Did you know that coconut derives from the Spanish and Portuguese coco for 'grinning face'? Or that giraffes used to be called camelopards? Or that walrus has its origin in Dutch, meaning 'whale horse'. The Little Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins includes 1,000 word histories arranged across 100 wide-ranging themes, from food to phobias, from the universe to love. Featuring words with interesting or surprising origins, it is an irresistible collection of word histories, including dates of origin and an authoritative account of each word's derivation. Beautifully produced and attractively designed, this fascinating volume is a pleasure to browse. It also features a useful index so you can quickly find just the word you are looking for. It is the perfect gift for word lovers and for anyone with an interest in the English language.

About the Author
Julia Cresswell is an experienced author and language researcher, having worked on the 4th edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Books to her credit include Naming Your Baby: The Definitive Dictionary of First Names and The Cat's Pyjamas: The Penguin Book of Cliches.

Reviews
Wide-ranging... yet not overwhelming. Full of 'a-ha!' moments * THe Good Book Guide *
Small enough to carry with you wherever you, this beautiful hardback book offers a wonderland of insights into the words we use everyday with very little thought. * Skylightrain, *
would make an ideal and inexpensive present for anyone who loves words * Sue Magee, Bookbag *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199683635
Author Julia Cresswell
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 334g
Dimensions(mm) 160mm * 110mm * 28mm