October 16th is National Dictionary Day, commemorating the birthday of Noah Webster, best known for the Webster's Dictionary. But we're going beyond the utilitarian function of the average dictionary to celebrate the many other interesting dictionaries in the A.C. Clark Library's Collections.
Guide authors: Martha Sherman, Library Graduate Assistant; Tammy Bobrowsky, Librarian
We can't talk dictionaries without mentioning the premier English language dictionary: the Oxford English Dictionary, or OED. Great for looking up definitions, history, etymology, and just for discovering fun, weird words!
Don't make the mistake of thinking of this book as a practical dictionary for definitions. This is simply a feast for the eyes. It features "over 1,500 engravings that originally graced the pages of Webster's dictionaries in the 19th century ... compiled into an alluring and unusual visual reference guide for the modern day. Images range from the entirely mysterious to the classically iconic." (Chronicle Books)
A Dictionary of the Ojibway Language by Frederic Baraga
This book is a classic Ojibway-English/English-Ojibway dictionary that was first published in 1853 and is still considered to be the most comprehensive and accurate lexicon available of the Ojibway language. It is an important cultural and linguistic resource for historians, anthropologists, linguists, ethnologists, and all students interested in the Ojibway language.
Here is a quick summary of the Ojibway words and phrases related to beavers, from Baraga's dictionary:
The Ojibwe people have a saying: "nind amikwagis," which means "I live like a beaver." This saying reflects the Ojibwe people's deep appreciation for the beaver and its way of life.
A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson, 1755, Volume 1
Johnson's dictionary includes over 40,000 entries, each of which includes a definition, examples of usage, and information about the etymology of the word. The definitions are often witty and insightful, and the examples of usage are drawn from a wide range of sources, including literature, science, and philosophy. It was the first dictionary to attempt to define and illustrate the meaning of every word in the English language, and it was the standard English dictionary for over a century.
The word "beaver" in Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary has three distinct meanings:
The first two meanings of "beaver" are still in use today. The third meaning is less common, but it can still be found in some contexts, such as in descriptions of historical armor.
The Dictionary of American Regional English is a record of American English as spoken in the United States. In this entry for the word "hotdish," the yummy casserole-like dish that many in the midwest are familiar with, we can see that use of the word is quite prevalent in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but less so in North Dakota and Michigan. According to this map, many people on the west coast, east cost, and in the south would likely not know what "tatertot hotdish" was!
Described as "a catalogue of fantasy lands, islands, cities, and other locations from world literature." It includes entries such as Atlantis, Lewis Carroll's Wonderland, C.S. Lewis' Narnia, and of course, the middle earth of J.R.R. Tolkien's stories. Lots of fantastic illustrations as well.
For the true fan or scholar: An illustrated dictionary that explains references in the Sherlock Holmes detective stories necessary to an understanding of their setting in Victorian England.
Lumberjack Lingo, by L.G. Sorden
Lumberjack Lingo is a dictionary of the language used by lumberjacks in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It includes terms related to the logging process, the lumberjack lifestyle, the lumberjack vernacular, and the lumberjack culture.
The term "bank beavers" in Lumberjack Lingo by L.G. Sorden refers to the lumberjacks who were responsible for driving the rear of a log drive. This was a dangerous and demanding job, as the bank beavers had to use their skill and experience to keep the logs moving and prevent them from jamming. They also had to be prepared to deal with hazards such as rapids, falls, and other obstacles.
The term "bank beavers" is a colorful and evocative one, and it captures the essence of this important and challenging job. It also highlights the camaraderie and teamwork that was essential for lumberjacks to succeed in this dangerous environment.