Welcome to the Wordlady blog!

This blog is about the fascinating, fun, and challenging things about the English language. I hope to entertain you and to help you with problems or just questions you might have with spelling and usage. I go beyond just stating what is right and what is wrong, and provide some history or some tips to help you remember. Is something puzzling you? Feel free to email me at wordlady.barber@gmail.com.
You can also order my best-selling books, Six Words You Never Knew Had Something to do With Pigs and Only in Canada You Say. Fun and informative!

Subscribe!

Subscribe! Fun facts about English delivered weekly right to your inbox. IT'S FREE! Fill in your email address below.
Privacy policy: we will not sell, rent, or give your name or address to anyone. You can unsubscribe at any point.

Search This Blog

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

"Hockey mom" makes it into Oxford English Dictionary



I bet the Stonewall, Manitoba (pop. 4536) Interlake Spectator never expected it would be quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary! But there it is, in the new entry for "hockey mom" (part of the dictionary's latest quarterly update). 

Here's the earliest evidence the lexicographers found for this term:
1956 Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 22 Feb. 7/5 (caption) Proud hockey mom... Mrs. Alice Richard beams as she holds a picture of her two famed sons, hockey stars Maurice and Henri.
followed by
1984 Stonewall (Manitoba) Interlake Spectator 9 May 22/3 To be a hockey mom..means you do everything moms do plus drive to the rink, work at the rink, and watch games and practices at the rink.
Of course, "hockey mom/hockey mother" has been in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary for almost twenty years now, along with many other "hockey" compounds that the OED hasn't got around to yet: hockey bag, hockey gloves, hockey jacket, hockey socks, hockey tape, and so on.

Do you enjoy Wordlady? Please use the buttons below to share on social media. 

Did you know you can hire Wordlady to enliven your meetings? I can talk entertainingly about the words related to almost any subject. See here for more.

COMING THIS FALL! My ever-popular Rollicking Story of the English Language course. REGISTRATION NOW OPEN AND SPACE IS LIMITED. More info here: http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/p/history-of-english-language-courses.html
 
P.S. If you find the English language fascinating, you might enjoy regular updates about English usage and word origins from Wordlady. Receive every new post delivered right to your inbox! SUBSCRIPTION IS FREE! You can either:
use the subscribe window at the top of this page  
OR  
(if you are reading this on a mobile device): send me an email with the subject line SUBSCRIBE at wordlady.barber@gmail.com

Privacy policy: we will not sell, rent, or give your name or address to anyone. You can unsubscribe at any point.

1 comment:

  1. My friends and I have another definition of hockey mom: those who are moms and play hockey themselves!

    ReplyDelete

About Me

My photo
Canada's Word Lady, Katherine Barber is an expert on the English language and a frequent guest on radio and television. She was Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Her witty and informative talks on the stories behind our words are very popular. Contact her at wordlady.barber@gmail.com to book her for speaking engagements; she can tailor her talks to almost any subject. She is also available as an expert witness for lawsuits.