Thanks so much to Kathy/Bermuda Onion for hosting this weekly look at new (to us) words we discover in our reading.
My words this week come from reading His Eye Is On The Sparrow by Ethel Waters.
1. dictys: I thought this snobbish house policy–color discrimination against some of our own people by the dictys–ridiculous and laughable.
Dicty is no longer in any dictionary. I found one reference to a 1927 article in which dicty was used in a disparaging way toward another person.
2. olio: The wire said that, besides singing the blues between acts, I’d have a few lines to speak in the olio show.
Olio is a variety act or show.
3. ofays: In Boston, though we were playing in opposition to Shuffle Along, the ofays who saw the show loved it.
Ofay is an offensive term for a white person, used by black people.
4. spieler: “Of course, we have,” said the spieler, showing his big swindler’s smile.
Spieler means a gambler or swindler.
How has your reading week been? Did you find any new words?
You always find great words! (The sentences you’ve quoted have really piqued my interest in the book too!) I think I could have figured spieler out but I would have had to look the rest of them up. Thanks for participating, Margot!
All completely new-to-me words!
The Urban Dictionary defines a dicty as a person who is: snobbish, highfalutin, snooty
That is crazy about dicty. It’s actually a word that I feel as if I have seen around.
Love your words. “Olio” made me think of marjarine or butter. Where is my mind? You know, I’ve heard the word “dicty” used by my mother years ago. Of course, my mom is no longer with us. I do remember that word.
The complexity of your words makes me think I’m reading very fluffy books!!!
I know olio because I do crossword puzzles. I don’t know what puzzlers would do without short words like that one. Dicty is completely new to me, but I had heard ofay someone call some dignified appearing whites ofay.
I’ve never heard of any of these words before. I’m mostly surprised that I have not heard of ofays. Interesting words. Thanks for sharing!