Colin Williams
@wordsandmagpies.bsky.social
Lover of books, language, words, Newcastle United and crisps. Author of Sl- is for Sleaze but Sn- is for Sneeze! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sl-Sleaze-but-Sn-Sneeze/dp/1985830892
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack thinks your neighbours are boorish #etymology #appliedlingiustics #neighbours
Boorish neighbours
Ontology, eschatology, etymology and bowerbirds
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:18 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack thinks your neighbours are boorish #etymology #appliedlingiustics #neighbours
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at time and tide and why the Grim Reaper might be swinging his scythe in your direction! #time #tide #etymology
Time and tide
For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde,
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:53 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at time and tide and why the Grim Reaper might be swinging his scythe in your direction! #time #tide #etymology
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at the holly and the ivy - pagan talismans imported by Christianity #etymology #appliedlinguistics #holly #ivy
The holly and the ivy
Pagans with attitude
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at the holly and the ivy - pagan talismans imported by Christianity #etymology #appliedlinguistics #holly #ivy
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at orcs - there are plenty of them around. #orcs #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Orcs
You must dig swift and deep if you wish to hide from Orcs.
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at orcs - there are plenty of them around. #orcs #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack will feed on your flesh. #ravens #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Ravenous ravens
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack will feed on your flesh. #ravens #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack goes the whole hog! #hogs #appliedlinguistics #etymology
Hogs
No man should be allowed to be President who does not understand hogs.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:43 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack goes the whole hog! #hogs #appliedlinguistics #etymology
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at berries - from the whortle to the rowan to the Halle. #berries #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Berries
On the motionless branches of some trees, autumn berries hung like clusters of coral beads, as in those fabled orchards where the fruits were jewels.
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at berries - from the whortle to the rowan to the Halle. #berries #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at cagoules, cowls and fascists not getting their comeuppance. #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Cagoules and cowls
His heart danced upon her movements like a cork upon a tide.
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at cagoules, cowls and fascists not getting their comeuppance. #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at all manner of dullards. #coward #drunkard #dotard #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Drunkards, cowards and bastards
I’m a hero with coward’s legs.
open.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at all manner of dullards. #coward #drunkard #dotard #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at why a forlorn hope is really a lost cause #etymology #appliedlinguistics #forlornhope
A forlorn hope
This is the maiden all forlorn
open.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:04 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at why a forlorn hope is really a lost cause #etymology #appliedlinguistics #forlornhope
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at Wales, the foreign and rampant xenophobia. #etymology #appliedlinguistics #Wales #walnuts
Wales, walnuts and xenophobes
Nid oes ar uffern ond eisiau ei threfnu
open.substack.com
September 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at Wales, the foreign and rampant xenophobia. #etymology #appliedlinguistics #Wales #walnuts
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack finds Persia pretty peachy #Persia #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Persians and peaches
All the children of the great men in Persia are brought up at court, where they have an opportunity of learning great modesty, and where nothing immodest is ever heard or seen.
open.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:19 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack finds Persia pretty peachy #Persia #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack finds Persians pretty peachy #Persia #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Persians and peaches
All the children of the great men in Persia are brought up at court, where they have an opportunity of learning great modesty, and where nothing immodest is ever heard or seen.
open.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:18 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack finds Persians pretty peachy #Persia #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week'sSubstack looks at Utopia and how close we haven't got to it in the last 500 years #etymology #appliedlinguistics #utopia
Utopia
Without the Utopians of other times, men would still live in caves, miserable and naked … Out of generous dreams come beneficial realities.
open.substack.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:47 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week'sSubstack looks at Utopia and how close we haven't got to it in the last 500 years #etymology #appliedlinguistics #utopia
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at the origin of 'girl' and 'boy' and throws lots of theories in the air and watches where they'll come down. #etymology #appliedlinguistics #girls #boys
Girls and Boys
Girls and boys come out to play
open.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at the origin of 'girl' and 'boy' and throws lots of theories in the air and watches where they'll come down. #etymology #appliedlinguistics #girls #boys
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at lasagne, medieval recipes and snot otters - what more could you ask for? #lasagne #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Lasagne
Perfection in a dish
open.substack.com
July 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at lasagne, medieval recipes and snot otters - what more could you ask for? #lasagne #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at the world of werewolves and all their virtues! #werewolves #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Virile werewolves
Werewolves are much more common animals than you might think.
open.substack.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:10 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack looks at the world of werewolves and all their virtues! #werewolves #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at the origin of offices and says we'll have to grin and bear them #etymology #appliedlinguistics #offices
Offices
There are no favorites in my office.
open.substack.com
July 6, 2025 at 9:51 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at the origin of offices and says we'll have to grin and bear them #etymology #appliedlinguistics #offices
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack is a Dutch treat! #Dutch #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Double Dutch
If I wanted you to understand it, I would have explained it better.
open.substack.com
June 28, 2025 at 11:10 AM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's Substack is a Dutch treat! #Dutch #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks netherwards - low, down and (a bit) dirty. #nether #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Nether regions
This Substack is beneath you ...
open.substack.com
June 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks netherwards - low, down and (a bit) dirty. #nether #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at Jacks of all shapes and sizes, from candlestick-jumpers to peasants and giant killers. #Jack #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Every man Jack
With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson.
open.substack.com
June 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at Jacks of all shapes and sizes, from candlestick-jumpers to peasants and giant killers. #Jack #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack is iron like a lion in zion #iron #appliedlinguistics #etymology
Iron
In the course of history, men come to see that iron necessity is neither iron nor necessary.
open.substack.com
May 26, 2025 at 10:51 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack is iron like a lion in zion #iron #appliedlinguistics #etymology
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at how lullabies lull you into a false sense of security. The words are sinister, threatening and will scare your socks off! #lullabies #etymology #appliedlinguistics
Lullabies
Sinister songs to sleep softly
open.substack.com
May 15, 2025 at 11:48 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at how lullabies lull you into a false sense of security. The words are sinister, threatening and will scare your socks off! #lullabies #etymology #appliedlinguistics
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at how book is related to beech - possibly from Goths carving runes into trees #books #appliedlinguistics #etymology
Books and beeches
A room without books is like a body without a soul.
open.substack.com
May 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at how book is related to beech - possibly from Goths carving runes into trees #books #appliedlinguistics #etymology
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at the origin of ming and mingers and asks you to mingle with it. #etymology #appliedlinguistics #minging
Mingers
Mingling with the malodorous
open.substack.com
April 22, 2025 at 9:38 PM
open.substack.com/pub/wordsget... This week's substack looks at the origin of ming and mingers and asks you to mingle with it. #etymology #appliedlinguistics #minging