Grace Tierney

“Words Christmas Gave Us” festive history “Words the Vikings Gave Us” Norse nouns “Words the Sea Gave Us” nautical words "Modern Words with Old Roots" avatar to zarf “How To Get Your Name In The Dictionary” eponyms #etymology paperback #Kindle wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/

Bellonion [buh-LOH-nee-un] (n.) - A mechanically operated musical instrument. Used in a sentence: “Having mistaken the bellonion for an approaching Prussian regiment, the Colonel barricaded himself in the larder, from which the cook was obliged to coax him the following morning.”

This week librarian Nina is running a Reading Festival at the library, but has accidentally crossed the path of her nemesis again. Subscribe and read at channillo.com/series/the-l... #librarylife #irishfiction #serial

Wonderful day last week at Trinity College, Dublin. My eldest graduated with his degree in Chemical Science. We're so proud of him! 🎓❤️

This week's dusty gem from the Wordfoolery Archives is from August 2017 and explores why sometimes French people are called frogs in British English and how that links to a king and a gambling game. Enjoy! wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/f... #etymology #history

Pun Photography I always love creating pun photography of station names, here's a small collection.

"Words the Sea Gave Us", the first book in the Words Series, stuffed with nautical nouns, pirate lingo, and perfect for beachcombers and sailors. "Words the Weather Gave Us", book four, is coming soon. Words Series www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09C39L9VS Pre-order the Weather book link.amazon/B0dbibbaf

I'll be chatting with Gerry on LMFM at 2 today. All about the history of words with a slight Halloween twist - ultracrepidarian, malevolent, ouija, barmbrack, and our mystery word is muffin-walloper. Listen live, online at www.lmfm.ie, and I'll share the podlink in the comments later. 📻

Happy Book Birthday to "How to Get Your Name in the Dictionary". While all my books share the stories behind the words, this one is about the people and places behind the words. Villains, heroes, chefs, style icons, inventors, each living an extraordinary life and giving us words. amzn.to/2ygxZMH

⭐️ SNOOZE ⭐️ The Tiny Angry Witch dislikes mornings just as much as we do. It's authentic stop-motion animation. We'd love to have more time to devote to these, so if you know any eccentric millionaires, let us know! Written, built, animated, voice and scored by 4 x people (and 1 x Witch)

“It’s not very polite to point out errors to an author, Gerry.” Perhaps this was why she avoid festivals. Nit-picking pedants like Gerry taking issue with research from books she wrote decades ago. He guffawed. “I’m sure she’d rather be accurate and get the books corrected.” #1linewed

This week in the library Nina is running a Book Festival. Tickets, queries, booking authors, crowd management, and the pesky Gerry and his endless questions. She's barely holding it together. Read all about it at channillo.com/series/the-l... #irishfiction #librarylife #serial

Explored the word history of the ouija board this week on Wordfoolery - surprisingly multilingual and a very old trademark name. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/t... #halloween 🎃👻 #etymology

Do you know about my author newsletter Wordfoolery Whispers? The secrets of writing life, unusual words, book reviews, and stories from my travels/history explorations. Sometimes there's free stuff. 📚 #etymology Join us, 3 years and nobody has complained yet! wordfoolerywhispers.subscribepage.io

This week's word from the Wordfoolery Archives is a nautical one - scuttlebutt. This word made it into "Words the Sea Gave Us" a while later, but this was the start. From July 2017, thanks to a ship visit. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/n... #etymology #ahoy

Happy #DictionaryDay! This is the latest addition to my shelf. The bookseller found it hilarious that a tourist would pop in for a local dictionary as a souvenir, but hey, I have a reference shelf to fill! #amreading #booksky 📚💙

Spotted these at the Halifax maritime museum and thought of @greenleejw.bsky.social - those eels get everywhere!

"Words the Weather Gave Us" is coming on November 9th. A feast of unusual words, weather lore, and historic weather. If you want to be the first to read it, then check out the pre-order for the #Kindle edition at www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJHVHC5... #etymology #weather 🌦️☀️🌨️❄️☔

Happy Battle of Hastings Day to all who celebrate! Here’s our recent 1066 special if you want to laugh while you learn about the chaotic year of the four kings — you can watch here on BBC iPlayer in the UK, or on YouTube worldwide www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

“I’m sorry, I’m not sure we can help. At least they can attend virtually.” said Boss Lady, spreading her hands in a gesture of defeat. “The furthest Sally has been in months is her front garden.” “What about -“ Kitty stopped and we all looked at her. #1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"

This week in Castle Bailey the library's bookclub organise an inclusive Christmas outing for all their members. Cocktails and books, what could possibly go wrong? Subscribe to read this and many other episodes at channillo.com/series/the-l... #librarylife #serial #irishfiction 📚🍸

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 8260: Whatever genre you write, read folklore. Folklore exists because at some point, people cared so much about a certain thing that they put it into a story, and passed it down the centuries in order to keep it alive. That deserves attention.

This week on the blog - a weather word - monsoon - with roots in Arabic, Portuguese and of course India. wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/10/05/t... #etymology #rainwords #windwords

"Sally Storch (b.1952)

This week's dusty gem from the Wordfoolery archive is a post from June 2017 all about making money and the art of vitriolic writing. Enjoy! wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/q... #etymology #insults

Happy #NationalTechiesDay to all my friends (and former colleagues) in the world of tech. Especially those who know about the silent L in users 😉 Have you tried restarting it? <ducks for cover>.

A little blurry today but it's windy out there (my excuse and I'm sticking to it). An aster in a pot at my back door. My mother would call these Michaelmas daisies which makes sense as that church feast (the Feast of the Archangels) falls on the 29th of September. #bloomscrolling

A serious event, blood was shed, but honestly I know I would have been one of the women mentioned who basically ran off with free cheese.

"Words the Weather Gave Us" is coming next month (eek!). A feast of unusual words, weather lore, and historic weather straight from my desk to yours. If you want to be the first to read it, then check out the pre-order for the Kindle edition at www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJHVHC5... #etymology #booksky 📚💙🌦️☔

“Seriously? How much effort have you put into planning this weekend, Nina?” “Listen, I plan events for a living, Alex. It’s about time I used my superpowers for good.” “Ah yes, my very own Super Librarian,” he said and pulled me in for a kiss. #1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"

This week Nina the librarian is on a romantic weekend in Dublin with her Inter Library Loan Guy. Even dedicated librarians are allowed outside sometimes! channillo.com/series/the-l... #librarylife #irishfiction #serial 📚😍

Wonderful idea for crossword lovers (cruciverbalists)!

It's Monday and if you're like Garfield you may be feeling a little malevolent - it's a word the Romans gave us. Read all about it at wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/09/28/t... #etymology

This week's dusty gem from the Wordfoolery archives is exquisite - a beautiful word - hope you enjoy this one from May 2017 - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/e... #etymology

My cyclamen, in a pot by the back door, is in bloom now. This is its third home, starting with my late Aunt Eithne who gave some to my late mother, and now it thrives with me. I love inter-generational gardening and think of them both when it blossoms. #bloomscrolling

A lovely page of leafy doodles made by William Morris in a dull committee meeting, at the William Morris Society. A little bit of joy for @silverpebble2.bsky.social this evening x

The preorder for "Words the Weather Gave Us" is now open so if you want a copy to drop onto your Kindle on release day, you can order at www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJHVHC5.... Then meet Hector the Cloud, find diamond rain, and unfurl your bumbershoot. #booksky #weather #etymology

Happy Book Birthday to "Words Christmas Gave Us"! My first hardback and in-person book launch. I adored researching the worldwide Christmas traditions and the elaborate stories behind carols. A perfect festive gift for the word geek in your life. Buy links at wordfoolery.wordpress.com/my-books/

My attempt to be mysterious had failed somewhat by the time we’d reached the fifth floor and I was regretting not noticing that the place didn’t have an elevator, but we arrived, finally, at the door to the top floor apartment. #1linewed "The Librarian's Secret Diary"

A romantic chapter for "The Librarian's Secret Diary" this week as Nina brings her Inter Library Loan Guy away for a mystery weekend. Even librarians need to leave the library sometimes! Subscribe and read at channillo.com/series/the-l... #librarylife #irishfiction #serial

#ReviewersWanted "Words the Weather Gave Us" 330 words from apricity to zephyr, when weather changed history, folklore, forecasting, trivia. #etymology #weather #history #bookreviewers Advance review copies (digital) available now worldwide - chat/comment if you're interested. Thanks! 📚💙

Today is #HobbitDay because Bilbo and Frodo Baggins were both born on September 22nd. Normally we'd shire a hobbit pun or two but it might just feel like a tolkien gesture and we don't want to embarrass our elves. Anyway it's a good day to come and boromir #Tolkien books. 📚

This week on the Wordfoolery blog I explore the word history of being drenched and I reveal the cover for "Words the Weather Gave Us" - coming in November and available for ebook pre-order now. Hope you like the bright sunny cover? wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2026/09/21/w... #etymology #Weather ☀️📚🌧️🌪️❄️