James Pack

We have a short Wacky Wednesday today as there are only a couple holidays and a couple of words. We are continuing defining old school insults for people. Our first noun is a Dew-beater. This is an 18^th century word for a large shoe, and consequently a clumsy or awkward person. It can also refer to someone who rises early getting the morning dew on their shoes. Dorbel is another noun meaning a petty, nitpicking teacher. It is also another name for a nincompoop. The name is derived from an old French scholar named Nicolas d’Orbellis, who was well known as a supporter of the philosopher John Duns Scotus whose followers were the original “dunces.”

As for holidays, there are only two. The first is Veterans Day, which coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries to mark the anniversary to the end of World War I. It was renamed Veterans Day in the United States in 1954. And in an unrelated note, today is also National Sundae Day. An ice cream sundae usually consists of one or two scoops of ice cream topped with sauce or syrup. It will then include other toppings including whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Go out and thank a veteran and offer to purchase them an ice cream sundae.