Brewer's dictionary of phrase and fable

First published in 1870, this dictionary is a 'museum of literary odds and ends' that elucidates the etymology of some 20,000 unusual and everyday words and phrases.

It draws on a lifetime's reading by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer and includes diverse subjects such as history, literature, mythology, and magic.

The book has been continually updated and revised, with the most recent edition being the 20th edition published in 2018 by Susie Dent.