precognition

precognition (countable and uncountable, plural precognitions)

/ˌpɹiːkɒɡˈnɪʃn̩/

Borrowed from Middle French precognition or its source, Latin praecognitio, from praecognōscō (“to know beforehand”). Equivalent to Germanic cognate foreknowledge and Greek-based cognate prognosis.

‘But it seems there are some strong presumptuous proofs against you, and I came to warn you this day that a precognition is in progress, and that unless you are perfectly convinced, not only of your innocence, but of your ability to prove it, it will be the safest course for you to abscond, and let the trial go on without you.’

1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner:

(Scots law) The practice of taking a factual statement from a witness before a trial.


MOD

Ministry of Defence
w:Ministry of Defence

(UK politics) Initialism of Ministry of Defence; also MoD.


half-crown

From its value of half of the crown (five-shilling) coin.

[…] though we play but half-crowns, you know you may bet half guineas with him.

1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 249:

Keeping, therefore, an eye to the main chance, stimulated by the best possible motive, Helen emptied her purse on the bed, in such a manner, as to allow a stray half sovereign to escape, when she added the shillings and half-crowns to the little heap, and said, in a tremulous voice, "Here is my money."

1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXIV, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 10:

Half-a-crown is known as an alderman, half a bull, half a tusheroon, and a madza caroon; whilst a crown piece, or five shillings, may be called either a bull, or a caroon, or a cartwheel, or a coachwheel, or a thick-un, or a tusheroon.

1859, J.C. Hotten, A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words:

This is a masterly work of condensation, omitting nothing of importance and providing a most readable book that for a modest half-crown is incredibly good value.

1962 October, “New Reading on Railways: Great Western. By Cecil J. Allen, Ian Allan. 2s 6d.”, in Modern Railways, unnumbered page:

(historical) A pre-decimal coin used in Britain, Ireland and New Zealand, equivalent to 30 pence or two shillings and six pence.

Half crown (British coin)
Half crown (Irish coin)


ha'penny

en-noun

ha'penny (plural ha'pennies or ha'pence)

The more a shop looks as though it trades in farthings and ha’pennies, the more tenners and twenties you can expect to hand over at the till.

2020 September 1, Tom Lamont, “The butcher's shop that lasted 300 years (give or take)”, in The Guardian:

(historical, Ireland, UK) A halfpenny; a former British and Irish coin.


man in the moon

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-man in the moon.wav

nb...

Waterloo Place, London Oxford and Cambridge

ref

See S[abine] Baring-Gould (1890) “The Man in the Moon”, in Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, London: Rivingtons […], →OCLC, pages 190–191.

Non eſt inventus: there's no ſuch man to be found; let them that have the commiſſion for the concealments looke after it, or the man in the moone put for it.

1596, Tho[mas] Nashe, “Dialogus”, in Haue with You to Saffron-Walden. Or, Gabriell Harveys Hunt is Up. […], London: […] John Danter, →OCLC; republished as J[ohn] P[ayne] C[ollier], editor, Have with You to Saffron-Walden (Miscellaneous Tracts; Temp. Eliz. and Jac. I), [London: s.n., 1870], →OCLC, page 131:

235. To whom did you say that you wanted a ticket for home?—The stranger. / 236. The Man in the Moon?—Yes. / […] / 245. And I may ask you, was it also included as one of the tickets in the amount that the Man in the Moon paid you?—[…]—Yes, it was; the last received by me.

1851 March 29, Edwin James, counsel for the petitioners, William Locke, witness, “Minutes of Evidence Taken before the Select Committee on the Aylesbury Election Petition”, in Reports from Committees: […], volume 6, [London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office], →OCLC, page 17:

There was a man named Moore, a stranger in the town, whose pedigree nobody could trace, and who was called the "Man in the Moon." He was thought to move about and dispose of money in a way which nobody could trace. He had received a sum of 500l., and out of that he had paid to Mr. Lang, innkeeper, a sum of 50l., and he did not vote at all. Next came a Thomas Stead, a shopkeeper, in Northgate, Wakefield, who had received 60l., which was paid to him by Dan Robinson, an understrapper to the "Man in the Moon." The money was thus traced to Moore, from him to Fernandes, and from him to the defendant and to Beckett's bank, where it had been placed by Mr. J[ohn] D[odgson] Charlesworth, the candidate.

1862, T[homas] Campbell Foster, W[illiam] F[rancis] Finlason, reporters, “Regina v. John Barff Charlesworth”, in Reports of Cases Decided at Nisi Prius and at the Crown Side on Circuit; with Select Decisions at Chambers, volume II (Hilary Vacation, 1860, to Hilary Vacation, 1862), London: V. & R. Stevens, Sons, & Haynes; Sweet; and Maxwell; […]; Dublin: Hodges, Smith & Co., […], →OCLC, page 330:

(obsolete, figurative) An imaginary person; also (UK politics, slang), an unidentified person who illegally pays for election expenditure and electors' expenses, as long as the latter vote as the person wishes.


Churchill

/ˈt͡ʃɜːt͡ʃɪl/

/ˈt͡ʃɜːɹt͡ʃɪl/

Any of several placenames, derived from church and hill.

An unincorporated community in Bureau County, Illinois, United States.

census-designated place
census-designated place

Liberty Township
Liberty Township#English

A census-designated place in Liberty Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, United States.

Allegheny County
Allegheny County#English

A borough of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States.


Gunpowder Plot

(British, historical) A failed conspiracy, in November 1605, to kill the Protestant king James I of England and VI of Scotland, and to blow up the House of Lords using gunpowder, annually commemorated on Guy Fawkes Day.


steeping

From the name of Stephen de Fulbourn, who served as bishop of Waterford, archbishop of Tuam, and treasurer and justiciar of Ireland in the 1270s and 1280s.

(historical, numismatics) A 13th-century coin circulated in Ireland as a debased sterling silver penny, outlawed under King Edward I.


Percival

From Old French Perceval, name of a knight in a twelfth century Arthurian romance by the French poet Chrétien de Troyes. Shaped like Old French percier (“pierce”) + val (“valley”), but probably representing some Gaulish or Old Welsh name, possibly related to Welsh Peredur, from ber (“spear, lance”) (from Middle Welsh ber, from Proto-Brythonic *ber, from Proto-Celtic *beru (“spit”)) + dur (“hard metal, steel”) (see Latin durus).
Cognate with German Parzival and Parsifal.

An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fremont County, Iowa, United States.


Fab Four

Given the rumours of rancour and rift, the unexpected show of unity between the one-time “Fab Four” of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan has been a masterstroke in ensuring the focus over the coming days of national mourning remains firmly fixed on the late Queen Elizabeth II and the new King Charles III.

2022 September 11, Caroline Davies, “William, Kate, Harry and Meghan put Firm above their differences”, in The Guardian:

(informal, UK politics) William, Kate, Harry & Meghan


commissary

From Late Latin commissarius, from commissus, past participle of committō (“to commit, entrust to”). Doublet of commissar.

(Scots law) The judge in a commissary court.


Whigs

(UK politics) An 18th- and 19th-century British political party that was opposed to the Tories, and became the Liberal Party.


SPGB

Socialist Party of Great Britain
w:Socialist Party of Great Britain

(UK politics) Initialism of Socialist Party of Great Britain.


reductive

en-adj

reductive (comparative more reductive, superlative most reductive)

more reductive (comparative)
most reductive (superlative)

From Middle French réductif, from Late Latin reductivus, from the participle stem of Latin reducere (“to reduce”).

(Scots law, now rare) Pertaining to the reduction of a decree etc.; rescissory.


cross-bench

(UK politics) A bench placed perpendicular to others, especially certain such benches in the House of Lords on which independent or neutral members traditionally sit.


cross-bench

cross-bench (comparative more cross-bench, superlative most cross-bench)

more cross-bench (comparative)
most cross-bench (superlative)

(UK politics) Of or pertaining to the cross-benches in the UK houses of parliament.


backwoodsman

(informal, UK politics) A Peer who is seldom present in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Parliament, who may be encouraged to attend when a very important vote is expected.


Blairism

(UK politics) The political ideology attributed to the governments of British Prime Minister Tony Blair


Brownism

(UK politics) The political ideology of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.


Brownite

From Brown + -ite, from the surname of Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister 2007-2010.

(UK politics, informal) A supporter of Gordon Brown, or his economic or political policies


Brownite

(UK politics) Of, or relating to Brownites, or Gordon Brown's government and policies.


Mordred

Alteration of Modred, from Latin Modredus, from Proto-Brythonic *Modrọd (whence Old Breton Modrot, Old Cornish Modred, Old Welsh Medraut), perhaps from Latin Moderātus.

(Arthurian legend) The illegitimate son of King Arthur, who ultimately killed him in battle.

莫德雷德

in Arthurian legend, the son of King Arthur


duplicando

(Scots law) Alternative form of duplicand


astricted

astricted (comparative more astricted, superlative most astricted)

more astricted (comparative)
most astricted (superlative)

(Scots law, historical, of land) From which corn must be sent to a particular mill, paying multure or thirlage on it.


pollard

From poll (“head, scalp”) + -ard. The coin sense derives from the original penny's uncrowned obverse bust, as opposed to the laurel-wreathed form appearing on the rosary. The verb derives from the noun.

The enclosure was indeed little beyond that of a good-sized paddock – its boundaries were visible on every side – but swelling uplands, covered with massy foliage sloped down to its wild irregular turf soil – soil poor for pasturage, but pleasant to the eye; with dell and dingle, bosks of fantastic pollards – dotted oaks of vast growth – here and there a weird hollow thorn-tree – patches of fern and gorse.

1857, Pisistratus Caxton [pseudonym; Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter I, in What will He Do with It? (Collection of British Authors; CCCCVII), Tauchnitz edition, volume I, Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, →OCLC, book II, page 140:

Only a little pollard hedge kept us from their blood-shot eyes.

1869, Richard Doddridge Blackmore, “Chapter 65”, in Lorna Doone:

Nothing was to be seen save flat meadows, cows feeding unconcernedly for the most part, and silvery pollard willows motionless in the warm sunlight.

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 98:

And at this place there was a long, straight causeway, with two long rows of pollard willows, one upon either hand.

1903, Howard Pyle, The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, Part III, Chapter Third, page 116

(often attributive) A pruned tree; the wood of such trees.

Squalius cephalus
Squalius cephalus#Translingual

Leuciscus cephalus
Leuciscus cephalus#Translingual

(obsolete, rare) A European chub (Squalius cephalus, syn. Leuciscus cephalus), a kind of fish.

(now Australia) A fine grade of bran including some flour. The fine cell layer between bran layers and endosperm, used for animal feed.

(numismatics, historical) A 13th-century European coin minted as a debased counterfeit of the sterling silver penny of Edward I of England, at first legally accepted as a halfpenny and then outlawed.


pollard

en-verb

pollard (third-person singular simple present pollards, present participle pollarding, simple past and past participle pollarded)

pollards (present singular third-person)
pollarding (participle present)
pollarded (participle past)
pollarded (past)

I didn't know one could pollard elms. I thought one only pollarded willows.

1910, Edward Morgan Forster, chapter 11, in Howards End:

As well as coppicing, other trees were pollarded, or lopped about 6 ft up the trunk so that the resulting growth was beyond the reach of grazing animals. Pollarding lengthens the life of trees, and the frequently made estimate '1,000 years old' could well be true of some sturdy old trunks.

1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 118:

Cutting back to the same position annually is usually referred to as pollarding; cutting nearly to the ground is usually called stooling. Both are good methods of controlling height and maintaining vigor on plants that would normally grow to a large size.

2011, Edward F. Gilman, An Illustrated Guide to Pruning, 3rd edition, Clifton Park, N.Y.: Delmar, Cengage Learning, →ISBN, page 411:

I walked up the path, passing under a heavily pollarded oak.

2019, Ian McEwan, Machines Like Me, Jonathan Cape, page 287:

(horticulture) To prune a tree heavily, cutting branches back to the trunk, so that it produces dense new growth.


remembrancer

In one respect at least the Corporation acts as the superior body: it imposes on the House of Commons a figure called the remembrancer: an official lobbyist who sits behind the Speaker's chair and ensures that, whatever our elected representatives might think, the City's rights and privileges are protected.

[2011 October 31, George Monbiot, “The medieval, unaccountable Corporation of London is ripe for protest”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

City of London Corporation
City of London Corporation

(UK politics) Alternative letter-case form of Remembrancer: an official of the City of London Corporation.


Remembrancer

(UK politics) Any of several former officials in the Court of Exchequer.

“Thank you. Tuesday evening, in four days’ time, Daedra West hosts a gathering, the venue yet to be announced. Possibly one of the guildhalls. Her guest list, so far, is interesting.” She looked at Lev. “The Remembrancer himself may be there. Lesser faces from the City.[…]

2014, William Gibson, The Peripheral, G. P. Putnam's Sons, →ISBN, page 222:

In particular, Harkaway told him about the unelected offices of the Lord Mayor and the City Remembrancer, who can be mistaken for figureheads but, in fact, have extensive powers.

2014 November 16, Ned Beauman, “William Gibson: ‘We always think of ourselves as the cream of creation’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(UK politics) A similar official of the City of London Corporation.


heritor

Compare Latin herator, from Latin heres (“an heir”).

The printed statement reads (abridged in parts):—
"To the Interested HERITORS in the Counties of Mid-Lothian, Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Berwick. […]

1951 February, Michael Robbins, “Sir Walter Scott and Two Early Railway Schemes”, in Railway Magazine, page 87:

(Scots law) A proprietor or landholder in a parish.


terce

en-noun

terce (countable and uncountable, plural terces)

Late Middle English, from Old French terce, from Latin tertia (“third; the third hour”).

(Scots law) A widow's right, where she has no conventional provision, to a liferent of a third of the husband's heritable property.


C of E

Lasdun’s parents were Jews who converted to the C of E, and Nasreen’s communications quickly became virulently anti-semitic […]

2013, Nick Richardson, “Internet-Enabled”, in London Review of Books, volume 35, number 8:

Church of England
Church of England#English


simpliciter

From the Latin simpliciter (“simply”, “plainly”), from simplex (“simple”).

The charge was reduced from aggravated assault to assault simpliciter.

Paragraph 68, Public Prosecutor v CJH ([2022] SGHC 303)
Leaving aside this report, I make the general observation firstly that the CA has pointed out in PP v UI [2008] 4 SLR(R) 500 […] that rape simpliciter "is already ‘an inherently odious and reprehensible act’… that exacts ‘irretrievable physical, emotional and psychological scars on [the] victim’”[…]

(philosophy, law, originally chiefly Scots law, Canadian law) Simply, absolutely; without any qualification or condition.


appraising

(Scots law, historical) Alternative form of apprising


apprising

(Scots law, historical) The appraisal of the value of goods, land, etc., often in order to pay the debts of a deceased person.


annate

(Scots law) The half-year's stipend payable for the vacant half-year after the death of a parish minister, to which his family or nearest of kin have right under an act of 1672.


Hundred Years' War

A series of conflicts between France and England, lasting 116 years from 1337 to 1453.


two-tier

two-tier policing

two-tier Keir (nickname for prime minister Keir Starmer)

(UK politics, derogatory) Giving preferential treatment to left-wingers over right-wingers.


redargue

en-verb

redargue (third-person singular simple present redargues, present participle redarguing, simple past and past participle redargued)

redargues (present singular third-person)
redarguing (participle present)
redargued (participle past)
redargued (past)

/ɹɪˈdɑːɡjuː/

From Late Middle English redarguen, redargue (“to defeat (someone) in an argument; to rebuke, reprove”), from Middle French redarguer and Old French redargüer (“to disprove, refute; to accuse, blame; to rebuke, reprove”) (modern French rédarguer), and from their etymon Latin redarguere (“to disprove, refute”) (compare Late Latin redarguere (“to rebuke, reprove”)), the present active infinitive of redarguō (“to disprove, refute; to contradict”), from red- (a variant of re- (prefix meaning ‘again’)) + arguō (“to assert, declare; to clarify, make plain; to prove, show; to accuse, charge with; to censure, rebuke, reprove; to blame; to denounce as false”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂erǵ- (“argent, white; glittering”), in the sense of casting light on something to make it clear). Doublet of argue.
Cognates
* Catalan redargüir
* Italian redarguire
* Old Occitan redarguir
* Portuguese redargüir
* Spanish redargüir

der

Dia[ph Silkworm]. Sir, Ile redargue you, / By diſputation. / Com[passe]. O let's heare this! / I long to heare a man diſpute in his ſhirt / Of valour, and his ſvvord dravvne in his hand.

1632 (first performance), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “The Magnetick Lady: Or, Humors Reconcil’d. A Comedy […]”, in The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. The Second Volume. […] (Second Folio), London: […] Richard Meighen, published 1640, →OCLC, Act III, scene vi, page 39:

To disprove or refute (someone) in an argument.

Nathaniel Carpenter [i.e., Nathanael Carpenter] late Fellow of Exceter Colledge in Oxford, in the ſecond booke and ſeventh chapter of his learned Geographicall concluſions, thus fully redargues that forgerie.

1635, George Hakewill, “Touching Grammar, Rhetorique, Logicke, the Mathematiques, Philosophy, Architecture, the Arts of Painting and Navigation”, in An Apologie or Declaration of the Power and Providence of God in the Government of the World. […], 3rd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] William Turner […], →OCLC, book III, section 4 (Of the Art of Navigation, […]), page 310:

[T]he objections you mention, I humbly conceive, are ſuch as may be redargued, if not entirely removed— […]

1771, [Tobias Smollett], “To Mr. Henry Davis, Bookseller, in London”, in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker […], volume I, London: […] W. Johnston, […]; and B. Collins, […], →OCLC, pages v–vi:

To rebut or refute (an argument, a proposition, etc.).


fourpence

A former British silver coin, worth four pence.


JM

(UK politics, slang) Initialism of John Major, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997.


Roundhead

From round + head, from their short-cropped hairstyle.

(informal, historical) A supporter of parliament during the English Civil War.


Lancelot

en-proper noun

Lancelot (countable and uncountable, plural Lancelots)

From Middle English Launcelot, from Old French Lancelot, from Frankish *Lanzo, hypocoristic form of names beginning in *Land-, from Proto-Germanic *landą (“land”), and diminutive Old French endings -el and -ot.
Related to Old English Landbeorht (modern English Lambert).

(Arthurian legend) One of the Knights of the Round Table, a lover of Guinevere.


Lancelot

French: Lancelot


Lancelot

head

Lancelot m (nominative singular Lanceloz)

Middle French: Lancelot

From Frankish *Lanzo, hypocoristic form of names beginning in *Land-, from Proto-Germanic *landą (“land”), and diminutive Old French endings -el and -ot.
Cognate with Old English Landbeorht (modern English Lambert).


astrict

en-verb

astrict (third-person singular simple present astricts, present participle astricting, simple past and past participle astricted)

astricts (present singular third-person)
astricting (participle present)
astricted (participle past)
astricted (past)

Latin astrictus, past participle of astringere. See astringe.

to astrict lands


Number 10

There are honourable people in the government and principled advisers working in Number 10, even if their unheralded service is obscured by the crass antics of spin doctors and the demagoguery of some ministers.

2009 April 23, Bagehot, “Who's Nasty Now?”, in The Economist, page 61:

10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street#English

(UK politics) Synonym of 10 Downing Street.


eightpence

[…] I went for a night to a lodging-house in Bow, where the charge was only eightpence.

1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XXV, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz […], →OCLC:

(historical, numismatics) A former coin worth eight pence; the monetary amount of eight pence.


advocation

en-noun

advocation (countable and uncountable, plural advocations)

From Latin advocātiō. Doublet of advowson.

(Scots law) The process of removing a cause from an inferior court to the supreme court.


CON

Conservative Party
w:Conservative Party (UK)

(UK politics) Abbreviation of Conservative Party.


Chancellor of the Exchequer

cabinet minister
cabinet minister#English

The official title held by the British cabinet minister, who is responsible for all governmental economic and financial matters, including the treasury.

財政大臣 /财政大臣

minister responsible for governmental finances and treasury


circumduction

circumduction (countable and uncountable, plural circumductions)


Avalon

From Latin Avallōnia and īnsula Avallōnis, from Proto-Brythonic *aβal (“apple”), from Proto-Celtic *abūl, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ébōl.

(Arthurian legend) An island, represented as an earthly paradise in the western seas, to which King Arthur and other heroes were carried at death.

Avalon

earthly paradise in the western seas, in the Arthurian legend


Avalon

(Arthurian legend) Avalon (earthly paradise in the western seas)


SEU

Social Exclusion Unit
w:Social Exclusion Unit

(UK politics, historical) Initialism of Social Exclusion Unit.


first minister

The Welsh first minister has defended his decision to travel to Qatar for the World Cup, saying he feels that the citizens of Wales want their country’s leader there despite concerns about human rights and working conditions.

2022 November 20, Steven Morris, “Welsh first minister defends trip to World Cup in Qatar”, in The Guardian:

Yousaf is almost certain to be confirmed as Scotland’s next first minister in a nominal vote at Holyrood on Tuesday but now has to bridge those divides by bringing the SNP’s warring wings together.

2023 March 27, Severin Carrell, Libby Brooks, “Humza Yousaf elected leader of Scottish National party”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(UK politics) A leader of a devolved government such as Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.


surrogatum

1800s. Latin, neuter singular of surrogatus

(Scots law) A thing put in the place of another; a substitute.


adminicle

From Latin adminiculum (“support pole”).


half-noble

An ancient unit of currency of England, equivalent to half a noble.


Graalin malja

Graalin malja (nominative singular)
Graalin malja (accusative nominative singular)
Graalin maljan (accusative genitive singular)
Graalin maljan (genitive singular)
Graalin maljaa (partitive singular)
Graalin maljassa (inessive singular)
Graalin maljasta (elative singular)
Graalin maljaan (illative singular)
Graalin maljalla (adessive singular)
Graalin maljalta (ablative singular)
Graalin maljalle (allative singular)
Graalin maljana (essive singular)
Graalin maljaksi (singular translative)
Graalin maljatta (abessive singular)
See the possessive forms below. (comitative)
Graalin maljani (nominative singular)
Graalin maljani (accusative nominative singular)
Graalin maljani (accusative genitive singular)
Graalin maljani (genitive singular)
Graalin maljaani (partitive singular)
Graalin maljassani (inessive singular)
Graalin maljastani (elative singular)
Graalin maljaani (illative singular)
Graalin maljallani (adessive singular)
Graalin maljaltani (ablative singular)
Graalin maljalleni (allative singular)
Graalin maljanani (essive singular)
Graalin maljakseni (singular translative)
Graalin maljattani (abessive singular)
Graalin maljasi (nominative singular)
Graalin maljasi (accusative nominative singular)
Graalin maljasi (accusative genitive singular)
Graalin maljasi (genitive singular)
Graalin maljaasi (partitive singular)
Graalin maljassasi (inessive singular)
Graalin maljastasi (elative singular)
Graalin maljaasi (illative singular)
Graalin maljallasi (adessive singular)
Graalin maljaltasi (ablative singular)
Graalin maljallesi (allative singular)
Graalin maljanasi (essive singular)
Graalin maljaksesi (singular translative)
Graalin maljattasi (abessive singular)
Graalin maljamme (nominative singular)
Graalin maljamme (accusative nominative singular)
Graalin maljamme (accusative genitive singular)
Graalin maljamme (genitive singular)
Graalin maljaamme (partitive singular)
Graalin maljassamme (inessive singular)
Graalin maljastamme (elative singular)
Graalin maljaamme (illative singular)
Graalin maljallamme (adessive singular)
Graalin maljaltamme (ablative singular)
Graalin maljallemme (allative singular)
Graalin maljanamme (essive singular)
Graalin maljaksemme (singular translative)
Graalin maljattamme (abessive singular)
Graalin maljanne (nominative singular)
Graalin maljanne (accusative nominative singular)
Graalin maljanne (accusative genitive singular)
Graalin maljanne (genitive singular)
Graalin maljaanne (partitive singular)
Graalin maljassanne (inessive singular)
Graalin maljastanne (elative singular)
Graalin maljaanne (illative singular)
Graalin maljallanne (adessive singular)
Graalin maljaltanne (ablative singular)
Graalin maljallenne (allative singular)
Graalin maljananne (essive singular)
Graalin maljaksenne (singular translative)
Graalin maljattanne (abessive singular)
Graalin maljansa (nominative singular)
Graalin maljansa (accusative nominative singular)
Graalin maljansa (accusative genitive singular)
Graalin maljansa (genitive singular)
Graalin maljaansa (partitive singular)
Graalin maljassaan (inessive singular)
Graalin maljassansa (inessive singular)
Graalin maljastaan (elative singular)
Graalin maljastansa (elative singular)
Graalin maljaansa (illative singular)
Graalin maljallaan (adessive singular)
Graalin maljallansa (adessive singular)
Graalin maljaltaan (ablative singular)
Graalin maljaltansa (ablative singular)
Graalin maljalleen (allative singular)
Graalin maljallensa (allative singular)
Graalin maljanaan (essive singular)
Graalin maljanansa (essive singular)
Graalin maljakseen (singular translative)
Graalin maljaksensa (singular translative)
Graalin maljattaan (abessive singular)
Graalin maljattansa (abessive singular)


three-line whip

three-line whip (plural three-line whips)

From the triple underlining of very important votes on “the whip” — a document detailing upcoming business distributed weekly to British MPs by party managers.

Since the metaphysical status of egg-casing is not one on which the church has yet pronounced, opposition appears based on "yuck" and nothing else. But yuck has become diktat, with Catholic MPs up to cabinet level being given a three-line whip by their bishops.

2008 April 12, Simon Jenkins, Richard Harries, “Atheist versus Bishop”, in The Guardian:

Deputy Chief Whip Craig Whittaker told them it will be a “100% hard” three-line whip, saying: “This is not a motion on fracking. This is a confidence motion in the Government.”

2022 October 19, Ashley Cowburn, quoting Craig Whittaker, “Liz Truss declares fracking vote tonight a ‘confidence motion’ in her government”, in Mirror:

(UK politics) A directive to MPs from party leaders to vote in a particular way in parliament, despite what the MP might believe or what his or her constituents might like.


spad

SPAD Special Advisor

1997 November 11, Reddy Hannah with Wimbush, Angela and Linesberry, Debbie, “Abbreviations and Acronyms”, in Dr. Russell G. Swenson, editor, Defense and Intelligence Abbreviations and Acronyms, Washington, DC: Joint Military Intelligence College, archived from the original on 2017-09-18, page 192:

A successful stint as a spad can be a crucial political apprenticeship - as many of the current crop of professional politicians including the Miliband brothers, David Cameron and George Osborne can testify - so long as they stay in the dark.

2009, Ben Wright, Hidden world of the political advisers, BBC:

The hit BBC sitcom satirising the inner workings of Whitehall and the so-called spads contains "more than a grain of truth", the head of the cross-party public administration select committee has warned.

2012, Avoid The Thick of It-style spad appointments, ministers told, The Guardian

(UK politics, informal) A government adviser, often in a political or media role.


early day motion

early day motion (plural early day motions)

(UK politics) A formal motion submitted for debate in the House of Commons.


Jacobite

From Latin Jācōbus (“James”) + -ite, equivalent to Jacob + -ite.

Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church

(Christianity, dated) A member of the Syriac Orthodox Church, or historically any miaphysite or monophysite. [from 15th c.]


Thatcherize

en-verb

Thatcherize (third-person singular simple present Thatcherizes, present participle Thatcherizing, simple past and past participle Thatcherized)

Thatcherizes (present singular third-person)
Thatcherizing (participle present)
Thatcherized (participle past)
Thatcherized (past)

From Thatcher + -ize, named after British prime minister Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013).

named-after

Throughout the 1980s, she had been Thatcherizing the Cabinet.

1991, Bruce Anderson, John Major: The Making of the Prime Minister:

This Thatcherized ethos showed how easily militant economism worked against the Left, once the postwar settlement's corporatist scaffolding was gone […]

(transitive, UK politics) To subject to Thatcherism.

(transitive) To modify (an image) by partial inversion, so that it triggers the Thatcher effect in observers.


Adullamite

From Adullam + -ite, in the political sense from a speech by John Bright in Parliament on 13 March 1866 deriding the anti-reformist faction of Edward Horsman as a “Cave of Adullam”, i.e. a group of malcontents.

(UK politics, historical) A member of the anti-reform faction of the British Liberal Party in the 19th century.


PCC

parochial church council
parochial church council#English

(Church of England) Initialism of parochial church council.


jakobita

jakobita (nominative singular)
jakobici (nominative plural)
jakobity (derogatory nominative plural)
jakobity (genitive singular)
jakobitów (genitive plural)
jakobicie (dative singular)
jakobitom (dative plural)
jakobitę (accusative singular)
jakobitów (accusative plural)
jakobitą (instrumental singular)
jakobitami (instrumental plural)
jakobicie (locative singular)
jakobitach (locative plural)
jakobito (singular vocative)
jakobici (plural vocative)

(Christianity) Jacobite (member of the sect of Syrian Monophysites)

(historical, politics) Jacobite (supporter of the restoration of the Stuart kings)


fata Morgana

Czech: fata morgána

English: Fata Morgana

desc

Φάτα Μοργκάνα

Greek: Φάτα Μοργκάνα (Fáta Morgkána)

Portuguese: Fata Morgana

(Arthurian legend) Morgan le Fay (half-sister of King Arthur)


Labourite

(UK politics) a member or supporter of the British Labour Party, the left wing party of Great Britain


disproven

(archaic, Scots law) Not proven, in a legal case where the jury verdict has inconclusive evidence for conviction, but sufficient to suspect guilt


condescendence

en-noun

condescendence (countable and uncountable, plural condescendences)

From French condescendance, from condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere (“to let oneself down, stoop, condescend”), from Latin com- (“together”) + descendere (“to come down”). See condescend.

der

(Scots law) An articulate statement annexed to a summons, setting forth the allegations in fact upon which an action is founded.


Thatcherist

(UK politics) A proponent of Thatcherism.


Thatcherization

From Thatcher + -ization, named after British prime minister Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013).


SNP

(UK politics) Initialism of Scottish National Party.


Churchillian

en-adj

Churchillian (comparative more Churchillian, superlative most Churchillian)

more Churchillian (comparative)
most Churchillian (superlative)

/t͡ʃɜː(ɹ)ˈt͡ʃɪli.ən/

Barton was gorillian of build, all of it muscle, and Churchillian of jaw, all of it stubborn, but for all that amazingly good at not trampling over the authority of village elders.

1998, Dana Stabenow, Fire and Ice, page 77:

They are Churchillian theme parks of red pillar boxes, fish and chips and warm beer. But they want the smooth without the rough. When the neighbours cut up nasty, they demand that those whose taxes protect them should send soldiers, diplomats and lawyers to their aid.

2013 August 14, Simon Jenkins, “Gibraltar and the Falklands deny the logic of history”, in The Guardian:

Why, [Jacob Rees-]Mogg even offers the same shtick: Etonian accent, Latin tags, supposedly lovable Wodehousian eccentricity, sub-Churchillian evocation of the glorious past of this island race.

2017 October 4, Jonathan Freedland, “Boorish Boris: Johnson’s Libya joke is proof he cannot do his job”, in The Guardian:

Boris Johnson's speech to the nation on Sunday May 10 was rambly, incoherent, and he failed dismally in his attempt to sound Churchillian.

2020 May 20, Christian Wolmar, “Clarity is required on social distancing and the railways”, in Rail, page 50:

Of or pertaining to Winston Churchill (1874–1965), English statesman and author, or to his policies, speeches, or writings.


NuLab

New Labour rendered in Orwellian Newspeak.

We are totally opposed to the creeping privatisation of these services which NuLab has indicated it will commence once this election is safely out of the way.

2001, Patrick Harrington, Cliff Morrison, Third Way Manifesto:

(UK, informal, derogatory, UK politics) New Labour.


commixtion

en-noun

commixtion (countable and uncountable, plural commixtions)

From Middle English commixtion, from Middle French commixtion, and its source, Latin commixtiōnem, from commiscēre (“to mix”).

(Roman law, Scots law) A method of acquiring property by mixing or blending substances belonging to different proprietors.


two bob

(UK, Australia, obsolete) Two shillings; a florin.


Excalibur

From Middle English Excalaber, from Old French Escalibor, Escaliborc, prothetic form of Calliborc, alteration of Calibourne, from Medieval Latin Caliburnus (Geoffrey of Monmouth, ca. 1136), influenced by calibs (“steel”) (for chalybs), alteration of Old Welsh Caledbulch (compare modern Caledfwlch), compound of caled (“hard”) and bwlch (“cleft, crack”). Related to the Irish legendary sword Caladbolg, literally ‘hard-belly’, i.e. ‘voracious’.

Until recently, suppression of ethnicity has perhaps been the leading characteristic of the trend of thought of these Jewish intellectuals. Some, like Noam Chomsky and I. F. Stone, have been considered by some Jews to be so suppressed—or at least so overcompensating for their being Jewish—as to be regarded as anti-Semitic on some issues. Such men flaunt their universalism like Excaliburs of truth and objectivity.

1974, Stephen D. Isaacs, Jews and American Politics, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company, Inc., →ISBN, page 53:

And we would see fish swimming among the tall bulrushes that rose like Excaliburs out of the lake.

1998, Imogen Stubbs, “The Undiscovered Road: Northumberland”, in Dea Birkett, Sara Wheeler, editors, Amazonian: The Penguin Book of Women’s New Travel Writing, Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 228:

You and I, we are not alone, and our screwdrivers are our flashing Excaliburs as we sally forth to make small parts of the fragmented world whole again.

2017, James May, The Reassembler, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN, page 19:

(Arthurian legend) The legendary sword of King Arthur, having magical properties.


Excalibur

Excalibur (nominative singular)
Excaliburu (genitive singular)
Excaliburowi (dative singular)
Excalibur (accusative singular)
Excaliburem (instrumental singular)
Excaliburze (locative singular)
Excaliburze (singular vocative)

Unadapted borrowing from English Excalibur.


Excalibur

(Arthurian legend) Excalibur (King Arthur’s sword)


CMA

Indeed, the more common complaint is that the regulator is too willing to accept an acquirer’s proposed remedies to competition concerns. Microsoft tried the remedy route with Activision but the CMA, unusually, wasn’t convinced. Tough.

2023 April 27, Nils Pratley, “Ignore Microsoft’s whines about the Activision takeover. The CMA did its job”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Competition and Markets Authority
w:Competition and Markets Authority

(UK politics) Initialism of Competition and Markets Authority.


Thatcheresque

en-adj

Thatcheresque (comparative more Thatcheresque, superlative most Thatcheresque)

more Thatcheresque (comparative)
most Thatcheresque (superlative)

Reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), former British prime minister, or her policies.


IEA

"The European economic and welfare model – I think it's over," says Mark Littlewood, director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), like the CPS a veteran British free-market thinktank reinvigorated by current possibilities.

2012 August 22, Andy Beckett, “Britannia Unchained: the rise of the new Tory right”, in The Guardian:

Institute of Economic Affairs
w:Institute of Economic Affairs

(UK politics, economics) Initialism of Institute of Economic Affairs: a British neoliberal think tank.


tenpence

(rare, British, Ireland) A coin worth ten new pence.


SPAD

(UK politics, informal) Alternative form of spad (“special advisor in government”)


Iseult

Old French, the name of the queen who fell in love with Tristan in medieval romance Tristan and Iseult, perhaps from Celtic, of uncertain meaning, possibly Proto-Brythonic *Adsiltia (“she who is gazed upon”); compare Welsh syllu and Irish súil. Otherwise from Germanic, equivalent to Old High German is (“ice”) + hiltja (“battle”) (from Proto-West Germanic *hildi).

der

Just as he finished, the daughter came in, Iseult. A name out of the past, a darkly Celtic presence: jet-black hair, the same as Minogue had had, tall.

1988, John Brady, A Stone of the Heart, St Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 9:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Isolde

Borrowed from the German Isolde, German form of Iseult.

A female given name from the Celtic languages or the Germanic languages


10 Downing Street

(UK politics) The address of the residence in London of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

[…] he declared from early in his life that he intended to be viceroy of India, as a natural stepping-stone on his way to 10 Downing Street.

2001, Trevor Owen Lloyd, Empire: the history of the British Empire, →ISBN, page 138:

(UK politics, by extension, metonymically) The title or office of the Prime Minister.

[…] explicitly clear, in the way that 10 Downing Street has made it clear in the case of city academies, that it is perfectly legitimate to put people in the House of Lords […]

2006, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee, Propriety and Honours: Interim Findings; Fourth Report of Session 2005-06, volume 29, →ISBN, page 23:

(by extension, metonymically) The government of the United Kingdom.


unlaw

en-verb

unlaw (third-person singular simple present unlaws, present participle unlawing, simple past and past participle unlawed)

unlaws (present singular third-person)
unlawing (participle present)
unlawed (participle past)
unlawed (past)

(transitive, obsolete, Scots law) To fine.


pupillarity

Borrowed from Medieval Latin pūpillāritās.

(Scots law) The period before puberty, or from birth to fourteen in males, and twelve in females


Holyrood

From Middle English Holy Rood, Holyrode, holy-rode, holy roode, hali rode, halgorode, equivalent to holy + rood (“crucifix, cross”).
The town in Newfoundland is named after a location near Crewkerne, Somerset.

But Matheson has indicated that the Scottish Government will not be responding to the consultation because transport policy in Scotland is a matter for ministers at Holyrood and not at Westminster.

2020 December 16, “Network News: Scotland set to snub Johnson's Union Connectivity Review”, in RAIL, page 21:

Yousaf is almost certain to be confirmed as Scotland’s next first minister in a nominal vote at Holyrood on Tuesday but now has to bridge those divides by bringing the SNP’s warring wings together.

2023 March 27, Severin Carrell, Libby Brooks, “Humza Yousaf elected leader of Scottish National party”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(UK politics, by extension, metonymically) The Scottish Parliament.


dominium

dominium (nominative singular)
dominia (nominative plural)
dominium (genitive singular)
dominiów (genitive plural)
dominium (dative singular)
dominiom (dative plural)
dominium (accusative singular)
dominia (accusative plural)
dominium (instrumental singular)
dominiami (instrumental plural)
dominium (locative singular)
dominiach (locative plural)
dominium (singular vocative)
dominia (plural vocative)

Learned borrowing from Latin dominium. Doublet of domena (“domain”).

(historical) dominion (one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire)


adminiculate

adminiculate (third-person singular simple present adminiculates, present participle adminiculating, simple past and past participle adminiculated)

adminiculates (present singular third-person)
adminiculating (participle present)
adminiculated (participle past)
adminiculated (past)

(transitive, Scots law) To prove; to corroborate.


absolvitor

Borrowed from Latin absolvitor (literally “let him be acquitted”), the third-person singular future passive imperative form of absolvō (“I absolve, acquit, or declare innocent”). Compare absolutory.

bor

Pitmedden purſues Seaton of Menzies as Repreſenting his Father, who was one of the Purſuers Brothers Tutors, for his Fathers Intromiſſion with the Pupils Means, who alleadged Abſolvitor.

1668 December 19, James Dalrymple, “Mr. Alexander Seaton contra Menzies” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), page 575

The Dictionary of the Scots Language
w:Dictionary of the Scots Language

Scottish Language Dictionaries
w:Scottish Language Dictionaries

(Scots law) A decision or decree made by a court in favour of the defendant in a given action; dismissal.


plagium

en-noun

plagium (usually uncountable, plural plagiums)

From Latin plagium (“kidnapping”), compare plagiarism, probably from plaga (“a net, snare, trap”).

(Scots law) abduction, especially of a child


lenocinium

Borrowed from Latin lenocinium (“pimping, prostitution”).

bor

(Scots law) A husband's connivance at his wife's adultery.


liferent

en-noun

liferent (countable and uncountable, plural liferents)

The said William Aitken, being of new solemnly sworn, &c., depones he is a Burgess of Hawick, and had the property of a house which he now liferents, the fee being disponed to his son-in-law, Bailie Robert Scot, for the use of his son William, his daughter, Bailie Scot's wife, having paid the price of the house; depones sixty years ago Gilbert Elliot was tenant in Nether Southfield, who broke Hawick Common by plowing a part of it, which the Deponent saw at the Common-Riding when the Magistrates and other persons at the Common-Riding potched the ground he had plowed, and was then sown that he might not reap the crop of this.

1898, R. S. Craig, Adam Laing, The Hawick Tradition of 1514: The Town's Common Flag and Seal, page 240:

(Scots law) The right to receive for life the benefits of a property or other asset, without the right to dispose of it.


reprobator

(Scots law, historical) An old form of action to prove a witness to be perjured or biased.


Williamite

Episode 12, The Cyclops
We fought for the royal Stuarts that reneged us against the Williamites and they betrayed us.

(historical) A follower of King William III of England who deposed King James II in the Glorious Revolution.

Clann Bhullaí ('the Williamites')

a follower of King William III of England


unstar

en-verb

unstar (third-person singular simple present unstars, present participle unstarring, simple past and past participle unstarred)

unstars (present singular third-person)
unstarring (participle present)
unstarred (participle past)
unstarred (past)

(transitive, UK politics) To demote a question from an oral one to a written one (because oral questions are conventionally marked with a star on the Order of Business in the House of Commons).


ΠΒ

Initialism of Πρόεδρος (Próedros) της (tis) Βουλής (Voulís).

(UK politics) Speaker of the House of Commons


commodate

Latin commodatum (“something lent, a loan”).


NIO

Stormont officials spelled out linguistic pitfalls that could offend nationalists and unionists in a 164-page guidance document for Mandelson and other new NIO ministers.

2023 August 23, Rory Carroll, “Files reveal terms ministers were warned not to use in Northern Ireland”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Northern Ireland Office
w:Northern Ireland Office

(UK politics) Initialism of Northern Ireland Office.


feal

Middle Scots: feall, fiall

Scots: feal, feele (obsolete)

→ English: feal

Probably borrowed from Anglo-Norman feal (“faithful”), earlier fedeil, from Latin fidēlis; compare feaute.
In Middle English, reinterpreted as fe (“fee”) + -al, influencing both the sense and form.

bor+

A stipend or allowance given to someone.


Conservative Party

Margaret Thatcher, leader of the Conservative Party, was Britain's first female Prime Minister.

(UK politics) A centre-right political party, official full name Conservative and Unionist Party, informally known as the Tory Party or Tories.


LAB

(UK politics) Abbreviation of Labour Party.


warrandice

(Scots law) A form of warranty in which a person conveying property is held liable for any outstanding claims on the property.


inbring

en-verb

inbring (third-person singular simple present inbrings, present participle inbringing, simple past and past participle inbrought)

inbrings (present singular third-person)
inbringing (participle present)
inbrought (participle past)
inbrought (past)

From Middle English inbringen, from Old English inbringan (“to bring in, bring to, present”), equivalent to in- + bring. Cognate with Scots inbring (“to inbring, import”), Dutch inbrengen (“to bring in”), German einbringen (“to introduce, bring in”), Swedish inbringa (“to bring in, fetch”).

cog

(transitive, Scots law) To bring in by legal authority; produce in court; confiscate (the goods of a condemned criminal).


Johnsonian

en-adj

Johnsonian (comparative more Johnsonian, superlative most Johnsonian)

more Johnsonian (comparative)
most Johnsonian (superlative)

/d͡ʒɒnˈsəʊnɪ.ən/

To stop no-deal, MPs must adopt some Johnsonian ruthlessness and be ready to bring down the prime minister and put someone else, probably Jeremy Corbyn, in his place.

2019 August 29, “The Guardian view on Johnson v parliament: an unelective dictatorship”, in The Guardian:

(UK politics) Of or pertaining to Boris Johnson (born 1964), English politician and prime minister of the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2022.


Number Ten

Coordinate term: Number 11

(UK politics, colloquial) Synonym of 10 Downing Street


skaith

en-noun

skaith (countable and uncountable, plural skaiths)

[…] the Commissioners of Burghs... meet yearly at Inverkeithing “to treat of the welfare of merchandize, the good rule and statutes for the common profit of burghs, and to provide for remeid upon the skaith and injuries sustained within the burghs.”

1878, William Charles Smith, "Borough" in the Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. IV, p. 64

There never yet was Englishman
That came to skaith by me.

1904, William Edmonstoune Aytoun, The Bon Gaultier Ballads:

(Scots law, obsolete) Alternative form of scathe (“damage”)


SLD

Scottish Liberal Democrats
w:Scottish Liberal Democrats

(UK politics) Initialism of Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Social and Liberal Democrats
w:Social and Liberal Democrats

(UK politics) Initialism of Social and Liberal Democrats the former name of the Liberal Democrats.


Cleggmania

Before the debate the Daily Telegraph, a Conservative-leaning newspaper, had tried to prick the Cleggmania bubble by running a story alleging that Clegg had received payments from party donors directly into his private bank account.

2010, John Bartle, Nicholas Allen, Britain at the Polls 2010, page 192:

Cleggmania briefly hit Orpington but we need to call our voters and tell them to stick to the blue corner[…]

2011, Rachel Johnson, A Diary of The Lady: My First Year As Editor:

(UK politics, informal) Enthusiasm for British Liberal Democrat politician Nick Clegg.


decree arbitral

decree arbitral (plural decrees arbitral)

(Scots law) An award made by an arbiter.


Morgana

(Arthurian legend) Morgaine (Morgan le Fay).


Morgana

From Old Welsh or Old Breton Morgen (a female given name unrelated with the male one Morgan, literally “sea-born”).

der

a female given name unrelated with the male one <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">Morgan</i>

(Arthurian legend) Ellipsis of fata Morgana; Morgan le Fay (half-sister of King Arthur)


Morgana

/moʁˈɡɐ̃.nɐ/

[moɦˈɡɐ̃.nɐ]

/moʁˈɡɐ̃.nɐ/

[moɦˈɡɐ̃.nɐ]

/moɾˈɡɐ̃.nɐ/

/moʁˈɡɐ̃.nɐ/

(Arthurian legend) Morgan le Fay (half-sister of King Arthur)


PEP

Coordinate term: PSI

Come a survey like last week’s PEP report on the extent of race prejudice, and another such wave looks like jogging the Government into introducing legislation dealing with housing and employment.

1967, “Researchers find widespread discrimination and prejudice against immigrants to Britain”, in The Observer:

Political and Economic Planning
w:Political and Economic Planning

(UK politics, historical) Initialism of Political and Economic Planning, a British policy think tank.


decreet

(Scots law) The final judgment of the Court of Session, or of an inferior court, by which the question at issue is decided.


onerosity

From onerous + -ity, from Latin onerositas.

It may be presumed to be a necessary ingredient in onerosity, that the obligation to be fulfilled is a legal one.

1845, John Hill Burton, The Law of Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Mercantile Sequestration, in Scotland, W. Tait, page 145:

(Scots law) The legal state of affairs resulting from being done or given in return for receipt of something of value.


Wilsonian

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Wilsonian.wav

(UK politics) Of or relating to British politician Harold Wilson or his policies.


Peelite

From Peel + -ite, after Sir Robert Peel.

(UK politics, historical) One of a breakaway faction of the British Conservative Party in the nineteenth century, characterised by a commitment to free trade and a managerial, almost technocratic, approach to government.


decern

en-verb

decern (third-person singular simple present decerns, present participle decerning, simple past and past participle decerned)

decerns (present singular third-person)
decerning (participle present)
decerned (participle past)
decerned (past)

First attested in late Middle English circa 1425; from the French décerner, from the Latin dēcernō (“I decide, pronounce a decision”), from dē (“of, from, away from”) + cernō (“I separate, distinguish”), whence the English cern. In Old French, the forms of décerner were frequently conflated with those of descerner, discerner; the two verbs were not clearly distinguished until the 16th century; hence, in English also, decern is found with the sense discern.

der

(transitive, Scots law) Decree by judicial sentence.

Decide; determine; decree.
Decree by judicial sentence.
with simple object

Decree by judicial sentence that something be done.

He purſued Andrew Houſtoun upon his promiſe, to give him the like Sallary for the next year, and in abſence obtained him to be holden as confeſt and Decerned.

1668 July 3rd, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), pages 547–548

Decree a person etc. to be or to do something by judicial sentence.  (in the phrase “to decern in”, obsolete) To mulct in by decree of court.

Decide; determine; decree.
Decree by judicial sentence.
intransitive

transferred sense
transferred sense#English

Decide; determine; decree.
Decree by judicial sentence.
transferred sense


Merlyn

English: Merlin

From Medieval Latin Merlinus and Old French Merlin. Forms ending in -ion, -yon are hypercorrections due to the change of merlioun to merlyn.


disgradation

(Scots law, obsolete) degradation; a stripping of titles and honours


rerefief

From French arrière-fief. See rear (“hinder”), and fief.

by these means the feodal polity was greatly extended; these inferior feudatories (who held what are called in the Scots law "rerefiefs") being under similar obligations of fealty

1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC:

(Scots law, historical) A fief held of a superior feudatory; a fief held by an undertenant.


oversman

(Scots law) An umpire; a third arbiter, appointed when two arbiters disagree.


tailzie

From French tailler (“to cut”). See tail (“a limitation”). For the z, compare etymology of English Mackenzie.

(historical, Scots law) An entailment or deed whereby the legal course of succession is cut off, and an arbitrary one substituted.


blanch holding

And be it enacted, That all Tenures of any Lands or Heretages in Scotland, that are now held or liable or be held of his Majesty by Ward Holding, whether simple or taxed Ward, are hereby enacted to be turned into Blanch Holding […]

1876, Hugh Cowan, The Land Rights of Scotland: Being a Collection of the Entail, Conveyancing, and Other Statutes Relating to Land:

(Scots law, historical) A mode of tenure by the payment of a small duty in white rent (silver) or otherwise.


obtemper

en-verb

obtemper (third-person singular simple present obtempers, present participle obtempering, simple past and past participle obtempered)

obtempers (present singular third-person)
obtempering (participle present)
obtempered (participle past)
obtempered (past)

and after reading thereof, enquir'd at him, if he would obtemper the famin; to which he answer'd, That he could not comply with, or would he obtemper the said Sentence

1712, Charles Nice Davies, The Present State of the Parties in Great Britain:

(Scots law, transitive) To obey (a judgement or decree).


backbond

(Scots law) An instrument which, in conjunction with another making an absolute disposition, constitutes a trust.


decerniture

(historical or obsolete, Scots law) A decree or sentence of a court.


assythment

en-noun

assythment (countable and uncountable, plural assythments)

/əˈsʌɪðmənt/

From assyth + -ment, from Old French aset, asez, originally meaning "enough". See assets.

It may be observed that assythment is not due to the next of kin of a person slain where the offender hath by the exertion of public justice suffered the punishment due to his crime; but whether it can be demanded from the king's donatary where the criminal hath fled from justice and forfeited his movable estate upon a sentence of fugitation, may be doubted.

1871, John Erskine, An Institute of the Law of Scotland, volume 2, page 1235:

I, Fergus and my Heirs and Assignies, against all deadly the foresaid Three Daughs, and the forenamed Land of Ardendraught, with their pertinents, liberties and assythments and other privileges as aforesaid.

1894 February 11, Scottish Notes and Queries, volume 7, page 140:

Although there is no precise statistical analysis of assythments, bonds of manrent were only very rarely used in such circumstances.

2003, Christine Peters, Women in Early Modern Britain, 1450-1640, page 25:

(Scots law, historical) Compensation or reparation for a criminal offence.


apprizer

The apprizer, therefore (as the holder of a mortgage was then called), entered upon possession, and, in the language of Hotspur, “came me cranking in”

1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:

(Scots law) A creditor for whom an appraisal is made.


obreption

From Latin obreptio, from obrepo, obreptum (“to creep up to”), from ob (see prefix ob-) + repo (“to creep”).

In Mr John Maitland's action against Cardross, (vide 17th instant,) the Lords repelled Cardross's allegeances founded upon the impetrating of the gift of eschat from his Majesty by obreption expresso mendacio, or subreption celata veritate; because it appeared that there was a competition made by Cardross before the gift was past in Exchequer, and this same objection was made against it, that it was impetrated viis et modis;

1826, Mungo Ponton Brown, Supplement to the Dictionary of the Decisions of the Court of Session, page 390:

(Scots law, obsolete) Act of obtaining gifts of escheat by fraud or surprise.


subreption

subreption (countable and uncountable, plural subreptions)

/sʌbˈɹɛpʃən/

From Latin subreptio, from subripere, subreptum (“to snatch or take away secretly”). Compare French subreption. See surreptitious, surreptition.

(Scots law) The act of obtaining a gift or favor by concealing the truth.


Blairist

en-adj

Blairist (comparative more Blairist, superlative most Blairist)

more Blairist (comparative)
most Blairist (superlative)

The campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq left him looking like the leader of a Blairist 'front' party as he backed the government on these and other issues.

2006, David Childs, Britain Since 1945: A Political History, page 298:

The Blairist emphasis on inclusiveness and recruitment by post code will likewise set off a new downward spiral in education[…]

2000, The Salisbury Review: Volumes 19-20:

(UK politics) Favouring, or according to, the policies of Tony Blair, British prime minister 1997-2007.


nonentry

en-noun

nonentry (countable and uncountable, plural nonentries)

(Scots law, historical) The casualty or advantage which formerly fell to the superior when the heir of a deceased vassal failed to renew the investiture, the superior being then entitled to the rent of the feu.


blue wall

From blue + wall. From the representative color of the political party, and the solidity of support for that party in that region.

Coordinate term: red wall

(UK politics) A group of Conservative-leaning parliamentary constituencies that are seen as shifting away from the party.


usurary

en-adj

usurary (comparative more usurary, superlative most usurary)

more usurary (comparative)
most usurary (superlative)

Latin usurarius (“that serves for use, that pays interest”). See English usurer, French usuraire.

uder

(obsolete, especially Scots law) Usurious.


rejoiner

From rejoin + -er (agent noun suffix) or + -er (ideological suffix).

All these obstacles are real. None can be wished away. Which is why rejoiners need to look to the likes of [Nigel] Farage and [John] Redwood for inspiration.

2023 June 23, Jonathan Freedland, “With even leavers regretting Brexit, there’s one path back to rejoining the EU”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(UK politics) Someone who wants the United Kingdom to join the European Union again.


Thatchernomics

(economics) The economic policies followed by Margaret Thatcher, British prime minister.


clear blue water

Introduced by the Conservative Party in the 1990s.

It was the Conservatives' policy, designed in part to put some clear blue water between themselves and Labour and to refresh Conservative Party ideas.

2002, Anthony Forster, Euroscepticism in Contemporary British Politics, page 27:

But, Boyle's admission does put clear blue water between CC and the autonomist politics of another notorious commons enthusiast, Peter Linebaugh, who is also included in this chapter.

[…] the Conservatives can still create clear blue water between them and Labour by showing how they prioritise the family over the State.

2011, Martin H. M. Steven, Christianity and Party Politics: Keeping the Faith, page 62:

I was of the view that there ought to be clear blue water between us and the Tories on this issue.

Sitting on the bottom of both league tables - with clear blue water between it and the next worst operator - is Avanti West Coast.

2023 February 8, Sir Michael Holden, “Comment: Boom or bust: time to decide”, in RAIL, number 976, page 3:

(idiomatic, especially UK politics) An obvious, unambiguous divide between the policies of two parties.

daylight

emotional or psychological distance, or disagreement; usually in the expression put daylight between oneself and someone


CPB

Communist Party of Britain
w:Communist Party of Britain

(UK politics) Initialism of Communist Party of Britain.


Borismania

2012 October 8, James Kirkup, The Telegraph:

(UK politics) Enthusiasm for Boris Johnson (born 1964), British politician and Mayor of London.


excamb

en-verb

excamb (third-person singular simple present excambs, present participle excambing, simple past and past participle excambed)

excambs (present singular third-person)
excambing (participle present)
excambed (participle past)
excambed (past)

(transitive, Scots law) To exchange; used with reference to transfers of land.


Thatcherian

en-adj

Thatcherian (comparative more Thatcherian, superlative most Thatcherian)

more Thatcherian (comparative)
most Thatcherian (superlative)

Of or relating to Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), British prime minister.


MoD

The MoD said the injured men received immediate medical attention and were evacuated by air to the military hospital at Camp Bastion, but three could not be saved. Next of kin have been informed. The other soldiers hurt are not thought to have life-threatening injures.

2013 May 1, Nicholas Watt, Nick Hopkins, “Afghanistan bomb: UK to 'look carefully' at use of vehicles”, in The Guardian:

Ministry of Defence
w:Ministry of Defence

(UK politics) Initialism of Ministry of Defence; also MOD.


EDL

The very Ballardian violence comes from rogue Salafist jihadists and their far-right counterparts, the Nativists (imagine the EDL with brains); […]

2015 September 8, Alex Preston, “Submission by Michel Houellebecq review – satire that’s more subtle than it seems”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

The EDL said Saturday’s rally was aimed at highlighting what it describes as a “continued increase in Islamic terrorism” linked to Birmingham.

2017 April 8, Nicola Slawson, “Birmingham mosque counters EDL rally with ‘best of British’ tea party”, in The Guardian:

English Defence League
w:English Defence League

(UK politics) Initialism of English Defence League.


Camelotian

Camelotian (comparative more Camelotian, superlative most Camelotian)

more Camelotian (comparative)
most Camelotian (superlative)

of or relating to the Arthurian legend of Camelot.


Gawain

From Middle English Gawayne, from Old French Gauvain, from Old Welsh [Term?], probably of Celtic origin, like many other characters from Arthurian legends, perhaps from Proto-Brythonic *gwalx (“hawk”) (from Proto-Celtic *wolkos) + *gwɨnn (“white”). Doublet of Gavin. More at Gawain.

One of the greatest knights in Arthurian legend; he is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table.

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights


grumbletonian

He was often dis-guſted, and thought a Grumble-tonian; but there was no getting an inſight into his Proceedings. He’d be counted ſometimes (behind the Curtain) a High-Flyer, and Tory-rory-Ranter; yet, by his natural In-ſtinks, he inclined to be of the Low-Party: Some ſay he was of no Side, but between both.

1722, The Rump Examin’d; with It’s Secrets Discover’d, and laid open, A. Moore, page 18:

(obsolete, UK politics, derogatory, slang) Originally a member of the 17th-century Country Party; later a member of the opposition.


quarter farthing

en-noun

quarter farthing (plural quarter farthings)

[‘]The score, however, was only 10 thalers, 4 groschen, 6 pfennigs’ (30 shillings, 5 pence, and 2 or perhaps 3 quarter-farthings), ‘for what I had run-up in eight weeks[.]’

1750 June–August, Thomas Carlyle, in The Works of Thomas Carlyle III (2010), ed. Henry Duff Traill, page 257

(historical numismatics) A British coin, produced for circulation in Ceylon 1839–1853, which, at a face value of ⅟₁₆d. (£⅟₃₈₄₀), is the lowest denomination of coin ever minted for the United Kingdom.

quart de farthing

former British coin denominated to ⅟₁₆d.


three halfpence

head

three halfpence (sometimes a plural noun with the singular three halfpenny, sometimes singular, plural three halfpences)

(historical numismatics) A silver coin with a face value of one and a half pence (1½d.):

Such a British coin (1½d. = £⅟₁₆₀), minted 1834–1843 and 1860–1862 for circulation in the colonies of the British Empire (chiefly Ceylon and the West Indies).


Merlín

Borrowed from Medieval Latin Merlinus and Old French Merlin, from Old Welsh Myrddin, a name roughly meaning "of the sea-hills," from Proto-Celtic *mori *dūnom (literally “sea stronghold”).


command paper

So called because they are presented to Parliament formally "by Her Majesty's Command".

(UK) A document issued by the government and presented to Parliament.


Iceni

la-proper noun

Icēnī m pl (genitive Icēnōrum); second declension

Icēnī (canonical masculine plural)
Icēnōrum (genitive)
Icēnī (nominative plural)
Icēnōrum (genitive plural)
Icēnīs (dative plural)
Icēnōs (accusative plural)
Icēnīs (ablative plural)
Icēnī (plural vocative)

Possibly from Proto-Brythonic *uxī (“ox”), from *uxsū, from Proto-Celtic *uksōn, from Proto-Indo-European *uksḗn. Or, from a Celtic source representing modern Welsh echen (“lineage, stock, tribe”), which could be from Proto-Indo-European *peg- (“side, flank, breast”).


PPC

en-noun

PPC (countable and uncountable, plural PPCs)

(UK politics) Initialism of prospective parliamentary candidate: a candidate selected for a future election before the election campaign has officially begun.


Brenin Arthur

Probably from Welsh arth (“bear”), from Proto-Celtic *artos (“bear”). Other suggestions include Old Welsh arth (“bear”) + gur (“man”), or a Latinized (Romano-British) name; cf. Latin Artorius, possibly of Etruscan origin ultimately.


Graal

Graal (nominative singular)
Graala (genitive singular)
Graalowi (dative singular)
Graal (accusative singular)
Graalem (instrumental singular)
Graalu (locative singular)
Graalu (singular vocative)

Ultimately from Medieval Latin gradālis.

(Arthurian legend, Christianity) Holy Grail (artifact in Christian mythology)


violent profits

(Scots law) Rents or profits of an estate obtained by a tenant wrongfully holding over after warning. They are recoverable in a process of removing.


Majorite

(UK politics) A political supporter of John Major (born 1943), British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997.


Arthurianism

The use of Arthurian legend in literature, history, etc.

arturianismo

the use of Arthurian legend in literature


Galahad

From Old French Galahad, of obscure origin and meaning. Suggestions include Old Welsh, or biblical Gilead.

(Arthurian legend) Sir Galahad, son of Sir Lancelot, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table famously known for his purity and who was one of the three achievers of the quest for the Holy Grail.

(rare) A male given name from the Celtic languages in occasional use since the 19th century.

Flagstaff County
Flagstaff County#English

A hamlet in Flagstaff County, in east-central Alberta.


appriser

(Scots law) One who carries out an apprising.


C. of E.

Church of England
Church of England#English


Indyref

Abbreviation of independence referendum.

In the first foreign policy initiative launched in Edinburgh since 1707, senior SNP figures have begun an intense round of behind-the-scenes meetings with foreign dignitaries as they prepare the ground for next year's indyref.

2013 October 23, David Leask, “SNP’s mission to woo the world”, in The Herald, Glasgow, archived from the original on 2017-05-17:

Experienced politicians were surprised by the astounding vitality that the indyref unleashed.

2014 September 23, Peter Jones, “Referendum shows the power of people”, in The Scotsman, Edinburgh, archived from the original on 2017-05-17:

Coming exactly a year after the same “impossible” moment when the Yes vote hit 51 per cent before the indyref, this concerted and hysterical attack will have stirred memories and prompted sympathy among fellow Trident and austerity-opposing Yes voters.

2015 September 13, Lesley Riddoch, “Corbyn could play well with Scots”, in The Scotsman, Edinburgh, archived from the original on 2016-03-24:

My only regrets are thatbrad T2 failed to get to grips with the new era of #indyref and Scottish national identity – for which Renton's famous "shite" speech helped plant a tiny seed in 1996 – and that the second film didn't give the women characters much to do, especially the excellent Kelly Macdonald and Shirley Henderson.

2017 January 19, Peter Bradshaw, “T2 Trainspotting review – choose a sequel that doesn’t disappoint”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 2017-01-20:

(Scotland, informal) The Scottish independence referendum held on 18 September 2014.


Arthuriana

From Arthurian + -ana or Arthur + -iana.

This chapter deals with the most complex geographic site in Arthuriana because of the intricate array of possibilities offered by clues, some supporting a link between Glastonbury and Arthur […]

1996, Frank D. Reno, The Historic King Arthur, page 221:

(Arthurian legend) Things relating to King Arthur.


Launcelot

English: Lancelot

Than cam In ẜ Aſcamour and ẜ Grūmor ⁊ Grūmorſon ẜ Croſſeleme ẜ Seuerauſe le brewſe that was called a paſſynge ſtronge knyght for as the booke ſeyth the chyff lady of the lady off the lake feſted ẜ Launcelot and ẜ Seu[er]auſe le brewſe And whan ſhe had feſted them both at ſundry tymes ſhe þ[ra]yde hem to gyff her a done

1470–1483 (date produced), Thom̃s Malleorre [i.e., Thomas Malory], “[Launcelot and Guinevere]”, in Le Morte Darthur (British Library Additional Manuscript 59678), [England: s.n.], folio 446, verso, lines 1–6:

Then came in Sir Astamor, and Sir Gromere, Grummor’s son, Sir Crosselm, Sir Servause le Breuse, that was called a passing strong knight, for as the book saith, the chief Lady of the Lake feasted Sir Launcelot and Servause le Breuse, and when she had feasted them both at sundry times she prayed them to give her a boon.


Uther

From Middle English Uther, from Middle Welsh Uthyr.

(Arthurian legend) The father of King Arthur.


Uther

English: Uther

ye ſeyde kyng Arthure I love Gwenyvere the kyngꝭ doughtir of lodegrean of þᵉ londe of Camelerde the whyche holdyth In his houſe the table rounde that ye tolde me he had hit of my fadir Vther · And this dameſell is the moſte valyaunte and fayryſt that I know lyvyng, or yet that eu[er] I coude fynde

1470–1483 (date produced), Thom̃s Malleorre [i.e., Thomas Malory], “[The Tale of King Arthur]”, in Le Morte Darthur (British Library Additional Manuscript 59678), [England: s.n.], folio 35, recto, lines 11–16:


梅林

/muːi̯²¹ lɐm²¹/

/muːi̯²¹ lɐm²¹/


Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells

Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells (plural Disgusteds of Tunbridge Wells)

An invented pseudonym of the supposed writer of a letter to a local newspaper in the archetypal Middle England town of Tunbridge Wells. Possibly first coined 1944 in the BBC radio series Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh.

The Post Office bitterly resents the criticism that is constantly voiced in the British press, both by "Disgusteds of Tunbridge Wells" and journalists.

1979, Adrian Hope, “Kept Incommunicado”, in New Scientist, page 1048:

It was refreshing that what raised the hackles of Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells had nothing to do with a colourful range of jumpers, nor a flighty Italian art director/photographer.

Of course 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' was never a Labour voter.

2003, Colin Leys, Market-driven Politics: Neoliberal Democracy and the Public Interest, Verso, →ISBN, page 216:

The Sussex Weald is all small towns and villages, 99 per cent white, gravel-drived, car-owning, the sort of place Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells would move to if he found Tunbridge Wells a bit too bustling.

2007, Jeremy Paxman, The Political Animal, Penguin UK, →ISBN:

The inanity of the British attack is obvious from some of the words the early Disgusteds of Tunbridge Wells complained about.

2011, Justin Webb, Notes on Them and Us: From the Mayflower to Obama – the British, the Americans and the special essential relationship., Short Books, →ISBN:

(UK, idiomatic) A stereotypical vocal conservative curmudgeon.


Devonwall

"The Highlands and Islands" phenomenon is the Scottish equivalent of "Devonwall" and all efforts must be made to challenge the creation of any more "Highlands and Islands" institutions which bring together the Highlands and the Northern Isles.

2000, Celtic League, Carn, volumes 108-117, page 4:

A conference at Newquay in November 1987, called at the behest of the Duke of Cornwall, allowed the proponents of 'Devonwall' to come up with a proposal for a Devon and Cornwall Development Company.

2003, Bernard Deacon, Garry Tregidga, Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism:

A new power to cross previously sacrosanct English county boundaries will arouse deep controversy in some parts, most notably in the far south-west of England where a 'Devonwall' constituency will become a reality and disappoint electors in both Cornwall and Devon.

2013, Justin Fisher, Christopher Wlezien, The UK General Election of 2010: Explaining the Outcome, Routledge, →ISBN, page 173:

Part and parcel of its involvement in such issues as industrial development, a Cornish university and the amalgamation of Cornish and Devonian public bodies (what became known as 'Devonwall') was a more public profile for its leaders.

2014, Derek R. Williams, Following 'An Gof': Leonard Truran, Cornish Activist and Publisher, The Cornovia Press, →ISBN, page 14:

(chiefly derogatory) The merger of local government structures in Devon and Cornwall.


stephening

(numismatics, historical, obsolete) Alternative form of steeping


steping

(numismatics, historical) Obsolete form of steeping.


en-proper noun

the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland

(historical) The British state when Great Britain and Ireland were a republic ruled by Oliver Cromwell.

Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland


Ywain

A knight of the Round Table and the son of King Urien in Arthurian legend.


TUSC

w:Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

(UK politics) Acronym of Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.


Milifandom

Abby says the Milifandom, which started last week, is “a movement against the distorted media portrayal of Ed”.

2015 April 21, Rebecca Ratcliffe, “Milifandom soars with Twitter backing for Labour leader Ed Miliband”, in The Guardian:

The student, who describes the 'Milifandom' as 'a movement against the distorted media portrayal of Ed', started the unlikely cult-following of Miliband in the run-up to the May election.

That, Ed Miliband told the Evening Standard, was his wife Justine's reaction to the news that her husband had a fandom. Milifandom.

2015, Iain Watson, Five Million Conversations: How Labour lost and election and rediscovered its roots:

So I jokingly suggested to an excolleague at BuzzFeed via Twitter that this could be her next piece, since she'd been the first to uncover the 'Milifandom' (the band of teenage girls who had developed swooning, semiironic crushes on Labour leader Ed Miliband during the 2015 eelection campaign).

2016, Robert Colvile, The Great Acceleration: How the World is Getting Faster, Faster:

A teenager has taken Milifandom to a whole new level by getting Ed Miliband's face tattooed on her thigh.

2016 January 12, Dan Bloom, “Milifandom taken to whole new level as teen fan gets Ed Miliband's face tattooed on her thigh”, in The Mirror:

And after Milifandom signally failed to shift votes in places like Nuneaton, the PM told last year’s post-election party conference ‘Britain and Twitter are not the same thing’.

2016 June 22, Paul Waugh, “How The ‘Ground War’, And Digital Targeting, Will Decide The EU Referendum Result”, in The Huffington Post:

(colloquial, UK politics) An Internet-based youth movement in support of Ed Miliband, then leader of the British Labour Party.


Brexit

Blend of Britain + exit, formed by analogy with Grexit.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest attested use is on 15 May 2012 in a Euractiv blog post by Peter Wilding titled “Stumbling towards the Brexit”, formed by analogy with Grexit, coined on 6 February 2012.

Unless a clear view is pushed that Britain must lead in Europe at the very least to achieve the completion of the single market then the portmanteau for Greek euro exit might be followed by another sad word, Brexit.

2012 May 15, Peter Wilding, “Stumbling towards the Brexit”, in EurActiv, archived from the original on 2016-06-24:

The business community began to take the idea of Brexit seriously. Three major American banks, the Bank of America, Citibank and Morgan Stanley, revealed they were working on contingency plans to relocate from London to Dublin […]

2015, Denis MacShane, Brexit: How Britain Will Leave Europe, London: I.B. Tauris, →ISBN, page 6:

David Cameron has resigned as Prime Minister after Britain voted to leave the European Union. It followed a turbulent night with Remain campaigners quietly confident until the early hours when results from Newcastle and Sunderland showed better than expected returns for the Brexit camp. A surprise victory for a Brexit in Swansea, which was expected to vote to Remain, did little to dampen concerns despite Scotland overwhelmingly backing staying in the Union.

2016 June 24, Kate McCann, “EU referendum live: David Cameron resigns after UK shocks the world by voting for Brexit”, in The Daily Telegraph, archived from the original on 2016-06-24:

The pensions of British Eurocrats are shaping up to be one of the most politically poisonous points in the UK’s Brexit talks, as the EU and London prepare to clash over liabilities running to several billion euros.

2016 August 1, Alex Barker, Jim Brunsden, “Eurocrats’ pensions shape up to be flashpoint in Brexit talks”, in The Financial Times, London:

We must lift the uncertainty caused by Brexit.

2017 June 19, Michel Barnier, “Brexit Negotiations: David Davis says ‘Promising Start’ Made”, in BBC News:

[Donald] Tusk said: “Our agreement will not make trade between the UK and the EU frictionless or smoother. It will make it more complicated and costly than today, for all of us. This is the essence of Brexit.”

2018 March 7, Daniel Boffey, Jennifer Rankin, “EU scorns UK’s ‘pick and mix’ approach to trade post-Brexit”, in The Guardian, London:

Meanwhile, The Sunday Times revealed that civil servants had warned of a “Doomsday Brexit” if no agreement is reached, creating shortages of medicine, fuel and food.

2018 June 5, “Brexit poll reveals record number of voters think decision to leave EU is wrong”, in The Independent, London:

“It’s all incredibly unhelpful and what we need to do now is to get closer with our European partners and work out what a realistic, pragmatic Brexit is that works for both sides, the EU and ourselves.”

2018 June 23, “Brexit: Theresa May ‘not bluffing’ in threat to leave EU without a deal, Tory minister Liam Fox says”, in The Independent, London:

A further referendum is not just a way for voters to decide whether to incur the economic and social cost of a final Brexit deal.

2019 March 5, David Miliband, “As foreign secretary I argued against an EU referendum. Now I back one”, in The Guardian:

The EESC also considers that the €5.4 billion reserve will not be sufficient to mitigate the negative effects of Brexit and asks the co-legislators to increase the proposed ceiling.

2021 November, Christiaan van Lierop, European Parliamentary Research Service:

Brexit has also made it harder for the UK to deport migrants back to the EU as the country has left the bloc’s asylum scheme.

2021 December 2, “Frontex plane arrives in northern France to help fight people smuggling”, in Euronews, sourced from AFP:

Thanks to Brexit, many ferry companies now run direct from Ireland to the EU mainland, bypassing UK ports such as Fishguard, with an impact on traffic.

2022 November 16, Paul Bigland, “From rural branches to high-speed arteries”, in RAIL, number 970, page 52:

Even the BBC, long prevaricating on the issue, has started properly reporting the Brexit catastrophe, particularly its impact on the cost of living, NHS staff shortages and projections of weak future economic growth.

2023 February 2, Andrew Adonis, “Sooner or later, re-entry to the customs union and single market is inevitable”, in Prospect:

Biden’s irritation with London’s inability to solve its “Irish question” after Brexit has also played a role.

2023 August 7, Jo Harper, “UK–US: What’s happened to their free trade deal?”, in Deutsche Welle:

The mayor of London has urged EU citizens to “choose London” over other European cities, promising to make the UK capital a better place to live and work despite Brexit.

2023 October 6, Heather Stewart, “‘Choose London’: Sadiq Khan steps up efforts to lure EU citizens post-Brexit”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

The Brexit referendum seemingly heralded such a moment but other than the negative sentiment of leave, the more positive agenda of what to do with the UK’s newfound status has been found wanting.

2023 November 3, Tim Olivier, “Brexit: a critical juncture in the UK’s international relations?”, in UK in a Changing Europe:

The Brits have been uniquely incompetent in wallowing in narcissistic irrelevance ever since the Brexit vote. They’ve refused to admit that the only path forward for them is a crippling deal with the United States that will give them access to the NAFTA system but at the cost of any kind of economic sovereignty.

2023 November 23, Peter Zeihan, “Ireland Needs a New Game Plan || Peter Zeihan”, in Zeihan on Geopolitics, sourced from YouTube, 2:55–3:14:

Brussels has warned the UK that it must fully apply the existing Brexit deals on EU citizens and Northern Ireland before it will entertain a reset in the relationship with London.

2024 August 1, Lisa O'Carroll, “UK must apply existing Brexit deals before any reset in relations, says EU”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), sourced from The Guardian:

(UK politics) Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

بِرِكْزِت

withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU

イギリスの欧州連合離脱

イギリスのおうしゅうれんごうりだつ

خروج بریتانیا از اتحادیه اروپا

xoruj-e beritâniyâ az ettehâdiye-ye orupâ


Brexit

le Brexit dur

Le Brexit (British exit) ou sortie du Royaume-Uni de l’Union européenne paraît pratiquement inéluctable.

2014 July 17, Nicolas Baverez, “Le Brexit ou l'absurdité du siècle”, in Le Point:

Brexit (British exit), or the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, seems practically inevitable.

Début janvier, David Cameron a finalement accepté de laisser les ministres de son cabinet faire campagne en faveur du Brexit s’ils le souhaitaient, à titre privé et individuel.

2016, Danielle Auroi, Rapport d'information de la commission des affaires européennes sur les négociations de l'Union européenne avec le Royaume Uni relatives à son maintien au sein de l'Union, page 18:

At the start of January, David Cameron finally agreed to let ministers in his cabinet campaign in favour of Brexit if they wished, in a private and individual capacity.

Le Brexit, ou British Exit, était en tête avec près de 51,7% des voix après dépouillement dans 300 des 382 centres du pays, peu avant 5h, selon le décompte officiel, grâce à des résultats largement favorables dans plusieurs villes du nord de l’Angleterre et au Pays de Galles.

2016 June 24, “Résultat du référendum sur le Brexit”, in Le Huffington Post:

Brexit, or "British Exit", was ahead with nearly 51.7% of the vote after counting had finished in 300 of 382 local authorities, shortly before 5 am, according to the official count, thanks to broadly favourable results in several cities in Northern England and Wales.

Le Brexit «conduira inévitablement à des frictions» commerciales entre l’UE et le Royaume-Uni, étant donné le souhait britannique de quitter le marché unique et l’union douanière

2018, AFP agence, “Brexit: «Seul un accord de libre-échange est possible», prévient Donald Tusk”, in Le Figaro:

Brexit "will inevitably lead to friction" in trade between the EU and the UK, given Britain's desire to leave the single market and the customs union

Les tractations sur les futurs liens commerciaux entre l’UE et le Royaume-Uni n’ont pas encore démarré, les discussions s’étant jusqu’ici concentrées sur la préparation du traité scellant le Brexit, avec de lourds dossiers comme la facture du divorce, le sort des expatriés et l’avenir de la frontière irlandaise.

Negotiations on future trade links between the EU and the UK have not yet started, discussions up to now having concentrated on drafting the treaty finalising Brexit, including complicated issues such as the divorce bill, the fate of expats, and the future of the Irish border.

Reste une troisième option : l’absence d’accord. C’est le Brexit dur. La frontière serait immédiatement et totalement rétablie en mars 2019.

2018 April 28, Benoît Floc'h, “Le gouvernement prépare les douanes à un Brexit dur”, in Le Monde:

There remains a third option: the lack of an agreement. This is hard Brexit. The border would be immediately and completely re-established in March 2019.


Brexit

de-proper noun

der Brexit m (proper noun, strong, usually definite, definite genitive des Brexits or des Brexit)

der Brexit (canonical masculine)
des Brexits (definite genitive)
des Brexit (definite genitive)
Brexit (nominative singular)
Brexits (genitive singular)
Brexit (genitive singular)
Brexit (dative singular)
Brexit (accusative singular)


Brexit

Brexitek (plural)
Brexit (nominative singular)
Brexitek (nominative plural)
Brexitet (accusative singular)
Brexiteket (accusative plural)
Brexitnek (dative singular)
Brexiteknek (dative plural)
Brexittel (instrumental singular)
Brexitekkel (instrumental plural)
Brexitért (causal-final singular)
Brexitekért (causal-final plural)
Brexitté (singular translative)
Brexitekké (plural translative)
Brexitig (singular terminative)
Brexitekig (plural terminative)
Brexitként (essive-formal singular)
Brexitekként (essive-formal plural)
Brexitben (inessive singular)
Brexitekben (inessive plural)
Brexiten (singular superessive)
Brexiteken (plural superessive)
Brexitnél (adessive singular)
Brexiteknél (adessive plural)
Brexitbe (illative singular)
Brexitekbe (illative plural)
Brexitre (singular sublative)
Brexitekre (plural sublative)
Brexithez (allative singular)
Brexitekhez (allative plural)
Brexitből (elative singular)
Brexitekből (elative plural)
Brexitről (delative singular)
Brexitekről (delative plural)
Brexittől (ablative singular)
Brexitektől (ablative plural)
Brexité (singular)
Brexiteké (plural)
Brexitéi (singular)
Brexitekéi (plural)
Brexitem (first-person possessed-single possessive singular)
Brexitjeim (first-person possessed-many possessive singular)
Brexited (possessed-single possessive second-person singular)
Brexitjeid (possessed-many possessive second-person singular)
Brexitje (possessed-single possessive singular third-person)
Brexitjei (possessed-many possessive singular third-person)
Brexitünk (first-person plural possessed-single possessive)
Brexitjeink (first-person plural possessed-many possessive)
Brexitetek (plural possessed-single possessive second-person)
Brexitjeitek (plural possessed-many possessive second-person)
Brexitjük (plural possessed-single possessive third-person)
Brexitjeik (plural possessed-many possessive third-person)

Alternative letter-case form of brexit (“Brexit”).


Brexit

Unadapted borrowing from English Brexit.


Brexit

Con la campaña electoral británica y el giro a la derecha, por así llamarlo, de David Cameron, otro concepto se ha hecho bastante popular en los pasillos de las instituciones, el de 'Brexit'.

2015 May 25, Pablo R. Suanzes, “Brexident, más que Brexit”, in El Mundo:

Los inversores apenas han reaccionado al sondeo, el primero que otorga la victoria a los partidarios del Brexit.

2015 November 26, Roberto Casado, “El gran riesgo de 2016 para los mercados es el 'Brexit'”, in Expansión:

Hasta antes del Brexit, estas personas sí tenían libertad para laborar en territorios británicos.

2016 June 24, Carolina Enriquez, “Cinco efectos que podría generar el Brexit en Ecuador”, in El Comercio:

El acuerdo comercial no hará la relación comercial más fácil. Será más complicada. Esa es la esencia del Brexit

2018 March 7, Lucía Abellán, “La UE enfría las expectativas de May y solo ofrece un acuerdo comercial tras el Brexit”, in El Pais:

No habrá ganadores tras el Brexit. Las dos partes pierden


Butskellism

Blend of Butler + Gaitskell + -ism, after Rab Butler, the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer 1951–55, and his Labour predecessor Hugh Gaitskell 1950–51.

The next few weeks will show whether the Opposition will seize this chance of golden silence; or whether, in a Brown fury, it is going to throw the opportunity for constructive Butskellism away.

And then there was a sort of sensation at the door and in came Margaret Thatcher. Rab’s shell crackled and contracted a little, as he tried to look flattered by the attention of his new leader: she whose whole purpose it was to cram Butskellism as harshly as possible into the WPB of history.

1994, Christopher Hitchens, ‘On Spanking’, London Review of Books, volume 16, number 20:

Camerairism reflects a structural change more profound than Butskellism ever did.

2005 October 20, Timothy Garton Ash, The Guardian:

(UK politics, now historical) A centrist economic policy obtaining in post-war Britain, upheld by both Conservative and Labour Chancellors.


WPB

Workers Party of Britain
w:Workers Party of Britain

(UK politics) Initialism of Workers Party of Britain.


Welsh not

(historical) A piece of wood or similar object used to discourage the speaking of Welsh in schools. Any child overheard speaking Welsh was given the "not", and the child who had it at the end of the day would be punished.


Scargillian

en-adj

Scargillian (comparative more Scargillian, superlative most Scargillian)

more Scargillian (comparative)
most Scargillian (superlative)

Of or relating to Arthur Scargill (born 1938), British politician and trade unionist.


Restoration

(history of UK) The events of 1660 when English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were restored under Charles II.

(history of UK) The era of Restoration (1660 to 1685) under Charles II, or to 1688 when James II was king.

(history of France) The restoring of the Bourbon Dynasty in 1814.

(history of Japan) The restoring of imperial rule in Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji.


novodamus

(Scots law, historical) In Scottish feudal land law, a fresh grant of lands to the grantee, usually to make some change in the incidents of tenure of land already granted, or to resolve doubts about the grant or its terms.


Portilloism

Those few ministers with the good sense to doubt the certitudes of Portilloism, and still maintain some contact with reality, may even have been alarmed by its effectiveness.

I don't much care whether that creed is called socialism, bolshevism, Portilloism or Harvey's Law, I know what I stand for and am happy to defend it.

2001, Richard G, “Smith promises early action to scrap Section 28”, in uk.gay-lesbian-bi (Usenet):

(UK politics) The political stance of Michael Portillo (born 1953), former Member of Parliament, Deputy Conservative Party leader and Cabinet Minister.


Tezza

(UK politics, slang) The British politician Theresa May (born 1956), Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016 and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019.


Piggate

(neologism) The British scandal wherein Prime Minister David Cameron was reported to have inserted his penis into the mouth of a dead pig as part of an initiation ritual during his university years.


ERG

John Major struggled endlessly with Eurosceptics he termed “bastards”, while May’s nemesis was the European Research Group, or ERG, the longstanding alliance of Brexit ultras.

2022 January 8, Peter Walker, “ERG out, CRG in: the Tory factions Boris Johnson is struggling to appease”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

European Research Group
w:European Research Group

(UK politics) Initialism of European Research Group (“Eurosceptic/pro-Brexit publicly funded political activist group subdivision of the UK Conservatives”).


PMQs

Coordinate term: FMQs

For nine weeks Green sat by May’s side as serious allegations about his conduct emerged – and the Labour leader never raised a question at PMQs.

2018 July 16, Kate Maltby, Ava Etemadzadeh, “Harassment is parliament’s dirty cross-party secret. Is it about to change?”, in The Guardian:

David Davis tells Boris Johnson ‘in the name of God, go’ at chaotic PMQs [headline]

2022 January 19, Peter Walker, Rowena Mason, “David Davis tells Boris Johnson ‘in the name of God, go’ at chaotic PMQs”, in The Guardian:

Prime Minister's Questions
w:Prime Minister's Questions

(UK politics) Initialism of Prime Minister's Questions.


special measures

(Scots law) Judicial systems to protect vulnerable witnesses in courts of law.


Morgain

(Arthurian legend) Morgan (i.e. Morgan le Fay)


Portillo moment

en-noun

Portillo moment (plural Portillo moments)

Originally referred to the 1997 United Kingdom general election in which Michael Portillo, a prominent Conservative representing what was thought to be a safe seat, unexpectedly lost to the Labour candidate.

But with FF seat losses by the dozen all over the country, the Portillo moments were stacked on several levels, like a good tin of biscuits.

2013, Paddy Duffy, Did That Actually Happen?: A Journey Through Unbelievable Moments in Irish Politics, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

Possibly the biggest Portillo moment north of the border, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury is also in danger of losing his seat according to the marginal polls.

2015 May 7, Sebastian Payne, “Election night: the ten ‘Portillo moments’ to watch out for”, in The Spectator:

It's the 2015 General Election's Portillo moment - but who is the Tory who's scalped shadow chancellor Ed Balls by just 422 votes?

2015 May 8, Dan Bloom, “Andrea Jenkyns ousts Ed Balls: Everything you need to know about Tory who defeated Labour giant”, in The Mirror:

(UK politics) An election loss for a prominent politician.


arthurien

fr-adj

arthurien (feminine arthurienne, masculine plural arthuriens, feminine plural arthuriennes)

arthurienne (feminine)
arthuriens (masculine plural)
arthuriennes (feminine plural)


Corbynite

A leading KC who as a young barrister represented the Association of London Authorities at the Fennell Inquiry into the King's Cross fire, he is associated with Labour's Corbynite left.

2024 July 24, “Network News: Labour's new team at DfT packed with railway experience”, in RAIL, number 1014, page 9:

(UK politics) A supporter of Jeremy Corbyn (born 1949), British socialist politician elected leader of the Labour Party in 2015.


feal and divot

No doubt, the want of access by a good road, together with the circumstance of the lands and barony of Torrie, of which this property forms a part, being held in runrigg between the Master of Mortifications of Aberdeen and Mr Menzies of Pit-foddels, and a servitude of feal and divot, which existed over nearly one-third of the muir ground, in favour of the adjoining property of South Loirston, contributed in a great degree to retard the improvement of the land in this locality, notwithstanding its near vicinage to Aberdeen.

1841, Prize-essays and Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland:

(Scots law) A predial servitude (a legal interest by a non-owner connected with a piece of land) that grants the dominant tenant the right to cut out portions of turf for the construction or repair of sod structures such as houses, fences, or roofs.


afterhand

an afterhand rent

(Scots law, archaic) Paid afterwards, rather than in advance.


bedroom tax

(UK politics) A reduction in housing benefit for people who live in social housing that is deemed underoccupied.


beerage

Blend of beer + peerage, coined in the late 19th century in response to the awarding of honours to brewers.

(UK politics) The influence of the brewing industry within the British political system.


remeid

en-noun

remeid (countable and uncountable, plural remeids)

From Middle English remede, from Anglo-Norman and Old French remede. Doublet of remedy.

[…] the Commissioners of Burghs […] meet yearly at Inverkeithing “to treat of the welfare of merchandize, the good rule and statutes for the common profit of burghs, and to provide for remeid upon the skaith and injuries sustained within the burghs.”

1878, William Charles Smith, "Borough" in the Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. IV, p. 64

(dialect) Remedy.
(Scots law) Legal redress of a wrong.


subfeu

From sub- + feu. Cognate with subfief and Latin subfeudum, subfeodare.

(Scots law, historical) A feu sublet by a vassal to a subvassal: a right to hold subinfeudated land in perpetuity in exchange for rent.


Guenièvre

From Old Welsh Gwenhwyfar, from Proto-Celtic *windos (“white, fair”) + *sēbarā (“magical being”).

af

(Arthurian legend) Guinevere (wife of King Arthur)