Catching up with the news at Living The Life in Saint-Aignan, I came across two new words. Two new words in a post aptly entitled More whinging and a comment!
It did look like whining, but I checked it out at the Free Online Dictionary, which gave
intr.v. whinged, whing·ing, whing·es Chiefly British
To complain or protest, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
Now do you whinge, pronounced like hinge, or do you whinge like a wing? Had to go back to the Free Dictionary to get the answer and you whinge like a hinge!
As for grizzle, used in a comment by Chris, no satisfactory definition was found in the same dictionary so I googled it and came across acceptable definitions in Wordnet Search
# be in a huff; be silent or sullen
# whine: complain whiningly
# a grey wig
Obviously, the last definition is out!
Whinging or grizzling?
I love the way you use the words to place the photos. Nice touch!
What about your promise not to publish my ID photo? No wonder I’m whinging…
Grizzling in the North East of England, is a cross between whinging and nearly crying. Babies do most grizzling. Whinging not quite as bad as whining, but just as annoying
Very English words, as in the UK. I’ve never heard of them or used them in Canada or the USA.
Claude, did you take that picture of the orangutan at the zoo in St-Aignan?
@ Ken, yes, I took it at the zoo in Beauval. One of the best zoos I’ve ever visited
@ Claudia !!
@ Claudia: I think on a drawn-out basis, “whinge” is more “un-hinge” than hinge, don’t you think?
Both these words are somewhat onomatopoeic, I feel. As is the Scots word ‘dreich’ (hint: describes weather; can you guess?)
I follow your blog and your Tumblelog too. Both are amusing and interesting. Thanks.
Thanks for clearing up the pronunciation of “whinge”. We don’t use it in the US, but I come across it in British novels.
@ Shefaly — “dreich” is frequently used by Ian Rankin to describe Edinburgh weather — yes, very onomatopoeic, all these words!
Like Mrs K, I agree it’s babies and toddlers who do the most grizzling ( and I’m from East Anglia). You whinge when you get older.
Yes, I’ve always thought grizzling stops at around age 8, when the whinging begins. Except in the North of England, when it’s mithering and it’s non-stop…
Hate to say this Autolycus, but mithering is used in Cumbria and Lancashire – top end and west. OK so its North, but West not East.
Hallo Claude
I stumbled across your blog while crawling the “travelog” tags. Your hinge picture is beaut! Words and pictures, I’m kind of into them too. BTW, I whinge like a hinge, but only when I’m feeling a bit crook
From that, you might judge that I’m based down under.
Seeya on the travel blogs,
Mark Wordsworm
Travelling worm and sometime bookmark
Hallo, me again. In my previous comment, I forgot to include the most important part! Here in Oz, the British are affectionately known as “whinging Poms”
Travel well — the Travelling Worm