Introduction

I don't know about you, but the first time I heard the word "Transvestite", I was curious to say the least. A strange Germanic-sounding word that hinted at offering a name for what I already (at the age of 8) had a hunch about. Having a proper name for something does several things, not least of them being that it gives some validity to a feeling that you've had all your life.

So there you are, you're 8 years old an you've just found the word that describes exactly what you've been doing all your life (so far) - what next? Well, according to the dictionary, nothing - that's it. Two entries, and pretty disparaging ones at that. Wouldn't it be nice if there were more words...

Having said that though, it's not the most altogether pretty word in the English language - which perhaps explains why the cross-dressing community has a habit of inventing other words for it. But then again, perhaps not. Maybe it's just fun to make up words, or to reappropriate them for a much more princessey purpose

This then, is a collection of various words - some invented, some misappropriated, some just puns on words begining with "trans-" - that crop up from time to time, mostly in online discussions and chat rooms. It's not a definitive list, nor is it an attempt to be anything other than a little diversion from the more serious side of transvestism (how to fit into a size 10 for example)

Most importantly though, it's an open collection. Everything is freely editable (just click on the beside each word) and everyone is encouraged to add new words as and when they crop up. To make life easier, and to retain the attempt I've made to copy verbatim the style of the Oxford English Dictionary (which, for one thing, explains the correct way to spell "colour" and also gives advice on the pronunciation of "aluminium" - there's an 'n' in the middle of it *rant rant rant*), I've made some little mark-up code...

Guide to the code

I've tried to make this as easy as possible, but I know my head works in a different way to some people and so what seems easy to me might be totally incomprehensible. Hopefully what follows should make things a bit clearer. The white text (like [bullet] for example) is the code to type in the 'definition' box on the form. The headword styles itself.

Headword
Automagically styled

Part(s) of speech
In italic type.
n. [noun], adj. [adjective], v. [verb]

Cross-references
In small capitals to other headwords.
[c] transvestism [/c]

Examples
In italic type.
[e] (I bet he's NOT a transvestite – I bet it's a clever tax dodge to get a bigger clothing allowance etc.) [/e]

Phrase list
Signalled by [pl] gives idioms, phrases, compounds.
[pl] [p] action transvestite [/p]

Derivative list
Signalled by [dl] gives regularly derived forms.
[dl] [d] trannie [/d]

Further notes on usage
Signalled by ¶ [note]

New part of speech
Signalled by a bullet [bullet]

Sense letters and numbers
in bold type subdivide meaning
1 [1], 2 [2], 3 [3], 4 [4], 5 [5], a [aa], b [bb], c [cc],

...or you could just type whatever and leave it to me to edit it

If you're interested in stuff about words and dictionaries, there's a really good introduction to how the Oxford English Dictionary works at http://www.oed.com/about/guide/ - which explains a lot about the formatting of entries, what the little marks and abbreviations are, and what the point of a dictionary is. The best quote I ever heard about them though (and I can't remember where) was:

"Yeah, I read the dictionary once. Rubbish plot, but at least it explained every word as it went on"

Well, I found it funny...