This weekly feature is all about new words we come across as we read. Kathy at Bermuda Onion’s Weblog is the sponsor of Wondrous Words.
This week I’ve been reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. And, of course, I found some new-to-me words.
Patois: “They spoke their own particular dialect, an unbelievably profane patois of countercultural jargon and local Portugee slang.” Patois means the jargon or informal speech used by a particular social group. In this case he’s talking about the kitchen help in a New England restaurant.
Detritus: ”. . .turquoise necklaces and chokers, rings of scrimshaw and ivory, tatoos — all the decorative detritus of the long-past Summer of Love.” Detritus means waste or debris of any kind. Here is talking about how the kitchen staff dressed.
Seppuku: We did not commit seppuku. Seppuku means hari cari or suicide. Again, the author is speaking of the kitchen staff.
So far the book has been fun, although not like other food-books I’ve read in the past. I’m almost done with the book and should be posting my review within the next week. For more new Wondrous Words click the image.
You found some great words in Kitchen Confidential. After seeing them, I can’t wait to read your review. Thanks for playing along.
Sounds like this book will have an eclectic mix of topics from the looks of your words.
lol I need to know how to probounce these words…so I can use them in a sentence and seem really smart
I hope you are loving KC as much as I did.
Great words! These I knew, because I read Kitchen Confidential years ago, and I particularly love detritus. That’s one I use a lot.
Cerrin, some of the on-line dictionaries (including Merriam-Webster’s sie, I believe) have audio with them, so you can hear how the word is pronounced.
I agree that Kitchen Confidential is terrific – did you know that he wrote fiction before he wrote that one? I had read his Gone Bamboo and when I took it with me to a booksigning, he said he didn’t think anyone actually owned it. It’s pretty good.
hmmm..suppuku is a new one for me…wonder how I could work THAT into my everyday conversations??
Great list…
Have a wonderful week ahead, my friend…
These are some great words Margot. This book is sitting on my desk at work, so I can’t wait to see your review of it.
I see an alliteration there too. Here are mine.
ttp://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/2009/04/wondrous-words-wednesday.html
Good words! I’m going to use detritus on my husband tonight (it’s trash night). Thanks for your kind words about Michigan State
Suppuku is a new one to me too, and I can’t quite picture how it comes up in this book!
Thanks Lisa I am going to have to go find that site and add it to my favorites.
Great book; great words. Makes me remember reading K.C. and how it really knocked my socks off.