On my French book frenzy (preparation for a trip to Paris), I've been swimming in 19th-century words as I read Louis Bayard's mystery, The Black Tower. I've gone to the dictionary for the meaning of anchorite ("one who has retired into religious seclusion") and to sensagent for berline, a type of carriage.

Got me thinking about words that slip from our vocabulary. And then I came across a recent post on the topic at The New York Times' book blog, which noted such ex-words as jiggy and highball. 

I take issue with highball -- I still drink rye whiskey and ginger ale, and wouldn't know what else to call it. I do like to hear older folks refer to a refrigerator as an "icebox".

But why do talk about "dialing" a phone number? And does anyone under 50 understand why political scandals dutifully carry the "gate" suffix? Still, I'd much rather keep those standards, and sacrifice annoyances such as LOL or "at the end of the day".