The word lovers and prompt writers blog hop. Here's how it goes:
1. Create a lovely blog post that links back to The Feather and The Rose blog - our host.
2. Pick an old word you want to save from extinction to feature in your blog post. It really must be an old word, not just a big one. We are trying to save lovely archaisms, not ugly giants (for example, "Dihydrogen Monoxide" is not an acceptable choice). Luciferous Logolepsy is a great database of lovely words if you're having trouble coming up with something on your own.
3. Provide a definition of your word. Use your word in a sentence (or even a short paragraph) vaguely related to the theme we have chosen this week. You may also add visual or musical interpretations of your word or your sentence. In fact, add anything that moves your creative spirit.
4. Add your post to the linky list below (sometimes I add it later in the day). Then hop to as many other blogs as you can in search of as many wonderful words as possible!
5. Use as many of the words as you can on the people in your life. Do leave us a note or add something to your own post to let us all know what wonderful old word you whipped out to befuddle your friends and relations.
Today's theme is: scorpions
My word today is: vair: (noun) fur, typically bluish-gray in color, obtained from a variety of squirrel, used in the 13th and 14th centuries as a trimming or lining for garments.
At the precise moment when the
scorpion came out of its hole, Tryer saw the handler reaching for the woman
wearing the vair earmuffs. Tryer quickly lifted the scorpion by its tail, its
body and legs jerking about in a hapless attempt to sting her. With fluid
motions, Tryer flung the scorpion and it landed on the handler's neck, the
stinger attaching to the handler's strained neck vein.
The intense pain of the sting
distracted the handler enough for Tryer to pull the vair earmuffs off the woman
and sprint away to the exit spot. Right before making her way through the exit,
Tryer used an exacto knife to dislodge from the muffs the hidden vials
containing the microbes. Tryer looked up when a shadow fell over her.
Wow you made this intriguing! The scorpion, the ear muffs, the 'hidden item'. This was great, one of your best yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheena-kay, especially since thrillers are usually my style of writing. :)
DeleteI can't believe you pulled me into the story while the thoughts of scorpions were lurking in my head, great one Nancy. Thrilling.
ReplyDeleteAnd since I think you are just awesome I've nominated you for yet another award... or two.
Glad you liked it. And, you're saying there's more awards from you? I can't believe it. I'll check them out. :)
DeleteWow, that *was* thrilling. Way to throw a lot of intense action into two isolated paragraphs!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed it. :)
DeleteSave a word is a neat idea. I'd never heard vair before. A very packed scene. Makes me curious, which is a very good thing. :) I wonder what the microbes are for and what the handler was trying to do. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun blog hop theme. Love doing it. I'm happy this little vignette intrigued you.
DeleteThat's interesting, although I'm anti-fur. I've never heard that word before.
ReplyDeleteGreat piece.
I not one to wear real fur either. :)
DeleteYou picked a great word. I never knew squirrels could have vair fur. I don't think I'd like to wear squirrel fur though. They're just way too cute! Your flash fic was very exciting. Great post! :-)
ReplyDeleteAre you saying you'd wear fur of an ugly animal? Just joking. :) Thanks for reading Lexa.
DeleteWow, we got some truly action-packed sentences this week!! Nice!
ReplyDeleteVair is interesting. I don't know if I've ever seen a squirrel of that color.