Eric Partridge

Eric Honeywood Partridge was a New Zealand-born British lexicographer and writer, best known for his work on slang, usage, and etymology in English. He wrote influential reference books including A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, Origins: An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, and A Dictionary of Catch Phrases.

Waimata Valley, New Zealand Feb 6, 1894 Wikipedia
lexicography etymology linguistics reference