In Scotland and Northern England, something that’s kenspeckle is “conspicuous.” This word likely comes from Scandinavian languages and is related to English ken, meaning “range of knowledge.” And it’s not just ken — this family of words includes Spanish conocer, meaning “to know” and reconnoiter, meaning “to gain information.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Kenspeckle”
Grant, I want you to picture a room full of chihuahuas.
And right in the middle of this room full of chihuahuas, there’s a Great Dane just sitting.
There kind of chilling with all the other little dogs.
You might describe that Great Dane as Ken Speckle.
Yeah, Ken Speckle.
I think I know that word.
I’ve talked about it on another podcast recently.
Right.
The word kenspeckle means conspicuous or easily recognizable.
It’s used mostly in Scotland and northern England, and it probably has a Scandinavian origin.
Isn’t that right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I believe it’s probably Norse.
It goes back way to the Norse roots of some English words that are only found in the north of England and Scotland now.
And it’s the same ken meaning to know, like something is beyond your ken, it’s beyond your knowledge.
And that ken is related to verbs meaning to know in romance languages throughout Europe.
Right, right.
And reconnoiter and conning tower and all those words like that.
Conocer in Spanish.
Exactly.
But I do love that word kinspeckle.
It’s just, it’s fun to say.
And I just keep picturing that Great Dane in the middle of all those chihuahuas.
When you were laying out this picture, I was imagining myself in the Great Danes position and all these adorable little chihuahuas and me having a nice romp.
Well, you would be Ken Speckled, too, in that picture.
I would be Ken Speckled.
I would definitely stand out.
But also a chance to play with a bunch of dogs?
Absolutely.
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