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It's the kind of work that you have a hard time disentangling yourself from. Half an hour later I was still there, darting about the book, one entry leading to another.
Port Out Starboard Home: Select your currency from the list and click Donate. Last updated 18 Oct. Problems viewing this page? Cookies and privacy Other words sites Affixes dictionary.
He lives in Bristol. The Making of English. Bees' Knees and Barmy Armies. The Meaning of Everything. In each entry, the author talks about the different folk etymologies there are and which For the entire time I borrowed this book, I thought the title was "Posh", which was weird, but then again, it is one of the entries.
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Lists with This Book. Feb 03, Sarah Dorothea rated it liked it. Jun 28, Alex rated it it was ok. To start with I'd like to point out that really wanted to like this book. The title captured my attention instantly - this it! I'll now have access to the top secret information on words and idioms that left me bemused and discombobulated. I cannot possibly tell you how many times I heard the wise pub folk share stores of port out, starboard home and fornicate under kings consent, just to name a few. And I always doubted the authenticity of these explanations based on simple logic that medieval To start with I'd like to point out that really wanted to like this book.
And I always doubted the authenticity of these explanations based on simple logic that medieval blokes requiring regal say-so to ravish their wench would not necessarily know how to write let alone messing around with the language for long enough to create the acronym phenomenon. And this is why pub quizzes are popular.
Port Out, Starboard Home by Michael Quinion. Can it really be Starboard Home. The Fascinating Stories We Tell About the words We Use. Editorial Reviews. Review. Michael Quinion's World Wide Words is the web authority on Port Out, Starboard Home: The Fascinating Stories We Tell About the words We Use - Kindle edition by Michael Quinion. Download it once and read it.
With the exception of very few phrases such as cater-cornered deriving from Quatre and thus pronounces Katr and the long suffering Aluminium aka Aluminum, this book fails to live up to the expectations. This work's two major flaws are: It tries to be funny and informative in easy bite-size portions, but ends up with shortcomings on both accounts.
I guess it's a difficult balance to strike, but I would not be buying tickets for Michael Quinon's Etymology: Fun with Words if it ever were to materialise. Most entries would tease you with a few faux stories about the birth of a particular word to only disappoint you with the conclusions that go along the lines of "but we don't know this with certainty", "there is no written evidence confirming that" and "we guess we'll never know To draw a parallel which offers you a better insight into what it felt like to read each article expecting enlightening culmination and being denied well deserved closure, try to remember your first dabbling in things amorous: By all means read Port Out.
It's not by any stretch a nasty read! Just don't expect to find an explanation for your favourite phrase and you'll be fine. It just didn't quite "cut the mustard" for me - that's all.
For the entire time I borrowed this book, I thought the title was "Posh", which was weird, but then again, it is one of the entries. And then I tried to search for the book on Goodreads Port Out, Starboard Home is a mini-encyclopedia about various English words and phrases the fancy term for this is called etymology. It's arranged in alphabetical order, and there are cross-references for related words. In each entry, the author talks about the different folk etymologies there are and which For the entire time I borrowed this book, I thought the title was "Posh", which was weird, but then again, it is one of the entries.
In each entry, the author talks about the different folk etymologies there are and which is the true origin if there's any.
I found this book to be really interesting. I haven't heard of most of these folk etymologies, so they were all new to me. I haven't really considered the origins of words before, and as I read, I was thinking, we should have a competition to see who can make up the most plausible story for a certain word that we can draw at random and see who can come closest to the truth.
I was inspired by the book No More Naughty, where to learn the meaning of words, the children were asked to make up their own definitions first and vote for the most plausible sounding one. It's a light-hearted and readable book. And since it's educational, that's got to have some bonus points. This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile I have two shelves full of books about the English language.
Each is different, each has its own strengths, weaknesses and quirks. For me, words are tools to be enjoyed, considered and used.
There is, of course, one shattered myth that has caused me pe I have two shelves full of books about the English language. There is, of course, one shattered myth that has caused me personal discomfort. Still, it is of little consequence: And the real origin of cabal? Jul 08, Oceana rated it it was ok Shelves: A book about words!
A book with stories about words! Of course, I had to buy it.
Since he has produced the weekly e-newsletter World Wide Words, which has an associated website. He lives in Bristol. Publication Data Place of Publication. Show more Show less. No ratings or reviews yet. Be the first to write a review. Collins English Dictionary Paperback edition: What's Happening to Me? Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus Paperback edition: All-in-one support for everyday use by Collins Dictionaries Paperback,