RESEARCH over decades into almost 800,000 words in the English language has earned Glasgow University a top award from the Queen.

The Queen's Anniversary Prize, the highest accolade for any academic institution, was awarded in recognition of the work carried out to compile the Historical Thesaurus

It features every known word in English, arranged by its meaning, spanning a thousand years of the English language.

Next to each word is the date it was used including topgallant which was first used to mean excellent in 1613 and was last found in 1849.

Glasgow University Professor of English linguistics Marc Alexander said: “Hundreds of researchers at the university have spent over 50 years scrutinising the English language of today and of our ancestors and we are delighted the prize recognises this extraordinary effort.

“The result is that the gloriously messy and intricate evolution of English meanings over the last 1000 years is laid out on every page of the Historical Thesaurus.

“It took 44 years of work to produce our first edition and in the eight years since then we are proud researchers at this university and around the world have used the hundreds of thousands of meanings the Historical Thesaurus holds to give us fresh, exciting and profound insights into our culture, our history, our language and ourselves.”

The prize was approved by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister following intensive assessment.

Professor Roibeard O Maolalaigh, vice principal and head of the College of Arts at the university, said the thesaurus is an example of the university's continuing commitment to support world-class research in the arts and humanities.

He added: “This award is well deserved recognition for the commitment of our staff and students in producing over many years this living historic treasury of the English language.”

The thesaurus is available online at www.glasgow.ac.uk/thesaurus and this year almost 40% of the entries have been updated.

The Queen's Anniversary Prize will be presented to Glasgow University in February by a member of the Royal Family at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.