Spot the Frippet: pileum.

You can say this word either PILLium or PI-lium.

This is one of those words which make you take notice of something you see many times a day. There are lots of pilea all around you, but mostly unregarded.

To give you a clue what a pileum is, here's a pileus:


That's the top of a toadstool. Photo by Rosser1954 Roger Grifiith.

So what's a pileum?

You can see two here:


Illustration by J R Forster

and one here:


photo by Derek Ramsey Ram-Man

and another one here:


photo by Keven Law.

A pileum is the bit from the bottom of the beak of a bird to the back part of its head.

Neat, huh? As Edmund tells Catherine in Northanger Abbey: 'You have gained a new source of enjoyment, and it is as well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible.'

So let's all admire the birds!

Spot the Frippet: pileum. The Latin word pileus means a cap made of felt.


photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen

If you can't be bothered with birds then do feel free to make and wear your own.