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Home | Words In History
August 08, 2011
February 21, 2011
Penguin Island
Richard Harris presents a haiku on a Penguin Island scene.
November 07, 2009
Groundage, Grundage
Groundage was a payment levied on ships berthed alongside a quay, as historian George Redmonds explains.
To read more of George's articles tracing the meanings of words down the centuries please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please click on
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
October 31, 2009
Grocer
Go back six or seven hundred years, and the word 'grocer' did not have the meaning that it has today, as historian George Redmonds reveals.
To read more of George's articles concerning the evolution of the meanings of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a wide variety of historical tops visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
October 24, 2009
Greenpenny And Gressome
Historian George Redmonds examines the meanings of two words which long ago ceased to be in common use.
To read more of George's articles on the developing meaning of words down the centuriesplease click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his books on a variety of fascinating historical topis visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
October 17, 2009
Greenhew, Greenhue
Historian George Redmonds explains the legal rights implicit in the word Greenhew.
To read more of George's fascinating researches into the development of the meaning of words down the centuries please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To buy copies of George's books on a variety of historical topics visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
October 10, 2009
Grece, Greces
The words "grece'' and "greces''. said to be obsolete in England but still in use in Scotland, refer to a step or a flight of steps.
To read more of George Redmonds' fascinating articles in the development of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
George has written numerous books on historical subjects. Some of them can be purchase at
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
October 03, 2009
Great
Historian George Redmonds explains that 'great' refers to refers to agreement to carry out work for an agreed price, rather than being paid for the time it takes to do the job.
To read more of George's articles on the way the meaning of words has evolved down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
September 26, 2009
Moor gate
There is more than one meaning to "moor gate'' as historian George Redmonds reveals in this article.
To read more of articles on the evolution of word meanings down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's numerous books please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
September 19, 2009
Mean
Historian George Redmonds gives fascinating examples from centuries ago of the word 'mean', then used to denote common ownership.
To read more of George's fascinating articles on the evolution of words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase his books on a broad range of historical subjects visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
September 12, 2009
Rate
The word ‘rate’ had a different meaning centuries ago, as historian George Redmonds reveals.
...The earliest uses of ‘rate’ are typically found in documents such as deeds, leases and court rolls. In 1600 a Malham farmer was allowed ‘one hempe pitt for to rayt hempe in’, and in 1611 the court rolls use the term ‘rating dubb’. ‘Dub’ was the dialect word for such a pool and it was said to be in the local ‘syke’ or stream...
To read more of George’s fascinating articles concerning the different and developing meaning of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase George’s books on a wide variety of historical subjects please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
September 05, 2009
Grave
The word 'grave', of Old Norse origin, referred to an office holder, as historian George Redmonds reveals.
To read more of George's fascinating articles about the developing meaning of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
August 22, 2009
Grasshouse, Grassman
A grassman was a particular kind of tenant, one dependent on pasture rather than arable land, as George Redmonds reveals.
To read more of George's articles on the development of the meaning of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his books on a wide variety of historical subjects please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
August 15, 2009
Grass
Centuries ago ther word "grass'' possessed additional meanings to those it now has, as George Redmonds reveals.
To read more of George's articles on the way words have develioped down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase George's books on a wide variety of historical subjects visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
August 08, 2009
For Open Writing
We are all familiar with the usual meaning of the verb to breed, but have you ever heard of breeding manure?
Historian George Redmonds, after perusing centuries-old documents, yet again extends our comprehension of a familiar word.
To read more of George’s findings on the development of words down the years please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his numerous historical books please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
August 01, 2009
Gossip
Historian George Redmonds has delved through countless centuries-old documents to trace the devolpment of word meanings down the centuries.
To read more of his findings in Open Writing please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a wide variety of historical topics please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
July 25, 2009
Good, Goods
Historian George Redmonds brings historical reference which show how the plural noun 'goods' was used in connection with livestock.
To read more of George's articles concerning the changes in the meaning of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
July 18, 2009
Ginnel
...In the Court Leet records for Manchester, there were similarly unpleasant connotations. In 1613 Robert Charnock was said to have ‘newly erected a privie, the Filthe whereof Falleth into a certen Gynnell or gutter’ between his house and one belonging to Thomas Brownsword...
Historian George Redmonds points out that the dialect word ‘ginnel’ still survives and is acceptable in polite conversation.
To read more of George’s fascinating articles on the development of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his books on a wide variety of historical topics visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
July 11, 2009
Haire
...The haircloth from which such shirts were made was originally from animals such as horses and goats, at least according to some writers, but it came gradually to mean any coarse fabric and was used more widely of the material for items such as towels and tents. It was certainly used for making sieves,..
And folk in the Middle Ages knew what a ‘haire’ was, without need of the addition of “shirt’’, as historian George Redmonds reveals.
To read more articles by George on the historical development of words please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his numerous books on historical subjects please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
July 04, 2009
God's Penny
Historian George Redmonds explains the historical meaning of God's penny, money given to express good intent in a deal.
To read more of George's articles on the developing meanings of words click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
June 27, 2009
Gist
George Redmonds explains the meaning of the word 'gist', widely understood 500 years ago as referring to the rights of pasturage for cattle.
For more of George's articles on the historical development of words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase George's books on a wife variety of historical subjects visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
June 20, 2009
Gipsy
Historian George Redmonds tells of the origins of the word 'gipsy'.
To read more of George's fascinating accounts of the origins and development of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on multifarious historical subjects visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
June 13, 2009
Gersum, Girsom
Historian George Redmonds finds historical references to the word "gersum'', a premium or fine paid by a tenant to a landlord.
George has examined thousands of centuries-old documents to trace the evolution of the meaning a various words. To read more of his findings please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
June 06, 2009
Casten Dikes
...On the 2½ inch OS map for North Yorkshire, there is a long and prominent earthwork named Casten Dike on Sutton Bank. The name is included in Appendix B of A History of Helmsley, Rievaulx and District (1963), where it is said to mean ‘fort dike’...
However leading historian George Redmonds offers an older and simpler meaning of that word “casten’’.
To read more of George’s articles how word meanings have evolved down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his books on a wide variety of historical subjects visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
May 30, 2009
The Tithe Barn
George Redmonds tracks back through time to the beginning of the 13th Century in tracing the origins of the description ‘tithe barn' – those buildings which command respect for their size and antiquity, the ‘cathedrals’ of the rural landscape.
To read more of George’s articles on the evolving meaning of words down the centuries please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his books on a wide variety of historical topics please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
May 23, 2009
Manor
George Redmonds takes us on a fascinating historical journey as he explores the development of the word ‘manor’.
To read more articles in George’s excellent series Words In History please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
Copies of George’s books on a variety of historical subjects can be purchased by visiting http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
May 16, 2009
Fey
George Redmonds traces from c.1205 onwards the use of the word ‘fay’’ or ‘fey’ which by the sixteenth century had come to mean to ‘to clear away’.
To read more of George’s fascinating historical explorations of the developing meaning of words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George’s books on a variety of historical subjects visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
May 09, 2009
Anent
George Redmonds explores the etymology of 'anent', a word in general use centuries ago in Scotland, Ireland and the northern counties of England.
To read more of George's articles which examine words in an historical context please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of his books on a broad range of historical topics visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
May 02, 2009
Kirk
...When each outlying farm and hamlet had a right of way to the parish church it was regularly called a ‘kirkegaite’ (1515), and access into the churchyard was via a ‘kyrke stele’ or stile (1542). It was traditionally a foot-way for ‘bride and corse’ (1583) but it had to be wide enough for people ‘to go and pass with corps and dead bodies’ (1742)...
Historian George Redmonds tells how the word "kirk'' gradually gave way to the word "church''.
To read more of George's fascinating articles on the history of words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase his books on a variety of historical subjects visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
April 25, 2009
Neat/Nawt
...According to the English Dialect Dictionary, the word ‘neat’ was formerly in general use for animals ‘of the ox tribe’; it was usually singular and the term neat-cattle could include heifers, oxen, bullocks and cows...
Distinguished historian George Redmonds continues his series in which the meaning of words is examined in an historical context.
To read earlier articles please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
April 18, 2009
Gentleman
The 'gentle' in 'gentleman' could be seen as inappropriate, for, as George Redmond reveals, the word 'gentleman' was applied to a man entitled to bear arms.
George continues his pioneering series examining the meaning of words in an historical context. To read earlier articles in this series please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
April 11, 2009
Gate
The word 'gate' has been weighted down the centuries with a far broader range of meanings than you might expect, as George Redmonds reveals.
To read more articles in George's pioneering series examining the historical development of words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
April 04, 2009
Garsom
Historian George Redmonds explains the meaning of garsom - an unpopular word, particularly among those upon whom a garsom was imposed.
To read more articles in George's pioneering series on the earliest meaning of words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/words_in_history/
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please visit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
March 28, 2009
Gardener
Eminent historian George Redmonds points out that the word "gardener'' was at one time applied to the cultivation of children.
For more of George's articles on the historical meaning of words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=george+redmonds
To purchase his books on a variety of historical subjects please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
March 21, 2009
Gamekeeper
Historian George Redmonds reveals that the original meaning of "gamekeeper'' was rather different to that which we now attribute to the word.
To purchase gopies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
March 14, 2009
Gallon
Leading historical researcher George Redmonds points out that a gallon could be either a liquid or a dry measure.
To purchase copies of George's books on a variety of historical subjects please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
March 07, 2009
Gald, Gaud, Gauld
Internationally recognised historian George Redmonds continous his unique series on the meaning of words.
To purchase copies of George's books on a wide variety of historical subjects please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
February 28, 2009
Cinder Hills
Eminent historian George Redmonds says the place-name Cinder Hills gives a clue to the locations of iron-working sites centuries ago.
To purchase copies of George’s books on a wide variety of historical subjects please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
February 21, 2009
Eavesdroppers
...There is no record of just when eavesdropping started to be considered as on offence but in 1377, in Methley, Matilda Seamster was indicted at the manor court for listening under the walls of her neighbours' houses at night and 'narrating idle speeches'...
Historian George Redmonds says that the word 'eavesdropper' is used loosly these days, but the eavesdropper was once the scourge of the local community.
To see details of some of George's books please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
To see details of some of George's books please click on
February 14, 2009
Little Imps
Today we welcome to Open Writing the distinguished historian George Redmonds.
George's diligent research work has won him an international reputation. He has regularly lectured to audiences in Britain, the United States, Australia, and other countries.
He has written books on numerous historical subjects. To see the range of his work and purchase his books please click here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=george+redmonds
History is of course recorded in words. Down the decades and centuries the original meaning of a word can be eroded or forgotten. In a weekly series of articles in Open Writing George will be examining words in their historical context.
He begins with the word "imp''. You think you know what an imp is? Do read on - and be both entertained and enlightened.
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