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Differences between British and US English. Comparing Webster’s Dictionary with the OED Catherine G. Hamilton. Only in Webster’s. bang n. (usually plural) - a fringe of hair cut short (as across the forehead) restroom n. - a room or suite of rooms that contains sinks and toilets
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Differences between British and US English Comparing Webster’s Dictionary with the OED Catherine G. Hamilton
Only in Webster’s • bangn. (usually plural) - a fringe of hair cut short (as across the forehead) • restroomn. - a room or suite of rooms that contains sinks and toilets • sophomoren. – a student in the second year of high school or college • sneakern. - a sports shoe with a pliable rubber sole • sidewalkn. - a paved walk at the side of a road or street
Only in the OED • nappyn. – a (generally square) piece of towelling or other absorbent material which is wrapped around the waist (usually of a baby or toddler), drawn up between the legs, and fastened, for the purpose of retaining urine and faeces. Also: a disposable equivalent made from cotton wool, etc., with a waterproof backing. • cookern. - a stove or other apparatus designed for cooking • dummyn. – a rubber teat put into a baby's mouth to soothe it. • nickv. to steal • dodgyadj. - of poor quality, unreliable; questionable, dubious
Shared meaning: One trained in chemistry chemist, n. British meaning: One who deals in medicinal drugs. (US: pharmacist, drugstore)
caravan, n. British meaning: a house on wheels, e.g. the travelling house of gipsies, a showman, or (according to recent fashion) a party on a pleasure tour; one of the covered vehicles of a travelling menagerie, etc. Now freq. one able to be towed by a motor car and used as a stationary dwelling (esp. while on holiday). (US: trailer) Shared meanings: 1. A group of travelers journeying together through desert or hostile regions 2. A group of vehicles traveling in a file
redundant, n. Shared meaning: Exceeding what is needed or normal British meaning: no longer needed at work; unemployed because of reorganization, mechanization, change in demand, etc. (US: Fired)
brilliant, adj. Shared meanings: 1. very bright 2. striking, distinctive 3. very intelligent British meaning: (colloquial) amazing, fantastic (US: Awesome)
revise, v. British meaning: to look over or examine again (US: study) Shared meaning: To look over something written in order to correct or improve
regular, adj. US meaning: conforming to the normal or usual manner or inflection (British: standard, normal, medium) Shared meaning: Recurring or repeated at fixed times
store, n. US meaning: any retail business establishment (British: shop) Shared meaning: A large retail business establishment, a place where merchandise is kept in abundance, eg. department store, chain store
trash, n. US meanings: 1. something of little worth 2. empty or disparaging talk 3. a worthless person (British: rubbish) Shared meaning: That which is broken, snapped, or lopped off anything in preparing it for use; broken or torn pieces
pudding, n. Shared meaning: A sweet course following the main course of a meal, ‘afters’ (dessert). US meaning: A soft, spongy, or thick creamy dessert (British: ?)