Words in their Historical Context: "Ducking out" in 1819

If you've ever spoken another language, you know that sometimes in the middle of an otherwise perfectly grammatical sentence, you switch languages. In linguistic circles, this is called code-switching. Often speakers never hear the switch--and that makes sense: both languages exist together simultaneously.

Lately, as I look up words to see if they were in use in England in 1819 (my setting for the Muses' Salon), I find that my ear is tuned to early 19thC English phrases (from all those years of reading and teaching British 'Romantic' lit). But if I'm going to code-switch, I do it to words associated with the American West, where I was reared.

Tonight I wanted my hero to hide from someone--so I had him 'duck' out of the way. I hit bold--my signal to look something up later--but of course, I have to notice a word sounds off before I can know to look it up.

As for duck...

It's perfectly acceptable in England in 1819 to use the word 'duck' to indicate a 'plunge or dive' (under water or not) as well as a 'stoop or a cringe.'

But if you want to "back out, withdraw; to make off, abscond; to default" or "avoid [or] dodge," well, you need a different word.

Plunging, lowering, and diving behaviors can be described by 'duck' as early as the 1500s in England. But in the US, using 'duck' to signify backing out, avoiding, and absconding seems to originate around the end of the 19thC.

So, my hero no longer ducks. He simply steps out of sight.