This week’s theme
Tosspot words borrowed from other languages

This week’s words
amuse-gueule
skitterbrook
cache-sexe
scaldabanco
gainpain

Missed a word?
Check the archives
chronological
alphabetical
plaintext
or
search the site

---

A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(SKIT-uhr-brook)

MEANING:

noun: A coward.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Dutch schijtebroek (literally, shits his pants), from schijten (to shit) + broek (pants). Earliest documented use: 1652.

USAGE:

“The royal skitterbrook’s advice to the remnants of his army, still holding out in castles and towns along the borders, was terse and characteristic: ‘Let each man look to himself. Expect no help from me.’”
Thomas B. Costain; The Conquerors; Doubleday; 1949.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: