The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase OriginsThis volume traces the sometimes bizarre and fascinating origins and developments of more than 9,000 words and phrases, including slang, proverbs, animal and plant names, place names, nicknames, historical expressions, foreign-language expressions, and more. The emphasis throughout is on words and expressions with origins that are not adequately explained, or not addressed at all, in standard dictionaries. Each entry provides details on the etymological origin of a word or a phrase, retells stories about where it may first have been spoken, and explains its evolution over time. |
Other editions - View all
The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins Robert Hendrickson No preview available - 1997 |
The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins Robert Hendrickson No preview available - 2000 |