At 11:38 08.01.1999 EST, David Haberstich wrote:
> I just LOVE it whenever people ask listmembers to define words. It
>often represents an exercise in futility which nevertheless can be very
>amusing. This particular request has more legitimacy than most, since
>"blockbuster," in the sense of major events, is not yet in some of the
>dictionaries to which we have ready access (has anyone tried looking up
>the word in a recently published dictionary in their local Borders or
>what have you?).

Reaching to the left of my desk, I grab the _Concise Oxford Dictionary of
Current English_, 9th ed., Oxford, 1995, and read:

"blockbuster n. slang
(1) something of great power or size, esp. an epic film or a best-selling
book.
(2) a huge aerial bomb capable of destroying a whole block of buildings."


>My Webster's has only two meanings, viz.: (1) a huge
>bomb, and (2) someone who scares homeowners into selling by suggesting
>that minorities are moving into the neighborhood.

1:0 for Oxford vs. Webster's ...  (I ain't British, BTW) ;-))

Wishing all of you on MUSEUM-L blockbusting success in 1999,

Martin


--
Martin Taureg
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