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Words we don't use any more

(394 Posts)
Magenta8 Sun 10-May-26 16:52:51

I was thinking about words that my parents used that are not in common usage anymore.

The ones that spring to mind are; slacks (trousers), wind cheater (anorak), wireless (radio) and drawers (knickers).

I am sure there are many more and probably some interesting regional words that have fallen into disuse.

MissAdventure Mon 11-May-26 17:55:06

Grizzling for crying.

maggic Mon 11-May-26 18:09:47

“Britches” for knickers.
“Jitty” for the alley between houses.
“Slormed-up” - badly applied makeup.

Hiraeth Mon 11-May-26 18:11:03

Bathers for swimming costume

pea007 Mon 11-May-26 18:16:43

I’ve just bought a card for a good friend which says “Friendships must be built on a solid foundation of inappropriateness, alcohol, sarcasm and shenanigans”.
I love the word “shenanigans”, describes what we used to get up to down to a T 😄.

Kathmaggie Mon 11-May-26 18:57:06

Pantry and petticoat 😃

arum Mon 11-May-26 18:57:36

Aerodrome
I loved snollygoster.

Rosie51 Mon 11-May-26 18:59:23

MickyD

Great Scott!
Good grief!
Pantry
Scullery
Motor car
Slacks
Frock
Stockinged feet
My grandparents used these.

Oh dear I'm often heard declaring "Good grief" and I do like a nice summer frock.

I'm beyond saving grin

Rocketstop2 Mon 11-May-26 19:02:29

Blousey !!! A brash woman

Scribbles Mon 11-May-26 19:14:02

Rocketstop2

Blousey !!! A brash woman

I always understood the word to be "blowsy" and that it means showy but past its prime, like an overblown rose.🤷‍♀️

Nell82 Mon 11-May-26 19:54:03

Chiropodists seem to be known as podiatrists now

Air hostesses and stewardesses are now flight attendants

Moth62 Mon 11-May-26 19:59:12

A chaotic situation was “like Fred Karno’s circus”
Or if a place was busy it was “like Piccadilly Circus in here”
Lots of lights left on meant it was”like Blackpool illuminations”

MissAdventure Mon 11-May-26 20:01:54

Its like wookey hole in here (if there was a speck out of place)

Rosie51 Mon 11-May-26 20:30:56

Moth62

A chaotic situation was “like Fred Karno’s circus”
Or if a place was busy it was “like Piccadilly Circus in here”
Lots of lights left on meant it was”like Blackpool illuminations”

Lots of lights left on for Londoners was always 'like Crystal Palace' which is strange as it burned down in 1936, so most people had no memory of it, it being in a state of disrepair for years before that..

MissAdventure Mon 11-May-26 20:38:39

Casey's court was the saying for chaos in our house.

MissAdventure Mon 11-May-26 20:41:16

As black as Newgits knocker for something dirty - usually my neck because i had a tide mark round where I'd not washed it properly.

Moth62 Mon 11-May-26 20:50:06

A tide mark! I’d forgotten about those! Along with “you could grow potatoes behind your ears”

MissAdventure Mon 11-May-26 21:07:52

Yep! Spuds. smile

Doodledog Mon 11-May-26 21:33:03

MissAdventure

Casey's court was the saying for chaos in our house.

Yes! that was another of my mum's numerous sayings grin

MissAdventure Mon 11-May-26 21:41:08

There was the name of a removal company that was used, too, but i can't remember it now.

Rosie51 Mon 11-May-26 21:45:04

Doodledog

MissAdventure

Casey's court was the saying for chaos in our house.

Yes! that was another of my mum's numerous sayings grin

Yes my mum said that too, and say it quietly so do I 😂

I wonder where it comes from, off for a google.

Rosie51 Mon 11-May-26 21:47:33

Well that's a surprise I always thought of the 'court' as being the legal variety.

"Casey's Court" originated as a popular British music hall, comedy, and circus act created by Will Murray around 1900, running until the 1950s. It was a chaotic "gang show" featuring children, with Murray playing "Mrs. Casey," and it served as a starting point for famous stars, including Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel.

MissAdventure Mon 11-May-26 22:15:51

Oh, I'd never thought to look it up.
Thank you. smile

Allira Mon 11-May-26 22:33:54

ROMILO

Words that my Grandmother used.
Ginnel -any narrow passageway outside.
Smashed to smithereens - anything that got broken.
Threepenny bit- something you were given to spend if you were good. Sixpenny bit if you were very good.
In her last years if she was under the weather (there's another one I still use) she would eat ' pobs' if I remember this was bread and butter squares in hot milk!

Threepenny bit- something you were given to spend if you were good. Sixpenny bit if you were very good.

Two and sixpence aka half a crown. That was a week's pocket money.
Sometimes my dear Great-uncle would give me two bob (two shillings) and sometimes I got a ten bob note in a birthday card!

Pantry I would love to have a pantry, MickyD!

I say plonker too and gallivanting (not so much now though).

Oreo Mon 11-May-26 22:38:45

Scribbles

Rocketstop2

Blousey !!! A brash woman

I always understood the word to be "blowsy" and that it means showy but past its prime, like an overblown rose.🤷‍♀️

That’s what I thought too.

Oreo Mon 11-May-26 22:40:07

Liberty Hall