Description
Lists the origins and sense developments of more than eleven thousand English words and idioms, in a resource that provides first recorded dates and boxed elements that define word relationships.
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The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories describes the origins and sense development of thousands of words of the English language; dates are given where recorded evidence of use has been found, sourced by the ongoing research for the Oxford English Dictionary.A large number of well-known idioms are included, with dates of original use and details of how and when they came about, such as happy as a sandboy, say it with flowers. Colourful popular beliefs are explored about words such as posh and snob, while insights are given into our social history: discover, for example, the connection in a Roman soldier's mind of salary with salt. Additional word histories outside this core group are included for words with a particularly interesting story to tell; boxed entries highlight links between words.
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