Friday, March 16, 2012

GASCON

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 16 March 2012

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GASCON  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):
  1. (n.) a braggart; a boaster
  2. (n.) capitalized: a native or inhabitant of the Gascony region of France
  3. (adj.) capitalized: relating to a native of Gascony

Useful information for game players:
  • Front hooks: (none)
  • Back hooks: -S
  • Anagrams: CONGAS
  • Longer extensions: gasconADE, gasconADED, gasconADER/S, gasconADES, gasconADING
  • Wraparounds: (none)
  • Other Spellings: (none)
  • Related Forms: GASCONADE (v.), GASCONADER (n.)

Epilogue:
This word takes its form from the Gascony region of France, the natives of which were once believed to be especially boastful and were often represented as such in literature and drama.  The character D’Artagnan in Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers, for example, is portrayed as coming from Gascony.

We’ve covered a lot of boastful terms over the past two weeks, but we’ll just throw one more out there:
  • JACTITATION (n.): a boastful declaration or affirmation
    (from the Latin jactitare, “to throw out publicly”)

Recapping the vainglorious words featured over the last two weeks:
FANFARON, HECTOR, GASBAG, VOGIE, COXCOMB, POPINJAY, and GASCON

Also mentioned in passing:
BRAGGADOCIO, BLOWHARD, BLUSTERER, COCKY, JACTITATION, PEACOCK, PRINCOX, PRINCOCK, RODOMONTADE, SCARAMOUCH(E), THRASONICAL,  VAPORING, VOGUE, WINDBAG, and WINDJAMMER

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