Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
BOGGLE
flabbergast, boggle, bowl over
(verb) overcome with amazement; “This boggles the mind!”
boggle
(verb) startle with amazement or fear
boggle
(verb) hesitate when confronted with a problem, or when in doubt or fear
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Variation or derivation of bogle, possibly cognate with bug
Verb
boggle (third-person singular simple present boggles, present participle boggling, simple past and past participle boggled)
(transitive or intransitive) Either literally or figuratively to stop or hesitate as if suddenly seeing a bogle.
(intransitive) To be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused.
(transitive) To confuse or mystify; overwhelm.
(US, dialect) To embarrass with difficulties; to palter or equivocate; to bungle or botch.
(intransitive, obsolete) To dissemble; to play fast and loose (with someone or something).
Noun
boggle (plural boggles)
(dated) A scruple or objection.
(dated) A bungle; a botched situation.
Etymology 2
Noun
boggle (plural boggles)
Alternative form of bogle
Source: Wiktionary
Bog"gle, v. i. [imp & p. p. Boggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Boggling.] Etym: [ See Bogle, n.]
1. To stop or hesitate as if suddenly frightened, or in doubt, or impeded by unforeseen difficulties; to take alarm; to exhibit hesitancy and indecision. We start and boggle at every unusual appearance. Glanvill. Boggling at nothing which serveth their purpose. Barrow.
2. To do anything awkwardly or unskillfully.
3. To play fast and loose; to dissemble. Howell.
Syn.
– To doubt; hesitate; shrink; stickle; demur.
Bog"gle, v. t.
Definition: To embarrass with difficulties; to make a bungle or botch of. [Local, U. S.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Coffee Trivia
