I had so much fun creating the lingo used by the people of Newcomb in the Immortal Holmes series. Slang and colloquialisms. Oaths and idioms. They lend ambiance and even nuance. For instance, you may have noticed that city-dwellers use more steampunk-y slang (eg. “rust it all!”), but woodfolk like Philtrum Kemp lean more toward nature-based sayings (eg. “that’ll flourish!”).
Widdershins. It’s a quirky term I’ve always loved. Widdershins is just another way to say counterclockwise, so it’s perfect for a town that’s full of coggers & steamworks.
Begging your pardon, gents. I happened to overhear a bit of what you were saying, and I’ll confess myself curious. What you’re saying. It’s all widdershins. I’d swear you’re having two entirely different conversations.”
— Folk-Spelled (Immortal Holmes, No.1)
FORTHRIGHT 