There never was yet any perfect Vocabulary, or Nomenclator in any Language; and though this may ſeem a Paradox to ſome, I ſay, there never was, nor is there any that can ſpeak a Language ſo exactly, as to call every thing he meets withal by its name; put caſe the perfecteſt Linguiſt in the Engliſh now living, ſhould go aboard a ſhip, then to a Carpenters ſhop, or ſome other Artiſans, thence go abroad a hawking or hunting, then walk in a botanical Garden, I believe it is impoſſible for him to name all the Tacklings of the firſt, all the Tools of the ſecond, all the terms of the third, and the names of all the flowers, fruits, and herbs he ſhall find in the laſt, and if he chance to go thence to any Apothecary ſhops, ’twill gravel him to name all the Drugs and Simples he finds there.
James Howell
Revised Edition of Randle Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary – 1650
—Jeff Burks
The planes look very beautiful. Not very practical, but very beautiful
Because he states it impossible for one person to know the name of everything, did you find any writings where he defends the use of terms like: “thingamajig”, “whatchmacallit”, “doodad”, “doohickey”, “whatsit”, “thingy”?