Word Lore: The History of 200 Intriguing Words

by Anonymous

Where did the term "cold turkey" come from? Is "wassup?" a real word? why is the word colonel pronounced (KUR-nel) instead of (COL-loh-nel)? This handy reference book explores the histories and usages of 200 words and phrases from Olde English to Internet jargon and contemporary slang. Word Lore traces intriguing words and phrases from their origins and famous uses through shifts in meaning and common misuses. This volume is a fantastic reference guide as well as an entertaining and informative trivia book for language buffs. Fascinating entries

• Lollygag
• Shebang
• Cowabunga
• John Doe
• Skedaddle
• and the everyday "OK"

352 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2006

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

While hardly the OED, this is a fun little book to peruse leisurely.