Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Vol. 2: H-O [Hardcover]

Jonathan E. Lighter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 067943464X | ISBN-13: 978-0679434641 | Publication Date: September 2, 1997 | Edition: 1

The only historical dictionary of slang -- spanning three hundred years of slang use in America.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In 1947 Random House launched its first dictionary, the celebrated American College Dictionary. Today, half a century later, the publisher is recognized as one of the premier lexicographic houses in North America, noted for its careful attention to new vocabulary, both standard and nonstandard. Fittingly, Random House marks its 50th anniversary in the dictionary business with these two major publications, both of which will be familiar to librarians. Volume 2 (H-O) of the slang dictionary, which adds about 10,000 main entries to the corpus, maintains the impressive quality that distinguished Volume 1 (LJ 8/94). The final volume (Q-Z) is scheduled for publication in 2000. This is simply the best slang dictionary ever compiled, and all but the smallest public and academic libraries should have it. The College Dictionary, a descendant of the aforementioned American College Dictionary, first appeared under its current title six years ago (LJ 6/15/91). The new edition is a thorough update, offering first-rate coverage and treatment of American English as used in the mid-1990s. For instance, "chat room" is here, as is the latest connotation of "closure." It competes well with other dictionaries in its class, including Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (LJ 9/1/93) and the American Heritage College Dictionary (1993. 3d ed.). Essential for most collections.?Ken Kister, author of "Best Encyclopedias," Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A landmark publication, at one stroke sweeping its predecessors into the shade . . . It is one of those rare books that prompts the realization that you have never seen the subject in such sharp focus before."
--John A. Simpson, Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionary

"A monumental book."
--The New York Times

"Will do for nonstandard English what the Oxford English Dictionary did for the whole language".
--William Safire

"No one has ever created a scholarly work that is more fun."
--Newsweek

"The funniest . . . work of profound lexicographical slang-scholarship ever published . . . The book belongs on every patriotice coffee table."
--Nicholson Baker, The New Review of Books

"A browser's joy . . . an awesome tribute to the American popular imagination."
--Boston Globe

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 984 pages
• Publisher: Random House Reference; 1 edition (September 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067943464X
• ISBN-13: 978-0679434641
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is the wait coming to an end?, June 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Vol. 2: H-O (Hardcover)

This is an indispensible book for writers and for anyone who loves words, but only if you're looking for something from A to O, since Random House dumped the project. Hope may be on the horizon, though. As reported in William Safire's On Lanuguage column (NYT Mag. 6/29/03), the National Endowment for the Humanities came up with a grant of $325,000 over two years to keep J.E. Lighter's project going, and Oxford University Press picked up the challenge. Oxford is now working out the contract details with Random House.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't despair - Volumes 3 &4 should eventually appear, January 14, 2005

By 

D. Rebnord - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Vol. 2: H-O (Hardcover)

The Oxford University Press has picked up sponsorship of this project from Random House and hopes to release Volume III (P- partial S) in May 2007 and Volume IV (remainder S - Z) in 2008.

In the meantime we have Volumes I & II to enjoy.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good definitions, OK etymology, September 4, 2001

By 

Craig Miller (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Vol. 2: H-O (Hardcover)

I am an avid collector of dictionaries, and this is one of my favorites. It is an invauable reference, and fun to browse. The definitions are clear and, from my experience, accurate. The attempt to find the earliest references is impressive -- certainly the best of its kind, but it is not 100% accurate. No work of this type, which breaks much new ground and works so often from primary sources, could be completely accurate, but it it provides an invaluable foundation for future slang etymology. A truly awesome work. I check back monthly for volume III.