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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.

Greenfinch Sun 10-May-26 20:00:22

Quacks - doctors.
I think we tend to use pharmacy now rather than chemists

Casdon Sun 10-May-26 19:54:08

I’d forgotten trollop, my nanna used to say that to my sisters and I when we wore short skirts - you can’t go out looking like.a trollop. Brought back a nice memory, thanks Jaxjacky.

Jaxjacky Sun 10-May-26 19:44:19

Trollop
Sanitary towel
Telephone exchange
Chuck steak

Elusivebutterfly Sun 10-May-26 19:18:12

My grandmother always wore a costume, not a suit.

We went to the pictures, not cinema. My grandchildren do not watch films, they watch movies.

There are some words mentioned here that I did not know.

MarieElla Sun 10-May-26 19:13:39

Firget pink, purple and blue streaks, my grandmother rocked a 'Blue rinse' weekly.

Rocketstop2 Sun 10-May-26 19:12:30

MissAdventure

I like the old words, and use them, if i can.
It's a shame for them to disappear, and be replaced.

Yes I think we should all do this as much as possible !

Georgesgran Sun 10-May-26 19:11:59

My DDs had mufti days at school in the 1990s Thoro.

MarieElla Sun 10-May-26 19:11:06

'Safe home' my lovely 90 year old Aunty always says that.

ferry23 Sun 10-May-26 19:04:42

NotSpaghetti

I think all my children would have come across most of these words - but I doubt all their children will have.

I think I haven't heard "gown" used since I was about 20!

Oh no! My grandparents, and then my parents had a shop. It sold ladies clothes. It was always referred to as a ladies gown shop. To this day if we talk about it we always say gown shop. Anyone selling ladies clothes is in the Gown Trade.

And I still say ballgown.

My niece is a barrister and she wears a gown in court.

Graduates wear a cap and gown.

All bridal designers refer to wedding gowns, not wedding dresses.

When you go to, or stay in, a hospital, you wear a hospital gown.

Lots of people still wear dressing gowns.

I don't know what I would say instead of gown.

Thoro Sun 10-May-26 19:02:09

My parents used to say to change from our school uniforms into mufti

Oldnproud Sun 10-May-26 19:01:22

MissAdventure

I like the old words, and use them, if i can.
It's a shame for them to disappear, and be replaced.

Me too. I like the old expressions too, and sometimes use them with my DGC, much to their amusement 😁

Georgesgran Sun 10-May-26 18:59:30

I still use most of those words and I’m
currently ‘gallivanting’ in Spain.

MissAdventure Sun 10-May-26 18:56:29

I like the old words, and use them, if i can.
It's a shame for them to disappear, and be replaced.

travelsafar Sun 10-May-26 18:56:00

Does anyone grow manglewurzles any more or is it just turnips and swedes.

NotSpaghetti Sun 10-May-26 18:47:32

I think all my children would have come across most of these words - but I doubt all their children will have.

I think I haven't heard "gown" used since I was about 20!

petra Sun 10-May-26 18:47:29

MissAdventure

I wrote before once that my nan always said... "Do you remeber so-and-so?"
"Stout girl, used to work on the buses" smile

Brilliant 😂

nanaK54 Sun 10-May-26 18:43:48

Stamp for NIC

NotSpaghetti Sun 10-May-26 18:41:34

Granmarie - not sure if we are a thoroughly odd bunch but I was only talking about our dusty mantlepiece yesterday.
And
Today my youngest daughter and her partner collected a bureau from her childhood bedroom.
And
Yesterday, tidying up at my older daughter's house aftef a party I was told to put the new lego in the tallboy.... and later she showed me how she has taken the doors off her ancient display cabinet so she could just use it as shelving!
However-
Nobody in the family has a dresser - but the daughter with the tallboy has my parent's old oak court cabinet!
grin

TerriBull Sun 10-May-26 18:38:14

Cheerio! I found a letter one of my grandmother's brothers wrote to her circa 1940s and that's how he signed off

Rocketstop2 Sun 10-May-26 18:35:38

Oh and what about 'Siling down' (Raining heavily )

Rocketstop2 Sun 10-May-26 18:34:57

Magenta8

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.

When going out to play in cold weather without my coat, my Nan used to say 'Don't forget your jerkin' (Anorak type coat !)

Grannynannywanny Sun 10-May-26 18:34:30

Panty girdle

ClicketyClick Sun 10-May-26 18:32:37

No longer hear - he/she's a rum un. Meaning strange or odd.

Witzend Sun 10-May-26 18:31:59

A GM of mine used to say stout - she never said fat, unless it meant meat fat.

And I’m reminded of a line in the first Forsyte Saga series ‘My dear boy, how stout you’re getting!’ As said by one of the elderly Forsyte sisters to her brother Swithin, IIRC.

Other words,

Balderdash
Rapscallion
Slattern
Brassiere

boheminan Sun 10-May-26 18:28:11

'Don't forget to pull the chain'...