Spot the Frippet: jollop.

Jollop is a word to brighten the whole world, if only the whole world knew it.

Even better, jollop comes in dollops.

What is it? 

Jollop, according to the dictionary, is some sort of medicinal cream or ointment. (Though as a Trade Name it's stuff to make getting a wet suit on easier.) 

To the oldest British people, however, especially those who've been in military service, jollop is any kind of medicine.

photo by Deror_avi

I hope you don't have any need of medicine today, but if you do, calling it jollop is, as well as being intrinsically cheering, of great help in asserting the dignity of the patient.

Well, I think so, anyway.

Spot the Frippet: jollop. This word probably started off as jalap, a drug made from the root of the Jalap bindweed, Convolvulus jalapa, also known as Ipomoea jalapa or I purga.

The purga gives you a clue as to what it does. It's even said to accelerate the action of rhubarb. (Which is a sentence I never thought I'd write.)

The drug comes from Xalapa Enriquez, which is also known as Jalap, in Mexico. Jalapeño chillies come from the same area.