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London (England) -- Languages -- Dictionaries Books
Best books
John Camden Hotten
The slang dictionary : $b Etymological, historical and anecdotal
"The slang dictionary: Etymological, historical and anecdotal" by John Camden Hotten is a dictionary of slang first published in 1859. This groundbreaking lexicon captures the vivid, ever-changing language of Victorian London streets, from criminal cant to rhyming slang. Hotten documents the colorful expressions used across all social classes—in Parliament chambers, university halls, and city dens alike. More than mere definitions, the work includes etymologies, historical context, and Hotten's provocative theory that slang thrives wherever crowds gather and artificial life breeds wit, satire, and pointed street humor.
John Camden Hotten
A Dictionary of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London; the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; the Houses of Parliament; the Dens of St. Giles; and the Palaces of St. James.
"A Dictionary of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words" by John Camden Hotten is a dictionary published in 1859. This groundbreaking lexicon captures the vivid street language of Victorian London, from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to the dens of St. Giles. Hotten documents criminal slang, back slang, and rhyming slang, arguing that slang represents "that evanescent, vulgar language, ever changing with fashion and taste." The work stands as the most important study of informal language since Francis Grose's 1785 dictionary.
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