Our Language

Our Language

Did you know it’s men we need to thank for certain words?

I’d lay a bet that all of them I’m sure you will have heard.

Matthew Coffin gave us all the famous funeral box.

Captain Frederick Bollard stopped dented ships on docks.

Within the fifteenth century lived a killer – Walter Strangle.*

Then women’s lives were bettered by the man named Herbert Mangle.

Matthais Easel’s idea made art easier it seemed

And guess what was devised by the Marquis de Latrine?

If you fancy going out to Binge upon a Curry

It’s Sir Oswald and Sir George who lent their names without a worry.

Walter Gadget was the man who thought of random toys

And Alfred Gasket helped out with the cars for bigger boys.

When next you spin upon your chair, remember Jonathon Swivel.

Matthew Pilchard – little fish. Honest, it’s not drivel!

Golfer, Horace Niblick’s club could chip as well as slice.

Nathaniel Bigot was a man who wasn’t very nice.

Alessandro Fiasco was followed by bad luck.

Geoffroy de Cissac, Sieur de Moustache said he wouldn’t pluck.

When eating at a party thank Pierre-Alphonse Buffet.

And if there’s entertainment thank Antoine Cabaret!

A man invented comfy shoes, his name was Auguste Sandal.

Sir Henry Scaffold’s name became synonymous with scandal!

Benoit de Chassis - the most clever bit of cars.

Friedrich von Wink, the cheekiest by far.

I could go on, the list is long, so many men to thank

For giving us so many words to keep in our think tanks!

JAM 29/05/2018

*Original spelling is Walter Strangel