Free Online Source Spotlight: A Czech Pocket Dictionary

The CGSI Digital Library is a place where CGSI members can access thousands of books, published genealogies, webinars, finding aids, videos, maps, magazines/articles, and all the previously published issues of the CGSI journal, Naše rodina. 

In addition to this rich members-only content, we also like to find and highlight as many free online sources relevant for our members. You do not need to be a member to access these sources, but we include catalog entries to them in our massive Digital Library.

Recently the following free source was highlighted in our Digital Library: 

A pocket dictionary of the English and Bohemian languages, with full pronunciation and accentuaton.

Volume 1 is English to Czech, Volume 2 is Czech to English. This resource is housed by the University of Iowa and was written in 1886 by František B. Zdrubek.

Why would I reference a dictionary written in 1886? The answer is quite simple: a living language changes over time. Words and definitions come into and go out of style. This dictionary can provide insights into terminology found in archive records and articles from the 19th century. specifically, terms around occupations and causes of death as examples.

This dictionary is provided through the Hathi Trust. You cannot download the full two volumes of the dictionary, but you can print and download specific pages. The two volumes are links provided at the bottom of the introductory page.

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