haberdasher of pronouns
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
schoolmaster
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
When I first went to Paris, I took a French master, to perfect me in the Parisian pronunciation. This “Haberdasher of Pronouns” was a person of the name of Margot.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A schoolmaster, or usher.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “haberdasher of pronouns” mean?
schoolmaster
Is “haberdasher of pronouns” formal or informal?
haberdasher of pronouns is generally slang.