I recently ran across the term block ornament, completely opaque unless you know the meaning; OED (entry revised 2022):
slang (British and Australian) Obsolete.
A small piece of inferior meat placed for sale on the butcher’s block, as opposed to a joint hung on a hook; cf. blocker n.¹ I.3.
1843 ‘Block Ornaments’ made into stew!
Sun (Sydney) 18 March1909 How often, after a search through the old purse they clutch so tightly, they turn away the coveted ‘block-ornimint’ being beyond their means.
Westminster Gazette 7 January 2/1
And blocker n.¹ I.3 reads:
I.3. † colloquial. A small piece of inferior meat placed for sale on the butcher’s block, as opposed to a joint hung on a hook; = block ornament n. Obsolete.
1848 Forced to substitute a ‘blocker’ of meat, with its cheap accompaniment of bread and vegetables..for poultry and rump-steaks.
Fraser’s Magazine April 396/2
I’m sorry those terms fell out of use; they sound great to me. (One has to wonder about the excitement expressed in “‘Block Ornaments’ made into stew!”)
Wouldn’t one need more context from the 3/18/1843 newspaper to know whether the ! is meant to convey excitement rather than incredulity or “well-I-never” disdain or some other emotion consistent with the punctuation mark?
True, true…
It’s part of a merry song about the joys of miserliness.
On a Sunday we usually dine —
You needn’t to doubt it is true —
(The dish I myself think divine)
Is “Block Ornaments” made into stew!
We prefer it, you see, rather “high,”
’Cause it’s richer than meat that is sweet;
And what’s more, I admire it, for I
Know that of it we little can eat.
Well found, and I am again astonished by what’s available on the internet! (I added indents and itals per the original.)
Perfect, thanks!