Yeah, I know I’m being anal retentive, but does anyone know of any sort of slang dictionary out there? Is there such a thing as an “offcial” spelling for words like “bad-ass,” etc.? Thanks.
Mine is Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang, edited by Jonathon Green. It was about $25.00 and in paperback format.
Online there’s Rogers Profanisarus, but that’s more devoted to vulgarities than slang.
And Yahoo has an entire category devoted to slang dictionaries. I’m sure the other portals do as well.
NOt knowing your age and your intent, I will say that the best, most complete, authoratative books on American Slang would the be The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, edited by J.E.Lighter. Currently, there are two volumes out, which take it from A-O. These are the most masterful works ever done on American Slang. But Expensive. If they are for you, I will give suggestions as to how to acquire them cheaper than cover price(about $60/volume). They are for serious etymologists.
But if it’s just a down and dirty cheap book which lists slang words and how to spell them, well, just go browse a Borders.
I own the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang. $9.95 in paperback. I love it; in addition to being a great reference book, it also makes for great casual reading.
A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, by Eric Partridge is a great one. It’s out of print but you could probably scrounge a used one.
I have Slang and Euphemism by Richard A. Spears, which is “a dictionary of oaths, curses, insults, ethnic slurs, sexual slang and metaphor, drug talk, college lingo, and related matters.” It has two full pages of synonyms for “penis”, and slightly more for “vagina”.
Oh, and it’s either “badass” or “bad-ass”.
What the?
I posted to this thing the other day and now it’s gone. I guess it got erased during the cracker attack.
A Dictionary of Slang is a good online version. It’s based in the UK, but it’s had every slang word I’ve ever wondered about listed in it.