Dictionary provides safe haven for carousing seamen

Published on 08/03/2006 00:58

MALLEMAROKING may not be a word that crops up often in everyday conversation, but a prestigious reference book based in Edinburgh is fighting to save it, along with other quirky entries.

The expression, which means "carousing of seamen in ice-bound ships", is on a save list compiled by the Chambers Dictionary in an attempt to preserve linguistic heritage and to amuse Scrabblers and crossword setters. Ian Brookes, the dictionary's editor, said the publication "resisted the temptation to toss words out, even if that meant adding more pages".

He added: "Some of the words have a certain relish about them and it would be sad to lose them. The Chambers Dictionary is one of the few reference books to preserve such words."

Mr Brookes said rare words were often looked up by people drawing up family trees.

Also on the save list are jobernowl (blockhead), logodaedalus (someone skilled in the manipulative use of words), incompossible (incapable of co-existing) and supernaculum (to the last drop). But the new edition, due out in September, will include new words such as "stooze" - to borrow money at a cheap rate.