Wondrous Words Wednesday 11/7/12

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a fabulous weekly meme hosted by Bermuda Onion, where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our weekly reading.  

Keeping with the Paris in July theme this month here are some words from my recent reading of Paris in Love.

1. Reliquary (Noun)


In an art gallery: tiny, ornate reliquary boxes, the kind that house a saint's finger bone. 


A receptacle or repository for relics, esp relics of saints. The Free Dictionary. 


2. Chasuble (Noun)


Back in New Jersey, Father Mahoney wore a black cassock over his majestic stomach, occasionally adding a purple chasuble. 


A long sleeveless vestment worn over the alb by a priest during services. The Free Dictionary. Hmmm, alb. 


3. Polly Pockets (Noun)


My favourite item at Musee Lambinet were two 'surprise' Easter eggs, given to Princess Victoire, daughter of Louis XV. They are essentially, Polly Pockets, but made with real heans' eggs. 


It took me a while to work this out. I think the picture needs to tell the story here. I'm sure the real thing at the Musee is amazing. 

Picture source

4. Curlicue (Noun)


At least three usages.


We found a furniture store in the Marais that features curlicues: lampshades with elaborate cutouts; a cabinet with wrought iron overlay; a sofa whose arms spiral around and around, like a snail's shell. 


A fancy twist, or curl, composed usually from a series of concentric circles. It is a recurring motif in architecture, calligraphy and in general scrollwork. Wiki

Picture source

5. Louche (Adj)


Today, Carrie, Charlotte, Anna and I tumbled into Le Dome, a cafe on rue de Rivoli, and were driven by loud music into the back room, which turned out to be fascinating: a louche setting of velvet couches and low tables with metal lanterns that sent out twinkling spills of light. 


Shady, shifty, disreputable. From the French word for squinting. 

Paris in July is cohosted by Karen at BookBath and Tamara atThyme for Tea