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BBC Balderdash & Piffle
Series One Wordhunt listbaltiWanted: printed evidence before 1984; information on the word's originAre you one of Britain's original curry kings or queens? If so, did you cook or serve Britain or the world's first balti — or do you know who did? Knocking around at the back of the kitchen drawer do you have an old takeaway menu with a balti on it from before 1984? The winter issue of Curry Magazine (1984) contains the first printed evidence the OED has for 'balti'. But where the term comes from (India, Pakistan — perhaps Baltistan) remains something of a mystery at present. They say it first appeared in the Birmingham area in the early 80s. But is there any printed evidence for the term earlier, and can the origin be confirmed? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? BeebWanted: printed evidence before 1971The BBC, of course. Did you work for the BBC in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s? Have you got any evidence for when the British Broadcasting Corporation first became known as the Beeb? Informal usages can be hard to track down. The OED has this one from a letter written to the dictionary in 1967 by one of its most prolific readers — who was also a prolific BBC broadcaster. But the first printed evidence dates from 1971. There must be other early examples somewhere… See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? bog-standardWanted: printed evidence before 1983; information on the word's originBikers and techies — can you help with bog-standard? One theory is that it's a corruption of 'box-standard' (i.e. 'straight out of the box, unmodified'), and is associated with motorbikes and cars back in the sixties. The OED has only found it in 1983 about computers. Have you got biking memorabilia to prove the geeks didn't invent it? Or is there another explanation? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? bonkWanted: printed evidence before 1975Did you bonk before 1975 (and boast about it on paper)? The OED's printed evidence went back as far as 1984 until one of its word researchers remembered coming across the term in a football magazine (Foul) in the mid 70s. But does it go back even earlier? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? bouncy castleWanted: printed evidence before 1986Did your children play on a bouncy castle before 1986? Can you prove it in print? Written evidence for children's toys and games is sometimes hard to come by (see also the Appeal for pass the parcel earlier than 1967). See the OED entry for boffinWanted: printed evidence before 1941; information on the word's originCan any RAF or RN veterans tell the OED how and why boffins first got their name during WW2? The dictionary says that 'numerous conjectures have been made about the origin of the word but all lack foundation', although it does also note that earliest references in the current meaning occur with reference to scientists working on radar. See the OED entry for New sense now added after the Wordhunt. bomber jacketWanted: printed evidence before 1973The bomber jacket is based on American flying jackets of WW2, so why can't OED find it before 1973? The evidence suggests that the term was applied retrospectively to the flying jackets, possibly when they started to become used as fashionable garments in civvy street. But is this the case? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? CrimbleWanted: printed evidence before 1963Did you wish anyone a happy Crimble before the Beatles sang 'Garry Crimble To You' in 1963? The alternative Crimbo dates from 1928. But did John Lennon create the word Crimble for the song, or was he repeating an existing expression? See the OED entry for chattering classesWanted: printed evidence before 1985When did the chattering classes start to chatter? The expression is first recorded by the OED in the writings of journalist Clive James in 1985. Maybe it's right that an Australian coined the term. The 'chattering classes' probably didn't create such a dismissive term themselves! Anything earlier than 1985? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? codswallopWanted: printed evidence before 1963; information of the word's originCodswallop sounds as old as the English countryside. But it's unknown before 1963. Is there a connection with Victorian fizzy drinks guru Hiram Codd, or can you prove a better theory? According to the OED's record, the term makes a quiet first appearance in an issue of the Radio Times! See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? cyberspaceWanted: printed evidence before 1982Sci-fi fans: was cyberspace part of your universe before 1982? Did William Gibson invent the word, or did he simply usher it out of obscurity into popularity? Researchers have been tracking this one on the OED's See the OED entry for cyborgWanted: printed evidence before 1960Did you meet any cyborgs before the sixties? The printed evidence from the OED suggests you couldn't have (or that they would have had another name!), as the first reference dates from 1960. The OED's See OED entry for ditsyWanted: printed evidence before 1978; information of the word's originWere you dubbed ditsy before 1978, and do you know where it came from? The slang term originated in America, and found its way over to the UK in the sense 'stupid' or 'scatterbrained' (especially of a woman), and hence 'cute'. See the OED entry for doshWanted: printed evidence before 1953; information of the word's originWhy did money become dosh in 1953? Did it have currency any earlier? It joined a long list of verbal substitutes for 'money', such as spondulicks, moolah, bunce, lolly, etc., and now represents one of a set of mostly slangy words ending in -osh (bosh, gosh (and omigosh), kibosh, posh, and others). See the OED entry for full montyWanted: printed evidence before 1985; information of the word's originThe OED would like to know the full monty on the full monty. Surely the phrase was around before 1985 — but where and why? Maybe you served with Field Marshal Montgomery or worked as a tailor at Montague Burton's after the war? If so, get in touch. There are lots of stories about how the term arose, but lack of evidence before 1985 casts doubt on tales dating from decades earlier See the OED entry for Earlier information found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? gas markWanted: printed evidence before 1963Can you dig out those old cookery books and prove that gas mark (as in gas mark 1, etc.) was in print before 1963? This is an example of an expression that is ready to go into the OED, but hasn't yet been published. Help to improve the entry before it appears! New OED entry now written after the Wordhunt. gay ( = homosexual)Wanted: printed evidence before 1935Can you help the OED pin down when gay started to mean 'homosexual'? The earliest the dictionary has for it in this sense is 1935 (as an adjective), and 1971 (as a noun) — though the word goes back at least as far as the 14th century in English in its original sense of 'light-hearted, exuberantly cheerful, merry'. Is it odd that the noun use (1971) comes along so much later than the adjective? See the OED entry for handbags at dawnWanted: printed evidence before 1987When did people start to brandish handbags (at dawn, at three paces, etc.) instead of pistols? Was it before 1987 — and does it have anything to do with Margaret Thatcher? Like 'sick as a parrot' it's often associated with football matches. See the OED entry for her indoorsWanted: printed evidence before 1979; information of the word's originDid her indoors start with the TV show Minder, or did the show get the expression from somewhere else? So far the earliest reference to the term comes from the second draft of a Minder script, and it's said that the script's writer heard it from a taxi-driver friend of his. But where did the taxi-driver get it from? See the OED entry for jaffaWanted: printed evidence before 1993; information of the word's originCan any cricketers out there tell us why an unplayable delivery is now known as a jaffa? This is an example of a term that isn't yet in the OED: the earliest reference so far refers to Mike Gatting and Shane Warne. A new OED entry for this word or phrase is now in preparation. MackemWanted: printed evidence before 1991; information of the word's originA supporter of Sunderland AFC — or more generally someone who lives in Sunderland or Wearside. The OED's entry is still in draft, and is one of those where the earliest evidence comes from the Internet — a Usenet usergroup, though the origin suggested there (relating to making cups of tea) differs from other theories (making ships, etc.). Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? made-upWanted: printed evidence before 1980Were you made-up when Liverpool won the Champions League? 'Made-up' (surprised and delighted; thrilled) is an example of a regional expression which has made it into the mainstream and is first recorded from Ireland and the banks of the Mersey. The OED would be 'made-up' if printed evidence for the expression predates 1980. NB the earlier Irish English use of the expression in the sense 'assured of success, lucky' from 1956. See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? mingerWanted: printed evidence before 1995Literally, someone who 'smells foul', and recorded in print from 1995. The associated adjective minging dates from 1970, and the root noun ming (human excrement; something smelling unpleasant) dates from at least 1920 in Scotland. A good example of a regional word which has moved right into the mainstream of informal usage. But can you find printed evidence (teenage magazine, etc.) predating 1995? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? mintedWanted: printed evidence before 1995You've made a mint of money — so you're minted. But apparently you wouldn't have been called this before 1995. Maybe you would just have been loaded, or maybe a plute. Earlier examples needed for the OED's entry! See the OED entry for moonyWanted: printed evidence before 1990'Doing a moony' is a more recent synonym for 'mooning' (1963-) or exposing one's buttocks. Is there any evidence for the term before 1990? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? mulleredWanted: printed evidence before 1993; information of the word's origin'Extremely drunk': one of a long list of synonyms for intoxication, such as plastered, bombed, crocked, elephant's trunk, gassed, etc. But it's not really clear where mullered comes from — mulled wine? Any evidence from before 1993 may help to solve the puzzle See the OED entry for mulletWanted: printed evidence before 1994; information of the word's originThe infamous hairstyle. Did you sport a mullet and call it that before the 1994 Beastie Boys' song Mullet Head? A mullet-head is 'a stupid person', after the earlier meaning 'an imaginary fish with no brains'. Is this the origin? There are other offers See the OED entry for mushy peasWanted: evidence before 1975; information of the word's originChippies and connoisseurs of northern cuisine — can you help the OED find evidence for mushy peas before 1975? There's not much doubt that peas could be mushy before 1975, but why did the term spring into the public's consciousness then — clever marketing? Or is it really much older? Did you sell mushy peas before the mid 70s? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? naffWanted: printed evidence before 1966; information of the word's originCan you remember when things started to become naff? Was it before 1966? There are plenty of theories available to explain the origin of the term, but none is particularly convincing? Or can you prove another naff explanation? See the OED entry for nerdWanted: printed evidence before 1951; information of the word's originThe first nerd was tracked down to 1951. The previous year Dr Seuss's story If I ran the zoo included a picture of a 'nerd'. Just chance? There are other explanations circulating. Earlier evidence would scotch the Seuss theory — or maybe it's true? See the OED entry for nip and tuckWanted: printed evidence before 1980Are you a plastic surgeon or is he (or she) simply your best friend? Did you have a nip and tuck before 1980? If you are prepared to admit it — and have documentary evidence, you may be providing the OED with an earlier example of the term. See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? nit nurseWanted: printed evidence before 1985Everyone knows there were nit nurses before 1985 (weren't there?). But it's not the sort of term that appears on job descriptions and advertisements. Sometimes early printed references to terms like this can be hard to track down. But there must be some somewhere — perhaps in an unpublished diary or school essay? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? nutmegWanted: printed evidence before 1979Another term from the wonderful world of football. Players have been nutmegged by having the ball played through their legs since at least 1979. The nutmeg (the act of doing this) dates from slightly earlier — 1968, where it crops up in Rodney Marsh's Shooting to the Top. Or is it earlier? And are we quite sure what the origin is? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? Old BillWanted: printed evidence before 1958; information of the word's originCan you do some detective work on the Old Bill? OED sleuths have traced it to 1958. But can we prove the link to the Bruce Bairnsfather cartoon character 'Old Bill' that began in 1915 ('a grumbling Cockney character with a walrus moustache')? If this is the case, then there is probably a gap in the available printed evidence. See the OED entry for on the pullWanted: printed evidence before 1988Very late documentary evidence — Jackie magazine in 1988. But it seems to be hard to track down earlier. Can you? New OED entry now written after the Wordhunt. pass the parcelWanted: printed evidence before 1967Children of a more innocent age - did you play pass the parcel before 1967? OED researchers have hunted high and low for earlier references to the party game, but with no luck. But there must be documentary evidence out there somewhere. Pinning the tail on the donkey, for example, is recorded from 1887. Can you find pass the parcel before 1967? Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? pear-shapedWanted: printed evidence before 1983; information of the word's originAnother services' expression (RAF), apparently, but not recorded in its modern use before 1983. Just a creative extension of language, or is there a specific story behind 'going pear-shaped'? See the OED entry for phwoarWanted: printed evidence before 1980Viz Comic 1980 — is this the first recorded use of this monosyllabic expression? In fact, we have comics (for children and grown-ups) to thank for a number of expressive expressions (shazam — Whiz Comics 1940; yikes — TV Comic 1971; yeuch — Beano 1979; etc.). But does phwoar predate Viz and 1980? Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? pick 'n' mixWanted: printed evidence before 1959Did you eat pick 'n' mix before 1959? You may have been able to pick and mix what you bought at a supermarket before then, but that's the earliest date for which the OED has found documentary evidence of the term itself. Now's the time to find something earlier… A new OED entry for this word or phrase is now in preparation. ploughman's lunchWanted: printed evidence before 1970Did you invent the ploughman's lunch — if so, you probably weren't a ploughman (why would you call it a 'ploughman's lunch' if you were?) but a smart advertising exec in the 60s? Does the term appear on menus or reviews of pub meals before 1970? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? pop one's clogsWanted: printed evidence before 1977Did anyone you know pop their clogs before 1977? Why didn't they just kick the bucket? This is another in a line of euphemisms for dying which stretches back many years. New OED entry now written after the Wordhunt. porkyWanted: printed evidence before 1985Did you tell a porky before 1985? A pork pie has been rhyming slang for 'a lie' since at least 1973. Soon it developed into to porky pie, and then just porky (both first recorded so far in 1985). But the OED may have missed some vital piece of evidence! See the OED entry for poshWanted: printed evidence before 1915; information of the word's originAre you 'posh', and why? The dictionary doesn't give any credence to the suggestion that it's from the initials for 'Port Outward, Starboard Home', referring to the more expensive side for accommodation on ships travelling between England and India (it has a similar view of the derivation of Pom from 'Prisoner of Her/His Majesty'). Can you find any evidence for the use of posh before 1915? See the OED entry for square one (back to…)Wanted: printed evidence before 1960; information of the word's originCan you help the OED find out once and for all why we say back to square one? Some say it's to do with radio football commentary in the 20s and 30s (there are commentators' grids in which one section of the pitch is labelled '1'). So if this is the case, it's very curious that the expression isn't documented until 1960. Or does it come from board games like Snakes and Ladders? Do you have an old game which includes the instructions to go 'Back To Square One' from earlier? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? skaWanted: printed evidence before 1964; information of the word's originDo you know where ska music got its name from? Was it from scat? The OED doesn't know, and would like to hear from you if you can provide further documentary information. See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? smart casualWanted: printed evidence before 1945Did you sport a smart casual look before 1945? If you can find evidence of the term in fashion magazines of the period, then the OED would like to know. Or does the term herald a change in attitude to clothes after WW2? See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? snazzyWanted: printed evidence before 1932; information of the word's originWhy is something stylish and attractive snazzy? The word's a bit outmoded now, but it was the word to use in the 50s and 60s. First recorded in 1932 (is it earlier?), the OED would like to be able to say more about its derivation than 'Origin unknown'! See the OED entry for Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt - can you do better? something for the weekendWanted: printed evidence before 1990Sometimes phrases just slip through the net. There's no doubt that something for the weekend predates 1990, but finding documentary evidence that it does has provided unusually difficult. The OED's entry is currently still in draft and it would be good to improve on this date before it's published. New OED entry now written after the Wordhunt. to throw one's toys out of the pramWanted: printed evidence before 1989This is a phrase with a number of variant forms (involving chucking, cots, etc.). It's in draft form for the OED at the moment, and an antedating would find its way into the first published version. A new OED entry for this word or phrase is now in preparation. tikka masalaWanted: printed evidence before 1975Restaurant menus and reviews start to show chicken tikka masala from 1975, according to the latest research from the OED. Despite the dish's claim to be a great British national dish, the first recorded evidence comes from America. Something wrong here? Or not? A new OED entry for this word or phrase is now in preparation. |
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