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>Bog-standard was in use in R.A.F. when I was in 69-84 >Could well be box-standard. >Jim F. >>Hello, >> >>Bikers, your language needs you! >> >>We are trying to find out the origins of the phrase >>"[b]bog-standard[/b]" >> >>It's now a commonly used phrase, but may have >>originated in biker circles, possibly from >>"box-standard" i.e. "straight out of the box" or >>"unmodified". >> >>To explain, we are producing a major television series >>in conjunction with the BBC and the Oxford English >>Dictionary on the English language, and we need your >>help to rewrite the dictionary. >> >>At present the first evidence the OED has for >>"[b]bog-standard[/b]" is from 1983 and relates to >>computers, but we think the term was around before >>this. Do you agree? Have you got any biking >>memorabilia to prove the computer bods didn't invent >>it? Or is there another explanation? >> >>We would really like to talk to anyone who had a Box >>Standard bike back in the day or anyone who has any >>leads on where this phrase comes from. >> >>Can you help or do you know of just the right person >>for us to talk to? >> >>I look forward to hearing from you. >> >>Katie

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