Do you have an earlier record of a word which our editors are currently researching? Browse our latest appeals below and help us record the English language.
You can also find out more about the OED appeals and read about our previous appeals on the OED blog.
Do you have an earlier record of a word which our editors are currently researching? Browse our latest appeals below and help us record the English language.
You can also find out more about the OED appeals and read about our previous appeals on the OED blog.
A 1981 antedating was found by Bryn.
‘Kilig’ is a borrowing from Tagalog that has taken on a variety of meanings and uses in Philippine English. The word can be used as a noun to refer to the thrill caused by an exciting or romantic experience, or […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 24 May 2016 15.24
Tags: 1980s, 1990s, Philippine English, World English
A 1964 antedating supplied by Bryn has been verified.
‘Add oil’ is an expression that has gained a lot of currency in Hong Kong in the last few years. A literal translation of the Cantonese phrase ga yao, it [..]
Posted by OED_Editor on 17 May 2016 15.00
Tags: 2000s, Hong Kong English, World English
The ‘cashier’ sense has been antedated to 1950; evidence from 1970 of the ‘payment booth’ sense was found by Doug Clark.
‘Shroff’ is a word whose use in English can be traced back to colonial times. An Anglo-Indian corruption of the Persian borrowing saraf, it was used to refer to local bankers and money changers in former British territories in Asia such as India, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Today, the word has almost completely fallen out of use, except in Hong Kong English, where it has taken on the more modern sense of a cashier or […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 17 May 2016 15.00
Tags: 1970s, 1990s, Hong Kong English, World English
An equivalent use of saboing dating to 1917 in a source unconnected to Singapore was identified by Bryn.
‘Sabo’, an abbreviated form of the English word sabotage, is a Singaporean slang term that means tricking people or intentionally making trouble for them, especially to gain a personal advantage. The word can be used as both a noun and a verb […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 10 May 2016 17.28
Tags: 1960s, 1970s, Singapore English, World English
‘Shiok’ is a borrowing from Malay that has acquired multiple uses and meanings in everyday Singapore English. It is an exclamation expressing admiration or approval, just like ‘cool!’ and ‘great!’ It is also an adjective that describes delicious food or a superb meal, or […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 10 May 2016 17.26
Tags: 1970s, 1980s, Singapore English, World English
‘Crap hat’ is a derogatory term for the standard (originally khaki, now dark blue) beret worn by regular soldiers in the British Army, in contrast to those worn in the special regiments (typically red or green). The term is also used by […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 9 May 2016 14.27
Tags: 1970s, British, Military, slang
Evidence from 1905 was supplied by ‘hugooooo’; antedating evidence of the noun usage was supplied by Bryn.
Perhaps it is fitting that mystery surrounds the appearance of the word ‘paranormal’, but can you help us solve it? […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 7 October 2015 15.12
Tags: 1920s
Comments: 7
Verifiable evidence has been provided from 1986.
In the United Kingdom, after a bar or pub’s doors are closed at the official or legal closing time, customers already inside are sometimes allowed to stay and continue […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 17 September 2015 19.58
Comments: 3
The ‘parmo’ is a food associated particularly with the area of Teesside, in north-east England. It consists of a fillet of breaded chicken, pork, or other meat that is fried and covered with béchamel sauce and […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 12 June 2015 13.22
Tags: 2000s, British, Food & Drink
Comments: 3
The jackalope is a mythical beast of the American West, in the form of a jackrabbit with horns like those of a deer or pronghorn antelope. The earliest evidence of the creature’s name found so far […]
Posted by OED_Editor on 5 May 2015 19.32
Tags: 1950s, North American
Comments: 4