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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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Word watching answers

By Philip Howard
The Times
By Philip Howard
The Times

DOIT

(c) A small Dutch coin formerly in use, the eighth part of a stiver, or the half of an English farthing. Hence (chiefly in negative phrases) as the type of a very small or trifling sum. Of uncertain derivation. Perhaps connected with the Old Norse for a small piece cut off.

REIMBOSK

(b) To take cover. To take to the bushes again. To reimbush. 1659: “The deer is reimboskd. Il s’est rembusché.”

CROB

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(b) To croak. 1566, translation from Horace’s Satires: “Still, still thy stomach crobs.”

RESSALAH

(c) In India, a squadron of native cavalry. Urdu, from the Arabic arsala — he sent. Wellington dispatch, 1800: “Charged with having endeavoured to seduce from the service of the rajah of Mysore a ressalah of horse.”