| abolitional | Of or relating to the abolition of the slave trade or slavery. | 1836 | Go To Quotation |
| Adeni | A native or inhabitant of Aden. | 1950 | Go To Quotation |
| admonitively | In an admonitive manner; by way of advice, warning, or reproof. | 1829 | Go To Quotation |
| aerogramme | = aerogram n. 2b. | 1934 | Go To Quotation |
| agelast | A person who never laughs; one who has no sense of humour. | 1877 | Go To Quotation |
| airmail | Mail conveyed by air; a service for conveying letters, parcels, etc., by air. | 1911 | Go To Quotation |
| airmobile | That can be transported by air; spec. designating or relating to ground troops moved within a war zone by helicopter. | 1933 | Go To Quotation |
| air raid | An attack by aircraft, esp. one in which bombs are dropped on to a ground target. | 1914 | Go To Quotation |
| air shed | A hangar for aircraft. | 1915 | Go To Quotation |
| air-to-air | Directed from one aircraft to another while both are in flight; carried out between aircraft in flight. | 1939 | Go To Quotation |
| air-to-ground | Designating any of various military operations or techniques directed at ground targets… | 1935 | Go To Quotation |
| airwoman | A woman who is engaged in the flying or operation of aircraft, esp. as a pilot or member of… | 1910 | Go To Quotation |
| albiness | A female albino. | 1800 | Go To Quotation |
| allocute | intr. To deliver an allocution; to make a formal address or speech (in later use esp. in… | 1860 | Go To Quotation |
| altiport | Chiefly in France: a small airfield at a high altitude, esp. at a mountain skiing resort. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| Amgot | The name formed from the initial letters of ‘Allied Military Government of Occupied… | 1943 | Go To Quotation |
| anarcho- | Prefixed to nouns and adjectives to form nouns and adjectives with the sense ‘anarchist (or anarchistic) (and) ——’. | 1907 | Go To Quotation |
| Anglo-French | With the and pl. concord. English supporters of the French interest during the… | 1796 | Go To Quotation |
| Anglomaniac | A partisan or admirer of England (or Britain), esp. one considered extreme or excessive. | 1795 | Go To Quotation |
| Anglo-Nubian | A breed of goat characterized by lop ears and a convex facial profile, produced by… | 1898 | Go To Quotation |
| Anglo-Saxonize | trans. = anglicize v. 1. | 1839 | Go To Quotation |
| antebrachial | more correct form of antibrachial adj. | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| anti-lock | Designating or relating to a vehicle braking system designed to prevent the wheels… | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| Apex | A British trade union representing clerical and other non-manual workers. | 1972 | Go To Quotation |
| aurification | Working in gold; spec. the stopping of a tooth with gold. | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| autodialling | The action or process of dialling telephone numbers automatically; a facility for… | 1935 | Go To Quotation |
| autopista | In Spain and Spanish-speaking countries: a fast road for cars; a motorway. | 1928 | Go To Quotation |
| autostrada | In Italy: a fast road for cars; a motorway. | 1924 | Go To Quotation |
| ball-by-ball | One ball at a time; continuously or constantly throughout a match. Also (in Broadcasting): in full, with running commentary. | 1906 | Go To Quotation |
| balloteer | In early use: an advocate of the ballot, a ballotist. Later also: a person who casts a vote in a ballot, a balloter. | 1833 | Go To Quotation |
| bar steward | A person who serves drinks in a bar; a bartender. | 1888 | Go To Quotation |
| bet-hedging | That engages in or constitutes bet-hedging; equivocating, noncommittal. | 1971 | Go To Quotation |
| Biafran | Of or pertaining to Biafra, a region in West Africa that seceded from federal Nigeria in 1967 and was reunited with it in 1970. | 1967 | Go To Quotation |
| billetee | A person who is billeted. | 1939 | Go To Quotation |
| black marketeer | A person engaged in trading on the black market (black market n.). Cf. blacketeer n. | 1941 | Go To Quotation |
| black master | A funeral director, an undertaker. | 1823 | Go To Quotation |
| Blairist | Of, relating to, or characteristic of Tony Blair or his policies. | 1994 | Go To Quotation |
| boil wash | A setting or programme on a washing machine which cleans using very hot or near-boiling water; a wash using this setting. | 1982 | Go To Quotation |
| boycott | Withdrawal from social or commercial interaction or cooperation with a group… | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| Bren | In full, Bren gun. A type of light, quick-firing machine-gun. Also attrib., as Bren carrier n.… | 1937 | Go To Quotation |
| Brigadoon | In allusive use. A place, person, or phenomenon likened in some way to Brigadoon, esp.… | 1968 | Go To Quotation |
| Britisher | A British subject; a native or inhabitant of Britain, esp. as distinguished from an American citizen. | 1815 | Go To Quotation |
| Brittenesque | Characteristic of or resembling the music of Benjamin Britten. | 1961 | Go To Quotation |
| buffering | The action of bringing buffers into play; also, buffers collectively. | 1898 | Go To Quotation |
| burke | trans. To murder, in the same manner or for the same purpose as Burke did; to kill… | 1829 | Go To Quotation |
| carnalism | The practice of what is carnal; sensualism. | 1864 | Go To Quotation |
| catenaccio | A defensive system of play, originating in Italy in the 1960s, in which each attacking… | 1961 | Go To Quotation |
| cava | A sparkling wine from north-east Spain, esp. Catalonia, made using an adaptation of the method used to make champagne. | 1978 | Go To Quotation |
| cedi | The basic monetary unit of Ghana, equivalent to 100 pesewas. | 1965 | Go To Quotation |
| cerise | Name of a light bright clear red, resembling that of some cherries. | 1858 | Go To Quotation |
| chemigraphy | A method of relief printing in which chemicals are used to etch a metal plate on which… | 1853 | Go To Quotation |
| Cheshire | any of the Cheshire Foundation Homes for the disabled established by Leonard Cheshire in Britain and elsewhere. | 1955 | Go To Quotation |
| Churchillian | Of, relating to, or characteristic of Sir Winston Churchill. | 1912 | Go To Quotation |
| cinephile | A film lover or enthusiast; a film buff. Cf. cinéaste n. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| Colbred | The name of a highly fertile breed of sheep obtained by crossing the Border… | 1962 | Go To Quotation |
| cold-call | intr. To sell goods or services by making unsolicited calls on prospective customers, either by telephone or in person. | 1972 | Go To Quotation |
| Colombo | The name of the capital city of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), applied attrib. to a plan for… | 1950 | Go To Quotation |
| commandeer | trans. To command or force into military service; to seize for (or as for) military use. | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| Communard | Freq. with capital initial. A member or supporter of the Paris Commune of 1871. Formerly… | 1871 | Go To Quotation |
| comper | A person who habitually enters competitions (esp. those promoting consumer goods) in order to win as many prizes as possible. | 1987 | Go To Quotation |
| computeracy | Knowledge of or skill in using computers; the quality or state of being computerate; = computer literacy n. at computer n. 5. | 1969 | Go To Quotation |
| computery | Computers collectively; computer technology. | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| conservatoire | An academy or college of music. | 1823 | Go To Quotation |
| conservatorium | = conservatory n. 2. | 1841 | Go To Quotation |
| coprology | A gathering of ordure; filth in literature or art. | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| counterterrorism | Political or military actions or measures intended to combat, prevent, or… | 1864 | Go To Quotation |
| crankery | The characteristics of a ‘crank’; crack-brainedness, enthusiastic eccentricity. | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| cream crackered | ‘Knackered’; extremely tired, exhausted; worn out. | 1983 | Go To Quotation |
| crematorium | = crematory n. | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| dapperly | In a dapper manner; neatly, trimly, sprucely. | 1858 | Go To Quotation |
| date-mark | trans. Chiefly in pass. To mark with a date. Also in extended use. | 1891 | Go To Quotation |
| debarrent | Anything that debars. | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| decontrol | The removal of control; spec. the removal of government control, esp. of a control… | 1919 | Go To Quotation |
| de-fat | trans. To remove fat or fats from. | 1923 | Go To Quotation |
| desequestrate | trans. To release from sequestration; to return to its owner. | 1959 | Go To Quotation |
| Disgusted | Originally as a self-designation: a member of the public who writes anonymously to… | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| dogfighter | A person who is connected with, involved in, or promotes the sport of dogfighting. | 1826 | Go To Quotation |
| down-market | Of or relating to the cheaper end of the market; cheap, popular. Also transf. and fig. | 1970 | Go To Quotation |
| early doors | In a theatre, etc.: a period of admission ending some time before the performance… | 1883 | Go To Quotation |
| earth-wire | trans. To provide with or connect to an earth wire. | 1872 | Go To Quotation |
| eco-socialism | Socialism concerned specifically with ecological issues, based on the belief that… | 1985 | Go To Quotation |
| Eiswein | Wine made from ripe grapes picked while the frost is on them, and still frozen when they go into the press. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| electro-silvered | Electroplated with silver; having a coating of silver applied by electrolysis. | 1845 | Go To Quotation |
| embrigade | To form into a brigade; fig., to form into an organized body. | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| embryogenetic | = embryogenic adj. | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| entry level | The basic level at which a given activity, employment, etc., may be entered into; the… | 1950 | Go To Quotation |
| enzootic | An enzootic disease. | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| Euratom | An international organization set up in 1958 to co-ordinate the development and use… | 1956 | Go To Quotation |
| euthanize | intr. To receive euthanasia. nonce-use. | 1931 | Go To Quotation |
| executancy | The qualification of an executant; power and skill in performing (music). | 1858 | Go To Quotation |
| family credit | In the United Kingdom: a means-tested social security benefit which is paid to… | 1985 | Go To Quotation |
| Fascist | One of a body of Italian nationalists, which was organized in 1919 to oppose communism… | 1921 | Go To Quotation |
| felicitator | One who offers congratulations. | 1890 | Go To Quotation |
| flat-share | An arrangement whereby tenants share a (freq. rented) residence, esp. a flat; (also) a flat rented under such an arrangement. | 1965 | Go To Quotation |
| flügelhorn | A brass wind instrument. Also flugel used ellipt. | 1854 | Go To Quotation |
| fluonomist | = chimney-sweep n. 2. | 1946 | Go To Quotation |
| foilist | One who fences with a foil. | 1907 | Go To Quotation |
| forint | The principal monetary unit of Hungary; a coin of this denomination. | 1946 | Go To Quotation |
| fragmentation | A breaking or separation into fragments; spec. in Biol. separation into parts which form new individuals. | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| francization | The action of making French or investing with French nationality; the status thus conferred. | 1888 | Go To Quotation |
| free-wheeling | The action of free-wheel v. (in various senses). Also: the free-wheel steering system. | 1899 | Go To Quotation |
| French-polisher | A person who French-polishes (furniture, boats, etc.), esp. professionally. | 1825 | Go To Quotation |
| Friedmanite | An adherent of the theories of Friedman. | 1970 | Go To Quotation |
| fusillade | A simultaneous discharge of firearms; a wholesale execution by this means. | 1801 | Go To Quotation |
| garnacha | A (usually sweet) red or rosé wine made from a variety of grape grown in Spain; (also) this variety of grape. | 1860 | Go To Quotation |
| gas mark | Chiefly with following numeral. A temperature setting on a standard scale used for gas ovens. Cf. mark n. 34, Regulo n. 2. | 1942 | Go To Quotation |
| gestatorial | a chair in which the Pope is carried on certain occasions. (So French chaise gestatoire;… | 1864 | Go To Quotation |
| ginny | Affected by gin; resembling, addicted to, or characterized by gin. | 1888 | Go To Quotation |
| glance | trans. To planish. | 1894 | Go To Quotation |
| globality | The quality of being global; universality, totality; spec. the quality of… | 1931 | Go To Quotation |
| glyptician | A lapidary. | 1883 | Go To Quotation |
| go-faster | orig. Brit. Chiefly humorous. Designating a (peripheral) design feature intended to… | 1971 | Go To Quotation |
| go-kart | (See quot. 1963.) Also attrib. Cf. kart n. | 1959 | Go To Quotation |
| gold star | A golden or gold-coloured representation of a star, presented as a prize or honour. | 1810 | Go To Quotation |
| Gouda | In full Gouda cheese. A flat round cheese orig. made at Gouda in Holland. | 1885 | Go To Quotation |
| gran turismo | A touring-car (see quot. 1967). Abbrev. G.T. (see G.T. n. at 6). | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| hands-on | Involving direct participation in an activity (esp. the use of computers or a… | 1969 | Go To Quotation |
| harambee | Pulling or working together; co-operation; the slogan of the Kanu government of Kenya at the time of independence. Also attrib. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| haylage | Silage made from grass which has been partially dried. | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| hellhoffite | An explosive consisting of a mixture of nitric acid and dinitrobenzene. | 1885 | Go To Quotation |
| Henley | The name of a town on the Thames, in Oxfordshire, used alone or attrib. to designate the annual regatta held there since 1839. | 1839 | Go To Quotation |
| Hoa Hao | A form of nationalistic Buddhism, set up in 1939 in Indo-China by Huynh Phu So. Freq. attrib. Cf. Caodaism n. | 1955 | Go To Quotation |
| hotting-up | An increase in tension, excitement, passion, etc.; an intensification. Cf. to hot up 3 at hot v. Phrasal verbs. | 1940 | Go To Quotation |
| Hutu | The name of a Bantu people which forms the majority of the population of Rwanda and of… | 1959 | Go To Quotation |
| Iberic | = Iberian adj. 1b. | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| industrialist | One engaged in, or connected with, industrial occupations; a worker or manufacturer. | 1864 | Go To Quotation |
| in-form | attrib. Of a player or team: performing well, in good form. Also in extended use. | 1967 | Go To Quotation |
| iron-on | Such as can be affixed to the surface of a fabric by ironing. | 1959 | Go To Quotation |
| Ivorian | Of or pertaining to the Ivory Coast. | 1966 | Go To Quotation |
| jefe politico | Chiefly in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries: a political leader; esp. a local prefect, boss, or cacique. | 1820 | Go To Quotation |
| kepi | A French military cap, slightly tapering, with a flat top which slopes towards the front, and a horizonal peak. | 1861 | Go To Quotation |
| kharaj | Tribute; rent; poll-tax: see caratch n. | 1860 | Go To Quotation |
| kibble | = cobble n. | 1891 | Go To Quotation |
| kombi | A kind of minibus or van, originally manufactured by Volkswagen, which has removable seating… | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| kyat | The basic monetary unit of Burma (Myanmar) since 1952. | 1952 | Go To Quotation |
| lawrencium | An artificially produced transuranic element that concludes the actinide series… | 1961 | Go To Quotation |
| leaguite | = leagueist n. | 1841 | Go To Quotation |
| lek | A unit of currency in Albania. | 1927 | Go To Quotation |
| Lib-Dem | = Liberal Democrat n.. | 1989 | Go To Quotation |
| life peeress | In the United Kingdom: a woman on whom a life peerage has been conferred. | 1876 | Go To Quotation |
| liger | The offspring of a lion and a tigress. Cf. tigon n. | 1938 | Go To Quotation |
| liquoring | Of tea: That produces (a specified kind of) liquor. (Cf. liquor n. 5.) | 1891 | Go To Quotation |
| liveware | Computer personnel, as opposed to the software and hardware they work with; (more… | 1966 | Go To Quotation |
| longlisted | Placed on a longlist. | 1984 | Go To Quotation |
| Majorism | The political and economic policies associated with John Major. Cf. Thatcherism n. at Thatcherite n. adj. Derivatives. | 1988 | Go To Quotation |
| Marxian | Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Marx Brothers or their films. | 1936 | Go To Quotation |
| Marxist | An admirer of the Marx Brothers or their films. | 1946 | Go To Quotation |
| Masurian | Of or relating to Masuria, a low-lying forested region of north-east Poland (formerly part… | 1914 | Go To Quotation |
| Mayday | Used as an international radio distress signal, esp. by ships and aircraft. | 1923 | Go To Quotation |
| means test | An official inquiry into an applicant's private financial resources, determining or… | 1925 | Go To Quotation |
| means testable | Assessable by a means test. | 1972 | Go To Quotation |
| mechanotherapeutic | Of, relating to, or used in mechanotherapy. | 1915 | Go To Quotation |
| Meibion Glyndwr | (The name of) a militant Welsh nationalist organization. Cf. Mebyon Kernow n., Mec Vannin n. | 1962 | Go To Quotation |
| melange | trans. In the manufacture of woollen cloth: to mix (wool of different colours). Cf. mélange n. 3b. | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| micro | = microprocessor n. | 1978 | Go To Quotation |
| mijnpacht | A mining lease granted (in terms of mining laws) to the owner or lessee of the mining… | 1887 | Go To Quotation |
| milk-and-water | trans. With down. To weaken, to water down; to make less forceful. nonce-use. | 1831 | Go To Quotation |
| millocrat | Esp. in 19th-cent. Britain: a member of the body of mill owners regarded as a dominant or ruling class. | 1838 | Go To Quotation |
| minimalist | More widely: a person who advocates small or moderate reforms or policies; one who believes in minimal change or intervention. | 1906 | Go To Quotation |
| mis-sold | Of a financial product: sold on the basis of misleading advice. | 1993 | Go To Quotation |
| mobility allowance | Originally: a state benefit made available to disabled people to assist them in… | 1974 | Go To Quotation |
| moisturizing | The action of making something moist; esp. (of a cosmetic) the action of making the skin, hair, etc., less dry. | 1958 | Go To Quotation |
| monarcho-fascist | Esp. in communist phraseology: of or designating an extreme right-wing form of government… | 1947 | Go To Quotation |
| moratorium | Law. A legal authorization to a debtor to postpone payment for a certain time; the period of such a postponement. | 1875 | Go To Quotation |
| multi-seat | Of a constituency: represented by more than one member of a legislative body. | 1958 | Go To Quotation |
| mum-in-law | = mother-in-law n. | 1975 | Go To Quotation |
| muraenoid | = muraenid adj. | 1848 | Go To Quotation |
| Murdochian | Characteristic of Iris Murdoch or her novels or philosophy. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| national service | Compulsory service in the armed forces, as during wartime or for a legally… | 1902 | Go To Quotation |
| national serviceman | A man performing national service. | 1949 | Go To Quotation |
| navicert | trans. To authorize with a navicert. | 1941 | Go To Quotation |
| necrophobe | A person affected by necrophobia. | 1973 | Go To Quotation |
| needle-gun | A rifle in which the cartridge is exploded by the impact of a long pointed firing pin. | 1850 | Go To Quotation |
| negrolatry | Enthusiastic advocacy of the interests, culture, etc., of black people. Cf. negromania n. | 1862 | Go To Quotation |
| non-issue | A failure or neglect to issue something; a lack of distribution or provision of; (also) the fact of not issuing something. | 1819 | Go To Quotation |
| non-subject | That is not subject to a particular government, rule, etc., implied by the context. | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| nosh | Food, a meal (now chiefly Brit.); (originally) food which may be nibbled as a snack… | 1873 | Go To Quotation |
| Nuffield | attrib. Designating charitable trusts and benefactions initiated and funded by… | 1940 | Go To Quotation |
| octocentennial | Relating to or connected with an eight-hundredth anniversary. | 1889 | Go To Quotation |
| Off-Off | = off-off-Broadway n. | 1975 | Go To Quotation |
| off-puttingly | In an off-putting way; disconcertingly, repellently. | 1961 | Go To Quotation |
| off-trade | That part of the market in alcoholic drinks which is made up of off-sales; the retailers who deal in off-sales. | 1890 | Go To Quotation |
| old money | Usu. with hyphen. Possessing or characteristic of old-established wealth. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| oolong | A variety of dark-coloured China tea. Also oolong tea. | 1845 | Go To Quotation |
| oopack | A variety of black China tea. | 1855 | Go To Quotation |
| ophicleide | A deep wind instrument consisting of a U-shaped brass tube with eleven keys, forming… | 1834 | Go To Quotation |
| osetrova | Caviar from the Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii. Hence also: the fish itself; = osetr n. | 1928 | Go To Quotation |
| outpunch | trans. To surpass (an opponent) in punching ability; to punch better or more effectively than. | 1924 | Go To Quotation |
| outshop | trans. To discharge (a piece of rolling stock or other vehicle) from a workshop. | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| outstationed | Stationed or placed outside or in the open air. Obs. rare. | 1862 | Go To Quotation |
| outswing | Swing imparted to a ball by the bowler which causes it to move in flight away from the batsman on or towards the off side. | 1921 | Go To Quotation |
| out-winter | trans. To keep (an animal) in the open during the winter. | 1930 | Go To Quotation |
| over-budgeting | The action of overbudget v. | 1933 | Go To Quotation |
| overskate | trans. To skate faster than; to skate beyond (a person, period of time, etc.); (Ice Hockey)… | 1932 | Go To Quotation |
| overstaff | trans. To employ too many staff in (an enterprise, business, workplace, etc.). Also intr. | 1879 | Go To Quotation |
| overstaffing | Employment of too many staff. | 1879 | Go To Quotation |
| overstayed | Of a mast: having too many stays, so as to be excessively rigid. | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| over-the-board | Designating or relating to play in which participants face each other across the… | 1924 | Go To Quotation |
| overtype | trans. To type over (existing text); to type (new text) in place of existing… | 1969 | Go To Quotation |
| own brand | A brand applied by a retailer to products which have been manufactured… | 1870 | Go To Quotation |
| pacifistic | Supportive of pacifism; = pacifist adj. | 1908 | Go To Quotation |
| packaway | attrib. Capable of being packed or folded into a small space when not in use. | 1940 | Go To Quotation |
| paddling pool | A shallow artificial pool for children to paddle in. | 1919 | Go To Quotation |
| Palmach | A commando force of the Haganah, created in 1941 and incorporated into the Israeli national army in 1948. | 1943 | Go To Quotation |
| palomino | Usu. with capital initial. A variety of white grape, originally grown around Jerez… | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| Pandean | An itinerant musician; a minstrel. Now rare. | 1804 | Go To Quotation |
| pan-European | Relating to, affecting, or extending over the whole of Europe; advocating cooperation between the countries of Europe. | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| Panhard | a rigid rod used to minimize side-to-side motion of the wheels of a motor vehicle relative… | 1957 | Go To Quotation |
| Panhellenism | Panhellenic spirit or ideals; spec. (in ancient times) patriotism based on the idea… | 1849 | Go To Quotation |
| pan-Indian | Of or relating to the whole of India, or to all its ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups. | 1899 | Go To Quotation |
| pan-Latinism | The idea or principle of the unification of peoples speaking Romance languages; (belief… | 1864 | Go To Quotation |
| pan-Teutonism | The idea or principle of a union of all the Germanic peoples. | 1864 | Go To Quotation |
| Pan-Turkism | The idea or principle of the political union of all speakers of languages regarded as Turkic; advocacy of this principle. | 1908 | Go To Quotation |
| papalize | trans. To render Roman Catholic; to imbue with Roman Catholic doctrines or practices… | 1835 | Go To Quotation |
| paperweight | A small, heavy (usually decorative) object for keeping loose papers in place. | 1822 | Go To Quotation |
| paribuntal | A type of fine straw used to make hats. Also more fully paribuntal straw. Cf. balibuntal n. | 1926 | Go To Quotation |
| parish councillor | A member of a parish council. | 1893 | Go To Quotation |
| Parisianized | Made Parisian in style or character. | 1823 | Go To Quotation |
| Parnassianism | The poetic technique developed by and characteristic of the French Parnassian… | 1905 | Go To Quotation |
| partita | A suite of several movements. Also: (in baroque music) a set of variations. | 1864 | Go To Quotation |
| patia | A traditional Parsi spicy sweet-and-sour dish. Chiefly as the second element of a compound. | 1954 | Go To Quotation |
| payasam | An Indian dessert consisting of rice or (in later use) vermicelli, boiled in milk or… | 1973 | Go To Quotation |
| peacemongering | Unrealistic or excessive advocacy of peace. | 1853 | Go To Quotation |
| peasantist | An advocate of peasantism. Also as adj. | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| Pelmanism | The Pelman system of memory training. | 1916 | Go To Quotation |
| pelotari | A pelota player, esp. one who plays professionally. | 1906 | Go To Quotation |
| penalization | The action or process of penalizing a person or thing; the imposition of a… | 1888 | Go To Quotation |
| perfervidness | Passion, fervour. | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| periphonic | Of sound reproduction: involving speakers at different heights so as to add… | 1970 | Go To Quotation |
| pessimist | A person who is inclined to pessimism; a person who habitually takes an unhopeful or the… | 1827 | Go To Quotation |
| pétanque | A southern French game similar to bowls, but played, usually on a sand or gravel… | 1955 | Go To Quotation |
| petrol-bomb | trans. To throw a petrol bomb at; to attack or destroy with a petrol bomb. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| petrol bombing | The action of throwing a petrol bomb; an instance of this. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| pew-rent | A rent paid for the exclusive use of a particular pew or seat in a church or chapel. Cf. pewage n. | 1794 | Go To Quotation |
| pew rental | The renting of pews for exclusive use; (also, freq. in pl.) the income earned from this. | 1837 | Go To Quotation |
| pharmacogenetics | The genetic factors involved in the responses of individuals to drugs; a branch of medical science dealing with this. | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| phil | Having a love of or inclination for something. Also as prep. | 1915 | Go To Quotation |
| philhellenic | Loving or friendly towards Greece or Greek culture or people; spec. advocating or… | 1825 | Go To Quotation |
| phobe | Having a hatred or aversion towards someone or something. | 1915 | Go To Quotation |
| photochromography | A method of colouring photographs. Obs. | 1865 | Go To Quotation |
| photodegradable | Susceptible to photodegradation. | 1972 | Go To Quotation |
| photogram | A photograph. Now rare. | 1857 | Go To Quotation |
| physio | A physiotherapist. | 1962 | Go To Quotation |
| Picassoesque | Resembling or suggestive of the style of painting of Picasso, esp. through the… | 1931 | Go To Quotation |
| picketer | A person who pickets; esp. a person engaged in picketing during an industrial dispute, demonstration, etc. | 1847 | Go To Quotation |
| pigeon-chested | = pigeon-breasted adj. Also occas.: having a large bosom. | 1873 | Go To Quotation |
| pig-sticking | The action or practice of butchering a pig, esp. by sticking a knife into the heart or aorta; an instance of this. Freq. attrib. | 1821 | Go To Quotation |
| pikey | A traveller, a gypsy; a vagrant, a tramp; (hence more generally) a lower-class person, regarded as coarse or disreputable. | 1838 | Go To Quotation |
| pilotess | A female pilot; (originally) a woman who steers or navigates a vessel; (now chiefly) a woman who flies an aircraft. | 1827 | Go To Quotation |
| pilot signal | Naut. A signal to request a pilot or to indicate that a pilot is on board a vessel, in the… | 1844 | Go To Quotation |
| pinger | An instrument which emits a ping or pings, esp. as a warning or reminder; spec. a kitchen timer. | 1950 | Go To Quotation |
| Pinteresque | Of or relating to Harold Pinter; resembling or characteristic of his plays. Also occas. as n. | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| pipe cleaner | Any object used for cleaning the inside of a tobacco pipe; spec. a piece of wire covered with tufted material. Also fig. | 1861 | Go To Quotation |
| pipelayer | A person who or machine which lays pipes for water, gas, etc. | 1818 | Go To Quotation |
| pipeline | A continuous line of joined pipes, esp. one used for conveying oil, gas, etc., long… | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| pitch-back | Designating a type of waterwheel in which the incoming supply of water falls on to the… | 1825 | Go To Quotation |
| Pitman | attrib. and in the genitive. Relating to or designating a phonetic system of shorthand notation, originally devised by Pitman. | 1869 | Go To Quotation |
| pivoting | The action of pivot v.; an instance of this. | 1789 | Go To Quotation |
| planetismal | = planetesimal adj. | 1907 | Go To Quotation |
| plankton | With sing. or pl. concord. Floating or drifting organisms, esp. very small ones, found… | 1889 | Go To Quotation |
| planlessly | In an unplanned manner; without planning. | 1849 | Go To Quotation |
| planometric | Of or relating to representation in a plane; two-dimensional. Cf. planimetric adj. | 1882 | Go To Quotation |
| plastic bomb | A bomb containing plastic explosive. | 1944 | Go To Quotation |
| platelaying | The action of laying plates (plate n. 20) for a tramway or railway; (now) spec. the laying of rails for a railway. | 1849 | Go To Quotation |
| platformist | A platform speaker. | 1866 | Go To Quotation |
| platitudinously | In a platitudinous manner; by means of platitudes. | 1889 | Go To Quotation |
| pluckiness | The quality of being plucky; pluck. | 1852 | Go To Quotation |
| plutocratic | Of or relating to plutocrats; characterized by plutocracy. | 1853 | Go To Quotation |
| plutocratical | = plutocratic adj. | 1841 | Go To Quotation |
| pluvius | attrib. Designating or relating to insurance cover (for a holiday, sporting event, etc.) against disruption by bad weather. | 1911 | Go To Quotation |
| pointlessly | In a pointless manner. | 1827 | Go To Quotation |
| pointsman | A man who has charge of the points (point n. 21k) on a railway. | 1845 | Go To Quotation |
| police state | A totalitarian state run by means of a national police force, using repressive methods… | 1851 | Go To Quotation |
| policier | A film based on a police novel. Also occas.: a police novel. Cf. roman policier n. | 1956 | Go To Quotation |
| Polishness | The quality or state of being Polish or of embodying Polish characteristics. | 1935 | Go To Quotation |
| polychroming | The action or process of painting or decorating with many colours. Also fig. | 1899 | Go To Quotation |
| polydactyl | Having more than the usual number of digits (esp. more than five) on a foot or hand, either… | 1827 | Go To Quotation |
| polydrug | Of, relating to, or involving several drugs together; esp. (of abuse) involving several drugs. Cf. polypharmacy n. | 1971 | Go To Quotation |
| polymetric | Using or combining two or more metres, rhythms, or time signatures. | 1878 | Go To Quotation |
| polytonalist | A person who composes, plays, or advocates polytonal music. | 1925 | Go To Quotation |
| pompier | Of painting, etc.: characteristic of a pompier (sense B.); vulgarly neoclassical. Of an artist: working in such a style. | 1914 | Go To Quotation |
| pontify | intr. To assume an arrogant air of authority; to speak dogmatically or pompously. Cf. pontificate v. 2. | 1883 | Go To Quotation |
| pontooning | The action of pontoon v.; the bridging or crossing of a river by means of pontoons. | 1834 | Go To Quotation |
| pooh-poohing | The action of expressing contempt for something; the action of dismissing something… | 1853 | Go To Quotation |
| Pop | At Eton College: (originally) a social club and debating society, founded in 1811; (now) the body of prefects at the college. | 1844 | Go To Quotation |
| popist | A follower or adherent of the pop art movement; a pop artist. | 1981 | Go To Quotation |
| porcelain enamel | An applied glass-like or vitreous coating, usually on metal; vitreous enamel; = enamel n. 1a. | 1852 | Go To Quotation |
| Portal | In full Portal house. A steel-framed, prefabricated house of a type proposed in 1944. Also attrib.… | 1944 | Go To Quotation |
| Porteño | A (usually male) native or inhabitant of Buenos Aires. Cf. Porteña n. | 1826 | Go To Quotation |
| poshed-up | Made smart, stylish, or luxurious, esp. in a way regarded as inappropriate or superficial. | 1955 | Go To Quotation |
| post-Armistice | Occurring or taking place during the period immediately following the Armistice of… | 1919 | Go To Quotation |
| post-treatment | Treatment carried out after some earlier action or process has been completed. | 1923 | Go To Quotation |
| postulancy | The condition of being a postulant, the status of a postulant; the period during which this lasts. | 1851 | Go To Quotation |
| pot-hunting | The action of hunting game for food or monetary gain rather than for sport; (also)… | 1843 | Go To Quotation |
| potiche | A large porcelain vase, typically rounded in shape with bulging shoulders and a wide… | 1829 | Go To Quotation |
| potterer | A person who potters; one who works at things in a casual, ineffectual, unsystematic, or unhurried way; one who potters about. | 1861 | Go To Quotation |
| power-broking | The exertion of influence so as to affect the distribution of political or economic power. Cf. power-brokering n. | 1970 | Go To Quotation |
| powerlifter | Any of various mechanisms or pieces of equipment incorporating a power source and used for lifting heavy weights. | 1909 | Go To Quotation |
| pragmatism | Officiousness; pedantry; an instance of this. Obs. | 1860 | Go To Quotation |
| Prague | ham cured by a process involving salting followed by smoking; a ham of this type. | 1909 | Go To Quotation |
| precedentary | Of or relating to a precedent or precedents; of the nature of or constituting a precedent. | 1789 | Go To Quotation |
| precut | Of or belonging to the period before something is cut; (also) that has been cut or cut out beforehand. | 1898 | Go To Quotation |
| pre-Dreadnought | Of or relating to a battleship designed and built in a style that predates the introduction… | 1908 | Go To Quotation |
| pre-estimate | trans. To estimate beforehand, make a prior estimation of. | 1888 | Go To Quotation |
| pref | = preference share n. at preference n. Compounds. Freq. attrib., in pref share. | 1849 | Go To Quotation |
| pre-final | That precedes the final stage or form. | 1922 | Go To Quotation |
| premier division | In various sports and games: the highest-ranking division. In extended use: the highest… | 1902 | Go To Quotation |
| première danseuse | A leading female dancer, esp. in a ballet company; a ballerina. Cf. prima ballerina n. | 1822 | Go To Quotation |
| premium bond | A bond earning no interest but eligible for lotteries; spec. (in full Premium Savings Bond)… | 1820 | Go To Quotation |
| prepayable | That may or must be prepaid. | 1871 | Go To Quotation |
| pre-preference | Ranking before preference bonds, shares, claims, etc., with regard to security… | 1867 | Go To Quotation |
| pre-preferential | Of, designating, or relating to pre-preference bonds, shares, claims, etc. | 1867 | Go To Quotation |
| presentationally | In a presentational manner; by means of or as regards presentation. | 1928 | Go To Quotation |
| pre-service | Of or relating to a period before a person or thing enters service. Now esp.: relating… | 1918 | Go To Quotation |
| Presidium | Originally: the presiding body in the Russian government set up after the revolution… | 1907 | Go To Quotation |
| pressable | Liable to be pressed into military service; easily taken by a press-gang. | 1801 | Go To Quotation |
| press fastener | = press stud n. | 1922 | Go To Quotation |
| prestidigitation | Sleight of hand, legerdemain; conjuring. Now freq. in extended use. | 1841 | Go To Quotation |
| presumedly | As is or may be presumed; supposedly; = presumably adv. 2. | 1848 | Go To Quotation |
| pretextual | Of the nature of a pretext; on a pretext; pretended, dubious, spurious. In later use chiefly U.S. Law. | 1837 | Go To Quotation |
| Prix de Rome | In full Grand Prix de Rome. Any of a group of prizes awarded annually by the French… | 1851 | Go To Quotation |
| processionist | A person who takes part in a procession. | 1821 | Go To Quotation |
| proclaimant | A person who proclaims or makes a public declaration; a proclaimer of something. Also: †a claimant (obs.). | 1837 | Go To Quotation |
| procryptic | Designating, relating to, or exhibiting colouring or marking in animals that protects… | 1890 | Go To Quotation |
| Prod | A Protestant. Cf. Prot n. | 1837 | Go To Quotation |
| professionalizing | That professionalizes; that makes or becomes professional. | 1957 | Go To Quotation |
| professoriate | A body of professors; the professorial staff of a university; professors collectively. | 1852 | Go To Quotation |
| progressism | The theory or beliefs of a progressist; belief in or advocacy of progress. Cf. progressionism n., progressivism n. | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| promovable | = promotable adj. Chiefly in removable and promovable. | 1902 | Go To Quotation |
| pro-nuncio | A newly appointed cardinal who is (temporarily) serving in the office of nuncio. Now rare. | 1855 | Go To Quotation |
| protectionism | The doctrine that domestic industries should be protected from foreign competition… | 1846 | Go To Quotation |
| protocolic | Of or relating to protocol or protocols; relating to diplomatic procedure; governed by formal rules of behaviour. | 1835 | Go To Quotation |
| Provo | A member of the Provisional IRA (see Provisional I.R.A n. at provisional adj. n. Compounds). | 1971 | Go To Quotation |
| proxime | = proxime accessit adj. n. | 1889 | Go To Quotation |
| prune | Of a dark purple colour, resembling that of a prune. | 1873 | Go To Quotation |
| Prussify | trans. = Prussianize v. | 1905 | Go To Quotation |
| publicism | The occupation or profession of a publicist; political or topical journalism. Also: the… | 1846 | Go To Quotation |
| pugginess | Squatness, stumpiness; resemblance to a pug; = puggishness n. | 1832 | Go To Quotation |
| Puginian | = Puginesque adj. | 1933 | Go To Quotation |
| pull-through | Something (as a length of rag, or a rod to which a rag may be attached) which may… | 1890 | Go To Quotation |
| puntman | = puntsman n. | 1851 | Go To Quotation |
| punto banco | A gambling game resembling baccarat (see quot. 1976). | 1969 | Go To Quotation |
| pur et simple | Following a noun: = pure and simple at pure adj. 3c. Now rare. | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| push-along | That can be pushed along; esp. (of a toy) fitted with wheels and a handle for this purpose. | 1933 | Go To Quotation |
| pyromagnetic | Electrical Engin. Designating a type of dynamo (invented by Thomas Edison) which utilized… | 1887 | Go To Quotation |
| quad | = quadruple adj. | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| quadringenary | A four-hundredth anniversary; the celebration of this; = quatercentenary n. | 1905 | Go To Quotation |
| Quai d'Orsay | By metonymy: the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. | 1876 | Go To Quotation |
| quangoland | The sphere of operation and influence of quangos; quangos collectively. | 1982 | Go To Quotation |
| quatercentenary | Of or relating to a four-hundredth anniversary or its celebration. | 1877 | Go To Quotation |
| Queensberry rules | A code of rules drawn up in 1867 to govern the sport of boxing in Great Britain; the… | 1882 | Go To Quotation |
| questionnaire | A formulated series of questions by which information is sought from a selected group… | 1890 | Go To Quotation |
| quietening | That quietens; making or becoming quiet. | 1877 | Go To Quotation |
| quintupling | The action of quintuple v., multiplication by five; an instance of this. | 1862 | Go To Quotation |
| quisle | intr. To act as a quisling; to betray one's country, esp. by collaborating with an occupying enemy. | 1940 | Go To Quotation |
| racking | The action of fitting something with, or placing objects in, a rack or racks. | 1821 | Go To Quotation |
| radiometry | The detection and measurement of radiation, esp. electromagnetic radiation; the use of a radiometer. | 1890 | Go To Quotation |
| railworks | A factory producing rails for railway lines. | 1863 | Go To Quotation |
| rajpramukh | In India between 1948 and 1956 (the date of the States Reorganization Act)… | 1948 | Go To Quotation |
| randori | Informal or freestyle training or practice; a session of this. | 1910 | Go To Quotation |
| rarissima | With pl. concord. Extremely rare books, manuscripts, or prints. | 1895 | Go To Quotation |
| rate-capping | The imposition of an upper limit on the amount of money which a local authority can spend… | 1983 | Go To Quotation |
| ratemahatmaya | In central Sri Lanka: a local chief or headman. | 1818 | Go To Quotation |
| rationing | The regular provision of a fixed amount of supplies to members of the armed services in… | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| razz | on the razz: out having a good time, socializing, or drinking. | 1983 | Go To Quotation |
| R-boat | In the Second World War (1939 – 45): a German minesweeper. Now hist. | 1942 | Go To Quotation |
| reallocate | trans. To allocate or assign again. | 1899 | Go To Quotation |
| rearwards | = rearward adv. 1. | 1835 | Go To Quotation |
| rebuffing | The action of rebuff v. 1; an instance of this, a rebuff. | 1832 | Go To Quotation |
| recheck | A second or further check or investigation. | 1891 | Go To Quotation |
| reclining board | A board on which one may recline, with a view to straightening the figure. Cf. back-board n. 4. | 1822 | Go To Quotation |
| reconstructed | That has been reconstructed (in various senses). | 1834 | Go To Quotation |
| reconstructor | A person who reconstructs (in various senses). | 1841 | Go To Quotation |
| recouperation | Financial recompense or recovery; = recoupment n. 2. | 1865 | Go To Quotation |
| rectificative | = rectifying adj. | 1863 | Go To Quotation |
| redecoration | The action or process of redecorating; a new decoration. | 1842 | Go To Quotation |
| rediscount | The discounting, esp. by a central bank, of a bill of exchange or other negotiable… | 1836 | Go To Quotation |
| rediscountable | That may be rediscounted. Cf. rediscount v. | 1858 | Go To Quotation |
| redistributory | = redistributive adj. | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| red line | (the) thin red line: the British army or a section of this, often with the implication… | 1855 | Go To Quotation |
| refained | = refined adj. 2. | 1925 | Go To Quotation |
| reform club | A club instituted to promote political reform. Freq. (with capital initials) in the names of particular clubs. | 1819 | Go To Quotation |
| refusenik | In the Soviet Union: a Jew who was refused permission to emigrate, esp. to Israel. Now hist. | 1973 | Go To Quotation |
| reg | The registration number of a vehicle. Freq. preceded by a letter, as A-reg, B-reg… | 1968 | Go To Quotation |
| regasification | The action or process of regasify v. | 1913 | Go To Quotation |
| regionalist | Of, relating to, or supporting regionalism or its advocates; characterized by regionalism. | 1899 | Go To Quotation |
| regularizer | A person who or thing which regularizes. | 1910 | Go To Quotation |
| Reichsbanner | More fully Reichsbanner Black-Red-Gold. A paramilitary organization in Germany from 1924… | 1924 | Go To Quotation |
| Reichswehr | In Russia in the late 19th cent.: (a name for) a militia which may be conscripted in times of war. Obs. rare. | 1876 | Go To Quotation |
| reintermediate | trans. To return (funds or investments) to the banking system, rather than dealing… | 1971 | Go To Quotation |
| re-mark | An act of marking an examination or piece of academic work again. | 1983 | Go To Quotation |
| remarque | A distinguishing feature indicating a certain state of a plate, characteristically a… | 1852 | Go To Quotation |
| remobilize | trans. To mobilize (a person or thing) again (in various senses of mobilize v.). Also intr. | 1886 | Go To Quotation |
| remonetize | trans. To monetize again; esp. to re-establish (a metal) as standard currency in the coinage… | 1875 | Go To Quotation |
| rentière | A woman who derives her income from property or investment. | 1837 | Go To Quotation |
| requeté | A member of a Carlist militia that took the Nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War… | 1936 | Go To Quotation |
| re-reeled | Of silk, paper, etc.: rewound on to a reel. | 1856 | Go To Quotation |
| rescore | trans. Music. To score (a piece of music) again. | 1846 | Go To Quotation |
| Responsivist | A person in favour of cooperating with the diarchal administrative system introduced in the Indian provinces during British rule. | 1926 | Go To Quotation |
| resurrected | That has been restored to life or raised from the dead. Also in extended use. | 1804 | Go To Quotation |
| rethatch | trans. To thatch (a building, etc.) again; to cover with new thatch. | 1825 | Go To Quotation |
| retribalize | trans. To restore (a person, society, etc.) to a tribal state; (in extended use) to reawaken the tribal instincts of. Also intr. | 1930 | Go To Quotation |
| retrogradist | An advocate or supporter of retrogression or of reactionary principles. | 1836 | Go To Quotation |
| reunification | The action of unifying something (esp. a nation) again after a division or separation; the state of being united once more. | 1872 | Go To Quotation |
| Reuters | attrib. Also (esp. in early use) without genitive, in form Reuter. Designating people… | 1860 | Go To Quotation |
| revalorize | trans. Econ. To establish a new (esp. a higher) price or value for (a commodity, asset, etc.); spec. to revalue (a currency). | 1926 | Go To Quotation |
| revueish | Characteristic of a theatrical or musical revue. | 1952 | Go To Quotation |
| rial | The monetary unit of Iran, introduced in 1930 and equal to one hundred dinars. | 1930 | Go To Quotation |
| Riksmål | A written standard form of the Norwegian language based on the Danish written norm of… | 1913 | Go To Quotation |
| ringway | A circular road or system of roads, spec. a major one round an urban area, esp. London. | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| river digger | A person who prospects for diamonds or gold at a river digging. | 1806 | Go To Quotation |
| riverly | Resembling a river; riverlike. | 1858 | Go To Quotation |
| rock climb | An ascent of a rock face, esp. as a sport or pastime; a place where this may be undertaken. | 1861 | Go To Quotation |
| rondeur | In pl. Rounded forms or lines; spec. the curves of the female body. | 1923 | Go To Quotation |
| Ro-Railer | A public transport vehicle, introduced experimentally in England in 1931, which could be… | 1931 | Go To Quotation |
| rotativist | Of, relating to, or advocating rotativism in politics. Also in extended use. Now hist. | 1907 | Go To Quotation |
| rotavation | The action or an act of rotavating. | 1949 | Go To Quotation |
| rough shoot | An area of land used for rough-shooting (rough-shooting n.). | 1883 | Go To Quotation |
| rubber stamping | The action of marking or endorsing something with a rubber stamp; (also) the imprint of a rubber stamp. | 1903 | Go To Quotation |
| Russell | Russell cord. A hard-wearing ribbed or corded fabric chiefly used for academical… | 1834 | Go To Quotation |
| Russellite | An adherent or advocate of the politics of Thomas Wallace Russell, esp. in relation to his support for land reform in Ireland. | 1902 | Go To Quotation |
| Saarlander | An inhabitant of Saarland. Also attrib. or as adj. | 1955 | Go To Quotation |
| sacerdotalize | trans. To make subservient to sacerdotalism. | 1899 | Go To Quotation |
| salicylate | trans. To mix or impregnate with salicylic acid. | 1880 | Go To Quotation |
| salvage | trans. To make salvage of; to save or salve from shipwreck, fire, etc. Also fig. | 1889 | Go To Quotation |
| Samuelite | A supporter of Sir Herbert Samuel; used spec. to designate a member of the official… | 1931 | Go To Quotation |
| sandfracing | A method of stimulating production from an oil field by forcing fluid containing sand grains into the reservoir rock. | 1957 | Go To Quotation |
| sanguinism | Sanguineness of temperament. | 1897 | Go To Quotation |
| satelloid | A craft designed to follow approximately a free-fall orbit, but to expend power to… | 1955 | Go To Quotation |
| sat-upon | Downtrodden, humiliated, ‘squashed’. | 1892 | Go To Quotation |
| scheduling | The action of entering in or drawing up a schedule; esp. the preparation of a timetable… | 1894 | Go To Quotation |
| scientifico- | used as comb. form of scientific adj., in hyphened nonce-formations with adjs.… | 1882 | Go To Quotation |
| Scotland Yard | The London Metropolitan Police; esp. the Criminal Investigation Department of this. | 1830 | Go To Quotation |
| Scouser | = scouse n. 2a. | 1959 | Go To Quotation |
| scripophily | The collection of old bond and share certificates as a pursuit. Also, articles of this nature considered collect. | 1978 | Go To Quotation |
| self-cancelling | In technical use: designed to stop working automatically when no longer required; applied… | 1935 | Go To Quotation |
| sensationist | One who deals in sensation; a sensational novelist, dramatist, or journalist. | 1861 | Go To Quotation |
| sexennate | A period of six years. Chiefly (with capital initial) with reference to a German… | 1898 | Go To Quotation |
| sextet | Music. A composition for six voices or instruments; = sestet n. 1. | 1791 | Go To Quotation |
| sextuplex | trans. To make (a circuit, conductor, etc.) sextuplex, to convert to sextuplex operation. | 1889 | Go To Quotation |
| Shavian | Relating to, characteristic of, or resembling George Bernard Shaw or his works or opinions. | 1904 | Go To Quotation |
| shedding | Sheds collectively; a collection of sheds. | 1883 | Go To Quotation |
| Sherman | The name of W. T. Sherman (1820 – 91), U.S. general, used attrib. and absol. to… | 1942 | Go To Quotation |
| shifta | A Somali bandit or guerrilla, operating mainly in northern Kenya. Also attrib. | 1950 | Go To Quotation |
| Sir Humphrey | A senior civil servant, esp. one considered secretive, scheming, or reactionary. Chiefly in pl. | 1985 | Go To Quotation |
| slob-land | Muddy ground; esp. alluvial land reclaimed from the water. | 1861 | Go To Quotation |
| sniggery | Characterized by sniggering; prone to or liable to cause sniggering; hence, immature, prurient. | 1960 | Go To Quotation |
| social fascist | An advocate or adherent of a non-communist form of socialism; a social democrat. | 1929 | Go To Quotation |
| socialistic | Of, relating to, or characteristic of socialism or socialists. | 1848 | Go To Quotation |
| Soviet | In the U.S.S.R.: one of a number of elected councils which operated at all levels… | 1917 | Go To Quotation |
| spacearium | A theatre with a large concave screen on which scenes of outer space are projected; spec.… | 1962 | Go To Quotation |
| spam | trans. Brit. Services' slang. To give (a person) an unpleasant task. rare. | 1991 | Go To Quotation |
| spydom | Spying; espionage; the world of spies. | 1859 | Go To Quotation |
| stagese | The ‘dialect’ peculiar to the stage. | 1876 | Go To Quotation |
| St. Trinian's | The name of a girls' school invented by the cartoonist Ronald Searle (1920 – 2011) in… | 1958 | Go To Quotation |
| Sturmabteilung | A paramilitary force forming part of the German National Socialist Party, founded in… | 1923 | Go To Quotation |
| subsidization | The action or process of providing a subsidy. | 1845 | Go To Quotation |
| suitcase | A small portmanteau designed to contain a suit of clothes. Hence more generally, a… | 1902 | Go To Quotation |
| superintendential | Of, belonging to, or resembling a superintendent. Also: directed by a superintendent. | 1838 | Go To Quotation |
| suzuribako | In Japan: a box (often, of finely-wrought lacquer-work) in which an inkstone… | 1967 | Go To Quotation |
| swag bag | A bag used to carry stolen goods or loot. | 1860 | Go To Quotation |
| switch-off | The turning off of an (electrical) power supply, television set, etc., by means of a switch. Also attrib. and transf. | 1947 | Go To Quotation |
| tacan | A navigational aid system for aircraft which measures bearing and distance from a ground beacon. Freq. attrib. | 1955 | Go To Quotation |
| Taffia | Any supposed network of prominent or influential Welsh people, esp. one which is strongly nationalistic. (Humorous.) | 1980 | Go To Quotation |
| Tass | The official Soviet news agency. | 1925 | Go To Quotation |
| Taung | Used attrib. with reference to an extinct hominid known from the fossil skull of a… | 1925 | Go To Quotation |
| taximeter | An automatic contrivance fitted on a cab or other vehicle to indicate to the passenger at… | 1894 | Go To Quotation |
| tech | Technology. Chiefly attrib. and in compounds. Cf. high-tech adj. n. low-tech adj. | 1982 | Go To Quotation |
| technicity | Technical quality or character, technicality; the extent to which a people… | 1933 | Go To Quotation |
| telegrapheme | A word suggested instead of telegram n., as being more correctly formed; but never generally adopted. | 1857 | Go To Quotation |
| telemedicine | The remote medical diagnosis and treatment of patients by means or with the… | 1970 | Go To Quotation |
| termitologist | One who studies termites. | 1936 | Go To Quotation |
| thanatorium | An establishment where people are received in order to be killed. | 1970 | Go To Quotation |
| Third Reich | The German state under the rule of Hitler and the Nazi party, 1933 – 45; the regime of Hitler. | 1930 | Go To Quotation |
| toadyship | The action or practice of a toady. | 1839 | Go To Quotation |
| trade union | An association of the workers in any trade or in allied trades for the protection… | 1831 | Go To Quotation |
| trampoline | A base of elastic material used as a springboard and landing area in acrobatic… | 1798 | Go To Quotation |
| triphibious | Capable of living or operating on land, on water, and in the air; spec. of or… | 1941 | Go To Quotation |
| Trotskyism | The political or economic principles of Trotsky; a form of Marxism urging world-wide revolution, as advocated by Trotsky. | 1925 | Go To Quotation |
| unarguable | (un- prefix 7b 5b.) | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| uninominal | Based on the principle of one member being separately elected by each constituency. | 1881 | Go To Quotation |
| up-armoured | Of a military vehicle: outfitted with additional armour. | 1978 | Go To Quotation |
| urbanism | Urban life or character. Also: urban development and planning. | 1884 | Go To Quotation |
| Ustashi | With pl. concord. (Members of) a party and separatist movement of Croatians; the… | 1932 | Go To Quotation |
| Vendémiaire | The first month of the French republican calendar, introduced in 1793, extending from Sept. 22 to Oct. 21. | 1799 | Go To Quotation |
| verbal | trans. To attribute a damaging statement to (an accused or suspected person). Also const. up. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| violatory | = violative adj. | 1802 | Go To Quotation |
| Volga | The name of a Russian river used attrib. in Volga German n. a member of an ethnic… | 1941 | Go To Quotation |
| vorlaufer | A skier who travels a course before a race in order to establish a standard by which the competitors are marked. | 1961 | Go To Quotation |
| Wafd | The name of an Egyptian nationalist organization formed in 1918 (from 1923, a… | 1922 | Go To Quotation |
| washomat | = launderette n. | 1959 | Go To Quotation |
| waterproof | trans. To make waterproof or impervious to water. | 1820 | Go To Quotation |
| waterproofed | Rendered waterproof; provided with, or wearing, a waterproof garment or garments. | 1820 | Go To Quotation |
| westie | A West Highland terrier. | 1949 | Go To Quotation |
| wiretapping | The action or practice of connecting to a telephone line or (formerly) a telegraph circuit… | 1878 | Go To Quotation |
| won | The basic monetary unit of (North and South) Korea. | 1950 | Go To Quotation |
| wrap-over | Part of something, usu. a garment, that overlaps another part of itself. | 1935 | Go To Quotation |
| yips | A state of nervousness which causes a player to miss an easy putt in a competition. Usu. with the. | 1963 | Go To Quotation |
| zaire | The basic monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and of the Republic of… | 1967 | Go To Quotation |
| Zinoviev | a letter published in the press in 1924 as having been sent by Zinoviev, a Russian… | 1924 | Go To Quotation |
