words your grandparents used (British, quote)

[elston]

my grammy said:

"cunning" for cute; as in the little baby was so cunning.

"sundries" for odds and ends

"snuggies" for her cotton underware

a "tin" of tuna....instead of a can of tuna

"tin foil" instead of aluminum foil

"machine" for car

my father called a big porch.....the "piazza" and an entry-way....the "vestibule"

and I still call the garage "the barn".....I can't quite break myself of the habit.

[20yrsinBranson]

My grandparents on both sides were immigrants and did not have a very good command of the English language. Therefore, there really are no words that I am aware of that they used that are passe. However, words that I have seen that were popular during that era (late 1800s and early 1900s) include:


fortnight for two weeks

anon for "at another time"

verily - for certainly

20yrsinBranson

[saucywench]

Frigidaire

[mom2justynsarah]

Carriage for baby stroller
Frank for hot dog
Lad for boy
Upchuck for vomit
Dame for woman

[in_newengland]

what do you call a baby carriage if you don't call it a baby carriage? A pram?
It's not a stroller. (just wondering.)

Also, I noticed that some of these words are still used in England, like cattarah, a tin of food, fortnight. I'm getting off the subject though.

[Docendo discimus]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

Hey! We say pocketbook all the time. In the stores the signs even say pocketbooks. I was in the ER yesterday and there was a sign about taking your pocketbook with you. Purse sounds pretentious to me or it's something an effiminate man would say. Even Oprah says pocketbook.

I still say "pocketbook" too. I'm only 33. My mom used to say "pocketbook" all the time and it's not strange or old fashioned to me. However, the last time I used that word, I got a raised eyebrow and a chuckle.

[auntieannie68]

omg--i still say some of those words-----how bout--beer garden,corpse house,knickers,beer belly,knothead,hankerchief(nepa lingo),rubbers(the ones for your feet),brassiere,truant officer,constable--i could go on

[leilaniguy]

Originally Posted by saucywench

Frigidaire

My grandmother always called it the frigidaire too. She had a Philco. My Dad always called his wallet a purse, and I remember several relatives who called an umbrella a "bumber". I remember reading old letters from a hundred years back where they often would start a sentence with the word Oyes.

[skippercollector]

commode
lavatory (my primary grade school teachers said that instead of restroom)
mango in regards to a hot pepper

[elston]

Originally Posted by skippercollector

commode
lavatory (my primary grade school teachers said that instead of restroom)
mango in regards to a hot pepper

"lavatory" reminds me that my elementary teachers called the coat closet...the "Cloak Room"......and sweet green peppers were called "mangoes" in cincinnati.