Abstract Compounding presents a puzzle both empirically and theoretically to a number of different linguistic frameworks. While the general pattern of compounds is easily accounted for, exceptional forms abound. Because of these exceptions, there is no universally agreed upon definition for “compound”, nor is there total agreement that compounding is actually a process of language. This paper examines the syntax and semantics of compounds including topics of: endocentricity vs. exocentricity, compound stress, and inflectional morphology in compounds. It charts the history and development of thought on compounding through some very challenging data.