Does anyone know of a good book of word derivations?
Not personally - I tend to look in my dictionary which is a Shorter Oxford, but if you go to Amazon.com and type 'etymology' in the search engine a fair mass of books come up. You can always take the list to a decent bookstore if you want to see the real thing, which is how I use Amazon anyway.
Welcome, goodward--
I saw on Anu's home page that he gives Project Gutenberg as a site for books online. Haven't had time to check it out
myself, yet. Hope it helps. Let us hear, hear?
My favourite is Eric Partridge's "Origins" -- or it was until my father borrowed it.
Bingley
I too have "Origins" by Partridge, and use it frequently, but good as it may be I would caution against depending entirely on a single source. Each etymologist will have been influenced by his own experience. A variety of references will help in building a more nuanced understanding of the language. Depending on a single source makes you akin to the university science student who has been careful to avoid any courses in the arts or humanities.
Aside from Partridge, you can't beat the O.E.D. I also like the American Heritage. I think those three make a good combination, off-line-wise, anyway.
In the same line, what would you consider the best dictionary out there?
> In the same line, what would you consider the best dictionary out there?
I've been using the OED since I was knee-high and I can't recommend it too highly. Plenty of other good ones too but that's the one I turn to in times of forgetfulness or ignorance. Makes a good read in its own right, too.
I'm guessing OED stands for Oxford English Dictionary?
Knee-high? Shouldn't that be volume-high?
Bingley
>>Knee-high? Shouldn't that be volume-high?<<
Aduh!, bingley! Good one! Sounds like 'Brick has been knee-deep in volumes since he was knee-high!
'Nother question, not worth opening a new thread: the end
of the knee-high expression here is "...to a grasshopper".
Is it different anywhere else?
that's the one i know too, jackie.
i wonder why that particular choice of insects?
probably nothing to do with opera or baseball at all.
>knee high
I think it was a pun!!!
>>>knee high
I think it was a pun!!!<<
Well, I don't get that one, Jo. I would have if he'd been talking about the Shorter Oxford, but that was Bridget.
We used to have Nehi (same pronunciation) soft drinks here.
I'm not sure if they're still sold, and also have no idea
of whether this was a play on the expression.
Speaking of 'knees'-
there's a CD by Marty Grosz (sp?) with the wonderful title "Songs I learned on my mother's knee, and other low joints".
>>"Songs I learned on my mother's knee, and other low joints".<<
That sounds like the bee's knees!
Just what I needed to make me a member.
Bingley
> wonder why that particular choice of insects?
Grasshoppers have knees that are more apparent than most other insects.