Six Words You Never Knew Had Something To Do With Pigs: And Other Fascinating Facts About The English Language

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Synopsis
A delightfully addictive compendium of fascinating word facts that does for the dictionary what Eats, Shoots, and Leaves did for the manual of style.

With the easy erudition and lively wit that have won her legions of fans, Canada's "Word Lady" reveals the entertaining histories behind 500 of the most common words and phrases in the English language. Who knew that 'travel' is derived from an instrument of torture? That "tragedy" originally had something to do with goats? That "glamour" and "grammar" started out as the same word?

Katherine Barber's captivating collection is organized by season, so readers can open to Valentine's Day to learn about the origins of "passion fruit" or flip to Thanksgiving to find out why there aren't any turkeys in Turkey. An irresistible blend of entertainment and enlightenment, this delightful book will captivate the word lover in all of us.

Copyright:
2006

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
220 Pages
ISBN-13:
9781101201237
Related ISBNs:
9780143038122
Publisher:
Penguin Group US
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Oxford University Press Canada, 2
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
Nonfiction, Reference, Language Arts
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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