The word is 'lunt'. As a verb: lunting. From sixteenth century Dutch, meaning a wick, fuzee, taper, or slow fuse. In the particular meaning of a smoldering rope carried around for relighting one's pipe while ambling about, perhaps on the embankment surrounding the town where the city walls once stood, where one could get s magnificent view of the countryside on a Sunday afternoon, without being shouted at by modern Berkeleyites about how one's evil habits are killing children, lungs, the planet, an offence against G-d, (wo)man, and nature, and stop smoking you evil pervert there ought to be a law!
1) a portable source of fire. 2) by extension, a stroll while smoking a pipe. 3) to be engaged upon a pleasant walk while smoking. 4) something that arouses the ire of a retired scholarly gentleman in Athens, Georgia.
John O. wrote:
"I've got to post this because I'm tired of screaming into my pillow:
Noun. lunt (plural lunts) A slow-burning match or torch. Smoke with flames, especially from a pipe. This definition is from a quick Google search, but I've used several dictionaries in researching the word "lunt". I've used all of my wiles developed as a career Reference Librarian to delve into "lunt". I see no mention in the primary definitions that includes walking or hiking. I'm sitting still on my sofa, the only motion at all being the slow puffs on my pipe. I lit my pipe using a lunt. In my absolute stillness I am still lunting (gerund version of the term) so long as my pipe is lit and producing smoke. In fact, an innocent, smoking campfire is lunting. In no way whatsoever does this word demand the somewhat absurdist current misuse of the term, which somehow infers that one who is lunting is on some sort of long nature walk. No. Just no. Stop the nonsense! Let's not ruin this word by trying to make taking a "lunt" into some sort of spiritual, nature-communing, God-affirming activity.
Prove me wrong. And go."
Several commenters weighed in, authoritative sources were cited, and opinions were bandied highter and yon. There was much stubbornness.
In response to one commenter, John O. wrote:
"OK. This is a citation I have to accept, because this is a seminal work in English linguistics. However, I'll note that this reference work uses the gerund, "lunting", and doesn't address specifically the word "lunt" from which the gerund form is derived."
Adam D. confessed himself a descriptive linguist by saying:
"Words mean what people use them to mean. Good dictionaries describe what people say, they don't prescribe what people *should* say. Tho' resistance to the way some people use a word is part of the process of meaning-formation. Never heard "lunting" before I came to this group, but I like it -- it fills a need, and has pleasant associations (lounging, hunting)."
John O.:
"Actually, Adam, I think you have the concept of a dictionary reversed. A dictionary is designed to show the proper and accepted historic use of a word. It is descriptive tool which adheres to normative usage. What people say, and the common or modern usage is more often described in a slang dictionary such as The Urban Dictionary. I agree, of course, with the concept of language evolution and so the natural development of words to take on a meaning other than the original, and can easily cite terms like "gay" or "fag" as examples of word evolution. The term "lunt" is beginning to take on an evolution of it's own (driven mostly by Hipsters who need a cool word to describe an activity people have followed since pipes first came about), but the definition which demands that a lunt must mean a walk while smoking a pipe is still more in the slang category, and that's why reference sources such as The Urban Dictionary include this meaning while standard dictionaries do not."
Adam D.:
"With respect, I'm a linguist, have been on the board of several dictionaries, and pretty clear on descriptive and prescriptive usage. Popular and educated attitudes towards certain usages would certainly be part of the description. "Slang" is not a word modern dictionary makers use (interesting in this context) because historically, it was used to denigrate language across ethnic and class lines."
John O.:
"Though not a linguist, I feel that my Masters in English and my career as a reference librarian give me some standing, and my research into linguistic memes has been extensive. I've been quite active in my own profession, and have produced enough quality material as to rest most easily in retirement. That said, Mel Gibson can claim to be an actor, too, so professional standing versus professional standing is absurd - we know that arguments exist within every profession. "Slang is language of an informal register that members of particular in-groups prefer over the common vocabulary of a standard language in order to establish group identity, exclude outsiders, or both." This phrase to me exactly describes how "lunt" has been co-opted. I'm going to stand by both my understanding of a dictionary and also my use of the word "slang", and that The Urban Dictionary is not a true dictionary but a compendium of slang usage, despite my considering it a vital resource. Obviously I respect your expertise but I'm going to stand by the approach used at the library reference desk and professed as the proper approach by professors in library schools, and yes, that absolutely puts me in the school which considers a dictionary to be an etymological work. I have little doubt (I haven't looked) that the OED may include "walking while smoking a pipe", it being an etymological dictionary, but I can't imagine it being listed as anything close to the primary definition. In simpler, abridged, dictionaries the usage for "walking while smoking a pipe" isn't even included. Meanwhile, I'm finding it quite amusing that this word, and this post, has managed to create such an amazing dust storm. It's not worth it, when the original post wasn't made with any true seriousness. Liken my concern for this word to my concern about Grogu - it's only important in the fantasy world."
Adam D.:
"A good and interesting conversation! This is after all the philosophical side of piping.On another day, I'd put on my composition teacher hat and agree with you 100%; students very much pay us to find out how to say/write things in what's regarded as the *right* way, not to be told "some people do it this way, some that way." There are definitely legit roles for both."
John O.:
"Adam, on other days I load a pipe, leash one of the dogs, and go out for a lunt. And, actually, on other days I even see the need for linguists! I woke up today wanting to start trouble, and accomplished my goals. On another day, though, I honestly would enjoy exploring with you how two professions which deal with the same exact subject matter can often also be in dramatic opposition. Let's sanction such thoughts and hope that nobody sanctions such a discussion."
John O., responding to a different comment:
"When a common dictionary adopts "walking while smoking a pipe" as the primary definition of "lunt" I'll gladly concede. Until then, however, I light my pipe using a lunt, and my pipe, if properly lit, can lunt without me being walking."
[Irreverent offer of marriage thrown in by a Scandinavian person right about here.]
David L.:
"I think the Scottish Gallovidian Encyclopedia(1824 publishing date) entry above is the most solid evidence that it isn't some modern attempt to reapply and "spiritualize" the term."
John O.:
"As I said, the Scottish Gallovidian Encyclopedia, a reference I freely recognize and admire, used only the gerund form, and not the term itself. By any academic standard, the gerund becomes a different word than the root term. Yes, "taking a lunt" CAN mean walking while smoking a pipe, but that is NOT the primary definition of "lunt", so to simply say, "I am on a lunt" to say you are walking while smoking a pipe is misleading at best. One can be "on a lunt" while being absolutely idle. Walking is not a necessary component of a lunt."
David L.:
"A gerund itself requires that the word is derived from a verb. The English language is a mess, full of examples of both nominalisation and denominalization. The early adoption of such cases are typically met with resistance within prescriptivist circles. But descriptivists would argue that language is first and foremost intended for communication. If meaning and intent are effectively communicated then the linguistic method is valid. I understand that it's a heavily debated topic, I would consider myself a recovering prescriptivist, lol."
[John O. conceded that point, more or less.]
David L.:
"Agreed, the term could be confusing to some. But, there are a ton of terms that are jargon specific to subsets of hobbies or technical terms rarely used outside of certain fields. That doesn't invalidate them as perfectly good and usable even at the risk of excluding some from the "inside lingo". I frequently see new, or relatively new, pipe smokers ask within this and other pipe groups to explain what terms like "VaPer", "VaBur", "English", or "retort" mean. Those are very specific to this hobby and very valid even if there are those not privy to the meanings. (Just to make it clear, I'm not arguing. These are just my thoughts on the topic. I very much enjoy healthy debate and back-and-forth)."
Paul B.:
"Wittgenstein pointed out that the meaning of a word is the way it is used. So if a group of people decides to use the word "lunting" in the meaning "walking around with a pipe", it is their idiosyncrasies. If it catches on, it will become an actual meaning of the word."
John O.:
"No argument, and I mentioned word evolution. I simply feel that to automatically presume that a lunt involves walking - or any movement - is incorrect. Further, you'll find that "walking while smoking a pipe" is already listed as a minor definition of the word, it simply is far from a major usage. A non-pipe smoker would not automatically presume that "lunt" involves walking and smoking, while clearly a pipe smoker would; pipe smokers are a small portion of the general population."
Jezz S.:
"I've always hated lunt or lunting. Apart from rhyming with **** it just sounds unpleasant as a word. I'm not even sure if we need a word for it. We do a lot of things whilst walking; from speaking on a phone, drinking coffee, snacking or whatever but don't seem to have needed a word to describe it...not even the mass of pipe smokers who came before us had a widely accepted phrase, although It appears the Scots have used the word here and there. I went to the beach yesterday with my kids, their mum and the dog and took my pipe and had a great smoke. I never once thought of the word lunt. Perambulafume is a bloody good word though."
The discussion raged in several directions for several more hours, with sidetracks into humour and irrelevant observations, until I came home and looked at it.
My contribution:
"Lunting: (verb.) screaming into a sofa pillow while smoking, frequently associated with Virginia and Burley tobaccos. Probably derived from sixteenth century Dutch 'lont', a wick or fuse such as is used for gunpowder (what Burley tastes like, or the effect it has on the delicate membranes."
John O.:
"Again, sir, the gerund and the base term are different words. In this case, "lunt" is the pillow."
This whole discussion is pilpul and dikdukkery, and reminds one of nothing more than a long Talmudic discussion about a passage in the Mishnah involving obscure points of Aramaic grammar. It was of course absolutely fascinating.
Lunting may offend sensitive people. Particularly Berkeleyites and their spiritual kindred.
And I stress that none of the gentlemen cited above are of that fold.
TOBACCO INDEX
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