See REVERSE WORD LOOKUP for the new and improved reverse dictionary.
This is an ongoing project. Many sources are being used, so definitions, dates, etc., will change and/or be added to day by day.
It includes obsolete words, rare words, obscure words, slang, colloquialisms, and dialects (American, English, and Scottish), and many others!
Please note that a number of the words are derogatory and may be offensive to some.
This is especially true of a lot of the slang entries. But that's what slang is - rude and vulgar.
So keep that in mind, and remember this is merely a record of such words.
Also note that the date, when shown, is of the earliest documented use of the word or phrase,
and not when it was first used.
Also, the dates given in sources tend to vary, so the given date should be regarded as being approximate.
Enjoy!
To access the alphabetical listing, click on the word range required in the drop-down menu above.
ABBREVIATIONS
Amer. = American
arch. = archaic
Aust. = Australia(n)
Bknn - date the source book was published
Bnn = Before the date shown
Brit. = Britain/British
Can. - Canadian
colloq. = colloquial
dial. = dialect
Eng. = England/English
Enn = Early nn century; e.g. E19 = Early 19th century
esp. = especially
exc. = except
LME = Late Middle English
Lnn = Late nn century; e.g. L19 = Late 19th century
ME = Middle English
Mnn = Middle nn century; e.g. M19 = Middle 19th century
nnC = nn century; e.g. 19C = 19th century
NZ = New Zealand
obs. = obsolete
orig. = originally
pert. = pertaining
S. Afr. = South Africa(n)
Scot. = Scottish
sl. = slang
spec. - specifically
W.Indies = West Indies
WWI = World War I
WWII = World War II
† = obsolete
* = rare
It includes obsolete words, rare words, obscure words, slang, colloquialisms, and dialects (American, English, and Scottish), and many others!
Please note that a number of the words are derogatory and may be offensive to some.
This is especially true of a lot of the slang entries. But that's what slang is - rude and vulgar.
So keep that in mind, and remember this is merely a record of such words.
Also note that the date, when shown, is of the earliest documented use of the word or phrase,
and not when it was first used.
Also, the dates given in sources tend to vary, so the given date should be regarded as being approximate.
Enjoy!
To access the alphabetical listing, click on the word range required in the drop-down menu above.
ABBREVIATIONS
Amer. = American
arch. = archaic
Aust. = Australia(n)
Bknn - date the source book was published
Bnn = Before the date shown
Brit. = Britain/British
Can. - Canadian
colloq. = colloquial
dial. = dialect
Eng. = England/English
Enn = Early nn century; e.g. E19 = Early 19th century
esp. = especially
exc. = except
LME = Late Middle English
Lnn = Late nn century; e.g. L19 = Late 19th century
ME = Middle English
Mnn = Middle nn century; e.g. M19 = Middle 19th century
nnC = nn century; e.g. 19C = 19th century
NZ = New Zealand
obs. = obsolete
orig. = originally
pert. = pertaining
S. Afr. = South Africa(n)
Scot. = Scottish
sl. = slang
spec. - specifically
W.Indies = West Indies
WWI = World War I
WWII = World War II
† = obsolete
* = rare
SOURCES
Sources are as listed HERE