Dictionary of Word Origins: The Histories of More Than 8,000 English-Language Words

nUncover the hidden and often surprising connection between words. nWritten in a clear and informative style, the more than 8,000 articles reveal the origins of and links between some of the most common English-language words. What is the link between map and apron, acrobat and oxygen, zeal and jealousy, flour and pollen, secret and crime? n nDid you know that crimson originally comes from the name of tiny scale insects, the kermes, from whose dried bodies a red dyestuff is made? That Yankee began as a nickname for Dutchmen? That omelette evolved from amulette, a thin sheet of metal, and is a not-too-distant cousin of the word laminate? That jeans find their antecedent in jean fustian, meaning a cotton fabric from Genoa? n nThey also contain an extensive selection of words whose life histories are intrinsically fascinating or instructive. This dictionary shows how modern English has developed from its Indo-European roots and how the various influences on the language--from migration and invasion to exploration, trade, technology, and scholarship--have intermingled. It is an invaluable addition to any English or linguistics library.n