There’s a lot of talk about neologisms, or new words, e.g. seflie being added to the dictionary, but that’s not what this post is about. This post is about paleogisms, or old words. I’m giving a shoutout to words that were once as shiny, new and prevalent as selfie, but now are collecting dust within a few short decades, i.e. my lifespan. These are words and phrases that younger millennials probably either don’t know or only know the alternate meaning.

Tape

Verb

1. To record audio or video information onto cassette. Modern analog: DVR.
   Mom asked me to tape her stories for her.

Noun

1. A video cassette used to record and playback video and audio data.
   We can’t use this tape again since it’s starting to degrade.

1. An audio cassette used to record and playback sound.
   Tommy made me a mix tape.

Rewind

Verb

1. To reverse the winding of recording tape or camera film.
   Blockbuster charged me extra because I forgot to rewind the tape.
   

Noun

1. The rewind button on a video cassette recorder, film camera, video camera or cassette player. Modern analog: back.
   I hit rewind to hear that song again.

Busy signal

Noun

1. A uniform beeping sound heard on a telephone indicating that the telephone line is engaged.
   I’ve been trying to talk to Mark for hours, but I keep getting a busy signal.

 Long distance

Adjective

1. Extra charges tacked onto a telephone call for a call made outside a defined local area.
   Our phone bill is ridiculously high this month because of the long distance charges.

Snow

Noun

1. Horizontal lines, static or a mass of flickering white spots on a television screen caused by interference or poor reception of a television station.
   I want to watch the news, but I’m just getting snow.

Rabbit ears

Noun

1.  The rods used to receive television signals on an analog television antenna.
Move the rabbit ears to get rid of the snow.

Answering machine

Noun

1. A physical recorder attached to a telephone line that provides a recorded answer to telephone calls and records voicemail messages from callers digitally or onto cassette.
   I left a message on your answering machine.

Page

Verb

1. Calling a telephone number and entering numbers to be sent to a wireless telecommunications device that receives and displays numeric or text messages called a pager. Modern analog: text.
   Page me when you get there.

Noun

1. A numeric or text message received on a pager. Modern analog: text message.
   I just got your page.

PDA

Noun

1. Abbreviation for Personal Digital Assistant, a precursor to the smartphone.
   My PDA keeps track of everything for me.

Xerox

Verb

1. Make a photocopy of printed or written material produced by a process involving the action of light on a specially prepared surface, typically on a photocopier manufactured by Xerox Corporation Ltd. Modern analog: copy.
   The teacher forgot to xerox our test so we don’t have to take it today.