Word stories

Welcome to OED word stories, a series of entertaining and thought-provoking articles on the OED's discoveries about the English language as the editors and researchers continue the 'mammoth task' of revising the Oxford English Dictionary.

1. Mammoth

   What does the OED's entry for the word mammoth tell us about the development of the word in English?

2. Nachos, anyone?

   The fascinating story of an OED researcher's pursuit of the history and etymology of nachos across several States.

3. Following the thin red line

   From the Battle of Balaclava to the Bodleian Library: the hunt for the first recorded use of the phrase.