14 October 2016
varmint or varment
[vahr-muh nt]
noun
1. Chiefly Southern and South Midland U.S.
vermin.
an objectionable or undesirable animal, usually predatory, as a coyote or bobcat.
2. a despicable, obnoxious, or annoying person.
Origin of varmint
1530-1540; variant of vermin (with regular outcome of Middle English ĕr before consonant (cf. argal3, parson ) and parasitic t)
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for varmint
Contemporary Examples
Across the wilderness I once shot a varmint in the wilderness!
Mitt Romney Finds the Funny in ‘America the Beautiful’ (VIDEO)
Mark Katz
February 9, 2012
Historical Examples
“The varmint has run tu the nearest hole he could find,” he said with a smile.
Buckskin Mose
Buckskin Mose
I begun to fear that the varmint had a cave, and so, cuss him!
The Hunters’ Feast
Mayne Reid
These were the trophies of the professional ” varmint killer,” a man hired by the month.
The Killer
Stewart Edward White
“The varmint shall be speedily unearthed,” said Wilder, rushing to the spot.
Rookwood
William Harrison Ainsworth
A skunk’s a varmint that don’t stink tell ye meddle with him, but Hank Halliday stinks all the time.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
I’d just like to look along the barrels of my gun at the varmint, as Jim calls him.
With Trapper Jim in the North Woods
Lawrence J. Leslie
I’m goin’ to stop this business if I’ve got to kill every thievin’ varmint in the Army o’ the Cumberland.
Si Klegg, Book 5 (of 6)
John McElroy
Anagram
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Today’s quote
The petty man is eager to make boasts, yet desires that others should believe in him. He enthusiastically engages in deception, yet wants others to have affection for him. He conducts himself like an animal, yet wants others to think well of him.
– Xun Kuang
On this day
14 October 1066 – Battle of Hastings. When King Edward of England died, William the Duke of Normandy felt the throne should go to him. Meanwhile, Earl Harold Godwinson (cousin of King Edward) felt the throne was his. The two went to battle with William decisively defeating Harold. The battle changed history as William brought England under Norman rule and stripping the Saxons of their rights. King William introduced three major changes, firstly, he made himself the principal authority, having executive, judicial and legislative power. (This was replaced centuries later by the Westminster System, which separates these three powers). Secondly, William introduced a new language and culture, by replacing 300 years of Anglo-Saxon culture with a French dialect. Thirdly, he introduced the feudal system in which a plot of land (called a fief) would be given to loyal followers.
14 October 1322 – Scotland forces led by Robert the Bruce defeat England at Byland, forcing King Edward II to grant Scotland’s independence.
14 October 1947 – American pilot, Chuck Yeager, breaks the speed of sound in the experimental jet, Bell X-1, travelling at Mach 1 and at 45,000 feet.
14 October 1959 – death of Errol Flynn, Australian-born American actor. Born 20 June 1909.
14 October 2012 – Felix Baumgarten, Austrian adventurer, becomes the first man to break the speed of sound while in freefall after jumping from a helium balloon at the edge of space, 39km above the surface of the earth. He reached a speed of 1,342 km/hr (1.24 times the speed of sound). He also broke the record for the highest altitude reached in a manned balloon flight.