Saturday, September 22, 2007

Piffle.

I recently discovered that one of my friends is an excellent at talking piffle. It then occurred to me that many people probably don't know what piffle is and thus it is all very sad for them. For the word itself as well as the execution of it are both very entertaining. Go read Dorothy Sayers.

4 comments:

Robin D said...

OK, what's this word?!!!

thebeloved said...

Ahh, Robin. I am afraid you are going to have read Dorothy Sayers' "Lord Peter Wimsey" mysteries to get my full meaning. The dictionary meaning is strictly to speak nonsense, but I mean it in a far more positive light, as did Dorothy Sayers I believe. It means more speaking random and entertaining nonsense, all the while knowing you are speaking nonsense, and choosing to speak it. Even that doesn't quite match up with the concept in my mind, but there is a start.

Nick Jesch said...

aha, a new level of understanding for the many subject lines I get with spam....a sure way to identify them, as they are simply random words strung together to occupy the space. I suspect our autrix has a higher purpose in view, though....I've never been exposed to her writings.
I rather suspect the wonderful fantasy writings of CS Lewis had their origins in the pifflesome discourse he and his brother Warnie used to while away their hours of boredom. Oh the fun we might have concocting derivatives of this fine word. Piffling, pifflous, piffleiferous, pifflemongering, oh piffle, someone please kick me, I'm stuck.......

Susannah said...

Well, now I'm curious. I'll go google piffle right away. :~)