Discombobilled

[zondrae]

Things are a bit quiet today so I thought I'd post this bit of nonsence I wrote in the middle of a thunder storm one night a while back. Comments on composition would be most welcome. I have performed this once but no one 'got-it'.  I haven't done it again.  I thought it mildly amusing.

Discombobilled
© Zondrae King (11/03)

“I’m all discombobilled”. I heard grannie say.
Now there’s a word you don’t hear much today.
It’s one of those words that they used in the past
And I’m sure it was grannie I heard use it last.
I was thinking about it one night, as you do,
And I pondered its meaning, well wouldn’t you.
So I got out the Oxford and studied each page
But I guess that the word had just vanished with age.
I tried the Macquarie and Websters, no hit.
So I thought I’d dissect it and look up each bit.

Now ‘Dis’ is a prefix. (This looks like fun.)
It changes the meaning, is not unlike ‘un’.
‘Come’ ‘s a direction, I’ll substitute go
and ‘Bob’ is a curtsy or even a bow.
‘Billed’ can be invoiced if money is owed
or if it’s an animal it can mean nosed.

So let me look back on what I’ve written here
To see if the meaning is any more clear.
If ‘dis’ can be ‘un’ and ‘come’ can be ‘go’
And ‘bob’ is a curtsy and ‘billed’ is like ‘nosed’
We have “ungobownosed”. - Now I’m confused.

I guess that the meaning is in how it’s used.

[heyu]

G'day Zondrae

Betcha Grannie knew what 'diccombobilled' meant.  I reckon we could start a column of 'Grannie words' that Collins or Webster's had never heard of.
I remember we had a teacher at school who used to delight in calling us
"Sarspididdious idiots".  Never found that one in any dictionary either.

cheers to all Grannies


heyu

[Irene]

Hi Zondrae
It's amazing what you can make from words when you break them down, isn't it?!
If you were really looking for the word, the correct word is discombobulate, rather than discombobilled.
It means 'to confuse, to upset, frustrate' - You got it right in the last line of your poem!!! 
I had a look in dictionary.com to check if it is still in there, and it is.

[manfredvijars]

I'm sorry dear Zondrae, you've got it all wrong
   expressions aren't all that arcane.
In our language today that word gets a gong -
   bear with me and I will explain.

I think there is currency straight off the street
   'dis' equals 'this' (get the biz?)
a 'comb' is quite clear it's to keep yourself neat.
   and 'ob' could be 'of'(or an 'is')
 
Illed is quite sick, there you have it my friend
   Fair dinkum, no way would I josh
Now put that together and here in the end
   it seams that your comb needs a wash.
---

Teddybears and Rainbows ... 

Manfred

[heyu]

Hey Manfred,  How clever is that?  And so quick too.  Now Zondrae, Irene and I all know the true meaning of Discombobilled or Discombobulate, but I'm afraid that the next time I tell somebody that I am going to discombobulate my comb they may lock me up !


heyu

[zondrae]

thanks fellas,

Manfred I had a great rolling chuckle. You are quick and witty. Loved it. Yes I saw in a newspaper quiz, the dictionary  definition and correct spelling and have kept the clipping with the poem. In any case, it did the job and brightened all our Mondays.

[manfredvijars]

Hmmmm... Dis/comb/obulate

There, straight off the street what more can I say
   'dis' equals 'this' as we know
and comb was discussed on this very day
   Are you still with me? Hellooo!!

And "ovulate's" clear (but it's said with a lisp)
   the result's gunna bring us some grins.
Once more put together the meaning is crisp
   I think that your comb's having twins
---

Irreverently, ... 

Manfred.

[manfredvijars]

Hey ... I'm on a roll ... sorry Pete, couldn't let this one go either ... 


Sars/pi/did/dious

"Sars" is the scrapings from bottoms of tanks
   cordially too I might add
referred to as 'root beer' by those silly Yanks
   (Big let-down for this virile lad)

"Pi's" the description of circles, a big
    container methinks - that's my view.
A bottle - precisely; now here take a swig.
   "did"? 'course I did, didn't you?

"Dious" is holy (or something like that)
   impressed now ya bunch of berks?
The meaning is clear it's... (let's not have a spat)
   Sarspididdious to think root beer works!
---

Irreverently (again) ... 


Manfred.

[heyu]

Hey Manfred, great stuff.  Where can I buy a copy of the "Manfred book of logic" ?  This will sure confuse those Martians who have been checking us out all these years.

Isn't it great to see so much support and comedic (I think that's a word)  interaction on this forum.

cheers


heyu

[zondrae]

yes heyu,
and so many of us with so much brain power and little else to do. (don't get me wrong. Checking this site is my first and last action every day)

Now let us get at the problem of Nuclear power stations and WHERE TO PUT THEM!!! There's a topic to cogitate on. (by nice boys)

[heyu]

Zondrae you little mind reader you.

How did you know the boys would be able to tell them where to put their nuclear power stations (without even cogitating) but it would certainly open up a whole new vista for the paper manufacturers.  Imagine nuclear powered, what a pleasure to do your business with, and what would we mean by "I'm going fission" .  That might cause some discombobulation.

cheers


heyu

[Irene]

Aren't you people clever little vegemites!!! 
I'll have a copy of 'Manfreds Book of Logic" too please - sounds a great book to read!!!

Well done - brightened an otherwise dull morning!

[therese]

            

where can i buy the Manfred Concise Dictionary!

gotta love "Sarspididdious"

zondrae, i'd leave "discombobilled"  as it is, gran just has her own special take on Discombobulate.  i know my aunt did  on some words .. and sayings lol