in the many good slang or colloquial dictionaries on the market.
Only those words associated with some definite custom, or arising
out of corrupted words of a past age, which shed light on customs
and conditions, are included.

Students will find that quite a number differ from previously pub-
lished "origins": the author would point out that many previous
attempts to explain various phrases have been guess-work; others
represent only a part of the antiquity; as regards the remainder, new
facts continually appear which cast a fresh light on customs and
habits and on the translation of idioms. Very careful examination of
all the information available has been made before a decision has
been arrived at; and the completed work is put forward in the
author's belief that it represents absolute accuracy of origins, in so
far as accuracy can be obtained from the welter of legend and ancient
custom and habit.

The author acknowledges with grateful thanks assistance he has
received from many sources; from the researches of Mrs. Esme
Leonard, and from Mr. Gerald O'Driscoll for Naval terms on which
he is so great an authority; from that great delver, "Jackdaw" of
John O'London's Weekly; and to the works of that master of words,
Professor Ernest Weekley.

E. R.