The annual appeal for public contributions to the Australian National Dictionary Centre has been launched with a focus this year on rhyming slang.

Introduced to Australia from London in the 1800’s rhyming slang substitutes words with rhyming words, names or phrases.

Editor Mark Gwynn says Australian rhyming slang has a unique twist such as “Merv Hughes” for “Shoes” and “Reg Grundies” in place of “Undies”.