William Morris (2) (1913–1994)

Morris Dictionary of Origins represents years of research into the fascinating and little-known stories behind words and expressions that we use every day.The Morrises have been aided in their search by the contributions of thousands of readers of their daily syndicated column,"Words,Wit, and Wisdom," which appears in newspapers throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
In addition, many of the Morrises' celebrated friends have made useful and often amusing contributions. Charles Berlitz, master of 32 languages, contributed the inside story of the Law of Martinis, which is not at all what you might think. Bruce Catton contributed a fascinating sidelight to the story of General Hooker's hookers. Gerald Carson set the Morrises straight on the matter of Getting Down to BrassTacks and aided in the discovery of the very earliest appearance of Motel. Leo Rosten persuaded the authors that words like chutzpah,schlep, and schlock are Yiddishisms, not Yiddicisms.
Though this dictionary is buttressed by the fine scholarship you would expect of the editor of the American Heritage Dictionary and the coauthor of the Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage, you will not find a dull page in the book. Indeed, you will find that when you look up a particular word or phrase, your eye will lead you on to the next, then the next, and you will wind up reading page after page.… (mehr)