A popular name for coffee.
How to make coffee, alias ninny-broth; a new invention of buttering turnips; to make a loaf of bread to dance about the table, intermixed with profit and delight.Poor Robin, 1696.Which makes some saints low-teachers chuseNot for their doctrine, but their news.But when they’re in a fit of zeal,Their wounded conscience they healWith ninny-broth, o’er which they seekSome new religion ev’ry week.Hudibras Redivivus, Part I, 1708.
Source: Nares’ Glossary,
or, collection of words, phrases, names, and allusions to customs,
proverbs, etc., which have been thought to require illustration, in
the works of English authors, particularly Shakespeare and his
contemporaries. Vol. II, K–Z.
(from a page at random)
10 comments:
Funny, I've just drunk a whole jug of ninny broth before dancing around the table to read your post...
and discovering more things for my profit and delight.
And I’m on my second cup as well. I’m telling you, Jonathan, this book is the answer to all of our problems.
You're right! This new method for buttering a turnip... why hasn't anyone shown me this before?
It works a treat.
(For grammatical reasons, I had to delete the last comment. I'd put a peeling in the wrong line.)
I’m glad you corrected that, because I was about to crucify you for that missing fly-speck.
I love that term, "Ninny Broth." That's a new one on me and I can envision many a time when I could apply it. It's very funny actually.
It really is, and I think we should start using it. What a book — it’s full of gems like this.
Very much enjoyed..
Thanks, Anthony. Glad you could stop by for a cup.
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