As a lot of this blog is about writing, I wanted to write a regular article on my favourite forgotten words. You know the type of thing, those poor lost words that sit at the back of our minds, gathering dust, having been discovered years ago in literary classics like Dickens, or Austen. They are the spices of the literary world, but I refuse to let them sit in a cupboard and be ignored until they go out of date! Let’s bring them back!
This month’s word is: GAMBOL
Gambol
Run or jump about playfully.
I have to confess, I’m not a natural gamboller. I don’t tend to run or jump about playfully unless I’m showing off to my kids friends or completely sozzled. I’m more of a gallumpher. I’m not spritely enough to jump about and when I try to run I look more like a baby giraffe learning to walk. My arms and legs simply won’t work together in that way. It’s a shame really. Plus I’m hitting my late thirties and as everything begins to get older and stiffen up, gambolling doesn’t come into the equation that much.
When I read this word I immediately thought of kids or puppies. They do everything in a gambollish fashion, being naturally light on their feet and flexible. Still, I think I’d rather galumph in a slow and considered way than attempt to gambol and do myself an injury!
So tell me, when was the last time you did something in a gambolling fashion and what was it? Leave me a message in the comments below!