Slang and Euphemism: A Dictionary of Oaths, Curses, Insults, Ethnic Slurs, Sexual Slang and Metaphor, Drug Talk, College Lingo, and Related Matters

Richard A. Spears

Signet, 2001 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 412 pages

A lexicon of "improper" English

From slang terminology describing various bodily functions and sexual acts, to the centuries-old cant of thieves and prostitutes, to the language of the modern drug culture, here are 14, 500 entries and 32, 000 definitions of all the words and expressions so carefully omitted from standard dictionaries and polite conversation. Extensively cross-referenced for easy access, this third abridged edition contains almost 300 new entries and definitions.

So whether you're a writer seeking to create a more authentic dialogue, a crossword-puzzle addict in search of an obscure eighteenth-century expression, or a reader interested in the more colorful aspects of the English language, you'll find that a wealth of words awaits you in...

Slang and Euphemism

Contents

• Section 1: 1
• Section 2: 15
• Section 3: 64
• Section 4: 97
• Section 5: 117
• Section 6: 124
• Section 7: 147
• Section 8: 167
• Section 9: 191
• Section 10: 201
• Section 11: 206
• Section 12: 219
• Section 13: 239
• Section 14: 247
• Section 15: 257
• Section 16: 287
• Section 17: 298
• Section 18: 342
• Section 19: 362
• Section 20: 369
• Section 21: 391
• Section 22: 396
• Section 23: 400

About the author

Richard A. Spears began collecting words at the age of eight and dictionaries at fourteen. This love of language eventually led to a Ph.D. from Indiana University. An adjunct Associate Professor of Linguistics at Northwestern University, Mr. Spears also is Director, Dictionary Department NTC Publishing Group. He has written on West African languages and nonstandard English, including pidgins and creolized languages, and has taught courses in slang and unconventional English.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Slang and Euphemism: A Dictionary of Oaths, Curses, Insults, Ethnic Slurs, Sexual Slang and Metaphor, Drug Talk, College Lingo, and Related Matters; A Signet book; Signet Reference Series
• Author: Richard A. Spears
• Edition: 3, abridged, illustrated
• Publisher: Signet, 2001
• Original from: Pennsylvania State University
• Digitized: Jul 21, 2009
• ISBN: 0451203712, 9780451203717
• Length: 412 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / General; Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Etymology; Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General; Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Syntax; Language Arts & Disciplines / Rhetoric; Reference / Dictionaries; Reference / Word Lists; Social Science / Customs & Traditions