Thursday 26 March 2009

Word of the Week: Barber-monger

A word of reproach in Shakespeare, which seems to signify a fop; a man decked out by his barber.

Draw, you rogue; for though it be night, the moon shines; I'll make a sop of the moon-shine of you; you whoreson, cullionly, barber-monger, draw.
- Shakespeare's King Lear.

From: Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language: An Anthology


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1 comment:

Polly said...

I love that word! I've just finished Bill Bryson's Shakespeare which talks about how Shakespeare was really great at making up words... and here's an example. Thanks!