mulligrubs

[prettygoodword]

mulligrubs (MUL-i-gruhbs) - n., colic, intestinal pain; sulkiness, ill temper, melancholy.


The colic sense is listed in some dictionaries as obsolete, but not the mood sense. The usual construction is that one has the mulligrubs. Originally, this was spelled mulligrums, and instead one was sick of them. First appears in 1599, apparently as an alteration of megrims.

---L.

Comments

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

And indeed a co-worker knew it as meaning "grumpiness" from hearing it used in the wild.

---L.

[azhdragon.livejournal.com]

It was also the name of an odd children's/toddlers tv show in the 80s or 90s ... Look on YouTube

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

An Aussie show, yes? It showed up in searches while I was researching the word.

---L.

[mount-oregano.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this word. I'm using it regularly now.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

My work here is done.

---L.