Word of the Day and Thursday Bonus...

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

It's Thursday, and that means two words to play with.  Write and post!  Here's a little nod to those who might have time on their hands...

Use either or both of these words to write a short story or a drabble. We'll call it an Impromtu Challenge.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

Panache

[pə-nash]Part of speech: noun

Origin: middle french, 16th century

• Flamboyance or a confident flair
• A decorative plume or tuft of feathers, especially on a headdress or helmet

Examples of Panache in a sentence

• Met Gala attendees are known for their creative evening wear, which they show off with fearless panache.
• The knight's helmet was crowned with an extravagant red panache.

About Panache

Usually reserved for events like tournaments or other occasions, a soldier's panache indicated things like his wealth, position, or family colors. The size and exuberance of a panache was a status symbol. And though usually worn only ceremonially, King Henry IV is remembered for wearing an elaborate white plume into battle as a rallying point for his troops.

Did you Know?

Panache takes flight from its Latin root in pinnaculum to mean "little wing" or, in its more vernacular form, pinna, meaning "feather."

Bonus Word

Foppish

[fä-pish]Part of speech: adjective

• Excessively concerned with appearance and taste
• Resembling or suiting a fop

Examples of Foppish in a sentence

• Even as a young boy, he was extremely foppish and would rarely be seen without a necktie.
• No need to be foppish; it's just a casual get-together with friends.

About Foppish

Looking for other alternatives to fop when chiding someone for being overly concerned with their appearance? Here are some other 17th- and 18th-century insults with the same meaning: fribble, popinjay, ninny, coxcomb and as, a matter of fact, macaroni. Finally, an explanation as to why Yankee Doodle called it macaroni after sticking a feather in his hat.

Did you Know?

The roots of foppish come from a Middle English word meaning "to deceive." Maybe it was believed that overly well-dressed and respectable individuals were hiding something underneath all that decorum.

Comments

[gevr.livejournal.com]

we use the word "panache" in Dutch also, and it has the very same meaning :-)

[pfrye.livejournal.com]

Mr. Waverly was once again in a meeting with the head accountant for UNCLE New York, Mr. Pennyfeather. The little man had originally been the accountant for UNCLE London to great success. His attentions had reduced the expenditures of the London office by 10%. Mr. Waverly had eagerly transferred him to New York hoping to curtail rising costs, however he was beginning to question his decision due to the man's obsessive and irritating personality. There was no doubt that the man had a certain panache but his confident manner was grating.
"I say sir, this foppish tendency of you CEA is costing your headquarters a pretty penny, if I do say so myself!" Mr. Pennyfeather exclaimed, puffing himself up, jutting his chin out impressed with his pronouncement. "I'd say that UNCLE could save an EIGHTH of it's Section Two budget just by terminating Mr. Solo's employment!"
Mr. Waverly decided he'd had enough.....