Examining the mother tongue, this book explores the countless varieties of English and the perils of marketing brands with names like Pschitt and Super Piss. It also contains sections on the oddities of swearing and spelling, spoonerisms and Scrabble, and a consideration of what we mean by 'good English'.

Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language.

A detective work into the origins and development of the world's most widely used language. It provide a guide to its flexibility and richness.

The making of the Oxford English Dictionary was a monumental 50 year task requiring thousands of volunteers. One of the keenest volunteers was a W C Minor who astonished everyone by refusing to come to Oxford to receive his congratulations. In the end, James Murray, the OED's editor, went to Crowthorne in Berkshire to meet him.

An entertaining, anecdotal look at the origins of language and ideas in the USA. Bryson explains why two bicycle repairmen from Ohio succeeded in mastering manned flight, why the assassination of President Garfield led to the invention of air conditioning, and many other improbable but true facts.

Provides a brief account of the origins, history, and sense-development of a large part of the vocabulary of modern English, including both basic words and a wide selection of derivative forms.

A description of over 12,000 words and their origins; dates highlight the first known use of words and of many idiomatic phrases. Word-building boxes show how a prefix has influenced meaning, and examples illustrate the many faces of one particular word. Explores words and phrases such as posh, snob, and the full monty.

With the assistance of: Friedrichsen, G. W. S.; Unknown function: Burchfield, R. W.

Contains definitions and origins of more than 15,000 words and expressions. This encyclopedia features anecdotes and information on the development of a wide range of words, including slang, proverbs, animal and plant names, place names, nicknames, historical expressions, foreign language expressions, and phrases from literature.

The origins and development of over 30,000 English words

An accepted authority on the evolution of the English language. This work traces the usage of words through 2.4 million quotations from a range of international English language sources. Accompanying each definition is a chronologically arranged group of quotations that trace the usage of words, and show the contexts in which they can be used.

The Meaning of Everything is the story behind the making of the first Oxford English Dictionary. In this account of the OED's creation, Winchester introduces a host of characters, from the murderer who contributed from his prison cell to the self-taught draper's son who guided the project towards fruition.

Michael Quinion here retells many of the more bizarre tales, and explains their real origins where they're known. This is a fascinating treasure-trove of fiction and fact for anyone interested in language.

Includes words and phrases (Al-Qaeda, 9/11), characters, places (and monsters) from fantasy literature (including The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter ), political and sporting nicknames. This dictionary includes 'list entries' like misattributed quotations, first lines of novels, and the 'etymologies' of rock group names.

There are no direct records of the original Indo-European speech. By comparing various descendants, however, it is possible to reconstruct its basic roots. This text catalogues these proposed roots and follows the process by which some of their offshoots have grown.

This reference is a collection of archaic and often fascinating words and phrases that offer a glimpse into the past. Readers can savour the oddities of old and unusual words as they gain an insight into a cross-section of history.

Here is the complete history of the word still considered one of the most vulgar and offensive in the English language, from its debut in 15th-century England to the present day. Every sense of every word containing f**k is examined, with often hilarious examples from many sources.