All posts by Gibson Square
Merriam-Webster on whingeing
Merriam-Webster has been defining words since 1828 and is, in the main, a dictionary of American-English. Although aimed squarely at our Colonial Cousins it contains a range of words rarely heard outside Britain. I’m pleased to report that whinge, although rarely heard outside Britain is featured:
Definition – to complain fretfully: whine
Intransitive verb – British
Whinge and whine may look like simple variants, but the two words are fairly distinct, with meanings and histories that are independent. Whinge comes from an Old English word, hwinsian, meaning “to wail or moan discontentedly,” whereas whine comes from the Old English hwinan (“to make a humming or whirring sound”). Whinge, in use since the 12th century, has always had a meaning related to complaining; whine, on the other hand, did not begin to have its now-familiar meaning until the 16th century.

O it is a sweet thing ay to be whinging, and crying, and seeking about Christ’s Pantry Doors, and to hold ay an Eye upon Christ when he goes into the House of Wine, into His Fathers fair Luckie Wine-Celler where there are many Wines, and bout in at Christ’s back. — Samuel Rutherford, Christs Napkin, 1660
Johnson’s London Dictionary: London Wall
LONDON WALL (n.) Turnpike deemed to be unique as being of dual carriageway that doth separate opposing vehicular traffic, nay confused with wall of same name.
Dr. Johnson’s London Dictionary for publick consumption in the twenty-first century avail yourself on Twitter @JohnsonsLondon
Protected: Did you know there are two River Thames?
London in Quotations: Robert Montgomery

And there is London! – England’s heart and soul. / By the proud flowing of her famous Thames, / She circulates through countless lands and isles / Her greatness; gloriously she rules, / At once the awe and sceptre of the world.

Robert Montgomery (b.1972), London, Religion and Poetry: Being Selections Spiritual and Moral