Over 10,000 copies sold in hardback Over 1.5 million words of text and 75,000 entries, covering slang from every part of the English-speaking world from the sixteenth century to the present day Each entry records the date when a slang word appeared, whether it is still in use, and in what countries it is used Detailed etymologies throughout, showing how slang usages evolved and how they relate to one another Coverage of every area of slang: drugs words, criminal terms, swear words, humorous expressions, sex etc.