I enjoy viewing the TV series Outlander. It is a historical drama based on the Outlander novel series by Diana Gabaldon. Claire Beauchamp Randall, an English nurse in World War II, mysteriously goes back in time to Scotland in 1743. In Scotland she meets a dashing Highland warrior, Jamie Fraser, and gets drawn into rebellions in Scotland and, eventually, in the United States. Outlander is currently broadcasting season 7 part 2, starring Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan. The title of the show comes from the word outlandish, which can mean of or relating to another country. Jamie Fraser calls Claire ‘Sassenach,’ meaning an English person, an outlander.
In the 1100s, Old English described a foreigner who came from a distant place as an utlendisc from an utland. Eventually utlendisc was spelled as outlandish. Over the next few hundred years, outlandish had developed in meaning to describe anything unfamiliar or strange. On the family visit to the zoo, the children observed many outlandish animals. The book was filled with various outlandish characters, who spun some outlandish tales.
Today outlandish is commonly applied to things that people do, wear, or say, that are strikingly out of the ordinary, or even just too far beyond reasonable or proper limits or standards. This does not imply that outlandish equates in any way with wrong or bad. His daily outfits were outlandish and certainly made an impression on everyone he met.
Outlandish can also mean remote from civilization. She agreed to the position at the radar installation station far above the Arctic Circle, as no other technicians were brave enough to go to such an outlandish place.
Strange, singular, unique, peculiar, eccentric, erratic, odd, quaint, and outlandish imply departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected.
Strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign and the unnatural. On our regular trips to Japan, we always encounter some strange sights.
Singular suggests individuality or puzzling abnormality. As he boarded the ship he experienced a singular feeling of impending disaster.
Unique means distinctive and the fact of being without a known parallel. Her career path at the institute was unique in the annals of science.
Peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness. As the transition to a new president in the United States approaches it again raises the peculiar status of the First Lady, an unelected but important position.
Eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal, especially in behaviour. I am amazed at the eccentric eating habits of our granddaughters, which makes it hard to grocery shop before each visit with us.
Erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating. She was amazed at her friends’ suddenly erratic behaviour at the theatre.
Odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected. He has an odd sense of humour.
Quaint means an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness. On a tour of the Maritimes, she visited a number of quaint fishing villages.
Outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric. The outlandish fashions of the 1970s seem to be making a comeback.
We are amazed at the outlandish outfits worn by the stars in Emily in Paris and Elsbeth. Every episode, and many scenes in each show, have Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins, daughter of Phil Collins) and Elsbeth Tascioni (starring Carrie Preston) wearing outlandish clothing. You have all Winter to check them out and upgrade your own wardrobe with some outlandish outfits to make your mark in fashion.
