The Sailor's Word-Book

Compiled by a British Admiral at the end of the Napoleonic era, this is a book for word lovers. The range of coverage is remarkable; it includes hundreds of naval terms that are still embedded in our everyday language, encompassing the language of the lower decks as well as the quarterdeck. Including complete expressions as well as individual words that brings a life to the book that cannot be matched by a dictionary; it is a fascinating read. The overall significance of the work is reflected by the hundreds of source references to it in the current Oxford English Dictionary.