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BBC Wordhunt
Moderators: Giskard, ndemeter, ScarpeGrosse

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cassandra
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Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 831

BBC Wordhunt

Trout me if this has been posted before, but I saw an article on this upcoming television program and thought it might appeal to ARGers and puzzle-freaks Smile

If you're interested in philology, linguistics, wordplay, or the English language in general, try hunting down the origins of words for the OED and BBC:

BBC Wordhunt
OED wordhunt page

Quote:

Your Language Needs You

Did you eat a balti before 1984 or have a mullet before 1994? And do you know how they got their names?

A forthcoming BBC TWO series invites you to hunt for words and help rewrite the Oxford English Dictionary. We are appealing to the nation to help solve some of the most intriguing recent word mysteries in the language.

The OED seeks to find the earliest verifiable usage of every single word in the English language. The 50 words on the appeal list all have a date next to them, corresponding to the earliest evidence the dictionary currently has for that word or phrase. Can you trump that?

To join the word hunt, you might find an earlier appearance of the word in a book or a magazine, in a movie script, a fanzine, or even in a private letter. The most important thing is that it can be dated.

Sometimes the OED can't tell how a word was invented - so if you can fill us in, so much the better. We've indicated next to these words that they are 'origin uncertain'. If you have a convincing theory, we'd like to hear from you. If you can prove you're right, you might help in rewriting the dictionary.

Word List

Click on a word to see what the Oxford English Dictionary says about it, and how you can contribute.

[* Origin unknown or origin uncertain. The dates in brackets after the words refer to the earliest verified usage.]

* back to square one* [1960]
* balti* [1984]
* Beeb [1967]
* boffin* [1941]
* bog-standard [1983]
* bomber jacket [1973]
* bonk (sexual intercourse) [1975]
* bouncy castle [1986]
* chattering classes [1985]
* codswallop* [1963]
* Crimble [1963]
* cyberspace [1982]
* cyborg [1960]
* ditsy* [1978]
* dosh* [1953]
* full monty* [1985]
* gas mark [1963]
* gay (homosexual sense) [1935]
* handbags (at dawn) [1987]
* her indoors [1979]
* jaffa* (cricketing term)
* Mackem [1991]
* made-up [1980]
* minger [1995]
* minted [1995]
* moony, moonie [1990]
* muller* [1993]
* mullet* (hairstyle) [1994]
* mushy peas [1975]
* naff* [1966]
* nerd* [1951]
* nip and tuck [1980]
* nit nurse [1985]
* nutmeg* (football use) [1979]
* Old Bill (police) [1958]
* on the pull [1988]
* pass the parcel [1967]
* pear-shaped [1983]
* phwoar [1980]
* pick'n'mix [1959]
* ploughman's lunch [1970]
* pop one's clogs [1977]
* porky [1985]
* posh* [1915]
* ska* [1964]
* smart casual [1945]
* snazzy* [1932]
* something for the weekend [1990]
* throw one's toys out of the pram (or cot) [1989]
* tikka masala [1975]

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:40 pm

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