Reviewed by Marc Pierce, University of Texas at Austin

The study of word origins often attracts nonlinguists, as demonstrated by the numerous columns on etymology in popular periodicals and by the regular appearance of questions about word origins on quiz shows such as Jeopardy!. However, much of the popular information about etymology is incomplete or inaccurate. This book, which is aimed at nonlinguists, is intended to provide a ‘thorough investigation of the history of the science of etymology [authored by] an internationally acclaimed expert, [Anatoly Liberman]’ (statement on the dust jacket).

The book consists of eighteen whimsically titled chapters, such as, ‘Chapter ten, which suggests that in the world of words, anonymity is the greatest reward, or words and names’ (106–25). There is also an extensive collection of endnotes and indexes of English words, names, and subjects.

Perhaps the best way to give an accurate snapshot of the contents is to examine one chapter in more detail—specifically, ‘Chapter eleven, in which history pretends to raise its veil, or coinages by known individuals’ (126–34). Ch. 11 opens with a brief discussion of the words gas—coined by the Flemish chemist Jan Baptista van Helmont—and boondoggle—‘allegedly coined in 1925 by R. H. Link, an American Scoutmaster’ (128)—followed by an extensive discussion on the origins of Lilliputian—coined by Jonathan Swift for Gulliver’s Travels, first published in 1726—and jeep, both of which present a variety of problems for the etymologist. Jeep, for instance, has two main competing etymologies: the first proposal derives the word from GP, an abbreviation for either general production, for general purpose, or for general purposes, while the other proposal links it to Eugene the Jeep, a character from the Thimble Theatre comic strip (later renamed Popeye), who could only say ‘Jeep!’. L notes that the evidence for both of these etymologies is inconclusive. This nicely illustrates just how difficult etymological research can be: jeep must have been coined around 1940 and yet has no definitive etymology, despite its relatively young age.

Happily, this book lives up to the description on the dust jacket: it contains an engaging discussion of etymology that will help eliminate some of the prevailing misconceptions about word origins. It will make an excellent textbook for an introductory course on English etymology. Those interested in etymology would be well-advised to read this book.