OXFORD, COLLINS AND NOW A DICTIONARY FOR DYLAN

A dictionary made up of words and meanings has been unveiled at the Dylan Thomas Boathouse.

Snuddle, doland, dysing, eaea are just a few of the quirky names submitted by people across the globe, including Carmarthenshire schoolchildren, to create the 1,000-word Dictionary for Dylan.

The book was the idea of the council’s arts team and compiled as part of last year’s  DT100celebrations when the bespoke replica of Dylan Thomas’ writing shed toured the country.

Visitors to the pop up shed were encouraged to make up a new word and its definition in honour of the poet’s love of words.

Often it was a family word used for generations or a word adopted by their one of their children whilst learning to speak. Hannah Ellis, Dylan’s granddaughter, was the first to contribute her word, Thirplexorbing.

Words also came in by email, text, Facebook, Twitter as well as on postcards and in person.

The launch this week saw people come from as far as Cornwall to pick up a copy.

The council’s head of leisure, Ian Jones said: “Thousands of people have contributed to this wonderful dictionary, and many of the words are very heart warming and quirky. It’s a proper people’s dictionary and is a fitting tribute to the DT100 centenary celebrations.”

The mobile writing shed was carefully created with the same curled pictures on the walls, a bookcase of poetry, Dylan’s ink-stained desk full of papers and his chair with a jacket slung on the back as if he had just popped out for a packet of cigarettes. During its 12-month tour it visited the NATO Summit, The Hay Festival and was a passenger on the Stena Europe ferry to Ireland.

The original shed sits above the Boathouse in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, where Thomas lived with his wife Caitlin and three children, and where he penned some of his most famous works including Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night and Under Milk Wood.

Local writer–in-residence, Emily Hinshelwood said: “This is a true people’s dictionary with a cross-section of generations, culture and outlook on life.”

The book is available to buy from the Boathouse or call 01994 427420.