One of my favorite things about earlier ages of English is the degree of linguistic specificity they developed for distinctions that we would now find meaningle

One of my favorite things about earlier ages of English is the degree of linguistic specificity they developed for distinctions that we would now find meaningless or unnecessary. For example, red deer of different ages and sexes might be called brockets, spires, hearsts, staggards, harts or hinds. But the lexicon got really involved when it came to carving. This is from a 17th c. book, The Gentlewoman's Companion: In cutting up all manner of small Birds, it is proper to say, Thigh them; as thigh that Woodcock, thigh that Pidgeon; but as to others say, Mince that Plover, Wing that Quail, and wing that Partridge, Allay that Pheasant, Untach that Curlew, Unjoint that Bittern, Disfigure that Peacock, Display that Crane, Dismember that Hern, Unbrace that Mallard, Frust that Chicken, Spoil that Hen, Sauce that Capon, Lift that Swan, Rear that Goose, Tire that Egg. As to the flesh of Beasts, Unlace that Coney, Break that Deer, and Leach that Brawn. For Fish; Chine that Salmon, String that Lamprey, Splat that Pike, Sauce that Plaice, and Sauce that Tench, Splay that Bream, Side that Haddock, Tusk that Barbel, Culpon that Trout; Transon that Eel, Tranch that Sturgeon, Tame that Crab, Barb that Lobster.