Unusual words in Diana Gabaldon's books
I have always been fascinated by Diana Gabaldon's use of obscure or unusual words in her writing. Here are a few of my favorites, in alphabetical order:
absquatulation (A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES)
amplexus (THE SCOTTISH PRISONER)
borborygmi (THE FIERY CROSS)
castrametation (WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD)
coccygodynia (DRUMS OF AUTUMN)
extravasated (LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER)
frenulum (WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD)
fridstool (THE SCOTTISH PRISONER)
horripilation ("A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows")
oenomancy (AN ECHO IN THE BONE)
poltroon (DRAGONFLY IN AMBER)
stultiloquy (AN ECHO IN THE BONE)
What about the rest of you? Is there a particular word or phrase that you encountered for the first time in one of Diana Gabaldon's books or stories?
Diana makes no secret of the fact that she loves unusual words. Look here for a discussion on Compuserve from 2008 in which she talks about it in some detail.
Leave a Comment