Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Barytonize

Meaning: The OED lists this as a word but does not define it; I shall write and complain.  In context, though, it's pretty clear we're talking about farting. Deep, profound, musical flatulence; sums up most of Rabelais, really. (Context below, if you don't believe me)

Usefulness: 1 (Particularly of meetings. To be exactly confusing you could say "This Urquhartian barytonizing must end. I call for a vote!")

Logofascination: 3 (juvenile fascination: 1)

In the wild: Erm, none, once you remove Rabelais.

Degrees: 1 (I'm tempted to give it 0, as Urquhart created an English version of a French word, but I'm attempting objectivity)

Connections: n/a

Used in: G&P, First Book, VII: After what manner Gargantua had his name given him, and how he tippled, bibbed, and curried the can. The infant Gargantua (born crying Boire! Boire!) liked a drink so much that his governesses
"would every morning, to cheer him up, play with a knife upon the glasses, on the bottles with their stopples, and on the pottle-pots with their lids and covers, at the sound whereof he became gay, did leap for joy, would loll and rock himself in the cradle, then nod with his head, monochordizing with his fingers, and barytonizing with his tail."  
Insert joke about modern music here.

Rabelais had: "monichordisant des doigtz et barytonant du cul."  Frame translates this, apparently straight-faced, as 'giving the baritone with his tail'.

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