Fossil words have stuck around for ages despite the language evolving around them. You see them often in English, particularly in phrases like “to and fro” and “vim and vigor.” But why and how do these words survive?
What are Fossil Words?
Because language keeps evolving, words tend to fall out of use or change meaning and form over time. However, some words almost disappear but survive through very specific idioms, phrases, and other words. These are fossil words.
These relics often retain their original meaning and pronunciation, linking a language’s past to its present.
Examples Of English Fossil Words
Here are a few examples of fossil words you can find in English.
Ado
Used in: much ado about nothing, without further ado
Ado means “trouble or fuss.” But now, it’s impossible to see it used outside of the two phrases above. It’s just easier and more direct to say trouble.
Vim
Used in: vim and vigor
Vim means “energy or excitement.” However, you don’t really hear someone only say “vim,” it’s always paired with vigor.
Fro
Used in: to and fro
Fro means “away or back”, and is a shortened way to say “from.” You’ll only see it used in the phrase “to and fro”, which isn’t even that common. People usually just say “back and forth.”
Shod
Used in: slipshod, roughshod
Shod means “wearing shoes” and is the past tense for shoen, “to shoe.” It was a common word back when horses were the primary mode of transportation, but is now rarely used by itself. It survives in the words slipshod and roughshod—meaning careless and forceful, respectively.
Umbrage
Used in: to take umbrage on
Umbrage means “offense or annoyance.” It’s often used in situations where someone takes offense from a perceived insult. And though it once referred to causing offense, today it’s more commonly used to describe the act of taking offense.
Dudgeon
Used in: high dudgeon
Dudgeon means “a state of high indignation.” Nowadays, you’ll only find it used in the phrase high dudgeon, which is rarely even used.
Pale
Used in: beyond the pale
Pale means “boundary” or the stakes marking the boundary. Though originally literal, it started to take on a metaphorical meaning of going beyond certain limits. Usually, going “beyond the pale” described behavior that wasnt civilized.
Currently, pale is used more as an adjective, meaning light in color or colorless.
Dint
Used in: by dint of
Dint means “force or means”. Originally, a dynt was an Old English word that means “a blow from a weapon.” While it still carries that sense of impact, it’s now mostly used in a metaphorical way.
Champing
Used in: champing at the bit
Champing is a precursor of the word “chomping” and is used to mean “showing impatience.” It came about because horses tend to chew their bits (the part of the bridle inserted into their mouths) when impatient with waiting.
Deserts
Used in: just deserts
Deserts come from an Old French word for “deserve,” and is used in English to mean “that which is deserved.” So someone who gets their just deserts means they’re receiving their deserved reward or punishment.
Shebang
Used in: the whole shebang
Shebang means “everything that is pertinent” or “set of circumstances.” Basically, an archaic term to mean “all of it,” especially since it is exclusively used in the expression, the whole shebang.
Hither
Used in: hither and thither, come hither
Hither means “to this place”. It’s one of the rare fossil words that has survived in more than just one expression. Its closest modern equivalent is “here,” though “here” typically refers to a fixed location, while “hither” implies of a general direction.
Petard
Used in: hoist with one’s own petard
Petard means “an explosive device.” The phrase “hoist with his own petard” comes from Hamlet, and essentially means “to be hurt by one’s own scheme.”
Ken
Used in: beyond someone’s ken
Ken means “one’s range of knowledge or sight.” To say that something is beyond your ken means you are unable to see or understand it.
Bated
Used in: with bated breath
Bated is a contraction of abated and means “to reduce the intensity of.” Therefore, to have “bated breath” means to hold your breath or breathe lightly due to suspense, fear, or excitement. While it was once used to modify other words, it has now become fossilized in the phrase “with bated breath,” popularized in The Merchant of Venice.
Eke
Used in: eke out
Eke means “to get with great difficulty”, usually partnered with “out.” It’s actually where we get the word nickname, which was a misinterpretation of an “eke-name.”
Yore
Used in: days of yore
Yore means “the past, especially that of long ago.” Something of yore is then very old. It’s usually used in the context of a bygone era.
Spick and Span
Used in: spick and span
Spick and span means “spotlessly clean or brand new.” “Spick” is a nail or spike, while “span” means a wooden chip. In the 1500s, a ship was “spick and span” if every spike and chip was brand new.
Wend
Used in: wend one’s way
Wend means “to go.” It was originally the present tense for went until the latter became the past tense for go. It’s usually seen in the phrase “to wend one’s way”, but can be rarely found on its own.
What other fossil words do you know? Share them below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
