diff --git a/core/bootstrap/syntax.factor b/core/bootstrap/syntax.factor
index 51d4b6834b..19a234319d 100644
--- a/core/bootstrap/syntax.factor
+++ b/core/bootstrap/syntax.factor
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ IN: bootstrap.syntax
         ":"
         ";"
         "<PRIVATE"
+        "<WINDOWS"
+        "<UNIX"
+        "<LINUX"
+        "<MACOS"
+        "WINDOWS>"
+        "UNIX>"
+        "LINUX>"
+        "MACOS>"
         "B{"
         "BV{"
         "C:"
diff --git a/core/syntax/syntax.factor b/core/syntax/syntax.factor
index 4b84a7d4f4..ac14a858c3 100644
--- a/core/syntax/syntax.factor
+++ b/core/syntax/syntax.factor
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ generic.standard hash-sets hashtables hashtables.identity hints
 init interpolate io.pathnames kernel lexer locals.errors
 locals.parser locals.types macros math memoize multiline
 namespaces parser quotations sbufs sequences slots source-files
-splitting stack-checker strings strings.parser typed vectors
-vocabs.parser words words.alias words.constant words.inlined
-words.symbol ;
+splitting stack-checker strings strings.parser system typed
+vectors vocabs.parser vocabs.platforms words words.alias
+words.constant words.inlined words.symbol ;
 IN: bootstrap.syntax
 
 ! These words are defined as a top-level form, instead of with
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ IN: bootstrap.syntax
     dup [ define-fry-specifier ] curry each ;
 
 [
-    { "]" "}" ";" ">>" } [ define-delimiter ] each
+    { "]" "}" ";" ">>" "UNIX>" "MACOS>" "LINUX>" "WINDOWS>" } [ define-delimiter ] each
 
     "PRIMITIVE:" [
         current-vocab name>>
@@ -69,6 +69,27 @@ IN: bootstrap.syntax
 
     "PRIVATE>" [ end-private ] define-core-syntax
 
+    "<UNIX" [
+        "UNIX>" parse-multiline-string
+        os unix? [ ".unix" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if
+    ] define-core-syntax
+
+    "<MACOS" [
+        "MACOS>" parse-multiline-string
+        os macosx? [ ".macos" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if
+    ] define-core-syntax
+
+    "<LINUX" [
+        "LINUX>" parse-multiline-string
+        os linux? [ ".linux" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if
+    ] define-core-syntax
+
+    "<WINDOWS" [
+        "WINDOWS>" parse-multiline-string
+        os windows? [ ".windows" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if
+    ] define-core-syntax
+
+
     "USE:" [ scan-token use-vocab ] define-core-syntax
 
     "UNUSE:" [ scan-token unuse-vocab ] define-core-syntax
diff --git a/basis/vocabs/platforms/authors.txt b/core/vocabs/platforms/authors.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from basis/vocabs/platforms/authors.txt
rename to core/vocabs/platforms/authors.txt
diff --git a/basis/vocabs/platforms/platforms.factor b/core/vocabs/platforms/platforms.factor
similarity index 57%
rename from basis/vocabs/platforms/platforms.factor
rename to core/vocabs/platforms/platforms.factor
index eeba724b4f..755e007e12 100644
--- a/basis/vocabs/platforms/platforms.factor
+++ b/core/vocabs/platforms/platforms.factor
@@ -18,19 +18,3 @@ IN: vocabs.platforms
         [ [ string-lines parse-lines ] curry with-nested-compilation-unit ]
         curry
     ] dip with-vocabulary drop ; inline
-
-SYNTAX: \<UNIX
-    "UNIX>" parse-multiline-string
-    os unix? [ ".unix" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if ;
-
-SYNTAX: \<MACOSX
-    "MACOSX>" parse-multiline-string
-    os macosx? [ ".macosx" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if ;
-
-SYNTAX: \<LINUX
-    "LINUX>" parse-multiline-string
-    os linux? [ ".linux" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if ;
-
-SYNTAX: \<WINDOWS
-    "WINDOWS>" parse-multiline-string
-    os windows? [ ".windows" parse-platform-section ] [ drop ] if ;