Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue – Day 168

The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was first published at the end of the eighteenth century, and given that the current health crisis is giving too much time to read books, I thought I’d pick a daily word from it until I got bored….

Jerrycummumble

This bizarre word is defined by Grose as “to shake, towzle or tumble about”. It’s likely Cockney Rhyming Slang for tumble, although quite how this established itself I have no idea, although it has also been recorded as being ‘jerry mumble’ which is at least easier to say. It was first recorded in the early eighteenth century, but was rarely used in written English. Unfortunately, the word has now fallen out of usage, likely never to return…..