The Oxford English Dictionary records the meaning and development of the English language.“Twerk”, the word describing the dance popularised by Miley Cyrus, can be traced back to as early as 1820, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
The word is one of 500 new entries, including “twitterati” (describing users of the social media service), and “fo’ shizzle” (meaning “for sure”), added to the dictionary.
The Oxford English Dictionary records the meaning and development of the English language. For a word to qualify, it must have been have been in popular use for at least 10 years in both novels and newspapers.
Twerking, which the dictionary describes as dancing “in a sexually provocative manner, using thrusting movements of the bottom and hips while in a low, squatting stance”, has its roots in the early 1990s New Orleans “bounce” music scene.
But research by the Oxford English Dictionary found it was first used as a noun in 1820, spelt “twirk”, to refer to a “twisting or jerking movement” or “twitch”. The verb is believed to have emerged later in 1848, and the “twerk” spelling was popularly used by 1901.
While the exact origin of the word is uncertain, it may be a blend of the words twist or twitch, and jerk.
Fiona McPherson, senior editor of Oxford English Dictionary, said: “We are confident that it is the same origins as the dance. There has been constant use up into the present day to mean that same thing.
“I think it’s quite spectacular, the early origins for it. We were quite surprised.”
Twerking has infiltrated popular culture in recent years and hit the headlines after Miley Cyrus’s controversial MTV Video Music Awards performance in 2013.
The word first entered the online Oxford dictionary, which recognises popular usage of words, in 2013.
“Meh”, an interjection expressing lack of enthusiasm, has also been included in the latest Oxford English Dictionary. The word is believed to have been first used in 1992, before being popularised by cult TV cartoon The Simpsons.
McPherson said the new entries had “earned their place” in the history of the English language.
Webisode among new dictionary words
The Oxford English Dictionary has added 500 new words in its latest edition. Here are a few of the most interesting new entries and their meanings:
:: e-cigarette (noun) - the “cigarette-shaped device containing a nicotine-based liquid or other substance that is vaporized and inhaled, used to simulate the experience of smoking” has soared in popularity in recent years, but the word usage can be traced back to 2007.
:: voluntourism (noun) - “tourism in which travellers spend time doing voluntary work on development projects, usually for charity”, is believed to have been first used in 1991.
:: webisode (noun) - “a short video, especially an instalment in a drama or comedy series, which is presented online rather than being broadcast on television” was recorded in use in 1996.
:: FLOTUS (noun) - (The) First Lady of the United States was referred to using this acronym as early as 1983, and is now Michelle Obama’s official twitter handle.
:: freegan (noun) - A person who eats discarded food, typically collected from the refuse of shops or restaurants, for ethical or ecological reasons. The word was recorded in use in The Sunday Times of London in 1997. It can also be used as an adjective.
:: ecotown (noun): A new town designed to have a minimal impact on the environment and to facilitate an environmentally responsible lifestyle for its residents. First used in 1974.