Sunday Rest: finsta. Word Not To Use Today.

A finsta is a second Instagram account, access to which is restricted to close friends. The idea is that the photographs and videos on it reflect the poster's real life and interests rather than some highly varnished and glamorous version of it.

I actually quite like the word finsta, but weep that anyone should feel any need for any other type of account.

Sunday Rest: finsta. This word is a portmanteau of the words fake and Instagram. This is rather odd, as the finsta is actually the account which reflects reality. 

The word fake is interesting. It first appears as thieves' slang in the 1700s, where it meant to mug or wound someone - perhaps even yourself, to make yourself more pitiful for begging purposes. It might have originated via Polari from the Italian word facciere, to make or to do. On the other hand the word fake might have come from the dialect slang words feak, to twitch or move quickly, or feague, to put a live eel or ginger up the backside of a horse in order to make it seem more energetic.

Well, that's an image that will haunt me for ever. 

Especially whenever anyone says fake news.