BBC Word Hunt

>> BBC Word Hunt
This collaboration between the BBC and the Oxford English Dictionary aims to find the earliest proven usage of every word in the English language. The Word Hunt (a forthcoming BBC Two programme) is focused on proving when words or phrases like minger, mullet and pear-shaped were first used.
Anyone can contribute to the online word appeal by finding an early appearance of a phrase in a book, magazine, film or TV script, or even in a private letter.
Also mentioned today:
>> The Collins Living Dictionary

Comments

[Margaret King]

I heard about this site on the show last week and one word which was discussed was "minging" and said it was first used in the 1990s. I was born and brought up in Dundee, Scotland and minging was in common usage in the 1960s. Is was used as stated in the programme to describe a smell or an individual could be described as minging although we never used the word minger.

[Miles Mendoza]

Hi Margaret

In fact I said that 'minger' was first used in the 90's although 'minging; dates from 1970, and the root noun 'ming' ('something smelling unpleasant') dates from at least 1920. The OED and Wordhunt programme are looking for written proof that 'minger' was in common usage before about 1995.

Thanks for listening!
Miles