Robert K. Barnhart (1933 – April 2007) was an American

lexicographer Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries. * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoretica ...

and editor of various specialized dictionaries. He was co-editor, with his father

Clarence Barnhart Clarence Lewis Barnhart (1900–1993) was an American lexicographer best known for editing the ''Thorndike-Barnhart'' series of graded dictionaries, published by Scott Foresman & Co. which were based on word lists and concepts of definition d ...

, on some editions of the '' Thorndike-Barnhart'' dictionaries and ''The

World Book Dictionary ''The World Book Dictionary'' is a two-volume English dictionary published as a supplement to the ''World Book Encyclopedia''. It was originally published in 1963 under the editorship of Clarence Barnhart, who wrote definitions for the Thorndi ...

''. With his father and

Sol Steinmetz Sol Steinmetz (July 29, 1930 – October 13, 2010) was a Hungarian American linguistics and lexicography expert who wrote extensively about etymologies, definitions and uncovered earliest recorded usages of words in English and Yiddish. A widely s ...

, he edited the three volumes of ''The Barnhart Dictionary of New English'' (1973, 1980, 1990). He also edited ''The Hammond Barnhart Dictionary of Science'' (1986), also published as ''The American Heritage Dictionary of Science'' (1988). Perhaps his major work is ''The

Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology Barnhart is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Berta Barnhart, member of Seattle City Planning Commission *Brian Barnhart, American auto racing executive *Clarence Barnhart (1900-1993), American lexicographer * Clyde Barnhart (1 ...

'' (1988), which is marketed under the title ''Chambers Dictionary of Etymology'' in the United Kingdom. It is one of the most comprehensive volumes of its kind. He edited an abridgement, ''The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology'' (1995). His ''Barnhart Abbreviations Dictionary'' (1995) includes a reverse list of what the abbreviations stand for. Robert's brother David K. Barnhart is also a lexicographer.

Notes

American lexicographers 1933 births 2007 deaths 20th-century lexicographers Linguists from the United States {{US-linguist-stub