When I was in college and grad school, I used the schools' copies of the Oxford Dictionary every chance I got; I loved looking up words and their meanings and history.  I've got four dictionaries in my apartment, none of them the unabridged Oxford dictionary, unfortunately.  Too expensive. :-(

An old boyfriend once gave me a book entitled, "O Thou Proper Improper Noun," about words that were originally proper names that became terms for everyday items.  For example, the Duke of Ayrgyle wore a plaid that became 'argyle socks.' I'll have to look for it in my bookcase; I haven't read it it years.

Kat

-------Original Message-------
From: "Cleveland, Kyle E." <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 04/29/03 07:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: werds and frayzez; was RE: Old Man Passes Exam

>
> Bobby, I did!  You too?  Isn't it just the coolest thing?  What's amazing
is
how "alive" is the English language.  Always evolving with new words and
others falling into disuse.

-----Original Message-----
From: BG Greer, PhD [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 11:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Old Man Passes Exam


Have you ever perused the Oxford English Dictionary, itt VERY interesting.

Bobby

>  love etymology (study of the origins of words and phrases)!
>
> -Kyle
>
>