Letter: Rich vintage of a bodaciously good word

Sir: John Windsor is being too hasty in condemning Chambers for including the word 'bodacious' in its new dictionary on the grounds of lack of vintage.

When Marty Balin left Jefferson Airplane in the early 1970s he formed a group called Bodacious DF. Their eponymously titled album was released in 1973. Unfortunately, there was no explanation in the sleeve notes for the meaning of their name, and it is only thanks to Chambers that the mystery has been solved for me.

Yours faithfully,

ALAN WRIGHT

London, SW2

11 September

PS: Checking this letter before printing, my spell-checker passed 'bodacious' happily (and it's not in my personal dictionary).