Hello,
This week’s word is frottage and it comes from an example of good writing. I’ve been re-reading the Outlander series of novels by Diana Gabaldon recently and came across frottage as a chapter title in “Written in my Own Heart’s Blood”.
I expected the term to be explained during the chapter, but instead one character asks another if they know what frottage means but doesn’t provide a definition. Naturally that was too tempting to me and I scurried off to the dictionary.
Frottage (pronunciation here) has two meanings. The first is an art technique where you rub a pencil or crayon over paper which covers an object – it’s a simple way of taking a textural copy of an item such as a leaf, relief carving or coin – I would have known it under the alternate expression – taking a brass rubbing. The second meaning is when somebody gains sexual gratification by rubbing against another person or object.
Frottage of a clam shell
The use of frottage in the novel was good writing in two ways as well. First the writer encouraged me to expand my vocabulary and second the writer used a simple word to show me more about the character, Brianna.
She’s speaking to her husband, in bed, and joking about their small daughter who is snuggling up to them being engaged in frottage because their bed is so cramped. But Brianna is also an artist and undoubtedly knows the term in that context too, so it adds depth to a simple throwaway remark in a small scene. Maybe not every reader will notice it, but anybody with an art background will, and it will add to their enjoyment of the scene.
Until next time happy reading, writing, and wordfooling,
Grace
Wordfoolery 