The Phantom Scribbler

Today, someone told me that the word "gossip" is rooted in misogyny and is specifically meant to demean conversation between women, something similar to the etymology and history of " hysteria ."  I hadn't heard that and wondered if it might be a false etymology/history.   The word comes from Middle English godsybbe , godsib (“a close friend or relation, a confidant; a godparent”), from Old English godsibb (“godparent, sponsor”), equivalent to god +‎ sib.  There are two, obsolete definitions that reflect this etymology: Noun : A sponsor; a godfather or godmother; the godparent of one's child or godchild, or the parent of one's godchild. Verb : To stand godfather to; to provide godparents for. I didn't expect that to be the origin of the word.  Sounds like a perfectly lovely word, right?  One which anyone would be honored to be called, right?  So how did it come to mean what it does, the act of idle chatter, usually about a person who isn't pr...

  I can't remember what made me think of Cædmon's Hymn again, but it sent me down a hole of St. Melangell (rabbit-hole ... get it???) of memory.  I used to have this thing memorized in Old English and was trying to set it to something singable.  No easy feat which, I guess, is why I never finished it.  As a refresher, Cædmon's hymn might be (likely is) the oldest poem written in Old English.  It's almost certainly the oldest surviving bit of Old English poetry.  Here's the story of it's composition as written by the Venerable Bede, one of my heroes of the faith:

I've been playing Dungeon World (kind of D&D lite?  I guess?) with fambly.  It's quite enjoyable!  I've always kind of wanted to play D&D (after I got over the concern I'd get possessed by demonic dice) but never did.  I'm staring down the barrel of having to literally sing for my supper (and a poultice) and trying to pick the appropriate song for the occasion.  I decided on " John Barleycorn ."   The song is delightful.  It's an allegory about the creation of alcoholic beverages which MAY have ancient roots.  More on that later.  In one version, John Barleycorn gets in a scrum ... nay, a kerfuffle! ... with some other gentlemen named Thomas Goodale, Richard Beer and William White Wine.  Amazing!  A later version , much influenced by  this rendering by Robert Burns , seems much more ancient than it's predecessor.  Three men (or kings) set upon John Barleycorn and kill him.  But he springs back up....