In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
BALDERDASH
balderdash, fiddle-faddle, piffle
(noun) trivial nonsense
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
balderdash (uncountable)
Senseless talk or writing; nonsense.
(archaic) A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.
(obsolete) Obscene language or writing.
Synonyms
• bunk, drivel, piffle, poppycock, rubbish, twaddle
• see nonsense
Verb
balderdash (third-person singular simple present balderdashes, present participle balderdashing, simple past and past participle balderdashed)
(archaic) To mix or adulterate.
Source: Wiktionary
Bal"der*dash, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin: cf. Dan. balder noise, clatter, and E. dash; hence, perhaps, unmeaning noise, then hodgepodge, mixture; or W. baldorduss a prattling, baldordd, baldorddi, to prattle.]
1. A worthless mixture, especially of liquors. Indeed beer, by a mixture of wine, hath lost both name and nature, and is called balderdash. Taylor (Drink and Welcome).
2. Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash.
Bal"der*dash, v. t.
Definition: To mix or adulterate, as liquors. The wine merchants of Nice brew and balderdash, and even mix it with pigeon's dung and quicklime. Smollett.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
11 May 2025
MALLET
(noun) a light drumstick with a rounded head that is used to strike such percussion instruments as chimes, kettledrums, marimbas, glockenspiels, etc.
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