If you have read The Surgeon of Crowthorne (bwl 3) you might, like me, have felt you would like to know more about the creation of the OED from its inception in 1857 to the completion of the 1st edition in 1928. This book written in Winchester's usual racy style, satisfyingly fills those gaps, bringing a subject which many might consider dry as dust to exuberant life. It makes the mind boggle!*
*boggle - verb informal 1) to be astonished or baffled 2) (boggle at) hesitate to do. Origin probably related to Bogey. C16. OED
(Jenny Baker - bwl 24 June 2004 ) |
