The Oxford dictionary of Nicknames has a depth and breadth that is almost stunning. It covers politicians, kings, queens, presidential rulers, politicians, soldiers, religious figures, musicians (of all types) controversial figures, actors, actresses, cities, institutions both famous and otherwise, ... Read review
The Oxford dictionary of Nicknames has a depth and breadth that is almost stunning. It covers politicians, kings, queens, presidential rulers, politicians, soldiers, religious figures, musicians (of all types) controversial figures, actors, actresses, cities, institutions both famous and otherwise, businessmen and women, publications, criminals, sports teams, etc., etc.
Some of the nicknames are still well-known, and others have fallen ... ...Kelly, who became known as Machine Gun Kelly. Apparently his wife bought him his first machine gun (hey? Who said romance is dead?) and also gave him the sobriquet he lived under until his death in custody of a heart attack.
Betty Gabble was tagged with the name the Girl With the Million Dollar Legs. Her legs WERE actually insured through Lloyds of London, but only for $25,000. It is believed the nickname was invented by the film company ... more
The Oxford dictionary of Nicknames has a depth and breadth that is almost stunning. It covers politicians, kings, queens, presidential rulers, politicians, soldiers, religious figures, musicians (of all types) controversial figures, actors, actresses, cities, institutions both famous and otherwise, businessmen and women, publications, criminals, sports teams, etc., etc.
Some of the nicknames are still well-known, and others have fallen into relative obscurity.
There's George R. Kelly, who became known as Machine Gun Kelly. Apparently his wife bought him his first machine gun (hey? Who said romance is dead?) and also gave him the sobriquet he lived under until his death in custody of a heart attack.
Betty Gabble was tagged with the name the Girl With the Million Dollar Legs. Her legs WERE actually insured through Lloyds of London, but only for $25,000. It is believed the nickname was invented by the film company she was under contract to. Her legs were probably some of the sexiest in the 1940s and as a result, she was a very popular pin-up girl.
We learn that Richard Austin Butler (a British politician) was known as Rab, from his initials, the team of conservatives working under him (who were all younger than him) were known as Rab's Boys.
Henry the VIII was tricked into marrying Anne of Cleves by a court painter who did the equivalent of touching up a photograph. Henry said that she was so different from her portrait that he believed he had been sent a "Flanders Mare" and thus poor Anne of Cleves became known as the Flanders Mare.
Traitors, too, are covered. Lord Haw-Haw (aka William Joyce) who, although born in America of Irish parents, affected an overdone upper-class accent in his broadcasts from Germany. The nickname was invented by Jonah Barrington, a Daily Express journalist. Joyce was hung for treason. Unlike his fellow American, Tokyo Rose (aka Iva Ikuko Torguri D'Aquino) who only received a 6 year jail sentence and a pardon from President Gerald Ford in 1977.
It also tells you who was known as the Walrus of Love, which team is known as The Owls and which regiment was known as the havercake Lads.
The book is in paperback published at £9.99. It is ideal for people who are collectors of facts and trifles and also for people who prepare pub quizzes.
Martinscholes 16.07.2006
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Review of Oxford Dictionary of nicknames - Oxford Paperback Reference
