earworm (was Re: Secret OED files uncovered)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:16 PM, Jesse Sheidlower wrote:
>
> On Fri, Aug 06, 2010 at 02:10:42PM -0400, Mark Mandel wrote:
> > "Earworm" ("a catchy tune that frequently gets stuck in your head") not
> > suitable for OED?
>
> Just because a journalist says it doesn't mean that it's true.

Note also that "earworm" has already entered the Concise Oxford
English Dictionary (a separate operation from the OED, but still...).
"Locavore" and "pharming," two other supposed "non-words," can also be
found therein.

earworm: http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0980660
locavore: http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0984950
pharming: http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0625150


--bgz

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