The Dictionary of American Slang
Dollars to doughnuts, your reference shelf lacks a good slang dictionary, and that's afine how-de-do. Whether you're astuffywriter looking togussy upyour prose, apoindexterwho thinks studying dictionaries is thecat's pajamas, or amuttonheaded fogeyhoping toget a clue, Robert Chapman'sDictionary of American Slangfills the bill. Containing more than 19,000 terms of American slang, this lexicon represents all periods of American history, from phrases out of the 1880s, such ascarrot-topfor "redhead," to current '90s jargon such ascarjacking. It covers the widely acceptable and the taboo, slang from cowboys and railroad workers and slang from rock & rollers, corporate America, and the gay community. It includes obsolete phrases such ascanoeingfor "making-out," and up-to-date terms relating to technology, such aslistservfor "electronic mail list." Each item features pronunciation guides, word origins, and usage examples, and words that are derogatory or impolite are clearly labeled as such. Arighteousreference and aluluof a browser, theDictionary of American Slangis an elegantly produced and scholarly rigorous linguisticknockout.--Stephanie Gold