Monthly Gleanings: September 2009
Anatoly Liberman’s monthly gleanings.
In Memory: William Safire
Bryan Garner remembers William Safire.
Walrus – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “walrus”.
Clobber, Cobbler, and their Ilk
Anatoly Liberman discovers connections between the origins of the words cobbler and clobber.
Paris Hilton immortalized in Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.
That’s hot.
Oxford Dictionary of Quotations editor Elizabeth Knowles reflects on the history of the almost 70-year-old treasury, and how new entries are chosen.
Hobbit – Podictionary Word of the Day
A podcast about the word “hobbit”.
The Ever-Green Chestnut
Anatoly Liberman looks at the word “chestnut.”
Tragus – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “tragus”.
British Slang of Jewish Origin (?):
Oof and Fefnicute
Anatoly looks at oof and
Class – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “class”.
Monthly Gleanings, Part Two: (August 2009)
Anatoly Liberman’s gleanings.
Frolic – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “frolic”.
Monthly Gleanings, Part I: (August 2009)
By Anatoly Liberman Squaw. My post on squaw produced some ripples. Three lawyers from Michigan gave me the lashing of their tongue(s). (I am sorry for the parentheses, but I always feel uncomfortable when I have to say something like: “Three people put their foot in their mouth.” Should it be feet and mouths?) Their […]
Elbow – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “elbow”.
Why Skate but Scathe?
Or, The Oddest English Spellings. Part 14
Anatoly looks at spelling reform, specifically at “sk” and “sc”.
Here comes the rain again…
Damp Squid author Jeremy Butterfield talks to OUP UK Publicity Manager Juliet Evans about different ways to talk about rain.