Grace Tierney
@wordfoolery.bsky.social
Word history - books, blog, LMFMRadio
Comedyfic - Channillo
Love to read, craft, garden in Ireland
My Books - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
Weekly Word Blog - http://www.wordfoolery.wordpress.com/
Newsletter - subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers
Comedyfic - Channillo
Love to read, craft, garden in Ireland
My Books - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
Weekly Word Blog - http://www.wordfoolery.wordpress.com/
Newsletter - subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers
Pinned
Grace Tierney
@wordfoolery.bsky.social
· Nov 20
“Words Christmas Gave Us” festive history
“Words the Vikings Gave Us” Norse nouns
“Words the Sea Gave Us” nautical words
"Modern Words with Old Roots" avatar to zarf
“How To Get Your Name In The Dictionary” eponyms
#etymology paperback #Kindle
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
“Words the Vikings Gave Us” Norse nouns
“Words the Sea Gave Us” nautical words
"Modern Words with Old Roots" avatar to zarf
“How To Get Your Name In The Dictionary” eponyms
#etymology paperback #Kindle
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/
Happy #WorldReadAloudDay to all!
Adults to children, teachers, public speakers, writers & storytellers, comedians, actors, eulogy-givers. Wishing you an attentive and sympathetic audience.
Having spent years reading to my little ones, I'm glad to say they grew up to be readers. 📚💙 #DoTheVoices
Adults to children, teachers, public speakers, writers & storytellers, comedians, actors, eulogy-givers. Wishing you an attentive and sympathetic audience.
Having spent years reading to my little ones, I'm glad to say they grew up to be readers. 📚💙 #DoTheVoices
a cartoon character is reading a book with a rocking horse on it
ALT: a cartoon character is reading a book with a rocking horse on it
media.tenor.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Happy #WorldReadAloudDay to all!
Adults to children, teachers, public speakers, writers & storytellers, comedians, actors, eulogy-givers. Wishing you an attentive and sympathetic audience.
Having spent years reading to my little ones, I'm glad to say they grew up to be readers. 📚💙 #DoTheVoices
Adults to children, teachers, public speakers, writers & storytellers, comedians, actors, eulogy-givers. Wishing you an attentive and sympathetic audience.
Having spent years reading to my little ones, I'm glad to say they grew up to be readers. 📚💙 #DoTheVoices
“Relationships aren’t easy, Nina. They take work. Anybody who says different is lying or selling perfume."
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary" ❤️
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary" ❤️
a cartoon character with a big nose and a hat
ALT: a cartoon character with a big nose and a hat
media.tenor.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:16 AM
“Relationships aren’t easy, Nina. They take work. Anybody who says different is lying or selling perfume."
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary" ❤️
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary" ❤️
This week Nina the Librarian is struggling with her boyfriend's decision to move away for work, but her parents share a few home truths, whether she likes it or not. Subscribe to read this episode, and many more, at channillo.com/series/the-l... #librarylife #irishfiction #serial
The Librarian's Secret Diary
<p>Nina is the new librarian on the block. She’s learning the shelves with her buzzword-spouting boss and the senior librarian who hates reading and can’t wait to retire. She records the crazy reader ...
channillo.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:14 AM
This week Nina the Librarian is struggling with her boyfriend's decision to move away for work, but her parents share a few home truths, whether she likes it or not. Subscribe to read this episode, and many more, at channillo.com/series/the-l... #librarylife #irishfiction #serial
Crapula, crapulous, crapulent - all words with ancient Greek roots and helpful when we're hungover - read all about it on the blog this week wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/t... #etymology
The Ancient Origins of Crapulous
Hello, Friends and regular readers of my newsletter Wordfoolery Whispers will know that I love the nautical adventure novels of Patrick O’Brian (you might know them thanks to the movie “…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Crapula, crapulous, crapulent - all words with ancient Greek roots and helpful when we're hungover - read all about it on the blog this week wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/t... #etymology
My #mysteryword month is now complete. In the meantime, if you relish unusual words you might dip into my #etymology Wordfoolery Blog (www.wordfoolery.wordpress.com/), my books (wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/), or my monthly newsletter (subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers).
Happy February!
Happy February!
February 1, 2026 at 4:22 PM
My #mysteryword month is now complete. In the meantime, if you relish unusual words you might dip into my #etymology Wordfoolery Blog (www.wordfoolery.wordpress.com/), my books (wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/), or my monthly newsletter (subscribepage.io/wordfoolerywhispers).
Happy February!
Happy February!
#mysteryword Day 31 - joblijocks
Morning disturbance, for example by a small child.
1700s. Yorkshire dialect. #etymology
Morning disturbance, for example by a small child.
1700s. Yorkshire dialect. #etymology
January 31, 2026 at 7:54 PM
#mysteryword Day 31 - joblijocks
Morning disturbance, for example by a small child.
1700s. Yorkshire dialect. #etymology
Morning disturbance, for example by a small child.
1700s. Yorkshire dialect. #etymology
January 30, 2026 at 2:25 PM
I'll be chatting to Gerry on LMFM radio around 2 o'clock about the word history of throttlebottom, bugbear, bribe, and chivvy. Our mystery word is mubble-fubbles. Listen at www.lmfm.ie and I'll share podlink in comments later. #etymology
January 30, 2026 at 9:59 AM
I'll be chatting to Gerry on LMFM radio around 2 o'clock about the word history of throttlebottom, bugbear, bribe, and chivvy. Our mystery word is mubble-fubbles. Listen at www.lmfm.ie and I'll share podlink in comments later. #etymology
January 29, 2026 at 12:44 PM
#mysteryword Day 28 - betwattled.
Confused.
1600s English dialect. From twattle (gossip). #etymology
Confused.
1600s English dialect. From twattle (gossip). #etymology
January 28, 2026 at 12:28 PM
#mysteryword Day 28 - betwattled.
Confused.
1600s English dialect. From twattle (gossip). #etymology
Confused.
1600s English dialect. From twattle (gossip). #etymology
“Linda, what’s this old library event you ran? It’s called Kicking the Bucket, was that a game?”
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
three skeletons are dancing in a cemetery with graves
ALT: three skeletons are dancing in a cemetery with graves
media.tenor.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:29 AM
“Linda, what’s this old library event you ran? It’s called Kicking the Bucket, was that a game?”
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
This week's episode of The Librarian's Secret Diary, my serial fiction on Channillo, is now available for subscribers to read. Nina re-cycles a library event from the past and learns about a very unusual form of garden composting.
channillo.com/series/the-l...
#serial #irishfiction #librarylife
channillo.com/series/the-l...
#serial #irishfiction #librarylife
The Librarian's Secret Diary
<p>Nina is the new librarian on the block. She’s learning the shelves with her buzzword-spouting boss and the senior librarian who hates reading and can’t wait to retire. She records the crazy reader ...
channillo.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:28 AM
This week's episode of The Librarian's Secret Diary, my serial fiction on Channillo, is now available for subscribers to read. Nina re-cycles a library event from the past and learns about a very unusual form of garden composting.
channillo.com/series/the-l...
#serial #irishfiction #librarylife
channillo.com/series/the-l...
#serial #irishfiction #librarylife
January 27, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Grace Tierney
I’ve just realised that the darkest ten weeks of the winter are behind us & just now we’re gaining 2 minutes of daylight each day here in the UK. A hopeful thought 🌿
January 26, 2026 at 9:18 PM
I’ve just realised that the darkest ten weeks of the winter are behind us & just now we’re gaining 2 minutes of daylight each day here in the UK. A hopeful thought 🌿
#mysteryword Day 26 - Ferlie.
Wonderful or marvellous.
Scots. From Old Norse ferligr (dreadful). #etymology
Wonderful or marvellous.
Scots. From Old Norse ferligr (dreadful). #etymology
January 26, 2026 at 4:23 PM
#mysteryword Day 26 - Ferlie.
Wonderful or marvellous.
Scots. From Old Norse ferligr (dreadful). #etymology
Wonderful or marvellous.
Scots. From Old Norse ferligr (dreadful). #etymology
This week's word on the blog is hooch (with a side of moonshine and bootlegging) - some words the Gold Rush gave us. Read more at wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/t... #etymology #amblogging
The Gold Rush Word History of Hooch
Hello, If the long dark days of January have driven you to the booze, perhaps it’s time to consider the roots of hooch, bootleg, and moonshine with a little help from Susie Dent’s excellent book “W…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:31 PM
This week's word on the blog is hooch (with a side of moonshine and bootlegging) - some words the Gold Rush gave us. Read more at wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/t... #etymology #amblogging
#mysteryword day 25 - perissology.
The use of more words than necessary.
From the Greek for superfluous. #etymology
The use of more words than necessary.
From the Greek for superfluous. #etymology
January 25, 2026 at 5:38 PM
#mysteryword day 25 - perissology.
The use of more words than necessary.
From the Greek for superfluous. #etymology
The use of more words than necessary.
From the Greek for superfluous. #etymology
#mysteryword day 24 - badkruka
a cowardly bather - one who lowers themself slowly into cold water.
This is a Swedish word - bada (bathe) and kruka (coward).
#etymology
a cowardly bather - one who lowers themself slowly into cold water.
This is a Swedish word - bada (bathe) and kruka (coward).
#etymology
January 24, 2026 at 2:27 PM
#mysteryword day 24 - badkruka
a cowardly bather - one who lowers themself slowly into cold water.
This is a Swedish word - bada (bathe) and kruka (coward).
#etymology
a cowardly bather - one who lowers themself slowly into cold water.
This is a Swedish word - bada (bathe) and kruka (coward).
#etymology
#mysteryword Day 23 - drotchel
A lazy person. 1700s, Scots.
Possibly from dretch - a verb used by Chaucer meaning to idle.
#etymology
A lazy person. 1700s, Scots.
Possibly from dretch - a verb used by Chaucer meaning to idle.
#etymology
January 23, 2026 at 10:55 AM
#mysteryword Day 23 - drotchel
A lazy person. 1700s, Scots.
Possibly from dretch - a verb used by Chaucer meaning to idle.
#etymology
A lazy person. 1700s, Scots.
Possibly from dretch - a verb used by Chaucer meaning to idle.
#etymology
Reposted by Grace Tierney
We’re starting the new year with a round-up of some of the finest titles on the indie scene last year 🙌 🥳
Find the full list on our website. Shop with your local indie or bookshop.org to support the book trade, not Silicon Valley 😁
indiepressnetwork.com/best-of-2025/
Find the full list on our website. Shop with your local indie or bookshop.org to support the book trade, not Silicon Valley 😁
indiepressnetwork.com/best-of-2025/
January 21, 2026 at 2:54 PM
We’re starting the new year with a round-up of some of the finest titles on the indie scene last year 🙌 🥳
Find the full list on our website. Shop with your local indie or bookshop.org to support the book trade, not Silicon Valley 😁
indiepressnetwork.com/best-of-2025/
Find the full list on our website. Shop with your local indie or bookshop.org to support the book trade, not Silicon Valley 😁
indiepressnetwork.com/best-of-2025/
"How to Get Your Name in the Dictionary"
260 eponyms named for heroes and villains - from atlas to zeppelin.
Ideal for word geeks, history lovers, and biography buffs.
#FunFacts #etymology #Kindle #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/ 📚💙
260 eponyms named for heroes and villains - from atlas to zeppelin.
Ideal for word geeks, history lovers, and biography buffs.
#FunFacts #etymology #Kindle #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/ 📚💙
January 22, 2026 at 3:54 PM
"How to Get Your Name in the Dictionary"
260 eponyms named for heroes and villains - from atlas to zeppelin.
Ideal for word geeks, history lovers, and biography buffs.
#FunFacts #etymology #Kindle #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/ 📚💙
260 eponyms named for heroes and villains - from atlas to zeppelin.
Ideal for word geeks, history lovers, and biography buffs.
#FunFacts #etymology #Kindle #Kobo paperback
wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/ 📚💙
Reposted by Grace Tierney
When you want to keep your secret stash of biscuits secure...
January 22, 2026 at 3:13 PM
When you want to keep your secret stash of biscuits secure...
#mysteryword Day 22 - exsibilate - to hiss a poor actor off the stage. From Latin.
Seems an appropriate word for the day the Oscar nominations are released, no hissing for them I'm sure.
Seems an appropriate word for the day the Oscar nominations are released, no hissing for them I'm sure.
January 22, 2026 at 10:50 AM
#mysteryword Day 22 - exsibilate - to hiss a poor actor off the stage. From Latin.
Seems an appropriate word for the day the Oscar nominations are released, no hissing for them I'm sure.
Seems an appropriate word for the day the Oscar nominations are released, no hissing for them I'm sure.
January 21, 2026 at 2:39 PM
The boy insisted on pulling a monster face each time I took the photo. In the end I re-shuffled the lineup, putting him on the far right and simply cropped him out of the image.
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
a cartoon smiley face sticking out its tongue
ALT: a cartoon smiley face sticking out its tongue
media.tenor.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:08 PM
The boy insisted on pulling a monster face each time I took the photo. In the end I re-shuffled the lineup, putting him on the far right and simply cropped him out of the image.
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"
#1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"