Patsy Collins - Words about writing and writing about words

A tassel is generally a tuft of wool, or other thread used as a decoration on cushions, scarves etc. Some plant heads or flowers are also...

Today's word of the week was suggested by Carolyn Henderson , after I used it in reply to a question she asked on Facebook – What does...

An  acanthus  is a herbaceaous plant or shrub of the genus  Acanthus . They have spiny leaves and tend to be big and noticeable. The kind ...

A hare is any member of the animal family Leporidae. They can run really fast, which is why my second shot is a bit blurry! It's al...

A muselet is the little wire cage thingy which holds the cork into a bottle of fizzy (and usually alcoholic) liquid. I know this because ...

To be on your tod means to be alone. If you're British, the chances are you knew that – but did you know the phrase originated as Coc...

Mull can mean to think ponderously or deeply. E.g. Patsy mulled over an idea for her next novel. I do a lot of mulling. Alter...

A kyle is the term for a narrow channel between islands, or an island and the mainland – but only in Scotland. There's one between th...

An oddity is a strange thing, person, occurrence or a peculiar trait. It can also mean the state of being odd. When I was a kid, some p...