Ballyhoo Buckaroo & Spuds
Book Description: A wonderfully entertaining romp through the English language by the OED's lexicographer.
The cat's pajamas, the bee's knees, and the whole nine yards rolled into one, this true feast for wordlovers delightfully skewers commonly accepted word origin myths and etymological "folk tales." The real story of a word or phrase's origin and evolution is often much stranger—and much more humorous—than the commonly accepted one; the many entries will certainly leave you "happy as a clam." Happy as a clam? Really—what's so happy about being a clam? The saying makes much more sense when it's paired with its missing second half: "at high water." Now a clam at high water is a safe clam, and thus a happy clam. The confusion surrounding the word "kangaroo" caused so much trouble that the Aborigines thought this English word meant any edible animal; they asked whether the cattle being unloaded from ships were kangaroos. From the bawdy to the sublime, Quinion's explanations and delightful asides truly prove that the "proof is in the pudding."
Subjects:
An interesting read
This book is an interesting read, but not one that can lead to or even help toward to mastery of the subject (etymology). It does discuss method to some degree, but could benefit from more depth of coverage.
Fun reading for idle times...
Ever browse the Oxford English Dictionary just for fun, especially for the parenthetical information about the origins of words? Ever wish those entries were longer? Well, then you'll love this book. Those of who love language and words will enjoy finding out the sources of "kangaroo" and "cop," "jury rigged" and "the real McCoy"... Often the real roots of phrases and words remain unknown, but debunking the myths is just as much fun as finding the answer... A good read!
good deal
Bought this as a Christmas present for my son, who loves word origins and wordplay type books. Very nice condition at a closeout price. Pleased with it.
Setting the Record Straight
In our electronic age, especially with the Internet, information can be disseminated more rapidly and more widely than ever before. So can misinformation. People hear a plausible and entertaining story about a word's origin and share it with others -- without bothering to check its validity. In _Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins_ Michael Quinion, contributor to the _Oxford English Dictionary_ and creator of the World Wide Words website and newsletter, corrects many common misconceptions.
Quinion's scholarship is peerless.
As usual, Michael Quinion's meticulous scholarship and excellent writing make a fascinating and educational read.
