OneGuyFromBarlick

Thanks, you've given me the chance to use the word crepuscular!

So gloaming means effectively 'dusk' ?

Not quite the same ? Crepuscular means active at dawn and dusk, rather than just dusk. Cats are crepuscular.

There is a song popularised by Sir Harry Lauder - 'Roamin' in the Gloamin'. It's a bit cringeworthy so here's a (barely) acceptable more intelligible version from Kenneth McKellar -

Thanks for the clarification, Tripps. You prompted me to look at Wikipedia and I've found a couple more words to try out...
In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period,[1] being matutinal (active during dawn), vespertine/vespertinal (active during dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behaviour, where an animal is active during the hours of daytime and of night, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day.

I think I could be described as matutinal....

Tizer wrote: ↑08 Oct 2025, 16:00 Thanks for the clarification, Tripps. You prompted me to look at Wikipedia and I've found a couple more words to try out...
In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period,[1] being matutinal (active during dawn), vespertine/vespertinal (active during dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behaviour, where an animal is active during the hours of daytime and of night, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day.

And get really confused when a solar eclipse happens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uXM24DKUQI

Thinking of my Maida Vale trip.

Is Bourne for a Watercourse a southern england word (though related I guess to Beck and Burn)

I always thought the Ty Burn flowed into the Thames at Westminster / Thorney Island , rather than joining the Westborne)

thrawn

scottish english - perverse; ill-tempered, but also twisted or crooked , more in relation to a persons attributes rather than a tree it seems.

dont think I have heard it spoken south of the border anywhere

I was about to write in the Jokes thread that I'm plum out of jokes at the moment - then wondered about the word `plum' in that context. There seems to be no consensus on the Web as to it's origin.

Stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum.
Jack Horner supposedly having secrets from spies written down in the pies (were they chinese?)

Tizer wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025, 10:10 I was about to write in the Jokes thread that I'm plum out of jokes at the moment - then wondered about the word `plum' in that context. There seems to be no consensus on the Web as to it's origin.

Isn't it plumb not plum Tiz?

Not sure Wendy, there seem to be supporters for both plum and plumb.

I think Wendy is on the money. 'Plumb' being a description of a perfect orientation (See Plumb Bob and Line.) it could be used as a general descriptor.

Old comedy clip on YTshorts /FBreels talking about "Dusk" , which is not a set time of day, being the end of Twilight itself an indeterminent length of time at a variable start time.
I have always taken dusk to be (depending on latitude) half hour after sunset ,as the earth curvature and atmosphere allows a little sunlight to bend around the direct line of sight until sun's radiant indirect light is obscured by the complete arc of the earth. I actually thought dusk and twilight were interchangeable from separate roots, I havent looked to check my thinking

I tripped over a new word....
verbinformal•US English.
verb: bloviate; 3rd person present: bloviates; past tense: bloviated; past participle: bloviated; gerund or present participle: bloviating.

To talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way.

Actually a search reveals that it was mentioned on here, back in 2019.

The ability to bloviate seems to be a pre-requisite for politicians.

PS
Here is a timely and perfect example of the Chancellor who has introduced a policy, but does not have the slightest idea how it will be implemented.

Note how her accent goes a bit 'down market' when she is under stress.

Evidence has emerged today that there never was a 'black hole'. That's a bit awkward.

PS people are saying that she has increased tax on savings by 2%. Actually she has increased it by 2 percentage points which as a fraction of the current rate of 20% is an increase of the tax of 10%. When it is a badge of pride to admit ignorance of 'maths' - I doubt many will notice - until they have to pay it.