Wednesday's Random Slang-o-rama: Gallivant

With the lifting of various pandemic restrictions, it seems that many folks are eager to gallivant—that is (according to Merriam-Webster) "to travel, roam, or move about for pleasure."  A second, older definition that might also apply: "to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex."

Older, eh? And just how old, and from what corner of the etymological realm does gallivant hail?

Let us found out...

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Merriam-Webster has this explanation:

Back in the 14th century, a young man of fashion (or a ladies' man) was called a gallant. By the late 1600s, gallant was being used as a verb to describe the process a paramour used to win a lady's heart; to gallant became a synonym of "to court." Etymologists think that the spelling of the verb gallant was altered to create gallivant, which originally meant "to act as a gallant."

World Wide Words notes that gallivant hints of galloping about in frolicsome high spirits, and offers up an early Oxford English Dictionary definition: "to gad about in a showy fashion." Gad, it turns out, originates from gadling, an obsolete German word for a vagabond.

But I digress.

Turning to the Online Etymological Dictionary, I discover to my glee that they also reference the "gad about" definition, and provide a date for gallivant: 1809.

So, if you go gallivanting or gadding about, do take care and follow the precautions set out by various health organizations. We're not out of the pandemic woods yet!

Should you a-gallivanting go, be sure to wear your mask...
Masked Party in a Courtyard by Pietro Longhi, 1755 (St. Louis Art Museum)

Wednesday's Random Slang-o-rama: Give a wide berth

 When I'm out walking, I'm one of those folks who masks up--never mind the distance—and gives a wide berth to all I encounter. And now, having written that, I find myself asking: Is give a wide berth an idiom borne of the seafaring life?

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Answer: Yes it is!

Merriam-Webster Online explains that to give a wide berth means "to avoid or stay away from someone or something."

According to one of my favorite references, The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer, this expression, dating from the mid-1800s, alludes to the need to give a vessel enough room to swing at anchor to avoid a collision.

The Phrase Finder dives into a wide berth, noting:

We now think of a ship's berth as the place where the ship is moored. Before that though it meant 'a place where there is sea room to moor a ship'. This derives in turn from the probable derivation of the word berth, that is, 'bearing off'. When sailors were warned to keep a wide bearing off something they were being told to make sure to maintain enough sea room from it. Like many seafaring terms it dates back to the heyday of sail, the 17th century. An early use comes from the redoubtable Captain John Smith in Accidental Young Seamen, 1626: "Watch bee vigilant to keepe your berth to windward."

 By Peter Monamy - Art UK, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91972404

To give a wide berth, however, didn't appear until 1830, in the following ghostly passage of Sir Walter Scott's Letters on demonology and witchcraft: 

...He was pondering with some anxiety upon the dangers of travelling alone on a solitary road which passed the corner of a churchyard, now near at hand, when he saw before him in the moonlight a pale female form standing upon the very wall which surrounded the cemetery. The road was very narrow, with no opportunity of giving the apparent phantom what seamen call a wide berth. It was, however, the only path which led to the rider’s home, who therefore resolved, at all risks, to pass the apparition.

Hmmmm. The above pretty much describes my reaction when encountering unmasked personages on a narrow sidewalk or trail (although my perambulations take place in the light of day, and never involve passing a cemetery).

Now, let's just "sail away" for a bit, and enjoy this lovely hour-long compilation of toe-tamping sea shanties and sea-farin' folk songs. The first, a drinking song, is perfect for raising a glass or two today to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy!

Note that you can view the lyrics and sing along by clicking on CC (closed captions) icon on the YouTube video.

Join the Left Coast Crime (Virtual) Unconvention fun this Saturday, February 27

 

With the pandemic still with us, the Left Coast Crime convention has become the UNconvention this year. The Lefty Awards will, however, continue!

On Saturday, February 27, 2021, The Unconvention will host four online panels to introduce the 2021 Lefty Nominees and their books. The Lefty Award Nominee Webinar is free, but advance registration is required. For schedule and registration, click here.

I'll be appearing on the Best Historical Novel panel with the other nominees. Here's the list of panelists and their books for that session, which starts at 11:15 a.m., Pacific Time:

• Susanna Calkins, The Fate of a Flapper (Minotaur Books)
•  Dianne Freeman, A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder (Kensington Books)
•  Laurie R. King, Riviera Gold (Bantam Books)
•  Catriona McPherson, The Turning Tide (Quercus)
•  Ann Parker, Mortal Music (Poisoned Pen Press)
•  James W. Ziskin, Turn to Stone (Seventh Street Books)

The festivities start at 8:30 a.m., Pacific Time, with panels for Best Debut Novel and Best Novel followed by Best Historical Novel and wrapping up with Best Humorous Novel. So get registered for this FREE event, and get ready to bring your favorite cuppa, kick up your feet in front the screen, and add to your to-be-read piles. Hope to see you there!