Alexey Sklyarenko
suggests a neologism derived from Mesmer ("mesmertie") defined as "sham
immortality, a state into which charlatans are plunged after
death"
I always knew that good Americans end up in
Paris,* but I never before considered the fate of a good charlatan.
Speaking about Nabokovian neologisms Kinbote attributed the "iridule" to Shade (Line 109) when he noted
that it's: "An iridescent cloudlet, Zemblan
muderperlwelk. The term "iridule" is, I believe, Shade’s own invention. Above
it, in the Fair Copy (card 9, July 4) he has written in pencil "peacock-herl."
The peacock-herl is the body of a certain sort of artificial fly also called
"alder." So the owner of this motor court, an ardent fisherman, tells me. (See
also the "strange nacreous gleams" in line 634.)"
Since Kinbote descends from
conchologists his preference for "mother-of-pearl" is to be
expected. Nabokov
enjoyed a vast range of options for he could even admire "a rainbow of oil, with the purple predominant and a plumelike
twist. Asphalt's parakeet" (The Gift)". Nevertheless, whenever I consider
this kind of oily parakeet, it's the word "iridulent" that comes to my
mind, not "iridescent"!
...................................................................................................................................................
* - "To these must certainly be added that
other saying of one of the wittiest of men [Thomas Gold Appleton]: ‘Good
Americans, when they die, go to Paris.’
[1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-Table vi.]
"