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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 Wed 20-May-26 18:52:25

All mouth and gaiters (?)

Fur coat and no knickers.

SpinDriftCoastal Wed 20-May-26 17:49:50

It's magic!

sodapop Wed 20-May-26 17:33:27

Moth62 when I had my first baby yhe midwife said " feed that baby you have nipples like Chapel hat pegs" obviously Chapel hat pegs were usefully descriptive smile

Nightsky2 Wed 20-May-26 17:24:44

You’ll catch your death of cold, I never did😁.

MissAdventure Wed 20-May-26 14:55:45

No better than she should be.

Scribbles Wed 20-May-26 11:05:08

The other day, someone described a place to me as "fairly insalubrious" and I realised that I haven't heard "salubrious" and its opposite for decades.

Blinko Tue 19-May-26 19:56:10

Here's my two pen'orth: shemozzle.

valdali Tue 19-May-26 19:24:21

Mamie

My granddaughters always laugh when I say, "that's a nice frock".

Love it when someone says "I like your frock" still hear it round here.

MollyNew Tue 19-May-26 19:19:23

Housecoat - my mum always wore one to do the housework, cooking etc.

Jaberwok Tue 19-May-26 18:59:41

Jiminy Cricket!!

MissAdventure Tue 19-May-26 16:10:01

Gordon Bennett!

Moth62 Tue 19-May-26 15:50:40

That’s all my eye and Betty Martin
Your hair’s sticking up like chapel hat pegs
A skinny cat for someone who is mean
He puts his feet down like ready money
You look as if you’ve lost a shillin’ and found a tanner
Someone lucky would be described as “if he fell into the Co-op, he’d land in the divvy”
“One day the wind will change snd you’ll stay like that” for a sulky face

Jaberwok Tue 19-May-26 15:45:08

Sorry, I thought it hadn't gone through! Don't really want to say it twice!!

Jaberwok Tue 19-May-26 15:44:03

Street Arab??!! (Perhaps not?!)

Jaberwok Tue 19-May-26 15:42:34

Street Arab????!!! (Perhaps not!?)

JoyBloggs Tue 19-May-26 15:24:43

Clawdy

Someone said snogging, I remember "necking" too!

...and smooching!

MissAdventure Tue 19-May-26 15:02:10

W.C. does anyone still say that?

Clawdy Tue 19-May-26 14:39:34

Someone said snogging, I remember "necking" too!

Oldnproud Tue 19-May-26 14:34:13

Living in sin.

I can still remember long conversations over the dinner table with my parents about the word 'partner' when it first started to be used by couples who were unmarried. It sounded ridiculous to their generation, and still a little odd even to most of mine back then, I think. I think that was in the late '80s.
How things change 😁

LadyGaGa Tue 19-May-26 13:32:39

And
Daft ‘aperth. My parents always said this. Can’t spell it though! It’s short for ‘ha’penny worth’ As in ‘keep your hand on your ha’penny’ 😂

Doodledog Tue 19-May-26 13:14:12

gentleshores

Nithered. I only remember my Grandmother saying that though.

I still say that grin. And 'nithering' for 'freezing' (weather).

Magenta8 Tue 19-May-26 13:09:11

A few years back there was a lot of talk about Estuary English - not quite what it was.

Oreo Tue 19-May-26 12:46:48

Waif

Oreo Tue 19-May-26 12:46:35

Scoundrel

Oreo Tue 19-May-26 12:45:51

Jaberwok

A bounder and a cad!

Love those, let’s bring them back into use😁