dictionary words, or maybe not

[Steve K.]

On Thu, 20 Jan 2000, Peter Richardson wrote:

> Bill Bryson notes in Made in America that _light bulb_ isn't findable in
> most (perhaps he even says any) dictionaries. Are there any other standard
> everyday words that one doesn't encounter in our common references? I'm
> obviously not including anything from slang or regional vocabularies.

Light bulb is in American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd edition (first
published in 1992). It's also in Random House College, and in
Merriam-Webster 10 (as one word). What dictionaries is he looking in and
how old are they?

--- Steve K.