#fockletoss

The word fockletoss ('fä-kəl-täs) is a compound word derived from the archaic fockle (from Old Irish focul, “word”) and toss. The most common usage is in its noun form, where it essentially refers to a lie/deception told for the purposes of entertainment, without malicious intent. For instance, if you were to make up a fake word and tell your friends it was real and try to convince them to incorporate it into their vocabulary for a laugh, that would be an example of a fockletoss. It also can act as a verb — in my example, you would be fockletossing your friends.

Fockletoss in its modern use is actually rather recent; originally, it meant simply a lie. Its origin is most often attributed to Shakespeare (as all great words seem to be), with a quote from Lady Macbeth in the Scottish play: “why dost thou toss thy fockle so?” (I think this is somewhere in Act II but I can’t remember at the moment.) The more specific modern definition is a fascinating example of the linguistic phenomenon semantic change, where a word’s connotation changes over time — in this case, the change is a result of “narrowing” and “elevation” (it’s developed a more specific and more positive connotation, respectively).

Later Shakespearean works included the use of fockletoss proper, and it has since been used on occasion by numerous poets and authors throughout the ages. It has always been an uncommon word, with very low usage in recent decades, but has seen an uptick in the last two years or so. This is primarily attributed to a rise in popularity among young adults, especially students.