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Ballyhoo Buckaroo and Spuds (HC)

Ballyhoo Buckaroo and Spuds (HC) 9781588342195
Synopsis In polite society, should one chunder from the poop deck? When did "harlot" get a sex change? Is writing "hairbrained" harebrained? Quinion, expert on new words and host of the word origin web site for the Oxford English Dictionary, lets the cat out of the bag by answering these and other questions about some truly odd bits of language. Quinion is unique in that he is honest. He freely admits we may never know the true origin of the word "jazz," and gives logical reasons why some folklore about word origins should be reserved for midnight recitations at crossroads during wart-curing rituals. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Library Journal Folk etymology, namely, stories describing word origins, takes the stage as Quinion narrates and evaluates competing explanations of a word's or phrase's evolution. A contributor to the venerable OED, Quinion offers amusing anecdotes, pieces of linguistic history, and a glimpse of how linguists judge evidence. Reveling in inventive, though inaccurate, word origin stories, Quinion writes in an accessible, humorous tone readers will appreciate. Regarding "dead as a doornail," Quinion mentions early use from Shakespeare and Vision of Piers Plowman, and later sums up discussion by referring to an explanation from carpentry, "I hold no candle for this idea, but it's more plausible than the other stories." Other works include some competing explanations, as well as offer less detail but more total entries, such as William Morris and Mary Morris's well-liked Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins. Offering a unique focus on folk etymology, Quinion's work is recommended for academic and public libraries.-Marianne Orme, Des Plaines P.L., IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. More Reviews and Recommendations Biography Michael Quinion hosts and writes the World Wide Words Web site and is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary.
9781588342195
  • Title:Ballyhoo Buckaroo and Spuds (HC) 4 left at this price
  • Author:Michael Quinion
  • Publication Date:2004
  • ISBN-13:9781588342195
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