A student has started a project to reclaim some of her county’s old language.
Univeristy of Gloucestershire graduate, Holly Williams-Richards said she became “enamoured” by some of the traditional words she found during her research.
Some of these words, such as “flittermouse” - which means bat - are being displayed in a public art trail to introduce them to new generations.
They can be found in places like the Oxstalls Campus at the university and across Gloucester city centre.
German is Fledermaus if I remember correctly, so Flittermouse seems to be Germanic in origin, as is the Swedish word, fladdermus. Etymology is interesting, but I know next to nothing about it. Guessing is fun, though. If I’m wrong here, I love to be educated.
I get why bat is preferred as the Germanic versions are more than a little clunky and not nearly as cool or scary sounding. Here comes the amazing Flittermouseman! Villains beware!
Raspy voice “I am Flittermouseman”.