Word of the day ...

[vinteuil]

I doubt if Woodforde had ever experienced famine, if the consumption recorded in his diaries is any guide!

1783 Aug. 5
We had for Dinner some fresh Water Fish, Perch and Trout,a Saddle of Mutton rosted, Beans and Bacon, a Couple of Fowls boiled, Patties and some white Soup - 2nd Course - Pigeons rosted, a Duck rosted, Piggs Pettytoes - Sweetbreads - Raspberry Cream, Tarts and Pudding and Pippins...


1790 Aug. 17
We had for Dinner - 1st Course, a Dish of Soals boiled and fryed, Couple of boiled Chicken and Tongue, Beans and Bacon, stewed Beef and an Haunch of Venison rosted at the lower end. 2nd Course, a Couple of rost Ducks and Green Peas, a Leveret rosted, Maccaroni, Patties, Blamange red-Currant Pye &c. Desert, Raspberries and Strawberries, Gooseberries and Currants...

[AuntDaisy]

1783 Aug. 5
We had for Dinner some fresh Water Fish, Perch and Trout,a Saddle of Mutton rosted, Beans and Bacon, a Couple of Fowls boiled, Patties and some white Soup - 2nd Course - Pigeons rosted, a Duck rosted, Piggs Pettytoes - Sweetbreads - Raspberry Cream, Tarts and Pudding and Pippins...

1790 Aug. 17
We had for Dinner - 1st Course, a Dish of Soals boiled and fryed, Couple of boiled Chicken and Tongue, Beans and Bacon, stewed Beef and an Haunch of Venison rosted at the lower end. 2nd Course, a Couple of rost Ducks and Green Peas, a Leveret rosted, Maccaroni, Patties, Blamange red-Currant Pye &c. Desert, Raspberries and Strawberries, Gooseberries and Currants...

Mr Creosote would have been proud. Bon appétit.

[HighlandDougie]

Although subject to a penal law forbidding its consumption (Gregory III in the 8th century - not abrogated until 1983) and contrary to what I had been led to believe, horse meat was consumed in England in earlier times, although not commonly. So Woodforde's reference to Harridan was presumably to a joint of horse. I don't recall horse meat being, "insipid", when I have infrequently eaten it in France but perhaps it came from an old nag. Thanks to Smittims for having me delve into the diaries - and for an enlightening half hour reading about the consumption of ponies et al.

[oddoneout]

This,

neither Mutton nor Lamb

, made me think it was of ovine origin, but of poor quality, if it couldn't be identified as either mutton or lamb, both of which have distinctive flavours. Perhaps harridan is what he heard/thought was said if asking the name of the dish. It conjures up an image of a host trying to pass off something substandard by giving it a fancy name?

[vinteuil]

This, , made me think it was of ovine origin, but of poor quality, if it couldn't be identified as either mutton or lamb, both of which have distinctive flavours?

... but I'm sure he wd've known hogget, which is the half-way stage between lamb and mutton

.

[Dave2002]

For the carnivores amongst us here is more detail re sheep eating:

https://www.farmison.com/community/blog/difference-lamb-hogget-mutton

I hadn't realised that kakistocracy had already been declared the word of the year in 2024 - that passed me by, but check:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakistocracy

[Serial_Apologist]

I understand from the BBC lunchtime news that "kindness" has been voted children's word of the year - agreed presumably by votes taken at the scheme-affiliated primary schools.

[Dave2002]

If one can be a democrat in a democracy, or an oligarch in an oligarchy, then can one be a kakistocrat in a kakistocracy?

Kakistocrat of the year competition perhaps?