Word of the week - vestigial.

Heard at the RDC last week, thrown out by the Cambridge architect Frank Shirley, in reference to the gradual disappearance of the formal dining room in contemporary floor plans:

"The vestigial dining room, soon consigned to the history books, much like the butler's pantry."

In our house, the dining room sees use perhaps 3 times a year.  My children have vestigial table manners - does that work?

These days, one might be tempted to suggest that the professional standards of painting contractors are at risk of similar extinction.  Not here, of course, where service and technical competence are held in higher regard than lucre.