Friday, April 13, 2012

M is for Mauzy


Coming up to the letter "M" in the A-Z Challenge, it was serendipitous last night as we stood outside, with the harbour and the lights and the boats made softer and more mysterious by the mist swirling its long fingers along the shore before slithering onto the decks of the boats clustered at the wharf.

"Isn't it grand," said Dan, breathing it all in, "there's nothing like a mauzy day to set the world to rights!"

"Mauzy," said I, "I can't tell you how much I love that word!"

It seems to me like a perfect combination of the words gauzy and misty and it descibes exactly what is shown in my photo above taken from my house.

In June/July when it gets right mauzy, everyone knows to rush to the shore for the capelin who come in to spawn, followed by schools of whales and the hagdowns (birds). We couldn't believe the sights last year, so many whales chasing the capelin right on to the beach. Yes, mauzy is a very good word indeed.

mauzy a also maus(e)y, mawzy [phonetics unavailable]. Cp EDD mosey adj1 3 'damp and warm, muggy, close; foggy.' Of the weather, damp, foggy, misty or close, sometimes with very light rain or condensation on objects and a cool, gentle wind off the sea; cp CAPLIN (SCULL) WEATHER.
1897 J A Folklore x, 207 Mausey day, one dull and heavy, with no wind and thick mist. 1937 DEVINE 33 A mausey day is a cloudy, foggy day with no wind and a little rain at times. 1957 Daily News 16 Oct, p. 4 Oldtime seal hunters ... expressed the opinion that the long, hard winter, the heavy ice and the 'mauzy' weather of early March were just right for a bumper season. P 105-63 It's a mauzy old day, sir. 1968 KEATING 13-14 'Breeze comin' from duh suddard,' the skipper said. 'Always blows up mauzy weather.' And the fog did indeed roll over the deep as the warm south wind hit the chill air of the bank. 1969 HORWOOD 166 The Caplin Scull is not just a phenomenon of nature, but also a period of the year, and even a special kind of weather—'mausy' weather, with high humidity, frequent fogs or drizzles, easterly winds.


Today's post brought to you by the letter M from The Dictionary of Newfoundland English in partnership with the rest of the alphabet beginning here.

21 comments:

  1. I have never heard of the mauzy! New one to me.

    CarolynBrown-Books

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  2. We often get to see our buxom Indian matrons pretending to be nubile nymphets wearing mauzy dresses. One of these days, I shall gather enough courage to ask one of them for permission to photograph and blog about it.

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  3. Mauzy is a perfect description of the inside of my head on many a morning! :(

    Lovely word.

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  4. It reminds we of one of my favorite words: "mizzle," for that state of wetness which is less than a drizzle, but more than a mist.

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  5. I think I will mauzy on over to the neighbours for a cuppa.

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  6. It's a great word and describes my state of mind after a nap sometimes before I've had my coffee. "I sure have a mauzy head right now." This word is going to come in real handy.

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  7. It's mauzy a lot around here. It sure does make grass grow.

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  8. A very good word and a very good demonstration of what it means. A lovely post.

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  9. This is a good one, WWW! Just the right photograph too - mauzy has to be greyish to be properly mauzy.
    ;-)

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  10. CMB
    I am honoured to expand your vocab!
    XO
    WWW

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  11. Ramana:
    A mauzy dress, well I never!
    XO
    WWW

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  12. Marc:
    I've heard that word before but rarely, great one!
    XO
    WWW

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  13. Anne:
    And also in the fall I note some mushroom encouragement with that kind of weather!
    XO
    WWW

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  14. Friko:
    thank you!
    Yes, it is a scrumptious word.
    XO
    WWW

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  15. Mauzy, but can't use it here in Colorado. At the moment I am looking at a little spring snow storm which is bringing much needed moisture here. Two summers ago, we visited friends who have a home in Rose Bay, Nova Scotia, a lovely area. I am sure they have mauzy days there. Thank you for your critique of my "Joe" story. I left comments about your comments. What color would you make "Mauzy"?

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  16. LOW:
    Whitey grey like a bunny rabbit.
    XO
    WWW

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  17. It sounds like what I'd call a muggy day, but maybe a bit more pleasant.

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