Words at Play : Funny-Sounding and Interesting Words
Definition:
coarsely abusive language
Example:
"Modern billingsgate betrays puerile imbecility of pundits" — headline in the Rome (GA) News-Tribune, March 4, 2006
About the Word:
Since the 14th century, Billingsgate has been the name of a fish market in London, England – a fish market at one time notorious for its merchants' vulgar language.
We find an allusion to the merchants' crude talk in 16th century British chronicler Raphael Holinshed's description of a messenger's language, which he said was "as bad a tongue ... as any oyster-wife at Billingsgate."
More Words at Play
