character

An alcoholic (euphemism). Used by local newspapers when reporting the death of winos. Usually a "character" is of no fixed abode, or at least of very limited means.

Respectable dead alcoholics, by contrast, are merely "convivial"; even if they are crazed ranters they would be "convivial and garrulous".

"Mr Brew was a popular local character, normally to be found by the war memorial in the high street".

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spartist

Noun. Humourless left-winger whose vocabulary is punctuated with Marxist dialectical jargon. From the fictitious character Dave Spart in Private Eye, a British satirical fortnightly.

He came out with some Spartist claptrap about a hegemonical bourgeoisie.

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zwounds

Archaic expression of shock or suprise. Derives from "God's wounds". As with similar archaisms, "Zwounds" is used in jocular contexts by tedious nerds with intellectual pretentions.

Zwounds, sir! Dash it all!

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