X (formerly Twitter)
Susie Dent (@susie_dent) on X
English has an ancient law: in words like 'chit chat', 'zigzag', and 'seesaw', we always put the part with an i (as in 'pit') or e (as in 'be') first. We instinctively know this rule of 'ablaut reduplication'. You can't have a pair of flop flips or jamjims, or play pong ping.
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Feb 20, 2020, 9:24 PM -05:00 -
Feb 20, 2020, 8:12 PM -05:00 Repost of https://twitter.com/susie_dent/status/1227215536657965058?s=19
I think this is my new favorite Twitter account
X (formerly Twitter)
Susie Dent (@susie_dent) on X
Word-discovery of my morning is 'bumfle': Scots for a wrinkle in clothing or an unsightly bulge. Goes well with 'cover-slut', 17th-century English for a garment put on over another in order to hide a tear or stain.