woolgathering (wool-gathering)
verb

- idle or absent-minded indulgence in fantasy; daydreaming

- to indulge in aimless thought, day dreaming, or fruitless pursuit; sometimes only absent-mindedness is implied

Collins English Dictionary, Oxford University Press

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The etymology of "woolgathering" and its connection to daydreaming is an interesting journey through history.

The term originally referred to the literal act of collecting fragments of wool that sheep left behind on bushes, thorns, and fences as they grazed. This practice dates back to at least the 16th century and was an important economic activity for poor rural communities.

By the 1550s, "woolgathering" began to take on its figurative meaning of "indulging in wandering fancies and purposeless thinking."

Woolgathering required wandering over large areas of land, which could appear aimless to observers. The solitary and repetitive nature of the task may have allowed for daydreaming or idle thoughts.

Today, "woolgathering" is primarily used to describe daydreaming or engaging in aimless thought. The original literal meaning has largely been forgotten, but the idiom persists as a colourful way to describe mental wandering.

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LOST IN THOUGHT

Our minds are constantly wandering. We've all been there: staring out the window during a Zoom meeting or a boring technical presentation. Perhaps you're like novelist J.K. Rowling, who famously conceived the Harry Potter series during a delayed train journey, her mind drifting through magical possibilities while gazing out the window. Mental wandering, far from being wasteful, can be a rich source of inspiration.

Research suggests that daydreaming allows our brains to process complex information in the background, like a computer running updates while executing other tasks.

Some of humanity's most significant breakthroughs came during moments of apparent mental absence. Einstein's theory of relativity emerged not from intense focus, but from daydreaming about riding a beam of light.

So the next time you catch yourself staring into space, remember: your mind isn't just wandering – it's wondering. We always carry small notebooks in our pocket – to jot down ideas disguised as idle thoughts.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

absence of mind, adrift in thought, away with the fairies, cloud gazing, daydreaming, drifting off, faraway, floating away, gone fishing, head in the clouds, in another world (a reverie, la-la land, the clouds), lost in dreams (in thought, a trance), on autopilot, out to lunch, preoccupied, stargazing, starry-eyed, up in the clouds, WOOLGATHERING, worlds away, zoning out

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Did you ever miss getting off a bus or train at your stop because you were WOOLGATHERING?”

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D

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