Images de page
PDF
ePub

CAPUCHIN.

The monks of the order of Capuchin, took their title from wearing a cap tied under the chin-per crasin et elisionem, cap-u-chin.

CONSTELLATION.

The term constellation, as applied to the heavenly bodies, is derived from the Latin, con, together, and stella, a star.

CANDIDATE.

It was the custom, while the Roman republic subsisted in full vigour, for the candidates for high offices, to appear on the day of election in long white robes; intimating by this, that their characters likewise ought to be pure and unsullied. Hence the origin of our word candidate, from candidus, white, pure, sincere, upright, &c. In the Roman commonwealth, we are told, they were obliged to wear a white gown, during the two years of their soliciting for a place. The garment, according to Plutarch, they wore without any other clothes, that the people might not suspect they concealed money for purchasing votes; and also, that they might more easily show to the people the scars of those wounds they had received in fighting for the commonwealth. It was also unlawful to put up for any public office, unless the candidate had attained a certain age.

CORPS.

This term, as applied to a regiment of soldiers, is derived from the French word corps-a body. To distinguish, however, between a live body of men, and the dead body of an individual, we add the final e when applied to the latter.

DELF, OR DELFT.

Pipes, tiles, bricks, and the common yellow earthenware, were originally principally manufactured at Delft, in Holland, and which circumstance gave a name to all common ware of that description.

DEODAND.

From Deo, God-dand, a forfeit. Dr. Johnson, or rather Cowley, from whence the quotation is made, gives the following definition of Deodand: "a thing given, or forfeited to God, for the pacifying of his wrath, in case of any misfortune, by which any Christian comes to a violent end, without the fault of any reasonable creature." Blackstone's account is different, and more rational; he refers it, and very properly, to the humane superstition of our ancestors; and the forfeited chattel was intended, as were also the garments of a stranger found dead, to purchase masses for the soul of him, who had been snatched from the world by sudden death. Deodands at present go to the king; some to the lord of the manor.

DRUID.

Various opinions have been held respecting the origin of the word Druid; some have imagined it to come from the Celtic Deru, an oak. Pliny supposes it to have been derived from the Greek Aps, which, also signifies an oak; and were we to compare the deity of the Druids, worshipped in the oaken forest of Anglesea, with Jupiter, the great divinity of the Greeks, we might be led to conclude, that the Druids borrowed their religion as well as their names from the

Greeks, did we not recollect that no Grecian colony ever came to Britain, and therefore, that to the former, the religion and language of the latter, must have been unknown: others derive the word Druid from the ancient British Tru-wis, or Trou-wys, which may be rendered wise men; whilst others suppose it to have its origin in the Saxon, Dru, a soothsayer. Vossius is, however, of opinion, that it is derived from the Hebrew verb, WT, to seek out, or inquire diligently. Of all these various suppositions, I am most inclined to adopt the last, and there can hardly be a doubt, that this verb is the root of the Saxon word Dru; yet, as I may be mistaken in ideas on this head, I shall be happy in having the error pointed out, and the true derivation given; for however unnecessary the tracing of words to their origin may appear to some, yet, I doubt not, there are many who will agree, that it is both a profitable and pleasing employment, particularly when we find, (as is mostly the case), that all words may, directly, or indirectly, be proved to originate in that lan guage which the Almighty made use of, to declare his will to men.

ECHO.

"Sweet Echo, replies to the name,"

my

The word echo, according to Heathen Mythology, is derived from Echo, the daughter of Aer and Terra. Juno, condemned her to repeat nothing but the last word of those who asked her any question, because she had offended her.

FINIS.

The word Finis, was first used at the termination of a book, in the year 1600; before that period it was marked with this character, called cornis, and which may be met with now, in the libraries of antiquaries; nay, indeed, may occasionally be stumbled upon, amid the heterogenous collection of a book stall.

GRENADIER.

It was the province of the grenadier company of a regiment, in times past, to carry with them a kind of missile, which was used at sieges, called a Grenade, which, when ignited, was thrown among, or against the besieged; hence originated the term Grenadier.

GINS.

The species of snares or engines, called Gins, and which are used for ensnaring game, vermin, &c. derive their appellative from a corruption of the word Engine.

GIPSEY.

This term, which is given to a race of itinerants, is derived from Egyptian; or, in other words, a race of people from Egypt. How long since they first emigrated from there, the ablest writers have merely conjectured. It is generally believed, however, that they quitted Egypt when attacked by the Turks, in 1513. Germany, is the most famed for them; they have their own laws, rules, and regulations of society; and although generally considered and treated as vagabonds, yet, as a witty writer observes, "there is only this difference between them and us; their people rob our people, and our people rob one another."

GENTLEMAN.

Chamberlayne says, that in strictness, a gentleman is one whose ancestors have been freemen, and have owed obedience to none but

their prince; on which footing, no man can be a gentleman, but one who is born such. But among us, the term gentleman is applicable to all above yeomen; so that noblemen may properly be called gentlemen.

66

In our statutes, gentilis homo, was adjudged a good addition for a gentleman; 27 Edward 3d. The addition of knight is very ancient, but that of esquire, or gentleman, was rare before 1st Henry 5th. Sir Thomas Smith, who wrote in the time of Edward 6th, on the dignity and titles, says, 'as for gentlemen, they be made good cheap in this kingdom, for whosoever studieth the laws of the realm, who studies in the Universities, who possesses the liberal sciences, and, to be short, who can live idly and without manual labour, and will bear the port, charge, and countenance of a gentleman, he shall be called master, and shall be taken for a gentleman."

In "Bird's Magazine of Honour," printed in the year 1642, is the following description of the term gentleman: " and whoever studieth in the Universities, who professeth the liberal sciences, and, to be short, who can live idly and without manual labour, and will bear the port, charge, and countenance of a gentleman, he shall be called master for this is the title that men give to 'squires and other gentlemen. For, true it is with us, as one said, tanti eris aliis quamti tibi fueris: and, if need be, a king of heralds shall for money, give him arms newly made and invented, with the crest and all; the title whereof, shall pretend to have been found by the said herald in perusing and viewing of old registers, where his ancestors in time past had been recorded to bear the same; or, if he will do it more truly, and of better faith, he will write, that former merits of, and certain qualifications that he doth see in him, and for sundry noble acts which he hath performed, he, by the authority which he hath, asked of the heralds in his province; and of arms, give unto him and his heirs these, and these heroical bearings in arms."

GAZETTE.

Newspapers were of Italian origin, and were called Gazettas, from Gazerras, i. e. Magpies or Chatterers; and from whence came the term Gazette, a name given to a publication, whose columns give authenticity and authority to all that appears therein.

GUINEA.

During the reign of Charles 2nd, when Sir Robert Holmes, of the Isle of Wight, brought gold dust from the Coast of Guinea, that piece of money, so highly favoured, and so long in circulation, first received its name in this country.

GEHO!

A learned friend of Mr. Brand's, says, 66 the exclamation Geho, which carmen use to their horses, is probably of great antiquity. It is not peculiar to this country, as I have heard it used in France. In the story of the milk maid who had kicked down her pail, and with it all her hopes of getting rich, as related in a very ancient collection of apologues, entitled "Dialogus Creaturanem," printed at Gouda, in 1480, is the following passage: "Et cum sic gloriaretur, et cogitaret cum quanta gloria duceretur ad illum virum super equum dicendo gio, gio, cepit pede percutere terram qua si pungeret equum calcaribus.

HOCUS-POCUS.

Hocus-Pocus is derived from hoc est corpus, the form of consecrating the sacramental bread in the Romish church.

HURLY-BURLY.

Hurly-burly is said to owe its origin to Hurleigh and Burleigh, two neighbouring families, that filled the country around them with contest and violence.

HOST.

This term, used in the Roman Catholic Church, is derived from the Latin word, Hostia, meaning a victim. It is a consecrated wafer, of a circular form, composed of flour and water.

HAGGIS.

The savoury haggis (from hag, to chop,) is a dish commonly made in Scotland, in a sheep's maw, of its lungs, heart, and liver, mixed with suet, onions, salt, and pepper; or of oatmeal mixed with the latter, without any animal food.

[blocks in formation]

"Diego. Mungo, can you be honest ?

Mungo. Vat you give me; Massa?"

The term honesty, is derived from Honestus, a Grecian slave, whose integrity was such, that although liberty, and an immensity of gold awaited him, would he but betray a secret he possessed, refused so to do; alledging, that liberty and gold, were of little value to him who had lost self esteem.

Honesty, however, is a very different matter now:

"O monstrous world!

Take note, take note, O world'

To be direct and honest, is not safe."-Othello.

HUSTING.

The term Husting, or Hustings, as applied to the scaffold erected at elections, from which candidates address the electors, is derived from the Court of Husting, of Saxon origin, and the most ancient in the kingdom. Its name is a compound of hus and ding; the former, implying a house, and the latter a thing, cause, suit, or plea; whereby 'tis manifest, that Husding imports a house or hall, wherein causes are heard and determined; which is further evinced by the Saxon dingere, or thingere, an advocate, or lawyer.

HERMAPHRODITE.

"One of the marvellous works of nature."

This term, as applied to one, partaking of the nature of the two sexes, is derived from Hermaphroditus, the son of Hermes and Venus. The nymph Salmacis fell in love with him, and begged of the gods, that their bodies might be always united and make but one.

HAVERSACK.

Cobbett says: "a soldier's haversack means a thing to put havings into. It is made up of two French words, avoir and sac. Avoir, means, to have; when used as a noun, it means property, goods,

things possessed, or havings; and when a soldier has once got any thing into this sack, be it lamb, or fowl, or goose, the having is very safe I assure you!"

HAMMOCK.

The natives of Brazil used to sleep in nets composed of the rind of the Hamack Tree, suspended between poles, fixed tight in the ground. Hence the Sailor's Hammock derived its name.

JUSTICE.

This word is derived from Justitia, the daughter of Jupiter and Astrea. She is represented in the figure of a young virgin, holding in one hand a balance, and in the other a naked sword. She was also, says Heathen Mythology, called Themis.

JANISSARY.

As the Mamelukes are the militia of the Egyptian Pachas, so the Jannissaries are the militia of the more immediate empire of Turkey; and although the Sultans of the Turks are more powerful than the Pachas, yet the Jannisaries have ever exercised over them a great controul.

Another writer says, the recent insurrection and subsequent suppression of the corps of Jannissaries, whose name hereafter is by proclamation devoted to execration, in the Turkish dominions, had their rise in the time of Amurath I., who made a successful irruption into the provinces on the Danube, and he was there advised to incorporate the body of his youthful captives into his army, instead of looking for new recruits to the original seat of his tribe. The advice was followed, says Gibbon, the edict was proclaimed, many thousands of the European captives were educated in religion and arms, and the militia was consecrated, and named by a celebrated dervish. Standing in front of their ranks, he stretched the sleeve of his gown over the head of the foremost soldier, and his blessing was delivered in these words: "let them be called Jannissaries, (Yeniaskeri, or new soldiers ;) may their countenance be ever light; their hand victorious; their sword keen. May their spears always hang over the heads of their enemies, and wheresoever they go may they return with a white face." Such, adds the historian, was the origin of those haughty troops; the terror of the nation, and sometimes of the sultans themselves. For 200 years, namely, from the end of the 14th to that of the 16th century, the force thus obtained by incorporating in the Mussulman army the fifth of Christian captive youths, and the tenth of the youths of the conquered villages, with the slaves of the sultan, composed the flower of the Turkish armies; and so long as the first sultans ruled their nation from the heart of their camps, and declared their decrees from the Imperial Stirrup, their obedience was secured, and there never was a fitter instrument of war and conquests. Of their subsequent debasement and dispersion we are sufficiently informed.

KLOCKE, i. e. CLOCK, OR BELL.

Baron Holberg says, he was in company of men of letters, when several conjectures were offered concerning the origin of the word campana, a klocke, (i. e. bell) in the northern tongues. On his return home, he consulted several writers. Some, he says, think the word klocke to be of the northern etymology; these words, ut cloca habeatur in ecclesia, occurring in the most ancient histories of the north. It appears from hence, that in the infancy of Christianity,

« PrécédentContinuer »