Wordplay
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Wordplay
Folk etymology, that charming process of word formation that substitutes a familiar sound or idea for an archaic one ('rod-iron' for wrought iron), has worked overtime in our fields, forests, and gardens. Samuel Johnson and a lot of others thought gooseberry derived naturally from the fact that its sauce commonly accompanied a roast goose; later etymologists discovered that it earlier had been called a groseberry, after the French groseille, and that there was nothing anserine in its background except wishful tinkering. Similarly, asparagus was, and often still is, called 'sparrow-grass', and for nearly two centuries the cucumber bore the bovine name of 'cowcumber'... The dandelion is a straightforward phonetic rendition of French dent de lion, or 'lion's tooth.' It's curious that, while we borrowed a French expression based on the weed's appearance, the French settled for a name related to quite another characteristic. The French word is pissenlit, which reflects the diuretic properties of the dandelion roots that used to be dried, ground up, and mixed with coffee. In fact, pisse-abed is given as an English alternative by John Gerarde in his 1597 Herball, or General Historie of Plants, and pissabed salad, containing dandelion greens, was once popular in the United States.
Word Play
Annotation Finally a fun way for children to learn to read and write Learning can and should be fun. Yet many students struggling to develop their reading and writing skills are discouraged by the sheer boredom associated with learning. Wordplay's unique game approach shows parents how to help their children discover the joy of reading and writing while having tons of fun together. Incorporating many multi-sensory and physical activity games-perfect for children who are frustrated by sitting at a desk all day--this unique guide helps students learn through touch, sound, and movement as well as sight. All games are flexible and require minimal materials and prep time. Parents can finally put away those dreary flash cards and instead teach their children in imaginative and amusing ways that will have their kids laughing and asking for more.
The Dictionary of Wordplay
This marvelous reference guide should be at the side of every writer; it's the first wordplay dictionary ever! Concepts like "exquisite corpse," "kangaroo word," and "Jabberwocky," which frequently appear in contemporary writings, are defined here, with examples. More than 1,234 entries are in this book.
