More about desuetude

• First recorded in 1425–75.
• Comes via late Middle English from the Latin word dēsuētūdo, equivalent to the base of dēsuēscere, “to become disaccustomed to, unlearn.”
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EXAMPLES OF DESUETUDE

• Over time, the once bustling marketplace fell into desuetude as modern shopping centers took over.
• As technology advanced, many manual skills and crafts fell into desuetude, replaced by automation and machinery.

More about firkin

• First recorded around 1400–50.
• Comes from the late Middle English word ferdkyn or firdekyn.
• This is formed from a variant of ferthe, meaning “fourth,” and the diminutive suffix –kin.
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EXAMPLES OF FIRKIN

• The antique store had a collection of quaint firkins on display, each with its own unique design.
• After the harvest festival, the townspeople gathered around to share stories over slices of bread from a firkin of butter.

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More about gallimaufry

• First recorded in 1545–55.
• Comes from the Middle French word galimafree, “kind of sauce or stew.”
• Galimafree is probably a conflation of galer, “to amuse oneself.”
• Related to gallant, “brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous.”
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EXAMPLES OF GALLIMAUFRY

• The artist’s studio was a gallimaufry of colorful paints, brushes, and unfinished canvases.
• Walking through the crowded market, he couldn’t help but notice the gallimaufry of sights, sounds, and smells that surrounded him.

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