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poplollies & Bellibones is one of those reference books that are just kind of cool to have around. These books (Poplollies & Bellibones and Tenderfeet and Ladyfingers were originally separate books) were written in the 70s, and since they deal in forgotten and trending language, some of the words and phrases included show the book's age. A great resource if you're studying popular phrases past or present or if you just love English, but otherwise this one's nothing too earth-shattering.

[Hillary]

This book took me forever to get through because it reads as a sort of dictionary of words you've never heard of except if you read old English novels. It was pretty interesting and the last part of the book breaks down old cheesy sayings that I myself have been guilty of using in conversations. At least now I know where they came from.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great fun. I've been doing a 'Dead Word of the Day,' thing on Facebook. Some words I truly want to revive, such as boonfellow: a warm companion, or venenate: to poison. These never should have been left behind in the first place, but I guess we're all just poop-noddies!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite fun! If you recieved a Christmas letter from me in 2006, you suffered from my use of this book to pepper the note with archaic and unusual language.

[Saroya]

This is very funny and fun.

[Chris]

A fun and fascinating book for anyone who appreciates the art of language.

[Ann Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting, if not entirely useful. A fun read.