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Word of the Week
pudding
[Middle English] A pudding originally referred to a sausage such as black pudding. It is apparently from Old French boudin "black pudding", from Latin botellus "sausage, small intestine". In early times ingredients were apparently boiled in a bag (pudding cloth) but the method of cooking gradually changed included boiling, steaming, and later baking.


A Word From...


What Made The Crocodile Cry?
In Susie Dent's new book, What Made The Crocodile Cry?, the Countdown star tackles 101 intriguing questions about English in an entertaining exploration of the language. Read more in this month's 'Word From...' article.

More highlights from the 'World of Words' section


English revealed - in all its glory
After forty-four years in the making the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary has now been published. Read about this incredible work of reference in this month's article.

'the power of storytelling'
The new edition of The Oxford Companion to English Literature is now available. This new edition includes lists of poets laureate and literary prize winners from inception to the present day. In this month's 'A Word From...' article Hermione Lee describes her experiences as a judge for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

There once was an ugly duckling...
Jeremy Butterfield, author of Damp Squid: the English language laid bare discusses how animals feature in the English language.

Keeping in touch with today's languages
See how the new Oxford Languages Tracker initiative helps to keep our modern language dictionaries up-to-date.

Stuck for words?
See how the new Compact Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus can help build your vocabulary and help with filling in crossword puzzles.

Brave new words
As Star Trek fans eagerly await the release of the new movie in May, this month's 'Word From...' article looks at how the language of science fiction has permeated mainstream language, with extracts from Jeff Prucher's Brave new words.

Written to amuse
From limericks to social satire, the Oxford Book of Comic Verse offers a remarkable collection of outstanding light poetry. Read an extract from the new-look anthology in this month's article.

Thinking of moving abroad?
A new guide to relocating abroad is now available free with the latest update to Oxford Language Dictionaries Online. Find out some useful information about moving to France and Spain in this month's 'A Word From....' article.

A castaway creation
It has been 300 years since Alexander Selkirk was rescued, having been stranded on an island for over four years. Selkirk was thought to be the model for Daniel Defoe's famous castaway creation. Read an extract from Robinson Crusoe in this month's 'A Word From...' article.

'Out with the new'! survey results
In October, Ask Oxford readers were invited to vote for the word they love to hate from 2008. Susie Dent comments on the results in this month's 'A Word From...' article.

Damp Squid: the English language laid bare
Where does our vocabulary come from? How are new words formed? This month's 'A Word From...' article features some enlightening extracts from Jeremy Butterfield's new book, Damp Squid: the English language laid bare, which reveals fascinating facts about the English language.

Words of the Year
Countdown's Susie Dent's new book Words of the Year has now been published. Take a look at some of the new words that have been appearing and reappearing in 2008. Plus, take part in our poll to find the most unpopular word of the year!.

Nǐ jiǎng Zhōngwén ma? 中文吗?!
Visiting China but know little or no Chinese? Check out these useful Chinese phrases from the new Oxford Chinese Mini Dictionary.

Can your Flamingo do the Flamenco?
Ever wondered where the phrase 'go pear-shaped' or the word 'snob' comes from? Angus Stevenson explores some of the stories behind some well-known English words and phrases.

Fowler's New Pocket
Jessica Stone looks back over the history of the indispensible Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage, and its source volume, Fowler's Modern English Usage.

Take Off In... Holidays
Oxford's Take Off In... language-learning series is relaunched this month, so we decided to give some handy tips for learning a new language, and some cultural tit-bits for some fun

How Novels Work
An excerpt on the opening of novels from How Novels Work.

Is Green the New Black?
A quick look at the changes increasing environmental concerns have had on the English language.

Modern Welsh Dictionary
Do you speak Cymraeg, or are you just trying to dysgu the language? What ever your needs may be, the Geiriadur Cymraeg Cyfoes is a must have.

A Century of New Words
From plastic (1909) to podcasting (2004), A Century of New Words creates a vivid picture of the last 105 years through the words that defined each decade in a unique journey though the 20th century.

A Word A Year
Susie Dent selects a single word to represent each of the last hundred years.

The hundred commonest English words
As revealed in the brand-new English Uncovered supplement of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.

Five Events that Shaped the History of English
Philip Durkin, Principal etymologist at the Oxford English Dictionary, chooses five events that shaped the English Language.

A Quote From...
A monthly column from the editors of Oxford Quotations Dictionaries.

100 Classic Quotes
See the top 100 quotes from the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, as selected by the Oxford Dictionary team.



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History of English


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