"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Dandiprat

A dandiprat was an English coin worth three half-pence. The name was also used for an insignificant or contemptible person.

Dr Johnson in his 1755 Dictionary defined it as - "A little fellow, an urchin. A word used sometimes in fondness, sometimes in contempt."

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