Collins dictionary asks public to rescue outdated words
Collins dictionary has given the public the chance to save some of the English language's more obscure and antiquated words such as fusby, vilipend and embrangle.
The introduction of 2,000 new words into the forthcoming edition of the dictionary has meant that some of the lesser known and used words have become endangered and face being lost from the publication.
A list of 24-threatened words has been drawn up and some celebrities have taken up the challenge of rescuing a word from oblivion.
Stephen Fry has chosen the word "fusby", which means short, stout or squat.
Andrew Motion, the poet laureate, is lobbying for the retention of the word "skirr", which means a whirring or grating sound as made by the wings of birds in flight.
"I'm a very keen birdwatcher," Mr Motion told the Times. "Birders do use this word from time to time so I thought it might have a better chance than others, such as vilipend."
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
The introduction of 2,000 new words into the forthcoming edition of the dictionary has meant that some of the lesser known and used words have become endangered and face being lost from the publication.
A list of 24-threatened words has been drawn up and some celebrities have taken up the challenge of rescuing a word from oblivion.
Stephen Fry has chosen the word "fusby", which means short, stout or squat.
Andrew Motion, the poet laureate, is lobbying for the retention of the word "skirr", which means a whirring or grating sound as made by the wings of birds in flight.
"I'm a very keen birdwatcher," Mr Motion told the Times. "Birders do use this word from time to time so I thought it might have a better chance than others, such as vilipend."