Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang

Oxford University Press is currently undertaking the massive editorial work required to finish this ground-breaking four-volume set that was started more than 25 years ago. The third volume, covering the alphabetic range of P through Sk, is due to appear in March 2007. Volume IV, covering Sk through Z and including a bibliography of tens of thousands of items, is planned for two years later. More information can be found at the Oxford University Press web site. There you will find a history of the project and a long interview with Chief Editor Jonathan Lighter. [This information was added by Grant Barrett, project editor of HDAS.]

Yes, a big SNAFU took place at Random House. In the unlikely case you guys don't know what SNAFU means, you could always look it up in the Random House Dictionary of American Slang. Unfortunately the third volume (containing entries under S) has not yet been published, so you must ask a learned fried to find out what the meaning of this expression is. But if you already own the first two volumes you are likely to be as disappointed (mild euphemism) as I am. Can anybody (maybe Random House itself?) tell or predict if and when the third volume will be published?Men, this story is a true pain where you don't tell the ladies.

This is an indispensible book for writers and for anyone who loves words, but only if you're looking for something from A to O, since Random House dumped the project. Hope may be on the horizon, though. As reported in William Safire's On Lanuguage column (NYT Mag. 6/29/03), the National Endowment for the Humanities came up with a grant of $325,000 over two years to keep J.E. Lighter's project going, and Oxford University Press picked up the challenge. Oxford is now working out the contract details with Random House.

Volumes I and II comprise an impressive, indispensable reference for writers, word junkies, and the just plain curious. But where the devil is the danged, long-over Volume III!? There's lots of slang after the letter O. This outstanding reference, unfortunately, is still imcomplete. The publishers ought to be ashamed of themselves for getting us hooked, and then not delivering on the promised final volume.

I am an avid collector of dictionaries, and this is one of my favorites. It is an invauable reference, and fun to browse. The definitions are clear and, from my experience, accurate. The attempt to find the earliest references is impressive -- certainly the best of its kind, but it is not 100% accurate. No work of this type, which breaks much new ground and works so often from primary sources, could be completely accurate, but it it provides an invaluable foundation for future slang etymology. A truly awesome work. I check back monthly for volume III.