Puce-faced over EU? You may be a gammon

IF THE word “gammon” conjures images of a delicious Sunday lunch, you need to move with the times.

Collins Dictionary has named it one of its words of the year, defining it as “a term of abuse directed at the most reactionary pro-brexit supporters” – white men of a certain age who become pink in the face when working themselves into a rage about the European Union.

Although in more common use since the referendum, it was used in 1838 by Charles Dickens to describe Mr Gregsbury, the pompous MP in Nicholas Nickleby.

The character says: “The meaning of that term – gammon – is unknown to me.

“If it means that I grow a little too fervid, or perhaps even hyperbolic, in extolling my native land, I admit the full justice of my remark. I am proud of this free and happy country. My form dilates, my eye glistens, my breast heaves, my heart swells, my bosom burns, when I call to mind her greatness and her glory.”

Other words of the year include “Metoo”, “gaslight” and “single-use”, referring to the items of plastic that are littering our oceans.

Helen Newstead, head of language content at Collins, said: “This has been a year where awareness and often anger over a variety of issues has led to the rise of new words and the revitalisation and adaptation of old ones.

“It’s clear from this year’s list that changes to our language are dictated as much by public concern as they are by sport, politics, and playground fads.”

Another entry is “plogging”, the Swedish activity of litter-picking while jogging.