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by **Paul** Thu 14 Dec 2023, 7:49 pm

MUCH HULLABALOO ABOUT ZILCH
10 Of The Wackiest English Words That Are Totally Not Made Up

Published on December 14, 2023

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Credit: Will Myers

There are thousands of words that somehow made it to the dictionary but that we rarely use today. While many were completely forgotten, some occasionally enjoy sudden bursts of popularity, and some are still used in a few English-speaking regions.
From the frankly bizarre to the actually useful to remember, there is something for everyone. To keep you bumfuzzled and, of course, to help keep these wonderful words alive, we made this list of the strangest ones we could find!

1

Bumfuzzle

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Credit: Alexis Mora Angulo

To be bumfuzzled is to be in a state of bewilderment. If this article leaves you perplexed, then you are truly bumfuzzled! Its origins are not known for sure. It might have obscure Scottish roots, stem from a mix of bamboozle and fuzzle , or have evolved as an alteration of the word dumbfound.

2

Gubbins

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Credit: Konstantin Evdokimov

Gubbins are bits and pieces of something, scraps, or general gadgetry. You probably bring all your gubbins when you are trying to fix a leak under the sink. It can also refer to someone foolish or gullible, a simpleton.

3

Bibble

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Credit: Ksenia

In the English Midlands dialect, a pebble or any small rounded stone. Sounds kinda similar, doesn’t it? Among geologists, it has more specificity: it is still a rock, but one with a diameter of ⅛ to 2 and ½ inches. In Australia, it can refer to a troublesome person or animal - so don’t be a bibble, mate, yeah?

4

Hullabaloo

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Credit: Pablo Heimplatz

A big racket or commotion over something. Might have originated in Northern England, likely as a rhyming duplication of the word hello .

All that hullabaloo for a bibble? It left me bumfuzzled.

5

Lollygag

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Credit: Esther Tuttle

To lollygag is to fool around, or to spend time aimlessly. You can lollygag with a friend, or even at work–although we do not advise it!
According to etymologists, lollygag originates in American English, likely from the dialectal words lolly (tongue) and gag (trick).

6

Widdershins

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Credit: Guillermo Diaz

Counterclockwise, or in a direction opposite to the sun’s course. In old Scottish, this was considered unlucky. The related Middle Low German word weddersinnes , literally means "against the way".

7

Cattywampus

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Credit: Heidi Kaden

If you live in the Southern United States, and see something that is askew or in disarray, you can use this delightful adjective without fear. Hailing from 19th-century America, there is an ongoing debate regarding the formation of this particular word.

8

Gobbledygook

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Credit: Markus Spiske

Gibberish, nonsense, or a speech or piece of writing that is made unintelligible by excessive use of pompous or over-complicated language. Economists and government officials are often very proficient in this kind of speech. It was coined by a Texas politician who famously threatened to use violence on anyone who used gobbledygook in official bulletins and memos.

9

Wabbit

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Credit: Abbie Bernet

Go tell Elmer Fudd it’s not wabbit season. Actually, wabbit is a real word that means to be weary or exhausted. We really hope you don’t feel this way about this article! In any case, it’s almost over.

10

Zilch

DICTIONARY SCOOP * 10 Of The Wackiest English Words That Are Totally Not Made Up * ZvyaHoow

Credit: Julian Hochgesang

Literally zero, nothing . It can also be used to refer to someone insignificant, as in "a Joe Zilch." It’s not clear where this word comes from, but it might have originated with Mr. Zilch, a 1931 comic character who appeared in the popular humor magazine "Ballyhoo."