Oxford English Dictionary adds new surf-related words

December 15, 2016 | Surfing
Surfing: the word 'macking' earned a spot on the Oxford English Dictionary | Photo: Kirstin/WSL

There are new surf-related terms and expressions in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

The OED is one of the oldest English dictionaries. It was published for the first time in 1884, and it is considered by many specialists as the most trusted English language dictionary in the world.

The Oxford English Dictionary is not a closed book - it gets constant updates.

Recently, surf historian Matt Warshaw was hired as an external consultant to the OED. His job is to find relevant surf-specific additions to the long vocabulary list.

Warshaw is the author of "The Encyclopedia of Surfing," "The History of Surfing," "Photo/Stoner," and "Surf Movie Tonite!" He was born in Los Angeles in 1960.

The December 2016 update adds popular surf lingo to the OED - shaka and paddleboarding, for example - but also includes an extensive list of surf-inspired sub-entries and senses.

They are:

New OED Words

close out, n.
cross-step, n.
cross-step, v.
cross-stepping, n.
da kine, n.
grom, n.
macking, adj.
paddleboarding, n.
rag-doll, v.
shaka, int. and n.
tombstone, v.

New OED Sub-Entries

beach cruiser
board rider
board shaper
dawn patrol
duck dive
duck-dive
duck-diving
impact zone
shortboard revolution
single-fin
squaretail
stand-up paddle surfing
SUP
SUPing
to close out
tow-in
tow-in surfer
tow-in surfing
turtle roll
twin-fin

New OED Senses

barrel, n.
barrel, v.
bomb, n.
break, n.1
fin, n.1
floater, n.
hold-down, n.
line-up, n.
shape, v.
shaper, n.
snake, v.1
swallow-tail | swallowtail, n.
walled, adj.1

Want to learn more surf lingo? Explore the glossary of surfing terms and expressions.

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