Oxford School Dictionary of Word Origins

£9.99

Suitable for school libraries, 8+ years.

John Ayto

512 pages | 210x148mm

ISBN: 9780199112210

Publication Date: 21 May 2009

This new edition of the Oxford School Dictionary of Word Origins unravels the history of many thousands of words and phrases, with new feature entries and a full central section focussing on the cool and curious words we use.

The only word origins dictionary for children today
Many thousands of headwords in colour in alphabetical order
Full central section focuses on over 40 extended topics - acronyms, fashion words, invented words, supernatural words, words from the 90s and noughties
Written by etymological expert, John Ayto

With headwords in colour, and quirky character illustrations, this dictionary recounts the absorbing and fascinating history of thousands of words.
This new edition takes a fresh look at the cool and curious words we use, and tells the stories of where words come from, whether they are to do with food, the supernatural, fashion, invented words, or words from the 80s, 90s, and noughties.

Who ate the first sandwich?
Where does abracadabra come from?
Would you really be spooked by a zombie?

John Ayto, top word expert entertains all ages from eight to eighty with this informative and humorous dictionary.