Endangered word list removed from Collins dictionaries
Dictionary makers Collins have removed a selection of lesser-used words from their smaller dictionaries. These uncommon words have been tracked in recent usage and the least-used ones will now only be marked obsolete and removed from current editions of dictionaries.
Some of the words to be removed are:
“wittol”– a man who tolerates his wife’s infidelity, which has not been much used since the 1940s.
“drysalter” - a dealer in certain chemical products and foods.
“alienism” - the study and treatment of mental illness.
“cyclogiro” - a type of aircraft propelled by rotating blades.
“charabanc” - a motor coach.
“stauroscope” - an optical instrument for studying the crystal structure of minerals under polarized light
Obviously, some of these terms refer to things that are no longer in use, but as they may still be helpful to historians and other experts, they will remain in the most comprehensive dictionaries (but not your average household edition).
Full article: Guardian.
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