Creator
Eric Partridge
Title
A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English
Coverage
New York
Publisher
Macmillan
Date
1937
Description
After a decade of “close observation of colloquial speech,” Eric Partridge issued the 20th century’s most popular slang dictionary, which went through many editions. In early editions he treated “unpleasant terms . . . aseptically”—meaning that English obscenities were often defined in Latin. The educated could read the naughty entries; everyone else was presumed unable to handle them. Even so, because of the coverage of “unspeakable” terms, the book was often kept on “restricted access” in libraries.
Source
Ex coll. Karolyne & Bryan A. Garner. HHD no. 116