- Paperback: 1 pages
- Publisher: Citadel - Kensington; Reprint edition (Jan 1 1995)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0806517131
- ISBN-13: 978-0806517131
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.6 x 2.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 299 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#1,396,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12 in Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Cliches
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Product Details |
Product Description
From the Back Cover
Answering the age-old question, "Why do we say it?" this handy dictionary gives the intriguing origins of hundreds of everyday words and expressions.
How did lollipops get their name? (In the northern part of England, "lolly" means "tongue.")
What is "long" doing in the word "longshoreman"? (When ships were unloaded, the sailors passed the goods from their ships to the men 'long the shore.)
Why do we pass the buck? (In an old English card game, one would pass a jackknife, or "buck," to show whose turn it was to chip in.)
Useful for reference and fun just for browsing, Dictionary of Word Origins is also a great way to expand vocabulary and enjoy doing it.
Jordan Almond is professor emeritus of English at Farmdale University. He lives in Westchester, New York.
Inside This Book
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun.,
By
This review is from: Dict. Of Word Origins (Paperback)
A fun read, but looking through Amazon, there may be better books on this subject.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguing, Instructional, Curious,
By A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com "What should ... (Glen Ellyn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dict. Of Word Origins (Paperback)
Jordan Almond's "Dictionary of Word Origins" is an intriguing look at phrases and words we all toss about apart from their original meaning. This book is about those original meanings of cliches.This is different than most 'unusual word' dictionaries. Usually, you'll get the term, maybe a pronunciation and a short definiton. Instead, here we are introduced to where the word came from. He explains it carefully in layman's language. He doesn't gussy up his book with high-fallootin' lexographical phrasology. For example, he defines (for a camel to pass through the) "eye of a needle" by describing it biblical origination, and connects it with a Jewish town gateway so small only pedestrians and the smallest of camels can pass through, not large camels (hence, protecting the town from pillagers). Christ famously refers to this in the New Testament, forever placing the phrase in our vernacular. Jordan tosses our way what 'doughboy,' 'hair of the dog,' 'grandfather clock,' 'corn,' 'boondoggle,' 'nose to the grindstone." 'Manna' for example, means, "What is it?" as the Isrealites had no idea what they were being given. 'Maudlin,' Jordan reveals, is from the British pronunciation of 'Magdalene,' and that early artists painted Mary Magdalene with a dour demeanor. Editorial historians might differ with Jordan as per the precise origin of 'OK.' They would argue that it was a silly joke--an intended deviation of "all correct" (oll korekt) as written on acceptable copy. Jordan suggests that it is from Martin Van Buren's nickname of Old Kinderhook while he ran for office. Knowing this is not a scientific text, you can enjoy this as I did, as something to wander through while sipping tea and munching warm scones on an early Saturday morning. Linguists, cultural anthropologists might all disagree about the beginnings of words, but, for me, it was a fun, educational read. I fully recommend "Dictionary of Word Origins" by Jordan Almond. Anthony Trendl
3.0 out of 5 stars
as a failed lexicographer,
By pete saussy (columbia sc csa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dict. Of Word Origins (Paperback)
i should hesitate to criticize a fellow drudge in the ditch of language, but Professor Almond's definition of the phrase TIPS was used on a local radio show as an acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. ...but professor almond's book seems to be popular, i have yet to catch it unchecked out at our local library onward pete saussy/george stone saussy iii, compiler of the Oxter English Dictionary/Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Words/The Logodaedalian's Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Words [all pretty much the same book and out of print]
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