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Books > Language & Literature > Language & linguistics > General
What did a gongfarmer do? How is a chaperone connected to a bird of
prey? What is the etymology behind cloud architect? And is there a
link between secretaries and secrets? The story behind these (and
many more) job titles is rarely predictable and often fascinating.
In this highly original book, Alexander Tulloch examines the
etymology behind a selection of trades and professions, unearthing
intriguing nuggets of historical information along the way. Here
you will find explanations of common surnames, such as Spencer,
Hayward and Fletcher; obsolete jobs such as pardoner, cordwainer or
telegraph boy; and roles for the modern era, such as wedding
planner, pundit and sky marshal. Packed with additional
etymological information and literary quotations, this book will
appeal not only to linguists but also to anyone interested in the
quirky twists and turns of meaning which have given us the job
titles with which we are familiar today.
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