One dictionary portrays this word to connect with a female undergarment, yet most references maintains that it describes written text intended to imply the reader's absurdity. What is it, and in which classical work might you find the only example of this word?

skysmom65

A roman à clef http://www.languagehat.com/archives/000510.php Sep 30 06, 12:22 PM

peasypod

Um, no, sorry. Female undergarment? Classical piece of literature? Foolishness? Sep 30 06, 3:08 PM

NoQuestion

Do you mean one of those things that goes around your waist? Sep 30 06, 5:04 PM

peasypod

This word has been used only once in any written context. I think 'belt' regardless of a garter attached has been used quite numerously. Sep 30 06, 5:48 PM

lanfranco

O.K., I just took a look at this, and I think you're contradicting yourself, peasy. Either it's a hapax that appears only once in a written context, or it also appears in subsequent dictionaries. Can't be both. Could you clarify? Oct 01 06, 5:24 PM

peasypod

Ok, yes, faux pas on my behalf, but to clarify, it IS in certain dictionaries, but has technically only been used once in literary nature. A nonce word... Oct 01 06, 6:25 PM

peasypod

Clue time, I feel. A triumph by the Bard might prove fruitful according to the Epiphany, that is.. Oct 02 06, 4:45 PM

Baloo55th

Can I have a clue to that clue? Oct 02 06, 5:02 PM

peasypod

Oh, alright then... Twelve drummers drumming, in the evening. Oct 02 06, 5:12 PM

lanfranco

I'm going to throw out the nonce-word "impeticos," "Twelfth Night, Act II, scene iii. Sort of sounds like "petticoat," but I can't find a site to confirm this. Worth a try, though: http://www.languid.org/cgi-bin/shakespeare?st=show&show=03008&kwords=impeticos. Oct 02 06, 7:15 PM

lanfranco

Oh, here we go. You'll have to scroll down to "I". In the meantime, I'm going to watch HBO's "Rome." I'm too exhausted to do anything else: http://www.brownielocks.com/words.html Oct 02 06, 7:19 PM

peasypod

Praise the Lord, eh? A well deserved Golden Thingy for that. Exhausted? What, with all those clues? ;) impeticos - (v) To pocket, impocket. OED says: a burlesque word put into the mouth of a fool. Applied as a perversion of impocket, and perhaps intended to suggest petticoat. e.g., Used only once by Shakespeare, in _Twelfth Night_: "I did impeticos thy gratility." Taken from: http://www.pseudodictionary.com/search.php?letter=i&browsestart=180 Oct 02 06, 7:38 PM

What-A-Mess

Thanks for the link Frankie. Oct 02 06, 11:06 PM