May 16, 2006, 09:53
dalehilemanroots and origins
It is difficult to find word roots and especially dates of origin. As one blogger asks:
http://www.wordwizard.com/ch_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18979Any further hints and comments welcome
May 16, 2006, 10:56
dalehilemanArnie, good'n, thanks. Know of any like this for slang, etc
May 16, 2006, 18:36
zmježdEric Partridge's
Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English is still in print and quite good.
May 16, 2006, 20:47
KallehZmj, does it have etymology?
I love etymology discussions, too, Dale. I just hate those specialty dictionaries that just have a one-word or short definition. How do you know, then, if it's even a word?
May 17, 2006, 06:06
zmježd Partridge gives citations, dates, and points to other lexicographers who've discussed the words, terms. Not really etymologies
per se, but then much slang is made up of words that have normal meanings: e.g.,
panty wad.
I also can't believe I forgot to mention Charles E. Funk's
A Hog on Ice : & Other Curious Expressions,
Horsefeathers : & Other Curious Words,
Thereby Hangs A Tale : Stories of Curious Word Origins, and
Heavens to Betsy! : & Other Curious Sayings. He discusses previous theories and gives his own ideas about origins when he has one. Fun references that no word person should be without.
May 17, 2006, 12:47
dalehilemanWouuld anyone happen to know if Cassell's Dictionary of Slang, 2d ed, has been issued yet
May 17, 2006, 12:49
dalehilemanKalleh, agreed, and furthermore what gripes me is that many of them don't specify date of origin nor left-rightpond
zm: Thanks for those links. I'll add them to my birthday list
May 18, 2006, 16:28
wordnerdquote:
don't specify ... left-rightpond
There really ought to be a term for this. Podhandishness?