a subscriber writes:


----- Original Message -----
From: Jordan Hall
To: wwftd master
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 6:31 AM
Subject: Re: today's wwftd is... holus-bolus


Hi There,


If this is the sole interpretation (and indeed it's the only definition I've ever come across) what do you make of this usage by Christopher Fry?


TYSON: ... One of those quaint astrological holus-boluses, quite all right.


TAPPERCOOM: Quite. An excess of phlegm in the solar system. It was on its way to a heavenly spittoon.


(From The Lady's Not For Burning, 1948)


Thanks,
Joran

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: wwftd master
To: wwftd minions
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 6:59:46 PM
Subject: today's wwftd is... holus-bolus

the worthless word for the day is: holus-bolus

[prob. reduplication of bolus, a large pill]
/HO lus BO lus/
all at once: altogether
(file bolus under: so that's what that's called)

"With these words, she appeared to lose all command
over herself; and, making a sudden snatch at the heap
of silver, put it back, holus-bolus, in her pocket."
- Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone (1868)

"That scene is stolen, holus bolus, for the remake,
which lards in all the fiery extras that really don't
add much."
- Peter Howell (movie critic), The Toronto Star
Feb 3, 2008

"With your thumb, push the stem rod forward to place
the capsule or bolus into the horse's throat."
- Theo. Landers, Professional Care of the Racehorse (2006)

a secondary sense of bolus is (by M-W) a soft mass of chewed food. the usual usage of holus-bolus is as an adverb: <gulped it down, holus-bolus> what Fry seems to have done (in nouning the adverb, rather) is convert it to rhyming slang. any thoughts?