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Description for Word Myths
hardcover. Amateur, no make that professional logophile and word origins website editor Wilton corrects the mistakes many of us make in what we believe are the origins of words and phrases. He begins by examining the origins of these fallacies, and why we persist in perpetuating them. Fully armed, he then goe Illustrator(s): Brunetti, Ivan. Num Pages: 240 pages, 8 cartoons. BIC Classification: CBG; CFFD. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 217 x 144 x 21. Weight in Grams: 400. Good clean copy with minor shelfwear. DJ has some minor nicks and tears, remains very good
Do you "know" that posh comes from an acronym meaning "port out, starboard home"? That "the whole nine yards" comes from (pick one) the length of a WWII gunner's belt; the amount of fabric needed to make a kilt; a sarcastic football expression? That Chicago is called "The Windy City" because of the bloviating habits of its politicians, and not the breeze off the lake? If so, you need this book. David Wilton debunks the most persistently wrong word histories, and gives, to the best of our actual knowledge, the real stories behind these perennially mis-etymologized words. ... Read more
Do you "know" that posh comes from an acronym meaning "port out, starboard home"? That "the whole nine yards" comes from (pick one) the length of a WWII gunner's belt; the amount of fabric needed to make a kilt; a sarcastic football expression? That Chicago is called "The Windy City" because of the bloviating habits of its politicians, and not the breeze off the lake? If so, you need this book. David Wilton debunks the most persistently wrong word histories, and gives, to the best of our actual knowledge, the real stories behind these perennially mis-etymologized words. ... Read more
Product Details
Format
Hardback
Publication date
2004
Publisher
Oxford University Press Inc
Condition
Used, Very Good
Number of Pages
234
Place of Publication
New York, United States
ISBN
9780195172843
SKU
KSG0033746
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 2 to 4 working days
Ref
99-1
About David Wilton
David Wilton, a writer, lives in California. He runs the popular website Wordorigins.com.
Reviews for Word Myths
"This fascinating collection of myths about word origins should be a joy to read."
Don McCreary, Department of English, University of Georgia.
Don McCreary, Department of English, University of Georgia.