Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence: Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence
2014
First Published
414
Number of Pages
Throughout history, most dictionaries have served the purpose of preserving the purity of the language, usually preferring the erudite vocabulary of the affluent upper classes to the salty, constantly evolving slang of their working-class counterparts. That began to change in the early modern period, when several innovative lexicographers began publishing collections of slang terms used by particular subcultures, such as criminals. According to scholars...
