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Women ways of words - By- Shaili Chopra Shaili is currently a senior graduate student in Economics Honours at Delhi University, India. She is the features editor of a print magazine called "Campus dot com" for the university itself. She is a fond cook and a intrepid traveller. She is fond of writing and poetry. Her poetry and writings are published in many magazines, Newspapers and on websites.

The ways of words with women and ways of women with words can be amusing. Interestingly there is some vivid evidence that women in their capacity of a workaholic, mother, girl friend have a most legitimate vocabulary of their own; for example office is 'heavenly' or the boss is 'chilled' guy, the baby is 'precious' or the room is so 'sweet' and oh the evening gown is 'adorable' or the party was so 'awfully good'. Divine, oodles, teeny-weeny, frightfully, blissful are among their high favourites.

While it is true that the feminine type of mind may select a vocabulary of their own to talk of their own daintier things, it is of great interest for them to know some common words relating to women and their romantic stories of origin. An attractive woman in France is a 'Mademoiselle', which really means mistress and while she may be! trimming her waist, knowing little that the word 'waist' is related to the Old English word weaxen, meaning the rather expansive term, 'grow'.

The high society lady looks down upon the courtesan but she'd be bad mouthing couple of decades ago. Courtesans were perfectly normal members of the court. Ironically, the mistress was once decent from birth meaning a 'woman of authority'. The coquette in you may tickle many a hearts but soon you'd be embarrassed to know it comes from the French coq, "cock" and was referred to someone who behaved like a barnyard cock. Next time your hubby calls you a 'hussy', the idea may not be just to rhyme but that in young England, a housewife (then spelt like husewif) slipped out as hussy. But you sure can lift the heel if you feel like for when literally translated, hussy meant milkmaids. The 'lady' has moved on in meaning from age to age. In the early dawn of England, she was the 'one that! kneads bread' but soon to follow she became a 'woman of pleasure' However, today the word has accredited some decency.

A charming girl a couple of centuries ago would find her way straight to the devil's dungeon, not because devils have an eye for the charismatic but because 'charm' was usually a wicked chant or incarnation of magic power. And yes, this was the progenitor of the innocent charms bracelet adorned by women to ward off evil since 1800s. Charming women may give wings to would be secrets but 'gossip' is an integral part of woman's banter. There was a time when everyone loved gossip. Do the complaining men have any clue that this is god-related! Coming from the word, godsib that meant a godmother or godfather who acted as a sponsor at a baptism and supposed to be blessed.

Although we still have the innocent phrase of the tradesman, " May I speak with the Madam of the house?" the word madam has evil conn! otations. She was thought of one from the house of ill repute. Spouses may like to touch up on some basics as well. Much that they strive to make a house, in ancient times a spouse was a supposed contract. And so even as late as 14th century a "spouse-breaker" was what the English called a "home-breaker" implying he had broken a contract. Nevertheless, traditions were what used to be.

Weddings were originally to wager (not that much has changed now!) and the brides were little drunkards. Our bridal ceremony takes its name from bride's ale that was always drunk at that time. All the jealous grooms may stand up please- you would have been reduced to the outhouse had the world known that somebody got confused and substituted 'groom' for 'goom' in the original word bridegoom making it the 'bridegroom', who is no more than the man who handles the stables. The truth is out for all honeymooners; it is only a one-month show. The! word was so named because of its fancied similarity between love and changing moon, which as soon as it is full, begins to wane. So it is not so long that Johnny's back at the fair. The 'spinster' may never marry (luckily!) but little does she know her name endorses only one other occupation else, that of 'spinning' the wheel to sew clothing.

Pretty and charming with a large bosom, the coquettish mademoiselle Briganda had a romantic tryst with cupidity. Literally translated:

Crafty and evilly enchanted with a large "bellows blowing", the cocky mistress Briganda has a roman story scandal with her inordinate desire for wealth.

So is it time for the ladies to tighten their tongues?

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