Title: The story of English in 100 words /
Authors: Crystal, David, 1941-
Publisher: Profile,
Year: 2011
Subjects: English language Etymology; English language Foreign elements; English language Foreign words and phrases
Abstract: An eye-opening tour of the English language through the ages from Britain's leading linguistics expert.
Contents: Machine generated contents note: 1.Roe -- the first word (5th century) -- 2.Lea -- naming places (8th century) -- 3.And -- an early abbreviation (8th century) -- 4.Loaf -- an unexpected origin (9th century) -- 5.Out -- changing grammar (9th century) -- 6.Street -- a Latin loan (9th century) -- 7.Mead -- a window into history (9th century) -- 8.Merry -- a dialect survivor (9th century) -- 9.Riddle -- playing with language (10th century) -- 10.What -- an early exclamation (10th century) -- 11.Bone-house -- a word-painting (10th century) -- 12.Brock -- a Celtic arrival (10th century) -- 13.English -- the language named (10th century) -- 14.Bridegroom -- a popular etymology (11th century) -- 15.Arse -- an impolite word (11th century) -- 16.Swain -- a poetic expression (12th century) -- 17.Pork -- an elegant word (13th century) -- 18.Chattels -- a legal word (13th century) -- 19.Dame -- a form of address (13th century) -- 20.Skirt -- a word doublet (13th century)