Bagels, Bumf, and Buses

Where do our everyday words come from? The bagel you eat for breakfast, the bumf you have to wade through at the office, and the bus that takes you home again: we use these words without thinking about their origins or how their meanings have changed over time. Simon Horobin takes the reader on a journey through a typical day, showing how the words we use to describe routine activities - getting up, going to work, eating meals - have surprisingly fascinating histories.

Where do our everyday words come from? The bagel you eat for breakfast, the bumf you have to wade through at the office, and the bus that takes you home again: we use these words without thinking about their origins or how their meanings have changed over time. Simon Horobin takes the reader on a journey through a typical day, showing how the words we use to describe routine activities - getting up, going to work, eating meals - have surprisingly fascinating histories.

if you've ever wished, If only the OED were organized categorically instead of alphabetically, then your wish has been granted in the form of Bagels, Bumf, and Busses: A Day in the Life of the English Language. Amateur etymologists will rejoice and enjoy this book -- Timothy Esposito, past president of the STC Philadelphia Metro Chapter., Technical Communication

Horobin's often humorous and always enthusiastic work will entertain readers by revealing the dynamic nature of language. -- Publishers Weekly

For anyone curious about where everyday English words come from, this accessible text will prove to be an enticing choice, as well as a useful guide for general readers seeking resources on English usage and popular linguistics. -- Library Journal

Fans of language and of pursuing trivia will find a goldmine of the unusual, surprising, and always fascinating history of everyday words. -- Mark Knoblauch, Booklist

All in all, an interesting and entertaining way to motivate students to explore language through etymology. -- Maurice Cassidy, Training, Language & Culture

Anyone with a passion for language or a burning desire to learn more trivia should check out Bagels, Bumf, and Buses. -- Valentina Palladino, ars Technica

'A book to make you stop and marvel over words we use unthinkingly every day. Simon Horobin offers a tantalising glimpse into the hidden lives of our vocabulary. If you've ever pondered why eggs is eggs, or whether toadying up to someone ever involved a real amphibian, this is the book for you. -- Susie Dent, lexicographer and etymologist

A very entertaining etymological journey through the things you do every day... Horobin takes the reader through a veritable bombardment of fun facts about quotidian words that secretly hide fascinating stories... This is good for both people new to linguistics and experienced etymologists, because there's nothing technical about it but there's something to learn for all levels - I definitely recommend it. -- Adam Aleksic, The Etymology Nerd