The term "lynch" is derived from the name of Colonel Charles Lynch (1736-96), a Virginia landowner who began to hold illegal trials in his backyard in 1790.

Wabbit Not to be confused with the similar sounding ‘rabbit’, the word ‘wabbit’ is an adjective which can be traced back to the Scots language and it is still primarily used by Scottish people as a slang word. Essentially, it can be used in place of words like ‘exhausted’, ‘tired’ or ‘worn out’, but can also refer to feeling slightly unwell.

Poppycock Logic would dictate that the word ‘poppycock’ would have something to do with either poppies or cockerels, but it is actually an informal word which essentially means ‘nonsense’. Despite sounding extremely British, it was first used in America during the 19th century and likely stems from the Dutch word ‘pappekak’ (‘soft faeces’).

Hullabaloo ‘Hullabaloo’ is a word used to mean ‘a commotion or noisy situation’. Generally speaking, it suggests there is a level of confusion or even aggression and it usually causes some sort of disturbance. Usage of the word dates back to the mid 1700s and is believed to have partially stemmed from the old Scots word ‘baloo’, which translates to ‘lullaby’.

Hodgepodge The word ‘hodgepodge’ is believed to have originated in North America and is essentially a direct variation of the British word ‘hotchpotch’. In its most basic sense, it refers to ‘a mixture of different things’. However, in most cases, the term is used to describe a confusing or haphazard mixture, which appears disorderly.

The first word in many English dictionaries, ‘aa’ is a noun, which is used to describe a volcanic rock. More specifically, it refers to ‘a block of lava with a rough or jagged surface’, and the word itself has an Hawaiian origin. Although rarely used in everyday conversation, ‘aa’ is a term used more frequently by those who study geology.