• The Disappearing Dictionary: A Treasury of Lost English Dialect Words

Cover may vary - this is a stock image

The Disappearing DictionaryA Treasury of Lost English Dialect Words

by David Crystal

Format: Hardback

Condition: Standard Secondhand — £2.95
What do the conditions mean?

Our conditions mean the following:

  • New - a brand new book
  • Almost New - appears new but is actually secondhand.
  • Very Good - only minor imperfections such as minor scuffs to edge or cover or a price written in pencil or shop sticker.
  • Standard Secondhand - Clearly been read before, but not too bad. We do not recommend these for gifting. Spines usually creased. Could also include creases or folds to cover, some writing such as in the cover or elsewhere, underlining or highlighting, but might not do. Possibly some stains or marks. Similar in general to books in any secondhand shop or charity shop.
  • Poor Condition - Usually this will have a specific problem such as writing inside, water damage, missing dust jacket, heavy staining, large creases or cuts. These are readable copies but not nice ones. On other websites this condition is called 'Acceptable' or 'Fair' , but we want to be more honest.
£1.50
£1.50
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Low stock: 1 left

More by David Crystal See all 14 →
What is Linguistics? £1.00 An Encyclopedic Dictionary Of Language And Languages (Blackwell Reference) £1.90 The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language £1.00 The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language £1.00 The Cambridge Encyclopedia £1.55 Let's Talk: How English Conversation Works £1.00 The Penguin Pocket Book of Facts £1.00 The Stories of English £1.00 How Language Works: How Babies Babble, Words Change Meaning, and Languages Live or Die £8.61 The Cambridge Encyclopedia £25.08

Wherever you go in the English-speaking world, there are linguistic riches from times past awaiting rediscovery. All you have to do is choose a location, find some old documents, and dig a little.

In The Disappearing Dictionary, linguistics expert Professor David Crystal collects together delightful dialect words that either provide an insight into an older way of life, or simply have an irresistible phonetic appeal. Like a mirror image of The Meaning of Liff that just happens to be true, The Disappearing Dictionary unearths some lovely old gems of the English language from all over the British Isles, dusts them down, and makes them live again for a new generation.

Similar booksMore Non-Fiction →
Understanding English Place Names £26.50 Discovering Words (Shire Discovering) £1.00 Strange to Say: Etymology as Serious Entertainment £19.41 Dictionary of First Names (Claremont Pocket Reference Library) £6.33 Everyman's Dictionary of First Names £22.24 English Words: Structure, History, Usage £6.58 ITS GREEK TO ME £1.99 English Grammar: The Instant Guide (Instant Guides) £1.86 Straightforward 2nd Edition Advanced Stu £19.62 Global Advanced: Teacher's Book £49.27

daberlick (noun, Scotland)
A mildly insulting way of talking about someone who is tall and skinny. 'Where's that daberlick of a child?'
jubbity (noun, Yorkshire)
A difficulty, vexatious occurrence, misfortune. 'He's had some jubbities in his lifetime'.
squinch (noun, Devon)
A narrow crack in a wall or a space between floorboards. 'I lost sixpence through a squinch in the floor.'

Author: David Crystal (all their books in stock)
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines, Linguistics
Format: Hardback
Published: 2015
Pages: 320
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 9781447282808

Payment method

  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Our conditions mean the following:

  • New - a brand new book
  • Almost New - appears new but is actually secondhand.
  • Very Good - only minor imperfections such as minor scuffs to edge or cover or a price written in pencil or shop sticker.
  • Standard Secondhand - Clearly been read before, but not too bad. We do not recommend these for gifting. Spines usually creased. Could also include creases or folds to cover, some writing such as in the cover or elsewhere, underlining or highlighting, but might not do. Possibly some stains or marks. Similar in general to books in any secondhand shop or charity shop.
  • Poor Condition - Usually this will have a specific problem such as writing inside, water damage, missing dust jacket, heavy staining, large creases or cuts. These are readable copies but not nice ones. On other websites this condition is called 'Acceptable' or 'Fair' , but we want to be more honest.
  • Free UK shipping over £10.
  • Under £10, shipping is £1.99.
  • Express shipping £2.99.
  • Choose 10 £1 books for £10 including shipping!
  • International shipping available to select countries, proceed to checkout to see prices.

Return books within 14 days if not happy.

View full details

More £1 non-fiction

All £1 books →