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Horsefeathers : & Other Curious Words
Charles Earle Funk
Paperback - $20.95
If readers have ever wondered why the candy is called butterscotch; why a certain Southern food is called a hushpuppy; or why log supports in a fireplace are known as andirons, or, sometimes, firedogs; then they'll be fascinated by the origins of the ...
Thereby Hangs a Tale : Stories of Curious Word Origins
Charles Earle Funk
Paperback - $21.95
English has hundreds of everyday words that originated or acquired their meanings in unusual ways. Dictionaries don't have the space to tell all the mysteries but Dr. Funk, with humor and insight, tells the strange and intriguing stories of hundreds ...
The Dord, the Diglot, and an Avocado or Two : The Hidden Lives and Strange Origins of Common and Not-So-Common Words
Anu Garg
Paperback - $20.95
From the creator of the popular A.Word.A.Day e-mail newsletter
A collection of some of the most interesting stories and fascinating origins behind more than 300 words, names, and terms by the founder of WordSmith.org.
Did you know:
The ...
Casual Lex : An Informal Assemblage of Why We Say What We Say
Webb Garrison
Hardcover - $24.95
This retitled and repackaged favorite features timely updating of the most interesting words and phrases and the whole story of where these words and phrases originated.
What's in a Word : Fascinating Stories of More Than 350 Everyday Words and Phrases
Webb B. Garrison
Paperback - $20.95
Here is a fascinating and humorous encyclopedia of more than three hundred
words and phrases and how they have taken on new meanings over time. It is an
informative reference book for the whole family. "What's in a Word? is a
sequel to Garri ...
The World in a Phrase : A Brief History of the Aphorism
James Geary
Paperback - $15.95
For lovers of words and seekers of wisdom, here is a lively history of aphorisms--the oldest written art form--and the intriguing people who have penned them, from the Buddha to Emily Dickinson.
The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins
Robert Hendrickson
Hardcover - $174.95
Praise for the previous editions:
A feast for phrase detectives...that will enliven debates and illuminate issues.—William Safire
...recommended for large public and academic libraries that serve the curious as well as the schola ...
The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins : Definitions and Origins of More Than 12,500 Words and Expressions
Robert Hendrickson
Paperback - $37.95
This complete guide covers many words and phrases often ignored in dictionaries--from "Axis of Evil" to "zoot suit riots."
Word Histories and Mysteries : From Abracadabra to Zeus
Houghton Mifflin Company
Paperback - $20.95
Providing a panoramic view of the unique richness of English, this history uncovers the origins of 500 everyday words--from Abracadabra to Zeus--whose surprising and often amusing stories offer insights into the history of humankind.