The Murky Word History of Quaffing

Hello,

Words ebb and flow in popularity with time and location. We all have our favourites and quaff is one of mine so I was rather disappointed to see a graph recently indicating that quaff is being used less often by English speakers and writers.

I imagine the action of quaffing is still commonplace but perhaps now it’s chugging or some other verb being used. That’s a shame in my opinion but perhaps I just have a fondness for it thanks to explaining, many times, with the enthusiasm (and possible inaccuracy) of youth that quaffing is drinking where most of what’s in your tankard ends up on you rather than in you.

A more official definition is “to drink or swallow in large draughts” and it joined the English dictionary in the 1500s although I am quite sure drinkers have been quaffing for centuries before that entry.

Quaffing cocktails is less messy than tankards of ale

Quaffing’s origins are obscure. It may come from quassen, a Low German verb meaning to overindulge in food and drink with the ss mis-read as ff which wouldn’t be surprising considering how those letters were written in the past. Despite not knowing its past I would love to predict a strong future for this word so if you’re drinking something this week, alcoholic or not, please consider quaffing it.

In other news I’ve begun my annual November writing challenge. For the last 17 years I’ve done that via the NaNoWriMo website (and for 15 of those years I was a volunteer writing mentor and organiser of real world writing events). Sadly after a child protection issue in the USA, an ill-advised statement about AI (google, you’ll find the details) and widespread changes of paid personnel, all the volunteers were wiped from the site and despite indicating my willingness to re-train, and be vetted etc. nine months ago I haven’t been added back to the organisation (as at 4 November 2024).

It’s a shame when volunteer work ends on a sour note, but I’m happy that my local writers and I have founded our own group (Academy Writers) and are busy creating this month. It’s day four and I’m on track for 32,000 words of fiction. Wish me luck! Perhaps if I make my target I can celebrate with some quaffing on the 30th of the month.

Until next time happy reading, writing, and wordfooling,

Grace (@Wordfoolery)

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p.p.s. Don’t forget that Wordfoolery has several books available about the history of words – the perfect Christmas gift for the word geek in your life.