Strange, Silly, and 100% Legit
English is an endlessly flexible language — but sometimes it takes that flexibility and runs wild with it. From the whimsical to the absurd, certain words sound like they were dreamed up by a children’s book author or a comedian.
Yet every one of these is a real, legitimate word with an actual meaning. Here’s your guide to some of the strangest-sounding terms English has to offer — and where they came from.
1. Gobbledygook
Meaning: Overly complicated, jargon-filled language.
Origin: Coined in the 1940s by U.S. Congressman Maury Maverick, who compared government jargon to the sound turkeys make.
Example: “The instruction manual was pure gobbledygook.”
2. Snollygoster
Meaning: A clever but unprincipled person, especially in politics.
Origin: 19th-century American slang, likely adapted from a dialect word meaning “shrewd.”
Example: “That snollygoster will say anything to get elected.”
3. Lollygag
Meaning: To dawdle or waste time.
Origin: 19th-century American slang, possibly from “loll” (to lounge) and “gag” (to joke around).
Example: “Stop lollygagging and finish your homework.”
4. Flummox
Meaning: To confuse or bewilder.
Origin: Likely from mid-19th-century English dialect, possibly influenced by words like “flummock” (to make untidy).
Example: “Her strange explanation completely flummoxed me.”
5. Brouhaha
Meaning: A noisy uproar or commotion.
Origin: From French, where it meant an excited public reaction — possibly imitating the sound of excited shouting.
Example: “The new policy announcement caused quite a brouhaha.”
6. Bumbershoot
Meaning: An umbrella.
Origin: A playful blend of “umbrella” and “parachute” from the late 19th century.
Example: “Don’t forget your bumbershoot — it looks like rain.”
7. Kerfuffle
Meaning: A fuss or disturbance.
Origin: From Scottish Gaelic “cair” (to twist) and “fuffle” (to rumple).
Example: “There was a kerfuffle over who got the last ticket.”
8. Skedaddle
Meaning: To run away quickly.
Origin: Mid-19th-century American slang, possibly from a dialect word for “scatter.”
Example: “When the lights came on, the raccoons skedaddled.”
9. Ragamuffin
Meaning: A person in ragged clothes, often a child.
Origin: From Middle English, combining “rag” and “muffin” (a playful term for a child).
Example: “The ragamuffins played in the alley.”
10. Nincompoop
Meaning: A foolish or silly person.
Origin: Possibly from the Latin phrase non compos mentis (“not of sound mind”).
Example: “Don’t be such a nincompoop — read the directions first.”
11. Canoodle
Meaning: To kiss and cuddle affectionately.
Origin: 19th-century American slang, possibly from German “knuddeln” (to hug or cuddle).
Example: “The couple was canoodling in the park.”
🧠 Why Words Like This Stick Around
- They’re fun to say — their sound is as playful as their meaning.
- They’re memorable — you can’t forget a word like “bumbershoot.”
- They often show up in humorous writing or speech, keeping them alive.
💬 Final Thought
These words might sound fake, but they’re part of the quirky charm of English. Next time you want to spice up your vocabulary, slip in a snollygoster or a kerfuffle — and watch people’s faces light up.
