Writing World

drpaladin · June 25

Gadzookery is a Briticism, coined in 1945.

drpaladin · June 25

Occasionally, the Word of the Day meanders into gadzookery.

Paladin · June 25

Gadzooks!

drpaladin · June 25

Gadzookery is a hazard in historical fiction. Authors must do research and be cautious wordsmiths to avoid pitfalls. The meaning of words can change drastically over time. In Shakespeare's day, a 'nice' woman was one who was wanton and dissolute.

Bill W · June 25

The term gadzooks (where gad was used to refer to god) has a religious origin. It is a mild or indirect way of referring to the phrase "God's hooks", which is a reference to the nails used at the Crucifixion. The word was first used in the 1600s.

Edited June 25 by Bill W

Bill W · June 25

After the term gadzooks fell from regular use, the term gadzookery was adopted (sometime around 1955) to refer to the deliberate use of old-fashioned language.

Valkyrie · June 25

I feel like Scooby Doo needs to be mentioned here.

sandrewn · June 26

4 hours ago, Valkyrie said:

I feel like Scooby Doo needs to be mentioned here.

@Valkyrie

Gadzooks!!! I agree, but I was gobsmacked, that you felt that way too!

:cowboy: :whistle:

Edited June 26 by sandrewn

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gadzookery - Word of the Day - Tue Jun 25, 2024

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drpaladin 81,657

drpaladin 81,657

Paladin 7,939

drpaladin 81,657

Bill W 46,145

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