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Dec 7, 2025 This week’s theme Words for people This week’s words quidam rudesby galoot jobsworth roturier How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Illustrated words Send a gift that keeps on giving, all year long: A gift subscription of A.Word.A.Day or the gift of books AWADmail Issue 1223 A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language Sponsor’s Message: ONEUPMANSHIP 3.0 is “a rollicking excuse for mad, mutually-abusive annihilation.” One Up! -- guaranteed to turn your whole family into “greedy, self-serving punks.” Wise Up! will “ruin Christmas and friendships” or your money back. All our fun and games are BOGO today only. Shop now. From: Diwaker Balakrishnan (bdiwaker gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--quidam It’s often a wonderful thing to be a quidam, living in anonymity. Diwaker Balakrishnan, New Delhi, India From: Michael Chirico (michaelchirico4 gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--quidam The current lingo for this is NPC, a term I find grating and egocentric. Mike Chirico, Singapore Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy the wicked smartest games in the world. From: Cécile Hessels (43cecile gmail.com) Subject: quidam In the 1950s a now forgotten French singer had a song called Quidam. It’s about a nobody who desperately wants to be somebody. In the end he jumps into the Seine to drown himself. But another quidam gets him out, takes him home, gives him dry clothes and a good meal. But then the police are looking for a suspect and not being able to find him they just pick out the first quidam and our nobody confesses without giving much trouble. Then his picture is in the newspaper and he almost achieves fame. Almost, because they spelled his name wrong. I used to sing it often. song (3 min.) lyrics Cécile Hessels, The Hague, Netherlands From: Katy Hall (mezzkat msn.com) Subject: Quidam Quidam is my favorite Cirque du Soleil show, but I never really understood the title until now. Thanks! Katy Hall, Golden, Colorado From: Darren Nash (darren enclosuresolutions.com.au) Subject: Re: quidam | The son of man | Bowler hats There is a scene in The Thomas Crown Affair (video, 4 min.) featuring a group of quidams, all walking around and swapping briefcases within an art museum with a stolen painting in it. The Son of Man painting can be seen hanging on a wall. Quite entertaining, especially since I had never known this word existed until reading this post. Darren Nash, Sydney, Australia From: Paul Glover (pglover bulkley.net) Subject: Galoot In The Far Side, Gary Larson’s depiction of the annual convention of the Big Galoot Society of America. Paul Glover, Smithers, Canada From: Harold Hill (314galoot gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--galoot My father-in-law has been referring to me as the Big Galoot for some 35 years now. Harold Hill, Carrboro, North Carolina From: Jeffrey Lichtman (jeff swazoo.com) Subject: Galoot “Well, no. Actually I never HAVE met a little galoot.” (WaynoVision comic) Jeff Lichtman, El Cerrito, California From: Bob Richmond (rsrichmond gmail.com) Subject: galoot Galoot has an exact homonym, Hebrew galut, the exile of the Jewish people from the land of Israel, attested in the Hebrew Bible, usually translated diaspora (a Greek word that means scattering). The Hebrew word is customarily used in English by Jews, with the modern Israeli pronunciation. The two words are considered to be almost certainly unrelated to each other. (Sources: the Chabad web site and the paper BDB.) Bob Richmond, Maryville, Tennessee From: Karla (kttaylor umich.edu) Subject: jobsworth There’s an even better Italian parallel: pignolo, after the pine nut. It refers to a bureaucrat who follows all the regulations down to dotted is and crossed ts. Maybe it makes even more sense in the extraordinarily cross-purposed and multi-layered Italian bureaucracy. I learned it during a research visit to the Vatican library in 1985. The librarian in charge was nice to me and told me information about holiday closures that I hadn’t known, and one of the other readers in the reading room was amazed since this librarian was one of the worst of the ubiquitous Vatican pignoli -- very possessive of information, unlikely to share helpful tips. Karla Taylor, Ann Arbor, Michigan From: Judith Fritsch (hnjfritsch gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--jobsworth When I was about to retire from the NY Board of Education, my advisor gave me copies of their forms to fill out and submit, all notarized. When I duly submitted them, the jobsworth at the Bd. of Ed. held one of them up by a corner and frowned. “What’s the matter?” I said. “This should be on purple paper.” I asked if she had crayons so I could color the paper, but she disappeared into an inner office. When she finally emerged, she agreed that the copy was valid. I’ve been retired now for more than 30 years. Judith Fritsch, Yonkers, New York From: Melody Friedenthal (friedenthalmelody gmail.com) Subject: jobsworth When the sanitation workers didn’t pick up my garbage bags two weeks in a row, I called my city’s DPW and complained. The clerk who answered my call asked me a series of questions: Was the garbage in the official yellow bags? Yes. Were they placed next to the curb between the hours of x and y? Yes. Did they contain any items that should have been in the separate recycling bin? No. Were the garbage bags and the recycling bin set 3 feet apart? At that, I groaned, “Oh, come on!” She laughed. Melody Friedenthal, Worcester, Massachusetts From: Curt Harler (curt curtharler.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--jobsworth TSA is the ultimate jobsworth group. I saw, at CLT airport, a young woman with a clear bag that had two small items in it, each well under three ounces. The jobsworth confiscated the lot on the basis that they were in a gallon-size baggie and not a quart-size baggie. America was safer for it! Curt Harler, Strongsville, Ohio From: Rich Ball (richball comcast.net) Subject: Jobsworth I once contacted the OED editors regarding the provenance of the word jobsworth because they find written evidence only to 1970 in a quote from a British Folk Music magazine, Melody Maker. But, the word is older. Its creator, the singer-songwriter Jeremy Taylor, began touring Britain with his bag of songs in 1966. One of his songs was called Jobsworth. He affirmed to me that he concocted the noun jobsworth expressly for that song. But, alas, there is no proof, no LP recording and no written evidence regarding Jobsworth in that era. Jeremy didn’t record the song until some years later. I have searched, but I cannot prove Jeremy’s attribution to the OED. So I make my claim here: Jeremy Taylor created the word. Richard Ball, Oak Park, Illinois From: April Halprin Wayland (aprilspencil gmail.com) Subject: Today’s quote A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Once a man has tasted freedom he will never be content to be a slave. That is why I believe that this frightfulness we see everywhere today is only temporary. Tomorrow will be better for as long as America keeps alive the ideals of freedom and a better life. -Walt Disney, entrepreneur and animator (5 Dec 1901-1966) I love the quote (I love ✨everything✨ about your emails, Anu)... ...but Disney was antisemitic, anti-union, and moved from the Democratic party to the Republican party supporting Nixon. From Wikipedia: ... he switched allegiance to the Republican Party, he became a generous donor to Thomas E. Dewey’s 1944 bid for the presidency. Disney engaged in red-baiting in response to organized labor actions against his company. In 1941, he paid for a full-page ad in Variety claiming that “Communistic agitation” was responsible for a cartoonist strike against him. In 1946, he was a founding member of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, an organization that stated they “believ[ed] in, and like, the American Way of Life ... we find ourselves in sharp revolt against a rising tide of Communism, Fascism and kindred beliefs, that seek by subversive means to undermine and change this way of life”. In 1947, during the Second Red Scare, Disney testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where he branded Herbert Sorrell, David Hilberman and William Pomerance, former animators and labor union organizers, as communist agitators; Disney stated that the 1941 strike led by them was part of an organized communist effort to gain influence in Hollywood. The New York Times reported in 1993 that Disney had been an FBI informant passing secret information to J. Edgar Hoover about communist activities in Hollywood. Just sayin’ April Halprin Wayland, Hermosa Beach, California From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com) Subject: quidam and rudesby Quite the motley lineup of prime suspects. Hmm... Who’s the culprit amongst this ragtag mix of possible criminals? Did the cat do it? Or was the Norseman up to his usual raiding and pillaging ways? Did the clown’s clowning go beyond the pale? Sadly, quidam almost always gets a bum rap. Trump could be the poster-boy (poster-boor?) for the quintessential rudesby. His blatant misogyny and sordid history of sexual assault has resulted in courts finding him guilty. Of late, Trump’s short-fused anger appears to be getting shorter, as he’s been lashing out, in particular, at women reporters. Recently, he verbally attacked ABC News White House correspondent Mary Bruce, who despite Trump’s nasty, debasing retort, held her own. A few days prior, on Air Force One, Trump singled out a female Bloomberg News reporter, calling her Piggy. Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams This week’s theme: Words for people Quidam Rudesby Galoot Jobsworth Roturier = Who? just somebody he retorted Horrid oaf argues Simple Squirt, kowtower Pleb -Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz) = Figure we’d dismiss Boor, jerk Squarehead Petty ruler Bottom worth, so low hope = Queer outsider Grew loutish Fools, bojos The work: red-tapism war Herd, mob type -Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com) -Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com) Words for people Quidam Rudesby Galloot Jobsworth Roturier = Ruddy twerp Major boor’s quite sharp Dolt Follower Bourgeois -Robert Jordan, Lampang, Thailand (alfiesdad ymail.com) Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks quidam I’m a quidam, so how about you? Are you one? Well, now there are two. We’re nobodys, of course And not really a force But of us there are more than a few. -Sara Hutchinson, New Castle, Delaware (sarahutch2003 yahoo.com) Dad engaged in a chat on the street With a quidam we’d happened to meet. As I stood by his side, I just wanted to hide -- My embarrassment was so complete! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Now a nowhere man named Mr. Small, Said, “I feel I don’t matter at all. Just say I’m a quidam. There’s nothing to see, ma’am. I’m no one that you can recall.” -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) All children today must beware, Of dangers that lurk. Quite a scare. So you must forbid ’em, To talk to a quidam, For it is a jungle out there. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Every day, briefing books by some quidam Are dumped on my desk; I don’t read ’em,” Said Donald. “No glut Of words matches my gut; Don’t need lessons in how to end freedom.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) rudesby The table and chairs were a mess. Where the food went was anyone’s guess. One rudesby just ate With his feet on the plate. Chimps’ tea party: a smashing success. -Sara Hutchinson, New Castle, Delaware (sarahutch2003 yahoo.com) His boss the clerk couldn’t abide. He could be very nice, then he’d chide. In one of his moods, see, He’d act like a rudesby. A Jekyll he was, and a Hyde. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Said Stormy, “Some say that I’m floozy, But at least no one calls me a rudesby. At that, sir, you’re tops Though your willy flip-flops; Are we done? Good. I need to get boozy.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) galoot People say I’m a big old galoot. But what qualities do they impute? That I’m clumsy, I’m jerky, I walk like a turkey? I hear you, I get it. Don’t shoot. -David Goldberg, Pinckney, Michigan (montero gmail.com) I knew a sheepdog named Galoot. A clumsy and lovable brute. Big, gentle, and gray Needed grooming each day Because sheepdogs are very hirsute. -Sara Hutchinson, New Castle, Delaware (sarahutch2003 yahoo.com) That woman is tiny and cute. Her husband’s a real big galoot. Some mock this odd pair, But those two don’t care -- They’re lovebirds who don’t give a hoot! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) He goes clumpin’ along, that galoot, Chompin’ on candy or fruit. His hands always full (An’ he’s full of the bull!) But he’ll make your day! Rooty toot toot! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) Said the astronaut, “What a galoot! I look horrible in this spacesuit. Why can’t a designer Create something finer? And vented, so that I can toot.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) jobsworth The jobsworth insisted I sign My IRS-1099. “Use ink blue or black, Or we’ll send it back And penalize you with a fine.” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) By jobworths our government’s run. They tell us how things should be done. There are forms to fill out, Which they natter about -- They think that bureaucracy’s fun. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Oh yeah, he sure follows the rules! Some jobsworths should stay in their schools; Not say what to do When they haven’t a clue! Do they think we are nothing but fools? -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) The clerk was considered a jerk. His pettiness always would irk. It’s thought fussy Bob’s mirth, At being a jobsworth, To him was a big office perk. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) When a bureaucrat starts acting petty, For annoyance you’d better get ready. That sort of a jobsworth From all of us robs mirth; Our president might throw spaghetti. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) roturier Roturiers, we understand, Worked hard, but just rented their land. Lower-class they’d remain, And thus viewed with disdain -- Until revolution they planned. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Cinderella of Storybook fame, Had attending the ball as her aim. A roturier may Wed a prince, so they say. Now everyone here knows her name -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “As a kitty, there’s no breed that’s furrier; But I’m tailless, and thus a roturier,” Said the Manx. “But why fret? What you see’s what you get; You gain nothing by being a worrier.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Please don’t kill me, I’m only the courier; Just a timid and humble roturier,” Said the messenger. “Lord, Would you put down that sword? For it’s making my future feel blurrier.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “I’m an octopus not a s-quidam-mit,” insisted Sponge Bob’s co-worker at the Krusty Krab. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Hey, ya owe me two quidam it, and I want it back!” he yelled at his mate. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Those two brothers I worked for weren’t paying me what I was worth so I quidam”, slurred the disgruntled ex-employee. -Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (powerjanice782 gmail.com) “The continued existence of us p-rudesby-lies the notion that licentiousness reigns supreme,” declared the Celibacy Club chair. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) After the concert the Lady Ga-galoot included an autographed program. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Look at all the Ma-galoot my stupid followers heaped on me!” said Donald gleefully. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “This jobsworth a lot if you’re interested,” the machinist said to his friend who was on the dole. -Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (powerjanice782 gmail.com) “With heaps of misfortune I shall test Jobsworth-iness,” said Yahweh. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Steve Jobsworth as the CEO of Apple was enormous. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “We’d better make sure to drive counterclockwise ‘round the roturier?” said the Canadian. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum -- even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there’s free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate. -Noam Chomsky, linguistics professor and political activist (b. 7 Dec 1928)

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