Google honors dictionary writer Samuel Johnson with new Doodle

Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating what would have been the 308th birthday of lexicographer Samuel Johnson with a new Doodle.

Google's homepage features an animated sequence of Johnson inside of a dictionary on a search for the definition of lexicographer.

"A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge that busies himself in tracing the original and detailing the signification of words," the animated sequence says.

"Samuel Johnson published A Dictionary of the English Language in 1755 after 9 years of work," Google wrote of Johnson. "It was described as "one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship," and had a far-reaching effect on modern English. It was "colossal" at nearly 18 inches tall! Johnson's was the premier English dictionary until the publication of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later.

"Johnson was also a poet, essayist, critic, biographer and editor. Johnson's dictionary was more than just a word list: his work provided a vast understanding of 18th century's language and culture. His lasting contributions guaranteed him a place in literary history," the company continued.