Have you ever met someone so mean that regular insults just don’t cut it? Well, there’s a word for that: “shabaroon.” This old-school insult can describe someone who’s poorly dressed or just plain shabby. It comes from Francis Grose’s “A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue,” first published in 1785. The origin of “shabaroon” is a bit of a mystery, but it might be related to “picaroon,” which means a pirate or a rogue. The word first appeared in the late 17th century, and it’s about time we brought it back into use!
Hi, I’m Erin McCarthy, editor-in-chief of Mental Floss. While working on our new book, “The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words,” I realized that today’s insults are nothing compared to the clever burns from the past. In this article, we’ll explore some unforgettable insults from the book and a few extras, just in case you need to spice up an argument. Let’s dive in!
One of my favorite insults, often used by President Theodore Roosevelt, is “puzzlewit.” According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this term was coined in the 1860s and refers to someone who’s confused or just plain silly. Roosevelt used it against his former friend and chosen successor, William Howard Taft. “Puzzlewit” can also describe something that confuses the mind, but I prefer Teddy’s way of using it.
“Unlicked cub” is a term for an uneducated or rude young person. Grose’s dictionary explains it as someone who hasn’t been properly formed or educated. If you want to tell your friends to stop being unlicked cubs and watch Mental Floss on YouTube, go ahead!
Here’s an insult for someone who pretends to know more than they do: “stylist.” This word describes a person whose knowledge is only surface-level. It came into English from Latin in the 1600s, and any real expert would see right through their act.
We’ve all met a rude, gossipy person, and now you can call them a “nash gab.” This term combines “snash,” meaning abuse or insolence, with “gab,” which originally meant lively conversation but later came to mean foolish talk. Together, they form the perfect insult for a chatterbox.
For someone who’s always nosy and looking for the latest gossip, use “quid nunc.” This term comes from the Latin phrase meaning “what now” and perfectly describes a busybody.
“Rapscallion” is a 17th-century term for a rascal or rogue, while “scapegrace” is a 19th-century word for someone who escapes the grace of God. Both are great ways to describe a mischievous troublemaker.
If you know someone who’s gullible and believes everything they’re told, call them a “godmouche.” This word came from French in the early 19th century, and a godmouche would probably believe you if you said you made it up just for them.
“Shag bag” refers to a sneaky, spiritless person. It can also describe something shabby. In golf, a shag bag is a bag that helps you pick up balls without bending over.
“Blather” means to talk nonsense, and a “blatherskite” is someone who loudly talks a lot of nonsense. This term first appeared in a 17th-century folk song by Scottish poet Francis Sempill.
When you meet a coward, call them a “poltroon.” This word came from French in the 16th century, and a true poltroon might be too scared to ask what it means.
If you love staying in bed, you might like the term “slug-a-bed.” It describes someone who stays in bed late and hasn’t been used much since the early 20th century. The term even appears in “Romeo and Juliet” when Juliet’s nurse finds her still in bed.
“Galumpus” is a fun word for a large, clumsy person. It sounds like something from a Roald Dahl story, but it actually predates his work by several decades.
Instead of calling someone loathsome, try “lowly.” This word has been around since the year 900 and was revived in the 19th century. J.M. Barrie used it in his book “Margaret Ogilvy.”
“Scaramouche” was a character in Italian theater known for being boastful yet cowardly. The term was used from the 1600s to the 1800s to describe any boastful coward. You might recognize it from Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” though scaramouches aren’t known for doing the fandango.
Check out our new book, “The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words,” to learn more about the origins of everyday phrases and the fascinating history of words. You’ll also find tips for improving your Scrabble, Wordle, and crossword skills. See you next time!
Research and compile a list of at least 10 old-timey insults not mentioned in the article. Write a brief description of each insult, including its origin and meaning. Present your findings in a creative format, such as a mini-dictionary or a digital presentation, and share it with the class.
Pair up with a classmate and engage in a friendly “insult battle” using the old-timey insults from the article. Each participant must use at least five different insults in context. The goal is to creatively and humorously incorporate these words into a dialogue. Remember to keep it light-hearted and respectful!
Choose one old-timey insult from the article and research its etymology in depth. Create a visual timeline or infographic that traces the word’s history, changes in meaning, and any notable uses in literature or history. Present your findings to the class.
Write a short story or a comedic skit that incorporates at least five of the old-timey insults from the article. Your story should have a clear plot and characters, and the insults should be used in a way that enhances the humor or drama of the narrative. Share your story with the class or perform your skit.
Choose your favorite old-timey insult from the article and create an artistic representation of it. This could be a drawing, painting, or digital artwork that captures the essence of the word. Include a brief explanation of the insult and its meaning. Display your artwork in the classroom or in a digital gallery.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Sometimes you encounter a person so mean that all your regular insults don’t really do them justice. Luckily, there’s “shabaroon,” a fiery zinger of a word that can also refer to an ill-dressed, shabby fellow, according to English lexicographer Francis Grose’s “A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue,” first published in 1785. The word’s etymology is uncertain; one theory is that it might have been influenced by the word “picaroon,” which referred to a pirate or any garden-variety scoundrel. “Shabaroon” was first recorded in the late 17th century, and I think it’s high time we made it a thing in this century too.
Hi, I’m Erin McCarthy, editor-in-chief of Mental Floss, and if there’s one thing that became clear to me while editing our new book, “The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words,” it’s that today’s insults have nothing on the barbs and burns thrown in eras past. In this episode, we’re dropping a few unforgettable insults from the book and some others for good measure, just in case you ever need to spice up a squabble. Let’s get started!
First, let’s talk about one of my favorite insults, often used by my favorite president, Theodore Roosevelt. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “puzzlewit” was coined in the 1860s and refers to someone who is puzzled, a stupid or silly person. Theodore specifically used it against his former friend and hand-picked presidential successor, William Howard Taft. As we noted in our video about the sickest burns from history, “puzzlewit” isn’t just an insult; it can also be used as an adjective to describe something that puzzles or would puzzle one’s wit. I prefer Teddy’s use, though, thank you very much.
“Unlicked cub” refers to both an unformed, ill-educated young man and a rude, uncouth young fellow, as Grose explained in his dictionary. If you need my permission to tell your friends to quit being unlicked cubs and watch Mental Floss on YouTube, consider it granted!
Here’s an insult you couldn’t use on someone who watches this channel: “stylist” is a person whose knowledge is only superficial, especially one who makes much of it—a pretender to learning. According to the OED, any expert would be able to easily see through their nonsense. The word came into English from Latin in the 1600s.
We’ve probably all encountered a rude, gossipy person, and now you’ll know exactly what to call them: “nash gab.” The word dates back to the 19th century and was likely formed by combining “snash,” meaning abuse or insolence, with “gab.” When “gab” was first recorded in the 18th century, it referred to lively conversation, but it later came to mean foolish or inconsequential talk. Put them together, and voila—nash gab!
On the topic of nash gabs, “quid nunc” is a word derived from the Latin phrase “quid nunc,” or “what now,” for a nosy, bossy person who’s always on alert for the next juicy morsel of gossip.
The 17th-century term “rapscallion” has nothing to do with music or onions; it describes a rascal, rogue, or vagabond—you’re a troublemaker running through a crowded street, stealing wares from various stalls. Another colorful alternative to “rascal” is “scapegrace,” a 19th-century combination of the words “scape” and “grace,” which essentially means one who escapes the grace of God.
Do you know a gullible person who believes everything they’re told? Let them know they’re a “godmouche.” The word came into English from French in the early 19th century, but if you told a godmouche you made it up as a term of endearment just for them, they’d probably buy that too.
“Shag bag” means a poor, sneaking fellow, a man of no spirit, according to Grose. It could also refer to something shabby in general, but also in golf, a shag bag is the type of bag that allows you to pick up golf balls without bending over.
Language is strange! “Blather” is to talk a lot of nonsense, which makes “blatherskite” a person who loudly talks a lot of nonsense. Its first recorded usage is in a mid-17th-century folk song attributed to Scottish poet Francis Sempill.
The next time you encounter an utter coward, you can call them a “poltroon,” which came into English from French in the 16th century. They’ll probably be too much of a poltroon to ask you what “poltroon” means.
If you’re like me and believe that there is no such thing as too much time in bed, here’s an insult you might actually wear with pride: “slug-a-bed” is a term for a person who stays in bed late. Apparently, it hasn’t been used much since the early 20th century, which is a real shame. The OED’s first citation is none other than “Romeo and Juliet.” In a scene towards the end of the play, Juliet’s nurse goes to fetch her charge, who she finds is still in bed. “Why, lamb! Why, ladybird! You slug-a-bed!” she says before pulling back the curtain to discover Juliet is dead. Oh, sorry—spoiler alert!
“Galumpus” seems like the perfect word to describe a large, clumsy fellow, which is convenient because that’s exactly what it means. It might sound like a Roald Dahl original, but it actually predated his work by several decades.
Okay, sure, you could tell someone they’re loathsome, but the alternate form of that insult, “lowly,” sounds even more scathing. The word could be found as early as 900. It eventually fell out of favor before being revived in literary works in the 19th century. Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie used it in his 1986 book “Margaret Ogilvy,” writing, “She sighs at the sight of her son dipping and tearing and chewing the lovely pen.”
“Scaramouche” was a stock character from Italy’s Commedia dell’Arte, a type of theater production with ensemble casts, improvisation, and masks. He was easily identified by his boastful yet cowardly manner, and from the 1600s through the 1800s, you could call any boastful coward a Scaramouche. If the obsolete expression sounds kind of familiar to you, it might be because you’re a music fan; the band Queen borrowed it for their operatic masterpiece “Bohemian Rhapsody,” though scaramouches aren’t necessarily known for doing the fandango.
Make sure to check out our new book, “The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words.” You’ll learn all about the origins of everyday phrases, like why we tell people to take it with a grain of salt, and find out the science behind our collective hatred of the word “moist.” We also cover obscure stories in word history, like the murderer who contributed to the Oxford English Dictionary, and offer tips for taking your Scrabble, Wordle, and crossword games to the next level. We’ll pop a link in the description below. See you next time!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the original content’s essence.
Insult – A disrespectful or scornful remark or action – During the heated debate, the author’s critique was taken as an insult by the poet.
Vocabulary – The body of words used in a particular language or by a particular group of people – The student’s extensive vocabulary allowed her to express complex ideas clearly in her essays.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit – Studying literature helps students understand diverse perspectives and cultures through classic and contemporary texts.
Language – A system of communication used by a particular community or country – The novel’s rich use of language captivated readers and brought the characters to life.
Dictionary – A reference book containing an alphabetical list of words, with information about their meanings, pronunciations, and usage – The student consulted the dictionary to find the precise meaning of the unfamiliar word in the poem.
Gossip – Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as true – The novel explored how gossip can distort the truth and affect relationships in a small town.
Rogue – A dishonest or unprincipled person – In the play, the rogue character added humor and unpredictability to the storyline.
Coward – A person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things – The protagonist’s journey from being a coward to a hero was central to the novel’s theme of personal growth.
Nonsense – Spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense – The absurd dialogue in the play was dismissed as nonsense by the critics, yet it delighted the audience.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university – The novel highlighted the transformative power of education in overcoming social barriers.
