Did you know that coconut derives from the Spanish and Portuguese coco for 'grinning face'? Or that giraffes used to be called camelopards? Or that walrus has its origin in Dutch, meaning 'whale horse'.

The Little Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins includes 1,000 word histories arranged across 100 wide-ranging themes, from food to phobias, from the universe to love. Featuring words with interesting or surprising origins, it is an irresistible collection of word histories, including dates of origin and an authoritative account of each word's derivation.

Beautifully produced and attractively designed, this fascinating volume is a pleasure to browse. It also features a useful index so you can quickly find just the word you are looking for. It is the perfect gift for word lovers and for anyone with an interest in the English language.