Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, & Spuds

Quinion, M. (2004). Ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds: ingenious tales of words and their origins. Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Books.

An entertaining and well-researched volume on word origins. Quinion is the proprietor of the World Wide Words website.

Cambridge Guide to English Usage

Peters, P. (2004). The Cambridge guide to English usage. Cambridge; New York, Cambridge University Press.

A British usage manual.

Dewdroppers, Waldoes, & Slackers

Ostler, R. (2003). Dewdroppers, waldos, and slackers: a decade-by-decade guide to the vanishing vocabulary of the twentieth century. Oxford; New York, Oxford University Press.

An entertaining look at neologisms of the 20th century.

Lover’s Tongue

Morton, M. S. (2003). The lover’s tongue: a merry romp through the language of love and sex. Toronto, Insomniac Press.

A look at the language of romance and sex.

Dictionary of Word & Phrase Origins (Morris)

Morris, W. and M. Morris (1962). Dictionary of word and phrase origins. New York, Harper & Row.

Once an excellent, popular press book, now quite outdated.

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