Gymnosophy

   
Gymnosophy was the doctrine of a sect of ancient Hindu philosophers who practiced meditation in the nude.

GB posted recently about dancing naked in the rain (or something along those lines) - I wonder if he is a gymnosophist?

Oven-peel

   
An oven-peel was a pole with a broad flat end for thrusting loaves, pies, etc into a baker's oven and withdrawing them from it. Not knowing any bakers I don't know if the word is still in use.

Congeries

   
A congeries was a term once used for a collection of things merely heaped or piled together.

Sluggard

   
A sluggard is an idle slothful person.

"'Tis the voice of the sluggard;
I heard him complain,
You have waked me too soon,
I must slumber again."
Watts - the Divine Songs

Deipnosophist

   
A deipnosophist was one of an ancient group of philosophers, who engaged in learned dialogue at meals. The word is now occasionally used for a person skilled at informal, across-the-table small talk.

Alb

   
I knew that an alb was a long white priet's robe; a white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves worn by priests.

But I didn't know until the other day that an alb is also a flat or gently inclined shelf high in a glaciated mountain valley.

Blood libel

   
Blood libels are allegations that a person or group engages in human sacrifice, often accompanied by the claim that the blood of victims is used in various rituals and/or acts of cannibalism. Its use is nearly always with regard to sensationalized accusations and high emotions. Throughout history, these claims have been frequently made against Jews living in Europe and even resulted in lynching and persecution of whole Jewish communities.

It has recently been used by our modern Mrs Malaprop (she who coined refudiate last year) Sarah Palin. Pundits say that the reason this phrase has provoked so much anger is because Palin is using the phrase “blood libel” just to refer to verbal criticisms, implying an equivalence between both circumstances. The famous linguist Deborah Tannen has speculated that Palin and her advisors are totally unaware of blood libel’s proper meaning.

Misqueme

   
To misqueme is an obsolete verb meaning to displease or offend. I wish it were stil in use. I think "You misqueme me, my dear!" sounds wonderful.

Phrontistery

A phrontistery is an establishment for study and learning (sometimes including modern universities); a thinking place.

Sulky

 
Many people will know that sulky means huffish, sullen or moody.

But did you know that a sulky was a form of one-person horse-drawn light carriage in Victorian times or a low two-wheeled cart sometimes used in harness racing.  I have mentioned a few carriages in the past on this blog but I have just come across a great list for anyone who is interested on a site called phrontistery.