This Volume is for
REFERENCE USE ONLY
CONCISE
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SKEAT
Oxford University Press
London - Edinburgh Glasgow Copenhagen
New York Toronto Melbourne Capetown
Bombay Calcutta Madras Shanghai
Humphrey Milford Publisher to the UNIVERSITY
A CONCISE
ETYMOLOGICAL DICXIQNAR
OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
BY THE REV.
WALTER W. SKEAT
LiTT.D., LL D., D C.L , PH.D., F.B A,
FLRINCTON AND nOSUORIH PROM SSOR OP ANGLO-SAXON IN THF, UNIVERSITY OP
CAMBRIDGE, AND FLLLOVV Ot CHRIST 's COLLLGE
NEW AND CORRECTED IMPRESSION
'Weie man to live co-eval \vith the sun,
The patriarch-pupil would be learning still.'
YOUNG, Night Thoughts, vii C6
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
Printed in England
At the OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
By John Johnson
Printer to the University
Reference
Impression of 192?
First edition^ 1882
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION vii
KEY TO TKK GENERAL PLAN OF THE DICTIONARY xi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS *ii
CONCISE ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE x
APPENDIX :
I. LIST OF PREFIXES . 624
II. SUFFIXES 630
III. SELECT LIST OF L^TIN WORDS 632
SELECT Lisr OF GREEK WORDS 644
IV. HOMONYMS . 647
V. LIST OF DOUBLETS 64$
VI. DISTRIBUTION OF WORDS ACCORDING TO THE LANGUAGES
FROM WHICH THEY ARE DFRIVED 652
SUPPLEMENT ... . 662
PREFACE
TO THE EDITION OF
* A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language * was
first published in 1882, and, after passing through several editions,
appeared in 1901 in a new form, so largely re-arranged and re-written
as to become, practically, a new book.
The edition of 1901 has now been again revised, and numerous
corrections have been made, chiefly due to the new light which has
been thrown upon some woids by the advance of the publication of
the New English Dictionary, and by the appearance of new works
upon etymology. Among the latter I may especially instance the
Lalemisches Etymologisches Worterluch by Dr. Alois Walde, published
at Heidelberg m 1906.
CAMBRIDGE, Dec., 1910.
INTRODUCTION
THE first edition of my ' Concise Etymological Dictionary of the
English Language* was published in 1882, and it has since passed
through several editions.
Each successive edition contained several corrections and additions,
in order that the work might be, to some extent, brought up to
date.
Meanwhile, numerous and important contributions have been
made, by many writers, to the study of Indo - germanic philology;
more exact methods of analysing phonetic changes have been
adopted, and important advances have been made at many points.
Such works as Kluge's Etymological Dictionary of German, Franck's
Etymological Dictionary of Dutch, Godefroy's Dictionary of Old
French, the Modern French Dictionary by Hatzfeld and Darmesteter,
in addition to other highly important books such as the Comparative
Grammar of the Indo-germanic languages by Brugmann, have all
contributed to a much clearer and more exact view of the science of
comparative philology. Hence the time has come when partial
emendations of my Concise Dictionary, however diligently made,
have (as I fear) failed to keep pace \\ith the requirements of
the present day; and I have accordingly rewritten the book from
beginning to end, making improvements in nearly every article,
whilst at the same time introducing into the body of the work
words which have hitherto necessarily been relegated to a con-
tinually increasing Supplement. The result is less a new edition
than a new book.
Since the year 1882 above-mentioned, a great advance has been
made in English lexicography. An entirely new edition of Webster
appeared in 1890, and The Century Dictionary, of which the publication
viu INTRODUCTION
was begun in 1889, was completed in 1891. In both of these works my
name appears in the ' List of Authorities cited ' ; though it is seldom
expressly mentioned except in cases of considerable difficulty, where
the writer preferred not to risk an opinion of his own. But the chief
event during this period has been the publication of The New
English Dictionary on Historical Principles, the unique value of
which is even now too little understood and respected by the
general public. The first part of this great national work appeared
in 1884.
The chief difference between the second and later editions of my
Concise Etymological Dictionary and the present one can now be
readily explained. The former editions were mainly reproduced from
the first edition, at a time when, from the nature of the case, little
help could be had from the works above-mentioned, owing to the
fact that they either did not exist or could not be much utilised.
But in the present work, I have endeavoured to glean from them all
their most important results. The work has been collated with the
Century Dictionary throughout, and with the New English Dictionary
from A to H (excepting a small portion of G). I have endeavoured
to make good use of Kluge, Franck, Brugmann, and other autho-
rities ; and have gladly adopted a large number of corrections. In
particular, I have now marked the quantities of all the vowels
in Latin words, as this often throws much light upon Romance
phonology. And in many cases where the result is tolerably certain
I have given the primitive types of Teutonic and even of Indo-germanic
words.
In all former editions, I endeavoured, by help of cross-references,
to arrange derivative words under a more primitive form. Thus
ex-cite, in-cite^ re-cite and resus-ctt-ate were all given under Cite.
But experience has shewn that this endeavour was more ambitious
than practical, often causing needless delay and trouble. Hence the
only truly practical order, viz. an alphabetical one, has been here
adopted, so that the required word can now be found at once. But
in order to retain the chief advantages of the old plan, I have pre-
pared two lists, one of Latin and one of Greek words, which account
for a large number of derivatives. These will be found in the
Appendix, III, at pp. 632 and 644.
I have much pleasure in mentioning two more circumstances by
which I have been greatly assisted and encouraged. Some few years
INTRODUCTION ix
ago, my friend the Rev. A. L. Mayhew was so good as to go patiently
through every word of the Concise Etymological Dictionary, making
hundreds of suggestions for improvement; and finally sent me the
copy in which all these suggestions were entered. They have all
been carefully considered, and in a very large number of instances
have been fully adopted. Again, while the revises were passing
through the press, they were read over by Mr. H. M. Chad wick, M.A.,
Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, author of 'Studies in Old
English' published by the Cambridge Philological Society in 1899;
and his exact knowledge of Indo-germanic phonology has been
suggestive of many improvements. I have only to add, in justice to
these scholars, that they are not responsible for all the results here
given. In some few cases I have held to my own preconceived
opinion ; perhaps not always wisely. Still it was best that the final
form of each article should be left to the author's decision ; for the
reader is then sure as to where he must lay any blame.
Many articles which, in former editions, appeared only in the
Supplement have now been incorporated with the rest, so that the
number of words now explained (in alphabetical order) amounts to
more than 12,750.
Considerable pains have been taken to ensure accuracy in the
printing of the forms cited ; and I have received much help from the
care exercised by the press-reader. At the same time, I shall be
thankful to any reader who will kindly send me a note of any error
which he may detect. I have myself discovered, for example, that
under the word Cemetery the * Skt. fi ' is an error for the ' Skt. ft!
A few belated corrections appear at pp. 662-3.
As I frequently allude to the ordinary vowel-changes in the course
of the work, I may note here those which are the most elementary
and common. They deserve to be learnt by heart at once.
ANGLO-SAXON. The most usual vowel-change is that produced
by the occurrence of an * or/ (which often disappears by a subsequent
contraction of the word) in the following syllable. Owing to this, we
x INTRODUCTION
frequently find that the vowels, as arranged in row (i) below, are
changed into the corresponding vowels in row (2).
(1) <z, u (0), ea, eo, 5, <?, u, ea, eo.
(2) <?, y, ie(y\ ie(y\ a, <?, y, ie(y, O. Merc. e\ u(y\
Example \-fyllan, to fill, for *fulljan\ from/ull, full.
Moreover, substantives and secondary verbs are often formed from
bases seen in the past tense singular, past tense plural, or past participle
of a strong verb, rather than from the infinitive mood. Thus band and
bend are from the base seen in the A. S. band, pt. t. of bindan, to bind ;
whilst bundle is derived from that which appears in the pp. bund-en.
By way of distinction, I refer to bind- as the * prime grade/ to band-
as the ' second grade/ and to bund- as the ' weak grade.'
Lastly, our modern words of native origin belong rather to the
Midland (or Old Mercian) dialect than to the 'Anglo-Saxon' or
Wessex ; and Old Mercian employs a (mutated to e) where the A. S.
has ea, and sometimes e for A. S. eo.
ICELANDIC. This language abounds in somewhat similar vowel-
changes, but very few of these appear in English. But we must not
pass over the frequent formation of derivatives from the past tenses
(singular or plural) and the past participles of strong verbs. Thus
bait, Icel. beita, lit. * to cause to bite/ is the causal of bila, to bite ; its
form may be explained by the fact that the pt. t. of blta is beii.
Again, as regards the Romance languages, especially French, it
must be borne in mind thai they are also subject to phonetic laws.
These laws are sufficiently illustrated in Mr. Paget Toynbee's trans-
lation of Brachet's Historical French Grammar. In particular, I may
note that most French substantives are derived from Latin accusatives ;
and that to derive bounty from bonitas (nom.), or honour from Lat.
honor (nom.), is simply impossible.
For fuller information, the reader is referred to my Principles of
English Etymology, First and Second Series ; the former deals chiefly
with the native, and the latter with the foreign elements of the
language. My Primer of English Etymology contains some of the
more important facts.
I subjoin a key to the plan of the work, and a list of abbreviations.
INTRODUCTION xi
KEY TO THE GENERAL PLAN OF
THE DICTIONARY.
i. Order of Words. Words are given in their alphabetical
order; but a few secondary derivatives are explained under some
more important form. Thus campaign is given under Camp, and
cannon under Cane.
2. The Words selected. The word-list contains nearly all
primary words of most frequent occurrence, with a few others that are
remarkably prominent in literature, such as unaneled. Homonymous
forms, such as bay (used mfive senses), are numbered.
3. Definitions. Definitions are omitted in the case of common
words ; but explanations of original forms are added wherever they
seemed to me to be necessary.
4. Language. The language to which each word belongs is
distinctly marked, in every case, by means of letters within marks of
parenthesis. Here the symbol or - is to be read as 'derived
from.' Thus Abbey is (F. L. Gk. Syriac) ; i.e. a French word
derived from Latin ; the Latin word being, in its turn, from Greek,
whilst the Greek word is of Syriac origin.
The order of derivation is always upward or backward, from late
to early, and from early to earlier forms.
The symbol + is employed to distinguish forms which are merely
cognate, and are adduced merely by way of illustrating and confirming
the etymology. Thus, bite is a purely English word, derived from the
Anglo-Saxon bi tan. The other Teutonic forms, viz. the Du. bijten,
Icel. bita, Swed. bita, Dan. bide, G. beissen, and the other Indo-
germanic forms, viz. Lat. findere (base/*/-) and Skt. bhid, to cleave,
are merely cognate and illustrative. On this point, there commonly
exists the most singular confusion of ideas; and there are many
Englishmen who are accustomed to derive English, of all things, from
Mtdern High German ! I therefore introduce this symbol + by way
of warning. It has its usual algebraical value of plus or additional \
and indicates 'additional information to be obtained from the com-
parison of cognate forms/
XH
INTRODUCTION
The symbol > means ' older than,' or ' more primitive than ' ; the
symbol < means ' younger than/ or l derived from.'
5. Symbols of Languages. The symbols, such as F.= French,
are not used in their usual vague sense, so as to baffle the enquirer
who wishes to find the words referred to. Every symbol has a special
sense, and has reference to certain books, in one at least of which the
word cited may be found, as I have ascertained for myself by looking
them all out. I have purposely used, as far as was practicable, the
most easily accessible authorities. The exact sense of each symbol is
given in the list below.
6. Hoots. In some cases, a word is traced back to its original
Indo-germanic root. The root is denoted by the symbol */, to be
read as 'root/ Thus bear, to carry, is from \/BHER. Some of
these roots are illustrated by the lists in III of the Appendix.
7. Derivatives. The symbol Der., i.e. Derivatives, is used to
introduce forms related to the primary word. Thus, under Act, I
note such derivatives as act-ion, act-we, &c., which cause no difficulty.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
Arab. Arabic ; as in Richardson's Per-
sian and Arabic Diet., ed. F. John-
son ; 1829. See also Devic's Sup-
plement to Littre's F. Diet.
A. S. Anglo-Saxon ; as in the diction-
aries by Bosworth and Toller, Ett-
muller, and Grein ; in the Vocabu-
laiies edited by T. Wright and Prof.
Wulker ; and in Sweet's Oldest
English Texts.
Bavar. Bavarian ; as in Schmeller's
Bayerisches Worterbuch ; 1827-
1837-
Bret. Breton ; as in Legonidec's Bret
Diet., ed. 1821.
Brugm. Brugmann, Grundriss der ver-
gleichenden Grammatik, &c. ; vol. i.
(2nd ed.}, 1897; vol. ii. 1889-90.
C.~ Celtic ; used as a general term for
Irish,Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Cornish ,
Corn. Cornish; as in Williams' Diet.;
1865.
Dan Danish ; as in Fen all and Repp ;
1861.
Dan. dial Danish dialects ; as in
Molbech, 1841.
Du. Dutch; as in Calisch and in the
Tauchnitz Dutch Diet. Middle
Dutch words are from Oudemans,
Hexham (1658), or Sewel (1754).
E. Modern English ; as in N. E. D.
(New English Dictionary) ; and in
the Century Dictionary.
M.E. Middle English (English from
the thirteenth to the fifteenth cen-
turies inclusive); as in Stratxnann's
Old English Diet., new edition,
1891.
F. French. Most of the forms cited
are not precisely modern French, but
from Cot. - Cotgrave's Dictionary,
INTRODUCTION
Xlll
ed. 1660. This accounts for citation
of forms, such as F. recreation ,
without accents ; the F. accents
being mostly modern. Such words
are usually maiked M. F. (Middle
French). See also the dictionaries
by Hatzfeld and Littre.
O. F. Old French; as in the dic-
tionaries by Godefioy, Burguy, or
Roquefort.
Fries. Friesic; as in Richthofen, 1840.
Gael. Gaelic ; as m Macleod and
Dewar, 1839; or Macbain, 1896.
G. German ; as in Flugel, 1883.
Low G. Low German; as in the
Bremen Worterbuch, 1767.
M. H. G. Middle High German ; as
in Schade, Altdeutsches Worter-
buch, 1882.
O. H. G. Old High German ; as in
the same volume.
Gk. Greek ; as in Liddell and Scott's
Lexicon.
Goth. Moeso - Gothic ; as in Balg's
Glossary, 1887-9.
Heb. Hebrew ; as in Gesenius' Diet.,
1893.
Hind. Hindustani ; as in Forbes, Bate,
or Wilson's Glossary of Indian
Terms.
Icel. Icelandic ; as in Cleasby and Vig-
fusson, 1874.
Idg. Indo-germanic ; the family of
languages which includes Sanskrit,
Greek, Latin, English, &c.
Irish. Irish ; as in O'Reilly, 1864.
Ital. Italian ; as in Meadows, 1857 ;
Torriano, 1688 ; and Florio, 1598.
L.-~ Latin ; as in Lewis and Short, 1880.
Late L. Late Latin ; as m the latest
edition of Ducange ; by L. Favre,
1884-7. (Low L. Late L. words
of non-Latin origin.)
Lith.- Lithuanian ; as in Nesselmann's
Diet., 1851.
Low G. Low German ; see under G.
above.
Malay. As in Marsden's Diet., 1812;
cf. Notes by C. P. G. Scott
Mex. Mexican ; as in the Diet, by
Simeon, Paris, 1885.
M. E. Middle English; see under E.
above.
M. H.G. Middle High German; see
under G. above.
Norw. Norwegian ; as in Aasen'b Norsk
Ordbog, 1873.
O. F. Old French ; see under F. above.
O. H. G. Old High German; see under
G. above.
O. Sax. Old Saxon ; as in the Heliand,
&c., ed. Heyne.
O. Slav Old Slavonic; as in Mik-
losich, Etym. Diet., Vienna, 1886.
Pers. Persian ; as in Richardson's Arab.
and Pers. Diet. ; or in Palmer's Pers.
Diet., 1876 ; cf. Horn, Neupersische
Etymologic, 1893.
Peruv. Peruvian ; as in the Diet, by
Gon9ales, Lima, 1608.
Port. Portuguese; as in Vieyra, 1857.
Prov. Provenal ; as in Raynouard's
Lexique Roman, and Bartsch's
Chrestomathie Proven9ale.
Kuss. Russian; as in Reiffs Diet.,
1876.
Scand. Scandinavian ; used as a general
term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish,
and Norwegian.
Skt. Sanskrit ; as in Benfey's Diet,
1866.
Span. Spanish ; as m Neumann, ed.
Seaone, 1862 ; Pineda, 1 740 ; or
Minsheu, 1623.
Swed. Swedish ; as in the Tauchnitz
Diet., or in Widegren, or in Oman.
Swed. dial. Swedish dialects; as in
Rietz (1867).
Teut. Teutonic ; a general term for
English, Dutch, German, Gothic,
and Scandinavian.
Turk. Turkish ; as in Zenker's Diet.,
1866-1876.
W. Welsh; as in Spurrell, 1861.
XIV
INTRODUCTION
OTHER ABBREVIATIONS.
ace. accusative case.
adj. adjective.
adv. adverb.
A.V. Authorised Version of the
Bible, 1611.
cf. confer, i. e. compare.
Ch. Chaucer,
comp. comparative,
conj. conjunction,
dat dative case,
decl. dec! ensional .
Der. Derivative,
dimin. diminutive,
f. or fern. feminine,
frequent. frequentative,
gen. genitive case,
i. e. id est, that is.
inf. infinitive mood,
interj. interjection,
lit. literally,
m. or ma&c. masculine.
n. or neut. neuter.
nom. nominative case.
ol)s. obsolete.
orig original or originally.
pi. plural.
pp. past participle.
prep. preposition.
pres. part present participle.
pres. t. present tense.
1 >rob. pi obably.
pron. pronoun.
prov. provincial.
pt. t. past tense.
q. v. quod vide = which see.
s v. sub verbo = under the word.
sb. substantive.
Sh ak . Shakespeare.
smg. singular.
str. vb. strong verb.
stiperl. supeilative.
tr.- translated, or translation.
trans. transitive.
vb. verb.
Some of the longer articles are marked off into sections by the use
of the Greek letters p, y. This is merely intended to make matters
clearer, by separating the various statements from each other.
Notes at the end of an article are marked off by beginning with
the symbol f . XIV, XV, XVI, mean that the word was introduced
in the i4th, i5th, or i6th century, respectively. Hyphens are freely
introduced to shew the etymological division of a word. Thus the
word concede is derived from Lat. con-cedere ; meaning that conccdcre
can be resolved into con- and cedere. This etymological division is
often very different from that usually adopted in printed books when
words have to be divided ; thus capacious can only be divided, etymo-
logically, as cap-ac-i-ous, because cap- is the root-syllable ; whereas,
when divided according to the pronunciation, it becomes ca-pa-ci-ous.
Theoretical forms are marked by an asterisk preceding them. Thus,
under Barrow (i), the Teutonic type *bergoz, a hill, is the primitive
Teutonic form whence the A. S. beorg and the G. berg are alike de-
scended; and under Beetle (2), the A. S. form bytel must have been
^ betel in Old Mercian.
INTRODUCTION xv
The symbols "5 and ]> are both written for /h. In Icelandic, f> has
the sound of tk in thin^ and tS that of th in that\ but the M.E. and A.S.
symbols are confused. The M.E. symbol 5 commonly represents y at
the beginning of a word, and gh in the middle. A. S. short and long
vowels, such as a and a, are as distinct from each other as e and 17,
or o and o> in Greek.
The distinction between the two values of A. S. long <z (as
made by Dr. Sweet in his A. S. Diet.) has been carefully observed.
Thus the A. S. & invariably represents the mutation of A. S. a (as
usual), and corresponds to Goth. ai\ but A. S. & represents the
Wessex sound corresponding to the Anglian and Kentish <?, and to
Goth. e. For example, heal is from A. S. hcflan, cognate with Goth.
hailjan, G. heilen] but deed is from O. Merc, ded (Wessex ddd),
cognate with Goth. deds> G, that.
ADDENDA ET EMENDANDA
IN the course of revision, the following Errata have been observed. This list
is added for the sake of completeness, as the errors are not serious.
History, 1. 5. For base tead weak
grade.
Holly. 11. 5, 6. For G. hnlst read
Low G. hulse.
Hone, 1. 4. For stem read type.
Hyson, 1. 6. For Chin, read Amoy.
Indigent, 1. 6. Not allied to axfiv.
Mist, 1. 9. Read -/MEIGHw, to
darken ; distinct from, &c.
Nasturtium, l. 3. Read also spelt
nastu)cium\ both foims are for *nas-
torctiom (Walcle).
Notorious, 1. 3. Read voucher,
witness ; cf. L. pp. nfftus, &c.
Pier, 1. 2. Read ~- M. E. pere ; A F.
pere, the Noiman equivalent of O. .J>iere.
Plait, 1. 3. Read *pltctum.
Scraggy, 1 5. For skragga read
skragger* (Ross gives Norw. skragg, a pooi
weak creature, skraggen> scraggy.)
Shaddock, L 4. Read late in the
seventeenth.
Shah, 1. 2. Read khsayathiya.
Smith, 1. 8. Read pp. *snndanoz.
Throstle, L 5. Read led. }r$str.
Vernal, last line. For Air read/07; .
Wheel, 1. 8. For QEL read QwEL.
P. 652. The lists given in this Section VI
are somewhat uncertain, and are only given
tentatively. Several will hereafter require
slight readjustment.
Adieu, l.n
Adulation. Read adulationem, adu-
latio^ adulatus, adiilarl.
Allegory. Read (F. - L. - Gk.) XIV
cent.
Audience, 1. 5. Read afiaOhOai.
Chicken, 1. 5. Read kjuklingi.
Choose, 1. 3. Read Du. kiezen, G.
He sen.
Cost, vb. Prob. (Du.-F.-L.) Du.
kosten ; from O. F. coster.
Curl, 1. 4. Fur krulla read kt idle.
Cypress (2), 1. 2. For (F.-L.) read
(F.-L.-Gk.).
Diphthong, 1. 4. For G. read Gk
Engage, tot (F.-L.) read (F.-L
ami 1 eut.)
Erotic, 1. 2. For crude form read decl
stem.
Exponent, 1. i. Read exponent-.
Falcon. Some take falco to be of
Teutonic origin.
Fern, last line. The Gk. irr '/? vreptv,
are merely given by way of illustration.
They are not allied words.
Fusil (i). The L./OC& is not found ;
but Ital. has this very form.
Gunny, 11. 2, 3. Read gdti> gdni.
Hare, 11. 4, 5. Read sasnis, *&asnis.
N.B. The Skt. fasa is not from (etc., to
jump ; but perhaps meant ' gray ' ; cf. A. S.
hasu, gray
A
CONCISE ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A, mdef. art (E ) See An.
A- (0, as in a-down --= A. S. ofdiine.
(E.) Heie a- - A. S. of\ see Of, Off.
A- (2), as in afoot. (E.) For on
foot ; see On. ^f This is the commonest
value of the prefix a-.
A- (3), as in a-long. (E ) Here a- =
A. S. and- ; see Along.
A- (4), as in a-nse. (E.) Here a- =
A S. 0- ; see Arise.
A- (5\ as in a chieve, a-stringent. (F.
-L. ; or L) Here <z = F. prefix a = L.
#</, to ; see Ad-.
A- (6), as in a-vcrt. (L.) Here - =
L ; see Ab- (i).
A- (7), as in a-mend (L.) Herea-/H<?w</
is for e-mend ; and e- = L or e?.r ; see Ex-.
A- (8), as in a-las. (F.) See Alas.
A- (9)1 as in a-byss. (Gk.) Here a- =
Gk. d- or di/- ; see Un-, Abyss
A- (10). as in a-do. (E ) For at do ,
see At, Ado.
A- (i 0, as in a-ware (E.) Here a- is
for M E.y-, i-, A.S ge-\ see Aware.
A- (12), as in a-vast. (Du.) For Du.
/&<?W vast ; see Avast.
Ab- (i), prefix. (L.) L. tf/>, from;
cognate with E of; see Of. In F., it
becomes a- or av- ; see Advantage.
Ab- (2), prefix. (L.) For L. ail, to,
by assimilation ; see Abbreviate.
Aback. (E.) For on back. A. S.
onb(fc\ see A- (2) and Back.
Abaft. (E.) From the prefix a- (2),
and b-aft, short for bi-aft, by aft. Tims
"/=on by aft, i.e. at the part which
ABBEY
lies to the aft. Cf. M.E. biaften. Gen.
and Exod. 3377 ; A. S. bedftan. See A-
(2), By, and Aft.
Abandon. (F.-Low L.-O. H.G.)
M. PI abandounen, vb. F. abandonner.
F. a bandon, at liberty; orig. in the power
(of). L. ad, at ; Low L. bandum, bannum,
an order, decree ; from O. H. G. ban,
summons, ban ; see Ban.
Abase. (F. L.) M.E. abasen,irom
A- (5) and Base ; imitating O.F. abaissier,
to lower.
Abash. (F.) M. E. abase hen, abats-
chen, abasen. Q F. esbatss-, stem of pres.
part, of esbatr (F. tbahir], to astonish.
O. F. es- ( = L. ex, out, veiy much) ; and
batr* bahir, to cause astonishment, a
word of imitative origin from the interj.
bah ! of astonishment. <[f Sometimes con-
fused with abase in M. E. See Bashful.
Abate. (F.-L.) M. E. abaten.-
O F. abatre Late L. *abbattere, to beat
down (as in Ital.) -L. ad, to; and batere,
for batuerc to beat. See Batter, ^f Hence
bate, for a-bate, Cf. Ab- (2).
Abbot. tL.-Gk.-Syriac M. E.
abbot, abbod, A.S abbod. \* abhat- (nom.
abbas], an abbot, lit. a father -Gk.djfySas.
-Synac abba>* father; Rom. vm 15.
abbess. (F.-L - Gk. - Syriac )
M. E abbesse.- O. F. abesse, abaesse.
Late L. abbdt-issa - L. abbat- (as above) ;
and -issa - Gk. -taaa, fern suffix.
abbey. (F. - L. - Gk. - Syriac )
M. E. albeye. - O. F. abeie, - Late L,
-ia.-L. abbdt- (above).
B
ABBREVIATE
Abbreviate. (L.) From pp. of L.
abbreuidre, to shorten. L. ab-, for ad,
to, by assimilation ; and brenis, short.
See Ab- (2) and Brief.
Abdicate. (L.) From pp. of L. ab-
dicdre, to renounce. L. ab, from ; dicdrc,
to proclaim. Allied to Diction.
Abdomen. (L.) L. abdomen (stem
abdomin-'}, lower part of the belly.
Abduction. (L ) L. abditctionem,
ace. of abductio, a leading away. L. ab-
dfuere, to lead away. L ab, from ; dncere,
to lead. Cf. Duke
Abed. (E.) For on led, see A- (2)
and Bed.
Aberration. (L) Piom ace. of L.
aber ratio, a wandering fiom; from pp. of
L. ab-errdre. L. ab, from ; err are, to
wander, err. See Err.
Abet, to incite. (F. Scand.) O. F.
abetcr, to excite, set on (Godefroy) F
a- (Lat. ad-) ; and O F. beter, to bait (a
beai), to set on, from Icel. beita, to make
to bite, causal of blta, to bite. See Bait,
Bite. Der. /v/, shoit for abet, sb.
Abeyance, expectation, suspension.
(F. L } A. F. abeiamc, suspension,
waiting (Roq ). F. a ; and bcant, pres. pt.
of O. F. beer (F. bayer), to gape, expect
anxiously. L. ad, at ; and baddre, to gape.
Abhor. (L.) L. ab-horrete, to shrink
from in terror. L ab, from ; horrete, to
diead. Cf. Horrid.
Abide (i), to \vait for. (E.) A S.
d-bidan ; from a-, prefix, and bidan, to
bide. See A- (4) and Bide.
Abide (2), to suffer for, pay for ;E )
In Sh. ; corrupted from M. E. abyeu, to
pay for, lit. to buy up, redeem. A. S.
dbycgan, to pay for. See A- (4) arid Buy.
Abject, mean, lit. cast away. (L.)
L ab-iectus, cast away, pp of ab-icere, to
cast away. L. ab t awaj ; facet e, to cast.
Cf. Jet (i).
Abjure. (L) L. ab-iurare, to deny;
lit. to swear away from L. ab, from ;
iurdre, to swear. L. inr-, from nom. ius,
law, light. Cf. Jury.
Ablative. (L.) L. abldtlttus, lit.
taking away. L. ab, from ; and Idtum
( = tldtum], to bear, take ; allied to tollere,
to take. See Tolerate.
Ablaze. (E.) For on blaze ; see A-
(2) and Blaze.
Able, powerful, skilful. (F. - L)
M. E. able, hable. - O. F. habile, able, able.
L. habiliS) easy to handle, active. L.
ABRIDGE
habere, to have. Cf. Habit. Der. ability
from L. ace. habilitatein.
Ablution. (F.-L.) F. ; fiom L.
ace. ab-lutionem, a washing away. L.
ablilfus, pp. of ab-luere, to wash away.
L ab, from ; lucre, to wash.
Abnegate. (L.) From pp. of L. ab-
negdre, to deny. L. ab, from , ncgdre, to
say no. Cf. Negation.
Aboard. (E.) For on board ; see A-
(2) and Board.
Abode, sb. (E ) M. E. abood, delay,
abiding Formed as if from A S. dbdd,
2nd stem of dtidan, to abide. See Abide.
Abolish. (F.-L.) F aboliss-, stem
of pies. pt. of abolir. 'L abolere, to
abolish.
Abominate. iL.) From pp. of L.
ab-dfnindrt, to turn away from that which
is of ill omen. JL ab, away; omin-, for
omen, an omen.
Aborigines, original inhabitants.
(L.) L. abongines, the nations which,
previous to historical record, drove out
the Sicuh (Lewis and Short). Formed
fiom L ab online, fiom the beginning,
where origins is the abl. of ongo (Vergil,
TEn i 642).
Abortion. (L) From ace. of L.
abortio, an untimely birth L abortus,
pp of ab-oriri, to fail L. ab, away ,
orlri, to arise, begin, Cf. Orient.
Abound. (F -L.) A. F. abunder,
O. F. abotider. L. ab-undare, to overflow.
L ab, away; itnda, a \\ave.
About. (E ) M. E. abuten, aboutm.
A. S. dbtltnn, onbfitan ; short for on-be-
ittan ; where be answer^ to E. by, and u tan,
outward, is i elated to ///, out. See A- (2\
By and Out
Above. (E) M.E. aboven, abufen.
A S abnfan, for. on-be~itfan ; Avhero be
ans\\cii> to E. by, and iijan, upwaid, is
extended fiom (loth nf, up See A- (2\
By, Up. (A S tifan-<Ci obcn A. S.
be-ufan - T)u boven.}
Abrade, to scrape off. (L ) L. ab-
adere,\& scrape off L ab, ofi , tddere,
to scrape. Der. abiasion f:om L pp.
abrdsus}.
Abreast. (E) Put for on breast-,
ee A- (2) arid Breast.
Abridge. (F.-L.) M.E. abreggen.
A. F. abreggcr, O. F. abrcger, abregier, to
shorten. L. abbreuidre, to shorten. L.
ab-, put for ad-, to; and breuis, short.
Cf. Brief. Doublet, abbreviate.
ACOLYTE
Acolyte, a servitor. (F. Low L.
Gk.) F. acolyte, Cot. -Late L. acolythus.
Gk. oK6\ov0os, a follower. Gk. d-,
with (akin to Skt. sa-, with) ; tefatvOos, a
path ; so that atc6\ovOos = a travelling-com-
panion,
Aconite, monk's-hood. ( F. L.
Gk.) F. aconit. L. aconitum. Gk.
O.KOVITOV, a plant ; perhaps so called from
growing \v dicovai?, on steep sharp rocks.
Gk. atc-6vij, a whetstone, sharp stone.
Acorn. (E.) M, E. acorn. A. S acern,
fruit; properly ' fruit of the field/ from
A. S. cecer, a field ; see Acre.+Icel. akarn,
Dan. agern, Goth, akran, fruit ; from I eel.
akr, Dan. ager, Goth, akrs, a field, ^f Not
from oak.
Acoustic. (Gk.) Gk. dirovcrri/ifos,
relating to hearing (or sound). Gk.
dtcovetv, to hear.
Acquaint. (F L.) M.E. acqueyn-
ten, earlier acointen. Q.F. acointer,
acointier, to acquaint with. Late L.
adcognitdre, to make known (Brachet).
L. ad, to ; and *cogmtare> formed from
cognitus, pp. of cognoscere, to know. See
Quaint.
Acquiesce. (L.) L acquiescere, to
rest in. L. ac- (for ad\ to; quiescere, to
rest. See Quiet.
Acquire. (LJ L. acqulrtre, to get,
obtain. L. ac- (for ad) 9 to; quterere, to
seek. Der. acqmsit-ion ; from pp. cc-
qiilsltus.
Acquit. (F. L.) M.E. aguiten.-
O F. aquitcr, to settle a claim ; Late L.
<ic([uietdre.'lu. ac- (for ad), to; qtnetare^
vb , formed from quietus ^ discharged, Jree,
orig. at lest. See Quiet.
Acre. (E.) M. E aker A. S. <ecer.+
Du. akker, Icel. akr, Swed. aker, Dan. ager,
Goth, akrs, G. arir ; L. a^r, Gk. d-ypos,
Skt. ajra. Teut. type *akroz ; Idg. type,
*agros. The ong. sense was 'pasture.'
(^AG.N Der. acor-n, q. v.
Acrid, tart. (L.) Coined by adding
-'/ to L acri-, stem of acer, sharp ; on
the analogy of ac-id.
Acrimony. (F. -L.) F. acnmome.
L. d(ri~tttdn-ta. L. acri-, stem of Acer
(above).
Acrobat, a tumbler. (F. Gk.) F
acrobate. - Gk. dtfpoflaros, lit. walking on
tiptoe. Gk. dtcpo-v, a point, neut. of
o#-poj, pointed ; and 0ar6s, verbal adj. of
mVi/, to walk ; see Come.
Acropolis, a citadel. (Gk.) Lit.
ADDRESS
* upper city.' Gk. axpo-s, pointed, upper;
and ir<5Xis, a city.
Across. (E. a*K/Scand.) Ji QI on cross ;
see A- (2) and Cross.
Acrostic, a short poem in which the
initial letters spell a word. (Gk.) Gk.
aKpoonxis. Gk. cfopo-s, pointed, also
first ; and <m'xos, a row, line, from weak
grade of ar^i\tiv y to go (V STEIGH.)
Act, sb. (F. - L ) F. acte. - L. at tus,
m., and actum, n. L. actus, done ; pp. of
agere,\.Q do, drive. See Agent. Der. act'
ion , act-ive (F. actif) ; act-or\ act-u-al (L.
actnalis) ; act-tiary (L actuartus" ; cr/--
a/^ (from pp. of Late L. actuate, to per-
form, put in action).
Acumen. (L) L. ac-u-mcn, sharp-
ness, acuteness. Cf. acuere^ to sharpen.
Acute. (L.) L. acutits, sharp ; pp. of
ac-u-eie, to sharpen. (-y^AK, to pierce.)
Ad-, prefix. (L.) L. ad, to, cognate
with E. At. ^[ L. ad becomes ac- before
c\ af- bef./; ^- bef. g\ al- bef. /; aw-
bef. n ; a/- bef. / ; ar- bef. r ; as- bef. 5 ;
at- bef. /.
Adage, a saying. (F. L.) F. adage.
L. adagiutn. L. a</; and flf7-, as in
*agio, orig. form of aio, I say.
Adamant. (F. - L. - Gk.) M. E.
adamaunt, a diamond, a magnet. O. F.
adamant. L. adamanta, ace. of adamas.
Gk. d5d/tay, a very hard metal or stone ;
lit. * unconquerable/ Gk. d- ( = E */-) ;
and 8a/xdo>, I conquer, tame. See Tame.
Adapt. (F.-L^ Early XVII cent.-
F. adapter L. ad aptare, to fit to. L.
<&/, to ; aptare, to fit, from aptus, fit, apt.
Add. (L.) M.E. adden. lLj. adder e,
lit. to put to. L. ad ; and -dere, to put.
See A bscond.
Adder, a viper. (E.) M. E. adders;
also naddcie, neddere. [An adder resulted
from a nadder, by mistake.] A. S. nddre,
ntfddre, a snake. + G. natter, a snake; also
cf. Icel nabr, Goth, nadrs (with short a).
Addict. (L.) From L. addict-us, pp.
of ad-dlcere, to adjudge, assign. L. ad,
to ; dicere, to say, appoint. Cf. Diction.
Addled, corrupt, unproductive. (E.)
Due to an attributive use of the M. E. sb.
adel, filth, used in the compound adel-ey,
lit. * filth-egg '* Late L. ovum urina,
urine-egg; mistaken form of L. duurn
urfnum, wind-egg, due to Gk. ovptov &ov,
wind-egg. Orig. 'mud,' from A.S. adela,
mud ( Grein). Cf. Low G. adel, a puddle.
Address, vb. (F.-L.) F. adresstr.
ACCOLADE
Accolade, the dubbing of a knight
(F. Ital. - L.) F. accollade, in Cotgrave,
ed. 1660; lit. an embrace round the neck,
then a salutation, light tap with a sword
in dubbing a knight. Ital. accollata, fern,
of pp. of accollare, to embrace about the
neck (Florio). L. ac- (for ad), to, about ;
collum, the neck.
Accommodate. (L.^ From pp. of
L. accommodare, to fit, adapt. L. ac- (for
acf), to; and commodus, fit. L. com- (
cum), with ; and modus, measure, mode
Accompany. (F.-L.) F. accom-
pagner, to accompany. F. a (L. ad], to ;
and O. F. competing, companion ; see
Company.
Accomplice. (F.-L.) Put for a
complice; a is the indef. art. F. complice,
*a complice, confederate;* Cot. L. ace
complicem, from complex, confederate, lit.
* interwoven.' L. com- (ctitn\ together;
and stem plic-, allied to phcdre, to weave.
Cf. Ply.
Accomplish. (F. L.) M. E. acorn-
ptisen. O. F. acomplis-, stem of pres
part, of acomplir, to complete. L. ad, to ;
complere, to lulfil. L. com- (cunt], to-
gether ; plere, to fill.
Accord. (F. L.) A. F. acorder,io
agree. Late L. cfcorddre. L. ac- (for ad^ ,
to ; and cord-, stem of cor, heart. Cf.
Concord.
Accordion, a musical instrument.
(Ital. L.) From Ital. accord-are, to
accord, to tune an instrument ; with suffix
-ton (as in clar-ioti). Late L ac cor dare,
to agree. See above.
AcCOSt, to address. (F. L.) F.
accoster, lit. ' to go to the side of.' Late
L. accostare (same). L. ac- (for ad}, to;
costa, rib, side. See Coast.
Account, vb ( F. L. ) A. F. acounter,
acunter. O. F. a, to ; confer, compter, to
count. L. ad\ and com-putare, to com-
pute, from com- (cum}, and putdre, to
think.
Accoutre. (F.-L. ?) F. accoutrer,
formerly also a(coustrer, to dress, array
Etym. quite uncertain ; perhaps from O. F.
coustre, coutre, a sacristan who had charge
of sacred vestments, from Late L. custor
s*L. custos, a custodian, keeper.
Accretion, increase. (L.) From ace
of L. accretio, increase. L. accretus, pp.
of ac-crescere, to increase. L. ac- (for ad > ;
crescere, to grow, inchoative form from
cre-are, to make. Cf. Create.
ACME
Accrue, to come to by way of increase.
(F.-L.) From A. F. acru, O. F. acreu,
pp. of acroistre (F. accrottre}^ to increase.
L. accrescere ; see above.
Accumulate. (L.) From pp. of L.
ac-cumuldre, to amass. L. ac- (ad], to ;
cumuldre, to heap up, from cumulus, a
heap.
Accurate. (L.) From pp. of L.
accurdre, to take pains with L. ac- (ad),
to ; curare, to care for, from cur a, care.
See Cure.
Accursed, cursed. (E.) Pp. ofM.E.
acursien. A. S. a-, prefix ; and cursian,
to curse ; see A- (4) and Curse.
Accuse. (F. - L.) A. F. acuser. - L.
accusdre, to lay to one*s charge. L. ac-
(ad), to ; and causa, caussa, a suit at law,
a cause.
Accustom. (F. L.) A.Y.acustumer
(F. accoutumer], to make usual. F. a
(from L. ad, to) ; and A. F. custume,
custom. See Custom.
Ace, the one ' on dice. (F. - L. - Gk. ?)
M . E. as. - O F. as. - L as [Said to be the
Tarentine a?, lor Gk. cfs, one.]
Acephalous, headless. (Gk.) Gk.
dffc^a\-o$, headless; with suffix -ous. Gk.
a-, un- ; and Kt<pa\rj, head. See A- (9).
Acerbity. (F.-L.) XVI cent. F.
acerbitd L. ace. acerbitdtem (nom. acer-
bitas\ bitterness L. acer-b-us, bitter ;
cf ac-er, sharp, lit. piercing. L. arere, to
be sour
Ache, verb. (E.) M. E. aken, vb. ;
pt. t. ook. A. S. acan. (^AG, to drive.)
^f Spelt ache by confusion with M.E.
ache, sb., from A. S. tfce, a pain. The verb
survives, spelt as the obs. sb.
Achieve. I F. - L.) M. E. acheven. -
A. K achever, to achieve ; lit. to come to
a head. O. F. a chef, to a head. L. ad,
to ; caput, a head. Cf. Chief.
Achromatic, colourless (Gk.) See
A- (9) and Chromatic.
Acid, sour, sharp. (F.-L.; or L.)
F. acide L. ac-idus, lit piercing. (^AK,
to pierce.) Der. acid-i-ty; actd-ul-at-ed
(from L. acid-ul-us, dimin. of acid-us^.
Acknowledge. (E.) XVI cent.
M. E. know/echen ; from the sb. knowleche*
mod. E. knowledge ; see Knowledge. The
prefix is due to M . E. aknowen (A. S.
oncndwan\ with the same sense ; hence
the prefix is A- (2).
Acme, top. (Gk.) Gk. d/r-juij, top,
sharp edge. (-/AK, to pierce.)
ACOLYTE
Acolyte, a servitor. (F. Low L.
Gk.) F. acolyte, Cot. -Late L. acolythus.
Gk. oK6\ov0os, a follower. Gk. d-,
with (akin to Skt. sa-, with) ; tefatvOos, a
path ; so that atc6\ovOos = a travelling-com-
panion,
Aconite, monk's-hood. ( F. L.
Gk.) F. aconit. L. aconitum. Gk.
O.KOVITOV, a plant ; perhaps so called from
growing \v dicovai?, on steep sharp rocks.
Gk. atc-6vij, a whetstone, sharp stone.
Acorn. (E.) M, E. acorn. A. S acern,
fruit; properly ' fruit of the field/ from
A. S. cecer, a field ; see Acre.+Icel. akarn,
Dan. agern, Goth, akran, fruit ; from I eel.
akr, Dan. ager, Goth, akrs, a field, ^f Not
from oak.
Acoustic. (Gk.) Gk. dirovcrri/ifos,
relating to hearing (or sound). Gk.
dtcovetv, to hear.
Acquaint. (F L.) M.E. acqueyn-
ten, earlier acointen. Q.F. acointer,
acointier, to acquaint with. Late L.
adcognitdre, to make known (Brachet).
L. ad, to ; and *cogmtare> formed from
cognitus, pp. of cognoscere, to know. See
Quaint.
Acquiesce. (L.) L acquiescere, to
rest in. L. ac- (for ad\ to; quiescere, to
rest. See Quiet.
Acquire. (LJ L. acqulrtre, to get,
obtain. L. ac- (for ad) 9 to; quterere, to
seek. Der. acqmsit-ion ; from pp. cc-
qiilsltus.
Acquit. (F. L.) M.E. aguiten.-
O F. aquitcr, to settle a claim ; Late L.
<ic([uietdre.'lu. ac- (for ad), to; qtnetare^
vb , formed from quietus ^ discharged, Jree,
orig. at lest. See Quiet.
Acre. (E.) M. E aker A. S. <ecer.+
Du. akker, Icel. akr, Swed. aker, Dan. ager,
Goth, akrs, G. arir ; L. a^r, Gk. d-ypos,
Skt. ajra. Teut. type *akroz ; Idg. type,
*agros. The ong. sense was 'pasture.'
(^AG.N Der. acor-n, q. v.
Acrid, tart. (L.) Coined by adding
-'/ to L acri-, stem of acer, sharp ; on
the analogy of ac-id.
Acrimony. (F. -L.) F. acnmome.
L. d(ri~tttdn-ta. L. acri-, stem of Acer
(above).
Acrobat, a tumbler. (F. Gk.) F
acrobate. - Gk. dtfpoflaros, lit. walking on
tiptoe. Gk. dtcpo-v, a point, neut. of
o#-poj, pointed ; and 0ar6s, verbal adj. of
mVi/, to walk ; see Come.
Acropolis, a citadel. (Gk.) Lit.
ADDRESS
* upper city.' Gk. axpo-s, pointed, upper;
and ir<5Xis, a city.
Across. (E. a*K/Scand.) Ji QI on cross ;
see A- (2) and Cross.
Acrostic, a short poem in which the
initial letters spell a word. (Gk.) Gk.
aKpoonxis. Gk. cfopo-s, pointed, also
first ; and <m'xos, a row, line, from weak
grade of ar^i\tiv y to go (V STEIGH.)
Act, sb. (F. - L ) F. acte. - L. at tus,
m., and actum, n. L. actus, done ; pp. of
agere,\.Q do, drive. See Agent. Der. act'
ion , act-ive (F. actif) ; act-or\ act-u-al (L.
actnalis) ; act-tiary (L actuartus" ; cr/--
a/^ (from pp. of Late L. actuate, to per-
form, put in action).
Acumen. (L) L. ac-u-mcn, sharp-
ness, acuteness. Cf. acuere^ to sharpen.
Acute. (L.) L. acutits, sharp ; pp. of
ac-u-eie, to sharpen. (-y^AK, to pierce.)
Ad-, prefix. (L.) L. ad, to, cognate
with E. At. ^[ L. ad becomes ac- before
c\ af- bef./; ^- bef. g\ al- bef. /; aw-
bef. n ; a/- bef. / ; ar- bef. r ; as- bef. 5 ;
at- bef. /.
Adage, a saying. (F. L.) F. adage.
L. adagiutn. L. a</; and flf7-, as in
*agio, orig. form of aio, I say.
Adamant. (F. - L. - Gk.) M. E.
adamaunt, a diamond, a magnet. O. F.
adamant. L. adamanta, ace. of adamas.
Gk. d5d/tay, a very hard metal or stone ;
lit. * unconquerable/ Gk. d- ( = E */-) ;
and 8a/xdo>, I conquer, tame. See Tame.
Adapt. (F.-L^ Early XVII cent.-
F. adapter L. ad aptare, to fit to. L.
<&/, to ; aptare, to fit, from aptus, fit, apt.
Add. (L.) M.E. adden. lLj. adder e,
lit. to put to. L. ad ; and -dere, to put.
See A bscond.
Adder, a viper. (E.) M. E. adders;
also naddcie, neddere. [An adder resulted
from a nadder, by mistake.] A. S. nddre,
ntfddre, a snake. + G. natter, a snake; also
cf. Icel nabr, Goth, nadrs (with short a).
Addict. (L.) From L. addict-us, pp.
of ad-dlcere, to adjudge, assign. L. ad,
to ; dicere, to say, appoint. Cf. Diction.
Addled, corrupt, unproductive. (E.)
Due to an attributive use of the M. E. sb.
adel, filth, used in the compound adel-ey,
lit. * filth-egg '* Late L. ovum urina,
urine-egg; mistaken form of L. duurn
urfnum, wind-egg, due to Gk. ovptov &ov,
wind-egg. Orig. 'mud,' from A.S. adela,
mud ( Grein). Cf. Low G. adel, a puddle.
Address, vb. (F.-L.) F. adresstr.
ADDUCE
F. a, to; dresser , to direct, dress; see
Dress.
Adduce. (L ) L. ad-dilcere, to lead
to, bring forward. L. ad, to ; ducere, to
lead, bring.
Adept, a proficient. (L ) L. adeptits,
one who has obtained proficiency ; pp. of
adipisci, to obtain. L ad, to; apisci,\o
obtain, perhaps related to aptus, fit.
Cf. Apt.
Adequate. (L.^ L. adaqudtus, pp.
of ad ff qua i c, to make equal to. L. ad,
to ; (pqiidre, to make equal, from aquus,
equal.
Adhere. (L.) L. ad-hierete, to stick
to L fl<oT, to; ha) ere, to stick.
Adieu, farewell (F.) M E. a </z<w.
F. <) dieti, (I commit you) to God. L
ad Deum, to God. See Deity.
Adipose, fatty. (L.) Late L adt-
postts, fatty. L adtp , stem of adeps, sb.,
fat. Connection with Gk. dAt</>a, fat, is
doubtful.
Adit, access to a mine. (L ) L. adtt-us,
approach, entrance. L. adit-um, supine of
ad- ire, to go to. L ad, to ; tre, to go
Adjacent, near to. (L.) trom base
of prcs pt. of L ad- iacere, to lie near
L. ad, near ; iacere, to lie.
Adjective. (F.-L.^ Y . adjecttf (km.
-ive}. L. ad-iectiuus, lit. put near to
L. ad-tectus, pp. of ad-icere, to put near
L. awf, to ; iacere, to cast, throw.
Adjoin, to he next to. (F.-L.) O.K.
adjotndre. L,. ad-iungere (pp. adiuncfns),
to join to. L. fl^/, to ; iungere, to join.
Adjourn, to put off till another day.
(F. L.) O. F. ajorner, properly to draw
near to day, to dawn ; also, to appoint a
day for one. Late L. adjwndrc, l diem
dicere ahcui ; ' Ducange. L. ad, to ; and
Late \^.jurnus (Ital.?0r0), a day, from
L. adj. dnitnus, daily. L. dies, a day.
Adjudge. (F.-L.) M.E. adtugen;
also aiugen (~ajugen\ O. F. ajnger, to
decide L. adiUdicdre, to award. L. ad,
to ; iiidicdre, to judge, from iudic-, base
vfiudex, a judge. See Judge.
Adjudicate. (L.) From pp. of L.
adiudicdre (above).
Adjure. (L.) L. ad-iurare, to sweai
to; in late L., to put to an oath. L. ad,
to ; iurdre, to swear. See Jury.
Adjust, to fit exactly. (F.-L.) From
F. adjuster, ' to adjust, place justly ; ' Cot.
L. ad, to ; iustus, just, exact ; see Just.
<J" A new F. formation, due to misunder-
ADROIT
standing the sense of O. F. ajoster, to
put side by side, arrange. L. ad, to ; and
mxtd, near ; see Joust.
Adjutant, lit. assistant. (L.) From
L. adi it f ant- em, ace. of pres. part, of
adiutare, to assist, frequent, of ad-iuudre,
to aid. L. ad, to; iuuare, to help. Cf.
Aid.
Administer. (F. L.) M. E. amin-
i stren . O . F . am in ist rer. L. ad-in in is-
(rare, to minister (to). L ad, to; mini'!'
/rare, to seive, from minister, a servant.
See Minister.
Admiral. ' v F.-Arab.) M.E. ad-
miral, more often amiral.~Q. F. amiral,
amirail, also ant ire ; cf. Low L. adim-
raldus, a prince, chief. Arab, amir, a
prince ; see Emir. The suffix is due to
Arab, al in annr-al-bahr, prince of the sea.
Admire. (F -L.) F. admirer (O. F.
ami rer}. L. admirdn, to wonder at.
L. ad, at , mTrdriy to wonder.
Admit. (L.) L. ad-mittere, to let
to, send to. L. ad, to; mitt ere, to send.
Der. adnnss-ion ; irom pp. adnnss-its
Admonish. (F. L) M.E. amon-
esten ; so that admonish has taken the
place of amonest, with changed suffix due
to verbs in -ish k I amoneste or warne * ;
\\yclif, i Cor. iv. 14. O F amonester.*-
Late L. admonestdre, new formation from
L. admonerc, to advise. L. ad, to; monere,
to advise. Cf. Monition.
A-do, to-do, trouble. (E.) M.E. at
do, to do ; a Northern idiom, whereby at
was used as the sign of the infin. mood, as
in Icel., Swedish, &c. See Do (i).
Adolescent, gi owing up. (L.) L.
adolestent-em,3(.Q.c,. of pres. pt. of ad-olescere,
to grow up. See Adult.
Adopt. ( L.) L. ad-optdie, to adopt,
choose L. ad, to ; optdre, to wish.
Adore. (L.) L. ad-di'are y to pray to.
L. ad, to ; ordre, to pray, from os (gen.
or-is^ , the mouth. Cf. Oral.
Adorn. (L.) L. ad-omdre, to deck.
L. ad, to ; orndre, to adorn.
Adown, downwards. (E.) M. E.
adune. A.S. of-dnne, lit. from a down or
hill. A. S. of, off, from ; and dune, dat.
of diin, a hill ; see A- (i) and Down (2).
Adrift. (E.) For on drift-, see A-
(2) and Drift.
Adroit. (F.-L.) Y. adroit, dexterous.
-F. a droit, rightfully. - F. a (L. ad), to;
Late L. directnm, right, justice, neut. of
L. dtrec(us, pp. of di-rigere, to direct,
ADULATION
from L. ifi- (for dw-), apart, and legere, to
rule.
Adulation, flattery. (F.-L) F.
adulation. L. ace. adulatwnem, from
aduldtio, flattery. -L. adulatus, pp. of
adulari, to flatter.
Adult. (L-) L. adultus, grown up ;
pp. of ad-olescere, to grow up. L. #<, to ;
*oleseere, inceptive form related to akre, to
nourish ; see Aliment.
Adulterate, to corrupt. (L.) XVI
cent. L. adulterates, pp. of adulterare, to
corrupt. I . aditlter, an adulterer, a de-
baser of money.
Adultery. (F. L ) M . E. avoutrie ;
but a later foim was adultene, in imita-
tion of Latin. Cf. O F. avoutrie ^ avoitterie,
adultery ; from avontre, an adulterer,
which represented L adult er (see above) ;
*<> that avontnc was equivalent in sense to
L. aditlterium, adultery
Adumbrate. (L.) From pp. of L.
ad-umbrare, to shadow forth. L. ad, to,
umbra, a shadow.
Advance, to go forward. \'F. L.)
XVI cent. A mistaken form ; for M. K.
auancen^ avanccn. F. avan<er, to go for-
ward or before. K avant, before. L ab.
from ; ante, before. See Ante-, Van.
Advantage, piofit (F.-L) Amis-
taken form for M. K avantagc. F. avant-
age\ foimed with suffix -age from avant,
before ; see above.
Advent, approach. (L ) L aducntus,
approach. L. aduentus, pp. of ad-iiemte.
to approach. L. ad, to; itentre, to come
Cf. Venture.
Adventure. (F.-L.) M.E aventitte;
with F. a- replaced by L. ad-. F.
aventure, a chance, occmrence L. ad-
uentura, fern, of aduenturus, about to
happen, fnt. part, tf aduenire, to approach;
see above.
Adverb. (F.-L.) Used to qualify a
verb. F. advcrbe. L. aduerlnum.^ L ad,
to ; uerbum, a word, a verb.
Adverse. (F.-L) MV.ativers(Q..
avers}. L. aduersus, turned towards, also
opposed to ; pp. of L. adticrtere, to turn
to (see below). Der advers-ary, adversity.
Advert. (L.) L. ad-ueitere, to turn
to, regai d, heed.-L. ad, to; uertere, to
turn ; see Verse. Der. in-advert-ent, not
regarding.
Advertise. (F. - L.) M. E. avertisen,
later advertise. From the base of aver-
tiss-ant, pres. pt. of avertir, to inform,
AFFECT
warn. Late L. aduertere, put for L. aduer-
tere, to turn to, heed ; see above.
Advice. (F.-L) M. E. avis (avis},
without ^. O. F. avis, an opinion ; orig.
a compound word, put for a vis, i.e. ac-
coiding to my opinion. L. ad, according
to ; uisum, that which has seemed good
to one, orig. nent. of ulsus, pp. of nideie^
to see.
Advise. (,F. L ) M. E. aduisen, also
auisen (aviscii), without d. O. F. aviser,
to be of opinion O. F. avis (above).
Advocate, &. (F.-L.) M. F. advocat,
'an advocate;' Cot L. aduocatus, an
advocate, one 'called upon* to plead.
L. aduocatus, pp. of ad-uocare, to call to,
call upon L. ad, to; uocare, to call.
AdvOWSOn. (F.-L.) A. F. avoeson,
also advouson, patronage ; hence the right
of presentation to a benefice (Roquefort)
Late L. adtioiationem, ace. of aduocatw,
patronage. Late L aduocatus, a patron;
the same as L. aduocatus, an advocate.
Adze, a cooper's axe. (E.) M.E adse,
adese. A.S adfsa, an adze.
Aerial. (L. Gk ) Formed with suffix
fl/from L. acri-its, dwelling in the air.
L. aer, air. Gk. drjp, air ; see Air.
Aerolite, a meteoric stone. (Gk.)
Also aerohth, which is a better form.
Gk. dfpo-, from dijp, air ; A/0-osr, a stone.
Aeronaut, a balloonist. (F. Gk.)
F. atronaute. Gk. dfpo-, from d-fjp, air;
I'auT-qs, a sailor, from raCs, a ship.
Aery, an eagle's nest, brood of eagles or
hawks. (F. - Late L.) - F. aire, * an airie
or nest of hawkes ; ' Cot. Late L. area, a
nest of a bird of prey ; of uncertain origin.
^1 Sometimes misspelt eyry, by confusion
with M. E. ey, an egg ; see Egg.
JESsthetic, refined. (Gk.) Gk. cuVfy-
ntfo's, perceptive. Gk. aiaOtaOai, to per-
ceive. (VAW ; see Brugm. ii. 841.)
anaesthetic, relieving pain, dulling
sensation. Gk. dv-, not ; and alaOrjntcos.
Afar. (E.) For<w/ar.
Affable. (F.-L.) V.affablt.-l^affd-
bills, easy to be spoken to. L. af- ad,
to ; fan, to speak.
Affair. ( F. - L.) M. E. a/ere - O. F.
afeire, afatte, a business; orig. a fane,
i. e. (something) to do. - L. ad, to ; facere,
to do.
Affect. (L.) L. affect are, to apply
oneself to (hence, to act upon) ; frequent, of
afficere, to aim at, treat. L. of- ad, to ;
facere> to do, act. Der. dis-affect.
7
AFFEER
AiFeer, to assess, confirm. (F. L.)
O. F afeurer, to fix the price of a thing
(officially). Late L. affordre, to fix a
.-L.
price
pdce. L. af m (/or ad] ; and forum, market,
Affiance. (F. L.) O.F.^/fowrt?, trust;
cf. affier, after, to trust (whence E affy}.
O. F. a (L. ad), to; and /7V/<z^-, stem of
pres. pt. of Late L. fiddre, to trust, from
L. fldere, to trust. Cf. Late L. fid'intia,
a pledge.
Affidavit, an oath (L ) Late L ajfi-
dduit, 3 p. s. pt t. of affiddre, to pledge.
L. of- = 0</, to ; Late L fiddre, for L.fidere,
to trust.
Affiliation. (F.-L.) F. affiliation,
an adoption as a son. Late L. ace. affilid-
tionem. L. of- ad, to ; filius, a son.
Affinity. (F.-L) F. affinitf.-I*.
affinitdtem, ace of affinitas, nearness. L.
affiniS) near, bordering 1 on. L. of- (for rtt/>,
to, near, finis, boundary, end.
Affirm. (,F. L.) M E. affermen.
O. F. afermer, to fix. L. affirmdre. l,
af- (for ad), to ; fir nidi e, to make fnm,
fiom firnins, strong ; see Firm
Affix. (L.) LateL. afflxdrg(Ducn.ngc\
frequent, of L. affigere (,pp. affix-us}, to
fasten to.- L af- (toraa'), \.o \ftge re, to fix.
Afflict, to harass. (L.) XVI cent. -L.
afflict us, pp. of afflTgere, to strike to the
ground. L. af- (for#</),to ; vji&Jligere, to
dash So also conflict, from pp conjlirlus;
inflict ; and cf. pro-flig-ate.
Affluence. (F. - L.) F affluence -
L. affluentia, abundance. L. affluent-em
(ace ), flowing towards, pres. part of
ajfluere, to flow to, abound. L. af- (for
<zr/), to ; flue re, to flow.
Afford. (E.) Altered from aforth,
M.E. aforthen, to provide, P. PI. H. vi
201. A. S. gefordian,fot8ian, to further,
promote, provide. A. S *-, prefix; and
/0r#, forth, forward ; see Forth.
Affray, to frighten. (F. - L. and Tent.)
XIV cent. M. E. affrayen O. F. effjaier,
esfreer, to frighten Low L exfriddie, to
break the kmg*s peace, cause an affray or
fray; hence, to disturb, frighten. L. ex ;
and O. H. G.frMu (G.friede), peace. (See
Romania, 1878, vii. 121.) Der. affray, sb.,
also spelt/ray ; and afraid, q v.
Affreightment, the hiring of a vessel
to convey cargo. (F. L. and G.) An
E spelling of F. affretement, now written
affrttement, the hiring of a ship. F.
ajfreter ,now affrtcr\ to hire a ship. F.
AGATE
af-, for L. ad-, prefix ; and F. fret, the
freight of a ship. See Fraught, Freight.
Affright, to frighten. (E.) The
double/ is late. From M. E. afright, used
as a pp., affrighted. A. S. dfyrht, afyrhted,
pp. affrighted ; from infin. dfyrhtan (not
used). A. S. d-, intensive ; and fyrhtan,
to terrify, iivmfyrhto, fright; see Fright.
Affront. (F.-L.) M. E. afronten.
O. 1". afronter, to confront, gppose face to
face. Late L. affrontdre. L. af- (for ad\
to; front -em, ace. of from, forehead,
biow.
Afloat. (E.) For on float.
Afoot. (E.) For on foot.
Afore. (E.) For on fore ; A. S. on*
for an, afore.
Afraid. (F -L. and Teut.) Oiig.
affrayed, i. e. 'frightened.' Pp. of Affray,
cj.v.
Afresh. (E.) For on fresh or of fresh ;
see Anew.
Aft, After. (E.) A. S. aftan, be-
hind ; after, after, both prep, and adv +
Icel apian, behind, aptr, aftr, backwards;
Dan and Swed. efter, Pu. achter, O. H G.
aftar, piep. and adv. behind, p. Aftan
is extended from Goth, af, off; see Of.
Af-ter\s a comp form, hkeGk. aira-rep-a),
further off; it means more off, further off,
hence behind. Der. ab-aft, q v. ; after-
ward (see Toward 1 .
Aftermath, a second crop of mown
gi ass. (L.) Hei e after is an adj. ; and math
means ' a mowing,' unaccented form of
A. S ;;/<?/. Allied to Mead, Mow. Cf.
G. mahd, a mowing ; nachmahd, aftermath.
Aftermost, hindmost. (E.) A. S.
aftemest, Goth. aftumists\ but affected
by after and most. The Goth, af-tu-m-
ists is a treble supeil. form. See Aft.
Aga, Agha, a chief officer. (Turk.)
Turk, aghd, master.
Again. (Noith E.) Cf M.E. ayein,
A. S. ongegn (pngeari^. A. S. on \ and
gegn, of which the primary meaning seems
to have been * direct/ or * straight.'
(N.E.D.)-f Han. igien, Swed. igen, again.
against. (North K.) The / is added.
CfTKl. K. ayeines, against ; extended from
M . E. ayein, against, with adv. suffix -e$.
A. S. ongean, against ; the same as A. S.
ongean, ongegn, again; see above. + Icel.
/" gegn, G. entgegen, against.
Agate. (F.' - It. - L. - Glc.) O.F. agate,
agathe. - Ital. agala, agatha, an agate
(Florio). L achdtem^ ace. of achdtcs.
8
AGE
Gk. dx^rr/s, an agate ; so named from being
found near the river Achates (Sicily).
Age. (F. - L.) O. F. aage, edage. - Late
L. (Ktaticttm L. atdti-, stem of cet&s (from
*ccui-t&s\ age. L. (fuum, life, period. +
Gk. alo/v\ Goth, atws; Skt. dyus, life.
Brugm. ii. 112.
Agent. (L.) XVI cent. L. agent-,
stem of pres. pt. of agerc (pp. acttis^, to do,
drive, conduct. f"Gk. dytiv ; Icel. aka ; Skt.
aj, to drive. (^ AG.)
Agglomerate, to mass together. (L.)
From pp of L. agglomerare, to form into
a mass. L ag- ( - ad) ; and glomer-, stem
of glomus, a m.iss, ball, clue of thread,
allied toglobus, a globe; see Globe.
Agglutinate. (L.) From pp. of
aggTntzndre, to glue together. L. ag-
(- off), to; glut in-> im gluten, glue
Aggrandise. (F. L.) M. k.aggran-
dis-, >.tem oi pres pt. of aggrandtr, to
enlarge. AKo agrandir (with one ). F.
a (for L. ad} ; and grandir, to in ci ease,
from L. grandlre, to enlarge, which is
from L. grandiS) great.
Aggravate. (L) From pp. ofL. ag-
graudre, to add to a load. L. ag- (=-0</),
to; grauare, to load, from grants, heavy.
Aggregate. (L.) From pp. of L ag-
gregare, to collect into a flock. L. ag- (for
'a(f), to ; greg-, stem ofgvex, a flock.
AggreSS, to attack. (F. - L.) M F. ag-
gresser. L. aggresstts, pp. of aggredt, to
assail L. ag- (for0<tf), to; gradi, to ad-
vance.
Aggrieve. (F.-L.) M. E. agreven.
O 1< . agrever, to overwhelm. O. F. a, to ;
grever, to burden. L #</, to ; graudre, to
weigh down, from grauis, heavy, grave.
See Grave (2).
Aghast, horror-struck. (E.) Misspelt
for agast, v hich is short for agasted, pp. of
M. E agasten, to terrify ; Ch. C. T. 2341 ;
Leg. of Good Women, Dido, 248. A. S.
-, prefix ; and g<cstan, to terrify, torment.
P. A. S. gSstan is from the base iZj--=
Goth, gais- in us-gais-jan, to terrify. (^
GHwALS.) Brugm n. 802.
Agile. > F.- 10 XVI cent. F. agile.
L. agihs, nimble; lit. easily driven
about. L agci e, to drive.
Agistment, the pastuiage of cattle
by agi cement. (F. - L.) From the F. vb.
agister, to assign a resting-place. F. a
( =. L.ad},\.o ; and O.F.^r'j/^, a couch, lodg-
ing verbal sb. from O. Y.gesir (F. gtsir),
to lie, from L. iactre, to lie.
AGREE
Agitate. (L.) L. agitatus, pp. of
agitare, to keep driving about, frequent of
agere, to drive ; see Agent. ( VAG.)
Aglet, a tag of a lace. (F. -L ) Also
aygulet, Spenser, F. Q. ii. 3. 26. F. aiguil-
lette, dimin. of aiguille, a needle. - Late L.
actlcula, dimin. of ac-us, a needle, pointed
thing. Cf. Acme. (V AK -)
Agnail, (i) a corn on the foot, (i\ a
sore beside the nail. (E.) The sense has
been confused or perverted. From A. S.
angncegl, a corn on the foot (see A. S.
Leechdoms, ii. 81, 34); with which cf.
O. Fnesic ogneil, ongneil, appaiently used
in a similar sense. From a prefix ang-,
signifying afflicting, paining, and A. S.
nagl, a nail (as of iron), hence a hard
round-headed excrescence or wart fixed in
tue flesh ; see Anger and Nail, p Soon
misunderstood as referring to the nails of
the toes or fingers, and so made to mean
' a sore beside the nail J ; prob. by com-
paring (wrongly) the Gk. irapovvxta, a
whitlow (lit. beside the nail\ or by con-
fusion with F. angonaillC) a sore (Cot.).
See N. E. D.
Agnate, allied. (L.) L. agnatus,
allied ; pp. of agnasci = ad-gnasd. L. ad,
to ; nasci, earlier form gnasct, to be born.
Ago, Agone, gone away, past. (E.)
M E. ago, agon, agoon, pp. of the verb
agon, to pass by, pass away. A. S. dgdn,
pp. of dgdn, to pass away. See A- (4)
and Go.
Agog, in eagerness. ^F.) For a-gog,
in activity, in eagerness, where a- is
the prefix A- (2). Adapted from O. F.
en gogues (Littre), or a gogue (Godefroy),
in mirth. Cot. has estre en ses gogues, ' to
be frohcke, ... in a veme of mirth.' The
origin of O. F. gogue, fun, diversion, is
unknown.
Agony. (F.-L.-Gk.) M. E. agonie.
1* .airorue. L. agoma.**Gk. aywvia, 01 ig.
a contest. Gk aywv, contest. Gk. ayctv,
to drive. (^ AG.)
Agouti, a rodent animal, of the guinea-
pig iamily. (F. Sp. Brazil ) F. agouti,
Sp. fl>///2*.- Brazil, aguti, acuti,
Agraffe, a kind of clasp (, F. - O.H.G.)
F. agrafe ; also agraphe (in Cotgrave),
a hook, clasp; agrafer, to clasp. The
verb is from F. a (= L. acT), to; and
M. H. G. krapfe, O. Ii. G. crapo, chrapfo,
a hook, which is allied to E. cramp.
Agree, to accord. (. L.) (X F,
agreer, to receive favourably. O. F. agre %
B3
AGRICULTURE
favourably. -O. F. a ( = L. ad), according
to ; gre, gret, pleasure, from L. grdtum,
neut. vlgrdtus, dear, pleasing. Cf. Grace.
Der. dis-agree.
Agriculture. (L.) L. a&'t cultura,
culture of a field. -=L. agri, gen. of ager,
a field ; and cultfira. See Acre and Cul-
ture.
Agrimony, a plant. (F. L. Gk.)
M. E. agremoine, egremotne. 'M.. F. aigri-
moine. L. argemonia, argemone.**(jVi
dpic/Jtuvrj. (Lewis arid Short, L. Diet.)
Aground. (,E.) won ground
Ague, a fever-fit. (F-L) Lit.
* acute ' attack. O. F. ague, fern, of agu
(F. aigu), acute. -L acfita (febris}, acute
(fever) ; fern, of acfttus ; see Acute.
Ah! (F.-L.) M.E. fl!-O.F. a!-
L. ah !
Ahead. (E.) For on head, i.e. m a
forward direction. See A- (2).
Ai, a sloth. (Brazil.) From Brazil, at
Aid. (F.-L) M.E. aiden. - O. F.
aider. L. ad n't fare, frequent, otadwuarc,
to assist L. ad; and tuudie, to help, pp.
ititus. Cf. Brugm a. 583.
Ail, v. (E) M.E. eilen A S eg/an,
to pain ; cognate with Goth, agljan.
A S. egle, troublesome (allied to Goth.
aglus, hard). Cf. A.S. ege t terror, orig.
pain ; see Awe.
Aim, to endeavour after. (F. L.) M. E.
eimen. From confusion of (i) A. F
esmer, from L asttrndre, to estimate, aim
at, intend; and (2) O. F. aesmer, from L.
ad-(Bstimdre, comp. with prefix ad-, to.
See Esteem.
Air (1). (F.-L.-Gk.) M. E. air, eir,
F. air. L. der. Gk. &}/>, air.
air (2), mien, affected manner; tune.
(F. - It. - L. - Gk. ) F. air, look, tune. -
Ital aria, ' a looke, . . a tune ; ' Flouo.
Folk-L. neut. pi dera, treated as a fern,
sing. (Diez) L. der. Gk. drjp (above).
Airt, a point of the compass. (Gael.)
Gael, aird, a quarter or point of the
compass. Cf O Irish aitd, a point, limit.
Aisle, the wing of a church. (F. L.)
Better spelt aile. - F. aile. - L ala, a wing.
Prob. for *axla, dimin. of Axis.
Ait. (E.) SeeEyot.
Aitch-bone, the rump-bone. (Hyb. ;
F. - L. and E.) Orig. spelt ttache bone. -
O. F. nache, sing, of naches, the buttocks ;
and E. bone. Naches = Late L. naticds, ace.
of nafica, dimin. of L. nates, the but-
tocks.
ALBUM
Ajar. (E.) From a char, on char, on
the turn (G. Douglas, tr. of Virgil, b. vii,
prol.). A.S. on cierre, on the turn; cf. A.S.
cyrran, cierran, to turn. See Char (2).
Akimbo, in a bent position. (Scand.)
M. E. in ktnebowc, Beryn, 1838. Perhaps
from Icel t keng, into a crook; with
E. bow, i. e. bend, superfluously added.
Here keng is the ace. of kengr, a crook,
twist, kink. Cf. also Icel. kengboginn,
bent into a crook, from kengr, a ciook,
twist, kink, and boginn, bowed, pp. of
lost verb bjfiga, to bow. See Kink and
Bow (i). (Very doubtful ; a guess.)
Akin, of kin. (E.) Tor of kin.
Alabaster. (F. - L. - Gk.) M.E ala-
bastre.-V.\ f . alabastre (F. alb&tre).-\*
alabaster, alabastrum.<~(j\L. aKafiaorpov,
<l\<i/3acrTos. Said to be derived from Ala-
bastron, a town in Egypt. (Pliny.)
Alack. (E.) Prob. a corruption of M.E.
a ! lack ' alas ' a shame ! lit. ' lack/ (It
cannot be the same as alas )
Alacrity. (I .) Formed by analogy
with celerity j from L. alacritdtem, ace. of
alacritiis, briskness. L alaier, brisk.
Alarm, a call to arms. (F. Ital. L.)
M. IL.alarme. F a/ar///f. Ital. aWarme,
to arms ' for aile arme Late L ad
illas armas, for L ad ilia anna, to
those arms ' to your arms '
alarum. (F. Ital. L.) The same
word, with an old pronunciation, in which
the r was strongly trilled.
Alas! (F.-L.) M.E atas.-O.lF alas
(cf F. ////tfj). O F. a, ah' and las,
wretched that I am ' L. ah ' and lassns,
tired, wretched. (Allied to Late.)
Alb, a white vestment. (F.-L.) ME.
albe O. F. albe. Late L alba, sb.; orig
fern, of L albui>, white.
AlbaCOre, a kind of tunny. (Port. ~
Arab ) Port albator, albatoia. Said to
be of Aiab. origin.
AlbatrOSS, a large sea-bird, i Port. -
Span. Arab. Gk.) Formerly also alga-
iross. mm Port, ahatraz, a cormorant, alba-
tioss; Span, alcatraz, a pelican Port.
alcatruz, a bucket, Span, arcaduz, M. Span.
alcaduz (Minsheu), a bucket on a water-;
wheel. Arab al-qddus, the same (Dozy).
Similarly Arab, saqqa, a water-carrier, a
pelican, because it carries water in its
pouch. (Devic ; supp. to Littre.)
Album, lit. that which is white. (L.)
L. album, a tablet, orig. neut. of albus,
white.
ALBUMEN
ite of egg (L.) L. albu-
men out (also album out), white of egg.
L. albus, white.
Alcayde, a judge ; see Cadi,
Alchemy. (F.-Arab -Gk.) o.F.
alchemic. Arab, a!, the ; arid kimid,
alchemy. Late Gk. x*?^* * chemistry;
probably confused with xfyta, a ming-
ling, from Gk x /tv > to pour out, mix.
Alcohol. <Med. JL-Aiab.) Med. L.
alcohol, applied to pure spirit, though the
01 ig. sense was a fine impalpable powder.
Aiab. al) the; and kohl or kuhl. a
cully riuni, very fine powder of antimony,
rsed to paint the eyelids with.
Alcoran ; sec Koran.
Alcove, a vaulted i ecess. f F. Span.
Arab) F. alcdve. Span, alcoba, n recess
in a room. Arab a/, the; and qobbah, a
vault, dome, cupola , hence a vaulted space
Alder, a tiee. ^E.) M. E. alder, allcr
(d being excrescent). A. S. a/or (aler,
#/;).-f-Ihi. els\ Iv.cl. olr (for f //-) ; Swed.
a. , Dan die, el; G. erle\ O II G. en la,
earlier ehra; Span, aliso 'Jrom GothicX
'J cut. stems *ahiz-, *<//<":-, *ahs-. Allied
to Lith. alksim, L. alnus if or *a/sn0s) ;
Kuss oli'kka; and perhaps to dm.
Alder-, prefix, of all. In aldcr-liefat
(Sh ) ; here fl/afc; is for allet , O. Merc.
t^ha, A. S. calm, gen pi. of a/, tv?/, all.
See All.
Alderman. (E.) Merc, aldorman,
A S cahlorman Merc, aider ^caldor,, a
chief; and ;;/#;/, man. Allied to O. Fries.
i.tder, a parent; G. eltern, pi. parents;
and to 1,. al-tor, a bringei up, from alere,
to nourish. Cf. Old.
Ale. (E ) M. E. ate. A. S catu, gen.
rt/0/ (stem *//*). + 1 eel., Swed., and Dan.
07; Lithuan. fl/ttjr; Russ. olovina.
Alembic, a vessel for distilling. (F.
Span -Arab -Gk.) M. E. alembyk. F.
alambique ( v Cot.). Span, alambique.
Arab, at, the ; and anlnq (pronounced am-
b7q\ a still. Gk. a/*/3<, a cup, goblet;
cap of a still. Cf. Limbeck.
Alert. (F.-ItaL-L.) Y.alcrU\ for-
merly aUertC) and (in Rabelais) a Ihertc,
i.e on the watch. Ital. alVerta, on the
watch; from the phr. stare alfetta, to
stand erect, be on one's guard. Ital. alia
(for a /), at the, on the ; erta, fern, of
erto, erect. - L. ad, to, at ; illam, fern. ace.
of Ufa, he; ercciam, fern. ace. of ctectus,
eiect; see Erect,
Algebra. (Late L.- Arab.) Late L.
ALIVE
algebra, computation. Arab, at, the ; and
jabr, setting, repairing ; also, the reduction
of fractions to integers in arithmetic ; hence,
algebra. Arab, root jabara, to set, con-
solidate
Algnazil, a police-officer. (Span.
Arab.) Span, alguazil, Arab, at, the;
wazir, a vizier, officer ; see Vizier.
Algnm, sandal-wood. (Heb. Skt.)
In 2 Chron. n. 8, ix. 10 ; spelt almug,
i Kings x. 1 1. Heb. algiimmirn, or (trans-
posed) alnmgim ; a borrowed woi d. Sup-
posed by Max Muller (Set. Lang. i. 232) to
be from Skt. valgu-ka, sandal-wood; where
-ka is a suffix.
Alias. iL.) L. alias, otherwise. L.
alins, another ; see Alien.
alibi. (L.) L. alibi, in another place.
L. ah-, as in aliits ; and suffix -bi as in
i-bi^ there, u-bi, where. See below.
alien. ( F. - L.) M. E. alietie. - O. F.
alien. L altcntts, strange; a stranger. L.
i tittuSj another. + Gk. a\Ao?, another; O.
Irish atle, W. attl, all; Goth, aljis (stem
atjo-}, other ; see Else.
Alight (0, to descend from (E.~] M. E.
ahhten, to alight from horseback ; A. S.
dllhtc.n, the prefix a- being = A. S. -.
The simple form lihtan also occurs in A. S ,
meaning to make light, relieve of weight,
alight (from a hoise) ; from liht, light,
adj. See Light (3).
alight (2), to light upon. (E.) M.E.
ahhten, with reference to the completion of
the action of alighting. See above.
Align ; see Aline.
Alike, similar. (E.} M. E. alike, ohke.
A. S. onltf, like ; from lie, like, with prefix
on- - on, prep.
Aliment, food. (F.-L. N , Y.ahment.
L. alimentuni) food ; formed with
suffix -mcnium from alere, to nouribh.
alimony, money allowed for a wife's
support upon her separation from her
husband. (L.) L. ahmonia, nourishment.
L. alere, to nourish ; see above.
Aline, Align, to range in a line. (F.
L.) Adapted from mod. F. aligner, to
range in a line. From the phr. d ligne^
into line. L. ad, to ; linca^ a line. See
Line (Aline is the better spelling for
the E word )
Aliquot. (L.) L. aliquot, some, several
(hence, proportionate). L. ali-us, other;
and quot, how many.
Alive, in life. (E.) From A. S. on life.
ALKALI
in life; where life is dat. of Iff, life: see
Life.
Alkali, a salt. (Arab.) Arab, al, the ;
and gaK, ashes of salt-wort, which abounds
in soda.
All. (E.) M.E. al, sing.; alle, pi.-
O. Merc, al, all\ A. S. eal, pi. *//* +Icel
fl//r; Swed.a//; Dan. a/; Du. a/; O.H. G.
al ; Goth. //?, pi. #//#/. Tent, type *W-
w03 ; allied to Irish #/&, all, from Idg.
type *oljos.
all, adv., utterly. In the phr. a//-/i
^ra&tf (correctly all to-brake], Judges ix. 53.
Here the incorrect ail-to, for ' utterly,' came
tip about A.D. 1500, in place of the old
idiom which linked to to the verb; cf. 'Al
is tobrosten thilke legioun,' Chaucer, C. T.
2757. See To-, /r^frr.
almost. (E.) A. S eal-mSst, i.e. quite
the greatest part, nearly all ; affected by
mod. E. most. See Most.
alway, always. (E.) (i) A.S */*
weg, every way, an accus. case. (2) M.E.
alles wets, in every way, a gen. case.
Allay. (E.) M.E. aleyen, alaien, the
stem ol which is due to A. S. dleg-es, dleg-
eS, 2 and 3 pres. t. sing, of A.S. dlecgan, to
lay down, put down, which produced also
M.E. aleggen, to lay or set aside. A.S.
d- t prefix ; and lecgan, to lay, place ; see
A- (4) and Lay ^i). p. But mucli con-
fused with other forms, especially \\ ith M.E.
aleggen, to alleviate, from O. F. aleger,
alegier, L. allcuidre ; and with old forms
oi alloy SeeN.E. D.
Allege. (F. L.; TAJ&.alegen, aleggen.
In form, the word answers to A. . alegier,
aligier = O.. cshgier (see Godefroy) ;
from A. F. - O. F. es-, and hgier. l,.
ex-; and littgdre, to contend (Ducange),
from L. hs (gen. lit-is), strife. Latinised
as adlegidre (Ducange , and treated as if
allied to L. allegare (F. alttguer) \ hence
the sense usually answers to that of L.
allegare, to adduce. L. al- (for ad), to ;
legdre, to dispatch, to tell, from leg-, base
of lex, law.
Allegiance, the duty of a subject to
his lord. ( F. - O. H. G.) M. E. alegeaunce.
Formed from F. a ( = L. ad), to; O F.
hgance, tigeance, homage, from O F. lige,
hege, liege. See Liege, ^f The form
ligance (Godefroy) was due to a supposed
connexion with L. hgdre, to bind.
Allegory. (L.-Gk.) XVI cent. L.
allegoria. Gk. dKKrjyopia, a description
of one thing under the image of another.
ALLOW
Gk. d\\r}yopiv, to speak so as to imply
something else ; Galat. iv. 24. -Gk. aAAo~,
stem of <itAAos, other ; and dyopeveiv, to
speak, from dyopd, a place of assembly ; cf.
dydptv, to assemble. Gk. aAAos L. alius\
see Alien.
Allegro, lively. (Ital -L.) Ital. //*-
gro.L. alacrem, ace. of alacer, brisk.
Alleluia. (Heb.) See Hallelujah.
Alleviate. (E.) From pp. of Late L4|
allemdre, used for L. alleudre, to lighten.
L. al- (for ad\ to ; leudre, to lift, lighten,
from lent s, light. C
Alley, a walk. (F.-L. 9) M. E. aley.
O. F. alee, a gallery ; a participial sb.
O. F. aler, to go ; F. aller. p. The ety-(.
mology of aller, much and long discussed.^
is not yet settled ; the Prov. equivalent is
anar, allied to Ital. andare, to go.
Alliance; see Ally.
Alligator. (Span. - L. N , Lit. ' the
lizard.' Span, el lagarto, the lizard, i.e.
the great lizard. L.ttte, he, that; laterta^
a lizard. See Lizard.
Alliteration, repetition of initial
letters. ^L ) Coined from L. al- (/or ad),
to ; and lit era, a letter , see Letter ^
Allocate, to set aside. (L.) Frorn^
pp. of Late L. allocate, to allot L. al
(-ad), to; locdre, to place, from locus, a
place. Cf. Allow (i).
Allocution, an address (I,.) From
L. allociitto, an address. L. al- (for ad],
to ; locutio, a speaking, from lociitus, pp.
of loqut, to speak.
Allodial. (LateL.-O.Frankish.) Late'
L. allodidhs, from allodium, alodium, a
derivative of alodis, a free inheritance
(Lex Sahca). It means * entirely (one's)
propei ty,' from O. Frank, alod ; where al- -
is related to E a//, and od signifies ' pro-
perty * or ' wealth.' This O. Frank, od is
cognate with O. H. G. ot, A. S. ead, IceL
auftr, wealth Cf. Goth, audags, blessed.
Allopathy, a treatment by medicines
which produce an opposite effect to that of
disease. (Gk.) Opposed to homoeopathy, i
q. v. Gk. aA.Ao-, for aAA.os, other ; and Vl
iraO-tiv y to suffer ; see Alien and Pathos.,
Allot, to assign a portion to. (F.~L.*
and E.) A. F. aloter. A. F. a, from L,
ad, to ; and M. E. lot, A. S. hlot ; see Lot. r
Allow (i), to assign, grant. (F.-L.)
F. allouer, to let out for hire, assign for
an expense. -Late L. allocdre, to allot. -
L. al- (for ad], to ; and locare, to place,
from locus, a place.
ALLOW
Allow (2), to approve of. (F. L.)
M. E. alouen.Q. F alouer, later allouer,
to approve of L. allauddre. "L. al- (for
ad], to; lauddre, to praise, from laud-,
stem of laus, praise.
Alloy, a due proportion in mixing
metals. (F. L.) Formerly allay ; M. E.
alay. O. F. a/ay, a ley, alloy. O.F. aleier,
aleyer, to combine. L. alligdre, to bind
together ; see Ally. The O. F. alei, sb.,
became aloi, which was misunderstood as
jbemg d loi L. ad legem, accoidmg to rule
or law (Littre").
"Allude. (L.) L. allftdere, to laugh at,
allude to (pp. allilsus). L. al- {ad),
at ; ludere, to sport Der. allus-ion.
S Allure, to tempt by a bait. (F. L.
and G.) A. F. alurer ; from F. a leitrre
^= to the bait or lure. L. ad, to ; M. H. G.
luoder (G. htder\ a bait See Lure.
Alluvial, washed down, applied to
soil. (L ) L. alluui-us, alluvial. L. al-
( - ad), to, in addition ; Itiere, to wash.
Ally, to bind together. (F. L.) M. E.
ahen. Q. F. alter, to bind up. L. ad,
to ; ligdre, to bind. Der. alli-ance, M. E.
i Almanac, Almanack. (Late L.)
/-.ate L. almanack. ^J Origin unknown ;
//<?/ of Arab, origin (Dozy).
Almighty. (E.) O. Merc, almtehtig,
to S. almihttg. The prefix is O. Merc,
r/-, O. Sax. alo-, O. H. G. aia-, related to
All And see Might.
| Almond. (F -L.-Gk.) M. E. al-
\Haund. Q . F. almandre, more correctly,
amandre ; the al being due to Span, and
Arab, influence; mod. F. amande.*
L. amygdala, amygdalum, an almond ;
whence the forms amygdala, amyd'la,
amynd la, amyndra (see Brachet). Gk.
df*vy8a\T), ci/utrySaAoi/, an almond.
Almoner ; see Alms.
Almost. (E.) A. S ealmast ; see All.
Alms. (L. Gk.) M. E. almesse, later
}almes. A S. almasse. Folk-L. *<///"-
\nosma (whence O. F. almosne, F. au-
fine, Ital. hmosina) ; Late L. ekcmosyna.
-Gk. i\r}no<rvvr], pity; hence alms.
k. f \frmcuv, pitiful. (ik. cAcctV, to pity.
,^-Gk. cAcos, pity. if Thus alms is a
singular form.
almoner. (F.~ L.-Gk.) O.Y.almos-
nier, a distributor of alms. O. F. almosne,
alms ; F. aumdne. Folk-L. *alimositia
(above).
y the same as Algum, q. v.
ALTER
Aloe, a plant. (L - Gk.) L. alot
(Phny^ -Gk. a\6rj ; John xix. 39.
Aloft. (Scand.) Icel. a lopt (pron.
loft), aloft, in the air. -Icel. a ( = A. S.
on], in ; lopt, air. See Loft.
Alone. (E.) M. E. al one, al oon,
written apart ; here a/, adv., means ' en-
tirely/ and oon is the M. E. form of one.
Cf. Du. alleen, G. alletn. See All and
One.
Along (1), lengthwise of. (E.) M. E.
along. A. S. andlang, along, prep, with
gen. ; orig. (like O. Sax. antlang) an adj.,
meaning complete (from end to end).
A. S. and- t prefix (allied to Gk. <W,
Skt. anti, over against) ; lang, long. The
sense is ' over against in length/ or ' long
from end to end.'+G. entlang, along. See
A- (3) and Long (j) and see Anti-.
Alon^ (2) ; in phr. all along of you,
&>c. (E.) Equivalent to M. E. Hong,
Layamon, 15502.- A. S. gelang, < depend-
ing on/ as in on 8dm gelang, along of
that. A. S. ge-j prefix ; lang, long.
Aloof, away. (E. and Du.) For on loof;
answering to Du. te loef, to windward.
Cf. Du. loef hotiden, to keep the luff or
weather-gage, Dan. holde luven, to keep to
the windward ; which suggested our phrase
'to hold aloof/ i e. to keep away (from
the leeward shore or rock). See Iiuff.
Aloud, loudly. ^E.) From a-, prefix,
due to A. S. on, prep. ; and A. S. hlud t
loud. See A- (2) and Loud.
Alp. (L.) L. Alpes, the Alps; of
Celtic origin. Connected with L albus,
white (Stokes). Der. trans-alp-ine, i. e.
beyond the Alps.
Alpaca. (Span. -Peruvian.) Span, al-
paca-, irvmpaco, the Peruvian name, with
the Arab. def. art al prefixed.
Alphabet. (Late L. - Gk. - Phoe-
nician. ) Late L. alphabet um. Gk. d\<pa,
#77x0, the names of a and , the first two
letters of the alphabet ; Heb. dleph, an ox,
the name of the first letter; and beth, a
house, the name of the second lettei.
Already. (E.) M.E. al redy, quite
ready; from al, quite, representing the
neut. of O. Merc, al, all, used adverbially,
and Beady.
Also. (E.) M. E. also, quite so; A. S.
ealswd ; see above.
Altar. (L.) A. S. altdre, Matt. v. 24.
-L. altdre > an altar, high place. -L.
altus, high.
Alter. (L.) Late L. alterdre, to alter.
ALTERCATION
L. alter, other. L. al- (as in
with comparative suffix -tero-.
altercation, a dispute. (F. L.;>
M. E. altercation. O. F. altercation. L
alter cdtionem, ace of altercdtio. L rt//<?r-
catus, pp. of altercari, to dispute, speak in
turns. L. #//<?;% other, another,
alternate. (L) I,, alternates, pp
of alterndre, to do by turns. L. #//<?/-
//.?, reciprocal. L. alter (with suffix
-HO-y.
Although. (E.) M. E. al thogh ; see
Already and Though.
Altitude. (F.-L) XTV cent. -F
altitude. L. altitude, height. L alt us,
high.
alto, high voice. (ItaL L.) Ttal alto.
L altus, high.
Altogether. (E.) M. E. al together,
quite together. See Already.
Altruism, regard for others (Ital
L. ; with Gk. suffix^} Coined from Ital
altrui, another, others, a form of altro,
another, when preceded by a preposition.
Orig. a dat. case. L altei i huic, to tin-
other ; datives of alter, other, and hie,
this.
Alum. (F.-L.) M E. alum -O. F.
alum\ F alun L alftmen, alum.
Alway, Always. (E.) See AH.
Ait^, (E ) See Are.
Amain. (E.) For on main, in strength,
with strength ; see A- ( 2) and Main, sb.
Amalgam. (F. or Late L -Gk. T) F.
amalgame, Late L atnalgama, a mixture,
esp. of quicksilver with other metah
Origin unknown ; said by some to be a
corruption or an alchemist's anagram of
malagma, a mollifying application ; per-
haps with Arab al (=the; prefixed. Gk.
pakayna, an emollient. Gk.
(for ^naXaic-yeiv}, to soften Gk.
soft.
Amanuensis, one who M rites to dic-
tation. (L.) L. amanuensis. L. a manu,
by hand ; with suffix -ensis.
Amaranth, an unfading flower (L -
Gk.) Properly amarant, as in Milton ;
but -anth is due to confusion with Greek
avOos, a flower. L. amaranttts. Gk
dpapavros, unfading, or as sb. unfading
flower. Gk. <i-, not; and f*apaivii' ) to
fade. (VMEK.)
Amass, to heap up. (F.-L.-Gk.)
F. amasser, to heap up. F. <$ masse, into
a mass. L. ad, to; massa, a mass. Gk.
ftafa, a barley-cake. See Mass (i).
AMBITION
Amatory. (L.) L amatorius, loving.
L amdtor, a lover. L. amdre, to love ;
with suffix -tor-, -tor, of agent.
Amaze, to astound. (E.) M.E amasen.
A. S. dmasian, pp. amasod; Wulfstan's
Horn. p. 137, 1. 23. From A.S. a-
(prenx) ; and *masian, to perplex See
Maze.
Amazon, a female warrior. (Gk.^ Gk.
dfjLafyv, one of a warlike nation of women
in Scythia. <[f To account for the name,
the Greeks said that these women cut off
the right breast to shoot better; from Gk.
d-, not ; and juafo?, the breast. Obviously
an invention.
Ambassador, Embassador. (F.
Late L. C. F. anibat>sadeti>'. F.
ambassadt, an embassy ; prob. borrowed
from Ital. ambaseiata Late L ambascia
(Lex Salica) ; more correctly *ambactia ;
a mission, service. L. ambactus, a servant,
emissary; Caesar, de Bell. Gall. vi. 15.
The L woid is borrowed from an O.
Gaulish (Celtic) word (ajnbactos ff) ) a slave,
lit one driven about, a pp. form from
ewibi-, prefix, about, and the verb ag-,
cognate with L. agere , cf O. Irish imiii-
agim, I drive about, send about Fick,
1894,11. 34; Brugni ii 79." Cf \V.
amacth, a husbandman.
Amber. (F. -Span Arab.) M. E.
anmfae. F. ambre. Span, ambar
Arab, 'anbar (pronounced "ambar^, am-
bergris, a rich perfume. *([ The resinous
amber was so called from a resemblance to
ambergris, \\h'ch is really quite a different
substance.
ambergris, i e. gray amber Called
gris ambo in Milton, P. R. n 344. The
F. gi is, gray, is from O. H. Ci. grh, gray ;
cf G. ^reis, hoary.
Ambi-, Amb-, piefix. (L.) L ambi-,
about ; cf. Gk. d^i, on both sides, whence
E. prefix amphi-. Related to L ambo,
Gk. dfJL<poj, both. Cf. A.S ymb, Irish irn,
about.
Ambient, gmg about (L / L amb-
ient-, stem of pres. part, of amb-tre, to go
about, from /><?, to go.
Ambiguous, doubtful. (L ) L. amb-
ignns, doubtful, lit. driving about (with
-otts (-L. -osus) in place of L. -w^). L.
a fnb-, about ; and agere, to drive.
Ambition. (F. - L.) F. ambition. - L.
ambitioncm, ace. Giambi fid, a going round,
esp. used of going round to solicit votes ;
hence, a seeking for preferment. L.-
AMBLE
w, supine of amb-ire, to go about (but
note that ambttio retains the short * of
Hum, the supine of Ire , the simple verb).
Amble. (F. - L.) M. E. amblen. - O F.
ambler , to go at an easy pace. L. ambu-
late, to walk.
ambulance, a moveable hospital. (F
L.) F. ambulance. L. ambulant-, stem
of pre=. part, of atnbuldre, to walk.
ambulation, a walking about. (L.)
From L. ambulatio, a walking about. L.
ambuldtus, pp viambulare.
Ambrosia, food of the gods. (Gk.)
Gk ajjLftpoaia ; fern, of d^puoios, length-
ened form of a /*/8 par os, immortal. Gk, d-,
not (E. un-} ; and *f*0por6s t f r *ppor6s
(Gk. /Sporos), mortal; see Mortal. Cf.
Skt a-mita, immortal. See Amaranth.
Ambry, Aumbry, a cupboard. (F. -
L ) M. E. awmebry, aivmcry, Prompt.
Parv. ; the b is excrescent. O F. ctumaire,
almaire, armarie, a repository; pioperly,
ior arms ; but also a cupboard. Late L.
armaria, a cupboard ; armdnmti, a re-
pository for aims. L. arma, arms.
Ambulance, -ation ; see Amble.
Ambuscade. ( v i>pan. Late L.) Piom
Span, cmboscada, an ambush. Ong.
pp. of emboscar, to set in ambush. Late
Lat imboscare, lit. to set m a bush or
thicket. L. ini" (for in}, in ; and Late L
boMuni) a bush. See Bush.
ambush. (F. Late L.) Formerly
em bush. OF. embuscher, embwssier, to
set in ambush. Late L. imboscdre\ as
above.
Ameer, the same as Emir, q. v.
Ameliorate. (F.-L.; with *L. suffix.}
Formed with suffix -ate ( = L. -atus) from
F. amtliorer, to better, improve. F. a
( L. ad), in addition ; -meliorcr ( = Late
L. meliorare^, to make better. L me nor-,
from mclioi , better.
Amen. (L. Gk. Heb.") L. dmen.
Gk. d/A^v, verily. Ileb amen, verily, so be
it. Heb. amen, firm, tiue. Ileb. dman,
to confirm ; ong. ' to be firm.'
Amenable, easy to lead. (F.-L.)
From F. amener, to lead to, bring to.
F. a, to ; mener, to conduct, drive. L. a<f,
to ; LateL. mindre, to conduct, lead about,
al c o to drive out, chase away; L. minan,
to threaten L. mina:, threats.
Amend. (F. - L ) M . E. amenden. -
F. amender. lu. emenddre, to free from
fault. L. e, from ; mendum^ a fault.
amends. (F.-L.) M. E. amend es.
AMITY
sb. pi. O. F. amende^ reparation. O. F.
amender (above).
Amenity ^pleasantness. (F. L.) M F.
and F. amenite 1 * L. amccnitdtem^ ace. of
amamtas. L. amcenus, pleasant. Cf. L.
amdre t to love.
Amerce, to fine. (F.-L.) A. F. (not
O. F.) amercier, to fine. O. F. a ( * L. ad),
to ; meraer^ to pay, acquit, but usually to
thank ; cf. Late L. mercidre, to fix a fine.
Cf O. F. merdt (F. merci), thanks, pardon.
L. mercedeni) ace. of merces, reward,
wages, also pity, indulgence, thanks
(passing into the sense of 'fine'). L.
mere-, stem of meroc, merchandise, traffic.
Amethyst, a gem, (L. - Gk.) L . ame-
thystus. Gk. dyucflvaros, an amethyst; so
called because supposed to prevent drunk-
enness. Gk. d/u'0i/(7Tos,not drunken. Gk.
d-, not; and ptOvtiv, to be drunken, from
ptOv, strong drink; see Mead.
Amiable. (F.-L.) O F. amiable,
friendly; also lo^s cable, by confusion with
aimable (from L. aMabihs}. \^.amicabilis,
friendly. L. anncus, a friend. L. amare^
to love.
amicable. (L.) L. amicdbihs, friendly ;
as above.
Amice (i), an oblong piece of linen,
variously worn by priests. (F. L.) M. E.
aviysT, and (earlier) amit. O. F. amis,
amit (Burguy). L. amict-us, a coxering.
L. amictus, pp. of amicire, to throw
round. L. am- (amb-} t aiound ; iaeere y to
cast.
Amice (2), a pilgrim's hood. (O. F.
Span. ? Teut. ? ) * In amice gray ; ' Milton,
P R. iv. 427. O F. aitmi(ce (F. attmusse)\
Late L. almm ia Span, almucio (Pineda) ;
where al seems to he the Arab. def. art.
(cf. Poit tnttrfa} G. mutze, a cap (cf.
Lowl. Sc. mutch^. But G. mittze may be
from Late L.
i Amid, Amidst, in the middle of. (E.)
1 Amids-t is lengthened from M E. amiddes.
Again, amidde-s was due to adding the
adv. suffix -s to amidde A. S on middan*
in the middle ; where middan is the dat. of
| midde, sb., the middle. A. S. mid, tnidd^
adj., middle. Amid- A. S. on middan (as
I before). See Mid.
: Amiss, adv. wrongly. (E or Scand.)
! M. E. on Mt'sse, i. e. in error. Icel. d mis,
\ amiss. Icel. d ( = A. S. on), in ; mis, adv.,
wrongly (due to an older lost pp.). See
Miss (i).
Amity. (F. L.) O. F. amiste t amisted,
AMMONIA
amistet. Late L. *amicitdtem, ace. of*amt-
atds, friendship. L. amicus, friendly.
L. amdre, to love.
Ammonia, an alkali. (L. Gk.
Egyptian.) Suggested by L. sal am-
moniacum, rock-salt. Gk. a
sal ammoniac, lock-salt. Gk.
Libyan. Gk. &wuv, the Libyan Zeus-
Ammon ; a word of Egyptian 01 igm ;
Herod, ii. 42. ^f It is said that sal am-
moniac was first obtained near the temple
of Ammon.
ammonite, a fossil shell. (Gk.) Coined
with suffix -ite (Gk. -ITTJS] from the name
Ammon ; because the shell resembles the
twisted ram's horn on the head of the
image of Jupiter Ammon.
Ammunition, store for defence. (F.
L.) From Mid. F. amunition, a soldier's
corruption of munition, due to substituting
r amunition for la munition ^Littre). L.
ace. mnnltioncm, a defending. L. miint-
tus, pp. of munire, to defend.
Amnesty, In. a forgetting of offences.
(F. L. Gk.) F. amnestte. L. amnes-
/z'a.*Gk. uiwijffTia, forgetfulncss, esp. of
wrong. Gk. a/at/crro?, forgotten. Gk. d-,
not ; and pvaoncu., I remember. (^MEN.)
Among, Amongst. (E.) The earliest
M. E. form is amonge, whence amonges
with ndded s (a common adverbial suffix) ,
and hence amongs-t with excrescent t.
A. S. onmang, prep., among. A. S. on, in ;
viang, a mixture, crowd. Cf. Mingle.
AmorOUS. (F. L.) O F.amoros;Y.
amoureux. L. amorosu<>. > L. amor, love.
Amorphous, formless. (Gk.) From
Gk. a-, not ; and ^0^0-77, shape, form.
Amount, to mount up to. (F. L.)
0. 1*. amonter, to amount to. O F. a
mont, towards a mountain or large heap.
L. ad, to; montem, ace. of mow, a
mountain.
Amour. fF. L.) F. amour. L.
amor em, ace. of amor, love.
Amphi-, prefi x. (Gk.) Gk. d/^>/, on
both sides, around ; see Ambi-.
Amphibious. (Gk.) Gk. ci/*</>/#toy,
living a double life, on land and water
Gk. dfMfri, on both sides ; /3/os, life.
Amphibrach, a foot in prosody.
(Gk.) The foot composed of a short
syllable on each side of a long one fw-u).
Gk. dftff>i0pa\vs. Gk. dfjupi, on both sides ;
and Ppaxvs, short; see Amphi- and
Brief.
Amphitheatre. (Gk.) Gk.
ANAGRAM
rpovj a theatre with seats all round the
arena. Gk. dptyi, around; Oearpov, a
theatre.
Ample, full. (F. - L.) F. ample. - L.
amplus, spacious.
Amputate. (IO From pp. of L.
amputdre, to cut off round about. L. am-,
short for amb-, ambi-, round about;
putdre,\. cleanse, also to lop or prune trees.
L. putus, clean.
Amulet. (F.-L.) F. amulette. ^,.
amulctum, a talisman hung round the neck.
[Once thought to be of Arabic origin ; but
now given up.]
Amuse, to divert. (F. L.) F. amuser,
' to amuse, make to muse or think of, to
gaze at;' Cot -F. ^ (-L. ad}, to, at;
O. F. muser, to gaze at, stare at, muse ; see
Muse ( i ) .
An, A, indefinite article. (E.) A is
short for an ; and an is an unaccented form
of A. S. dn, one ; see One.
An-, A-, neg. prefix. ^Gk.) Gk. di/-,
d-, cognate with L. in-, and E. un- ; see
Tin-, In-, A- (9).
An, if. See And.
Ana-, &XL-, prefix. (Gk Gk. dva-,av~;
from Gk. ava, upon, on, up, back, again ;
cognate with E. on ; see On.
Ana, Anna, a sixteenth of a rupee.
(Hind.) Hind. ana,*, sixteenth part, esp.
of a rupee. (H. H. Wilson.)
Anabaptist. (Gk.) One who baptizes
again. Coined from Gk. ova, again , and
baptist. See Baptize.
Anachronism, error in chronology.
(Ok.; Ok. d'axf>"* / 0><us. Gk. avaxpovi-
fciv, to refer to a wrong time. Gk. dva t
up, back ; wrong) ; xpoyos, time.
Anaconda, a large serpent. (Ceylon.)
Now a S. Ameiican boa; at first applied
to a large snake 111 Ceylon. Hut wrongly ;
it was really a svvifi whipsnake; Cingh.
henakandayd, lit. ' lightning stem.*
Anaemia, bloodlcssness (L. Gk.) A
Latinised form of Gk. dvai^ia, want ut
blood Gk. tii/-, not ; af/m, blood.
Anaesthetic, rendering insensible to
pain. (Gk ) Coined from Gk. dv-, not ;
and aioOrjTiKos, full of perception ; see An-
and ^Esthetic.
Anagram, a change in a word due to
transposition of letters. ^F. L. Gk.) F.
agtamme. "L. anagramma.<*'Gk. dvd-
anfM. Gk. dva, up, here used distribu-
tively ; ypdupa, a letter of the alphabet.
Gk. ypd<f>iv t to write.
16
ANALOGY
Analogy, proportion. (F. L. Gk.)
F. analogic L. ana/ogia. Gk. dva\oyiaj
equality of ratios. Gk. dvd, upon,
throughout; -Koyla, from \6y-o$, a word,
statement, from \iytiv, to speak.
Analysis. (Gk.) Gk.dvd\vms, a resolv-
ing into parts, loosening. Gk. wa\vw, to
undo, resolve. Gk. dvd, back ; and Atmi>,
to loosen. (y'LEU ) Der. analyse, verb, a
coined word.
Ananas, the pine-apple plant. (Span.
Braz.) Span, ananas (^Pineda); mod.
Span, anana, Brazil, nanas or nana.
fl" The Peiuv. name is achupalla.
Anapaest, Anapest, a foot in pros-
ody. ^Gk.) L. anapuCstus. Gk. dvd-
iraiffTos, struck back, rebounding ; because
it is the reverse of a dactyl. Gk. avairaietv,
to strike back. Gk. d^d, back ; and iraifiv,
to stuke.
Anarchy. (F.-L.-GIO XVI cent.
F. anarihie L. ananhia Gk. d^apx/a,
lack of government. Gk.
s, without
a ruler. Gk. di>-, neg. prefix;
niler, from apxtw, to rule, to be first.
Anathema, a curse. (i.-Gk.) I,.
anathema. Gk. avdOffj-a, a thing devoted
or accursed Gk. tn/cm^T/^u, I devote.
Gk. dvd t up ; riOijfju, I place, set. Cf.
Theme.
Anatomy. (F.-L. Gk.) F. ana-
tomte.i-L,. anato?n?a. (^k. dvaro^ia, the
same as dvaTopfj, dissection. Gk. dvar^-
vuv, to cut up. Gk. avdy up ; Ttpvtiv, to
cut. Cf. Tome.
Ancestor. (F. L.) M.E.(i) an as t re,
O. F. ancestre, from L. antecessor, nom., |
a predecessor, foregoer ; and M. E. (2 an- \
cessour, O F\ ancessout , from L. ante- \
cessorem, acc.-.L. ante, before; cess-u*,
pp. of cedere, to go.
Anchor. ^L.-Gk.) The current spell-
ing imitates the false L. foim, anchora
A S. ancor. L. ancora \ wrongly ant hora]
Gk. cijKvpa, an anchor, lit. a bent hook ,
cf. Gk. dyKuv, a bend. (y^ANQ )
Anchoret, Anchorite, a recluse.
( F. - Late L. - G k. ) F. anachorete (Cot ) .
Late L. anachdreta. ^ik. dyaxw/oT/TTj?,
one who retires from the world. Gk dva-
, to retire. Gk. di>d, back ; and
to withdraw, from x^P 0? > space,
room. (-/GHE, GHO.)
Anchovy, a fish. (Span. Basque ')
Span, anchova ; cf. Basque anchoa,anchua,
an anchovy. Perhaps ' dried fish * ; from
Basque antzua, dry.
ANGEL
Ancient (0, old. (F.-L.) With
excrescent /. M. K. auncien. . ancien.
Late L. antianus, old, belonging to
former time. Formed with suffix -anus
from ante, before.
Ancient (2) , a banner, standard-bearer.
(F. - L.) Confused with ancient ( I ) ; but
from O. F. enseigne, m. 'ensigne, auncient,
standard-bearer ; ' Cot. ; also for O. F. en-
seigne, f., ' a banner; ' Cot. See Ensign.
And. (E.) A S. and, end. + O. Fries.
anda, ende; O. H. G anti, unta, G. und.
Prob. related to L. ante, beiore, Gk. di/rt,
over against.
an, if. (E.) Formerly also and\
Ilavelok, 2861 , &c ; the same word as the
above. An if if if, a reduplication. But
and if but if if; Matt xxiv. 48.
Andante, slowly. (Ital.) Ital andante,
moving slowly, pres. pt. of andare, to
Andiron, a fire-dog. (F. L/) Not
connected with iron, but corrupted from
M. E. anderne, aundcrne, aundtre. O. F.
andier ; mod. F\ landier, put for Candier,
where /* is the def. art. Cf. Late L. ande-
} ius, andena, a fire-dog.
Anecdote. (F.-L.-Gk.) F. ancc-
dote, Late L. ane^dota, orig. aneut.pl.
Gk. di><5oTa, neut. pi. of d>'/c5oro?,
unpublished ; hence an unpublished story,
story m private life. Gk. dv- t not, IK,
out ; and Soros, given, allied to 5/5cu/4t, I
give.
Anemone, a flower. (Gk.) Gk. di>-
(Jtwvrj, lit. wind flower. Gk. ai/e/^o?, wind.
Anent, regarding, with reference to.
V E.) M.E. anent, anentis ; older form
onefent, where the / is excrescent. A. S.
anefen, onefen, near ; later form onemn.
A. b on, on ; efen, even. Hence onefn ~=
even with, on an equality with. Cf. G.
neben, near (for in eben See Even.
Aneroid, dry, applied to a barometer
having no liquid
Coined from ok.
*f5-oy, form, kind.
Aneurysm, a tumour due to dilata-
tion. (^Gk ; Gk. dvtvpvana, a widening.
Gk. dv-, for dvd, up; and v/>i>tK, to
widen, from tvpvs, wide. Also aneurism.
Anew. (E.) M.E.o/-nfwe. A.S.of>
niowe,John iii. 7 (Rushworth), From Of
and New.
Angel. (F.-L.~Gk.) O.F. angcle.
L. angelus* Gk. ayytkot, a messenger.
Cf, Gk. dyyapos, a mounted courier, from
mercury in it. v Gk.)
d-, not; vrjpo-s, wet;
17
ANUtK
O. Persian. Der. arch-angel ', q. v., cv-
angel-ist, q. v. ^f The A. S. form was
engel, directly from L. angelus.
Anger. (Scand.) M. E. anger, often
with the sense of vexation, tiouble. Icel.
a> n g r > grief; Dan. anger, Swed. anger, re-
gret. + L. angor, a strangling, anguish.
(VANGH.) See below.
Angina, acute pain. (L.) L. angina,
quinsy, lit. choking. L. angerc, to choke.
Angle (0, a corner. >K-L.) M.K.
angle. F. angle. L angnlus, an angle.
Cf. Gk. ayiev^os, bent.
Angle (2), a hook, fish-hook. ^E.) A S.
angel, a fish-hook ; diniin. of cinga, onga,
a feting, prickle ; cf Icel angi^ a prickle,
Gk. a-yttvpa, a bent hook, Skt. anka(s),
a hook.+Dan. angel ; G. angel, diniin. of
O. H. G ango, a prickle, fish-hook. Allied
to Anchor. Der. angle, verb, to fish.
Anguish. (F.-L.) M. E. anguisc,
angoise. Q. F. anguisse ; F. angoisse. \*.
august la, narrowness, poveitv, perplexity
L. anguslus, narrow. L. angere, to
choke. (VANGH )
Aniline, a substance which furnishes
a number of dyes. (F. Span. Arab. -
Pers. Skt.) Foimed, \\ilh suffix -ine* from
anil, a dye-stuff F. anil. Span, anil,
azure. Arab. an-nJl\ for ctl-ml, where al
is the clef, art., and nil is borrowed fiom
Pers. nil, blue, or the indigo-plant. Skt.
mla, blue ; mil, the indigo-plant.
Animal. (L.) L animal, a living crea-
ture. L. anima, breath, life. (<^AN )
animadvert, to censure. (L.) L.
animaduertere, to turn the mind to, hence,
to criticise. L. anun-, for animus, the
mind (allied to anima, breath) ; ad, to ,
and uerlere, to tuin (see Verse).
animate. (L.) L. animatus, pp. of
aniware,\o endue with life L amma,
life. Der. in-animate, re-animate
animosity. (F.-L.) F. ammositt.
L. animositatem, ace. of animontas ^
vehemence. L. animosus, \ehemerit, full
of mind or courage. L. animus, mind,
courage, passion.
Anise, a herb. (F.-L.-Gk) ME.
anese, anys.~>. anis (Cot.). L. anisuin ;
also anethum. Gk. aviaov, avijaov, orig.
avrjOov, anise.
Anker, a liquid measure. (l)u. LateL.)
Du. anker, the same. Late L. anceria,
the same, -f- Swed. ankare ; G. anker\ from
the same.
Amide. (E.) M.E. ancle ; also an-
ANNUL
. Q. Fries, ankel; also A.S. ancleow,
with a longer suffix (cf. O. Fries, onklef}.^
Dan. and Swed. ankel\ Icel. ^/^/d! (for
onkla-^*anknla'\ Du. and G. ^w^/. Per-
haps allied to Skt. anguli, a linger, anga t
a limb.
Anna, a small coin ; see Ana.
Annals. (F. L.) F. annales, pi. sb.
L. anndles, pi. adj., for hbri annale^
yearly books, chiomcles; from antidlis,
yearly. L. annus, a year.
Anneal, to temper by heat. ( (i) E.;
( 2 ) F. L.) Two distinct words have been
confused. 1. M. E. anclen, to inflame,
kindle, heat, melt, bum. A. S. onielan, to
burn, kindle; from on, prefix, and (elan, to
burn. Cf. A. S icled, fire. 2 M.E. anelen^
to enamel glass. Prefix a- (perhaps = F. a,
L. ad) ; and O. F. neeler, nieler, to enamel,
orig. to paint in black on gold or silvei
Late L. nigellare, to blacken L. nigelhts,
blackibh ; fiom niger, black.
Annex. (F.-L) F annexer. \^.an-
ncxus, pp. of annectere, to knit or bind to.
L an- (for ad), to ; and nutere, to bind.
Annihilate. (L.) \annihttatus>\>\>.
of annihilare, to i educe to nothing. L.
an- (for ad), to ; and nihil, nothing.
Anniversary. (L.) For ' anniver-
sary memorial/ !,, anmtiersdrius, re-
turning yearly. L anni- (from anno-},,
from annus, a year ; and uersus, pp. of
uertere, to tnrn (^ee Verse).
Annotate, to make notes on. (L.)
From pp. of L. annotare, to make notes
on. L. an- (for acf), to, on; notare, to
mark, from not a, a mark. See Note.
Announce. (F. L. ) F. annoin er.
L. annuntiat e, to announce. L. an- ( =
ad),\.Q\ nuntnuc, to bring tidings, from
nunliiis, a messenger. See Nuncio.
Annoy, to vex. (F. L.) M. E. anoicn,
anuien O. F. anoier, anuier, to annoy
O. Y.anot,anui (F ennui), vexation. Cf.
Span, enojo, O. Venetian inodio, vexation.
L. /;/ odio, lit in hatred, common in the
Late L. phr. in odio habui, lit. 1 had m
hatred, 1 was annoyed with ; cf. L. in odio
esse, to be hated by (Cicero). L. in, in;
odio, abl. of odium, hatred.
Annual, yearly. (F\~L ^ M. E. an-
nitel. F. anmtel. L. annualis, yearly.
L. annus, a year.
annuity. (A. F.-L) A Y.annuitt;
A. D. 1304. Late L. annuitdtem^ ace. of
nnuitds,-*^. annus, a year.
Annul. (L,) L. annullaiC) to bring to
18
ANNULAR
nothing. L. an- (for ad), to ; nnllus, no
one ; see Null.
Annular, like a ring. (L.) I* annu-
Idris, adj. ; from anmilus, a ring, earlier
spelling anuhts ; dim in. of L anus, a
rounding, a circular form (Lewis).
Anodyne, a drug to allay pain (L.
Gk.) XVI cent. Late L. anodynus, a
drug relieving pain. <*k. dvubvvos, free
from pain. Gk. dv-, not ; and Mvij,
pain.
Anoint. (F. L.) M. E. anoint, used
as a pp -* anointed O. F enoint, pp. of
enoindre, to anoint. O. F. en, upon,
oindre, to smear. L. in, upon; ttngere,
to anoint. See Unguent.
Anomaly. (Gk) Gk. upw/aiXta, de-
viation from rule. Gk. dpa>fta\o?, uneven.
Gk. Ay-, not; and o^aXos, even, related
to upas, one and the same.
Anon, immediately. (K ^ M. K. anon,
anoon ; also onan. A. S. on an, lit. ' m
one moment.' A. S. on, on, in , an, one.
Anonymous, nameless. (Gk. } Gk.
dvwvvfji-os, nameless ; with -ous added.
Gk. QV-, neg piefix ; and opo/xa, name.
Another. (E.) For an other, one
other.
Answer, to icply. (K ) A. S. and-
swenan, andsivarian, to answer, speak in
reply ; a weak verb. A S. andswaru, a
reply. A. S. and-, against, in icply ;
nverian, to speak, to swear. The A. S.
a?id- = G. ant- (in ant-worfen^ = Gk. dvri ;
see Anti- and Swear.
Ant. (E ) M. K. amtc, short for amett,
A. S. cemette, an emmet, ant. Doublet,
emmet, q. v.
Antagonist, an opponent. (^L.-Gk.)
Late L. antagonista Gk dvrayouvtffT^,
an opponent. Gk. cW-, foi av-ri, against ;
and dyajvi^o^at, I struggle, from d^wv, a
contest (-/AG.^
Antarctic. (L. G1O *L.antar<ticus
Gk. &vrapKTtK6s, southern, opposite to
arctic. Gk. dvr- t for cirri, opposite to;
and dpKnKvs, arctic. See Arctic.
Ante-, prefix, before. (L.) L. ante,
before. Allied to Anti-, q. v.
Antecedent. (L.) L antecedent-,
stem of pres. pa it. of anteicdere t to go
before. L ante, before; cedere,to go.
Antediluvian, before the flood. (L.)
L. ante, before; diluuium, deluge, a
washing away. L. dtluere, to wash
away. L. di-, apart ; lucre, to wash.
Antelope. (F.-L.-Gk.) In Spenser,
ANTICIPATE
F. Q. i. 6. 26.-O. F. a/i/i/o/.-Late'L.
antalopus. Late Gk. &v0o\oir~, the stem
of dvOokoi//, used by Eustathius of Antioch
to signify some uncertain quadruped. Of
unknown origin.
Antennae, feelers of insects. (L.) L.
antenna, pi. of antenna, properly the yard
of a sail.
Antepenultima, the last syllable but
two in a word. (L.) L. ante,, before;
ptfnultima, fern, adj., last but one, from
pifn-e, almost, ultima, last.
Anterior. (L ) L. anterior, former,
more in front, compar. adj. from ante,
before
Anthem. (L. Gk.) Formerly antem.
A. S. antefn. Late L. antiphona, an an-
them. Gk. avritywa, considered as fem.
sing , but really neut. pi. of avrityowos,
sounding in response to ; from the alternate
singing of the half-choirs. Gk. dvri, over
against ; <f)oji>r), voice, sound.
Anther, the summit of the stamen of
a flower (Gk.) From Gk. dvOrjpos, bloom-
ing. Gk. apfletV, to bloom ; avOos, a young
bud or sprout.
anthology, a collection of choice
potms. (Gk.) Lit. a collection of flowers.
Gk. dv0o\oyia, a gathering of flowers.
Gk. di'0o\6yos, flower-gathering. Gk.
avOo-, for avOos, a flower; and /fyfiv, to
cull.
Anthracite, a kind of haid coal.
(Gk.) Gk. dirOpa^irrjs, resembling coals.
Gk. dvOpaK-, stem of avOpa, coal.
Anthropophagi, cannibals. (Gk.)
Lit. ' men-eaters.' Gk. dvOparroQayos,
man-eating. Gk. avOpwiros, a man; and
tpuytti', to eat (y^HIIAGw ; Brugm. i.
641.)
Anti-, Ant-, prefi*.* against (Gk.)
Gk. dvri, against; allied to L. ante,
before. Cf. Skt. anti, over against, allied
to anta, end ; see End. ^[ In anticipate,
the prefix is for L ante.
Antic, fanciful, odd ; as sb. a trick.
(Ital. -L.) Oiig. an adj. Adopted in
the XVI cent, from Ital. antico* with the
sense of * grotesque'; lit. antique, old.
L. anttqwts* old. See Antique.
Antichrist. (F. - L. - Gk.) O. F.
Antecrtst.-L. Antichrlstus (Vulgate).
Gk. bvrixpiaros (i John ii. 18). Gk.
dvri, against; xpiaros, Christ.
Anticipate. (L.) From the pp. of L.
antidpare, to take beforehand. L. anti-,
before ; and capere, to take.
ANTICLIMAX
Anticlimax. (Gk.) From Anti- and
Climax.
Antidote. (F.-L.-Gk.) F. anti-
dote L. antidotum, a i emedy. Gk. avri-
SOT-OP, a remedy : a thing given as a
remedy. Gk. di/', against; Sorov, neut.
of Soros, given, from &'5<w/uf, I give.
Antimony, a metal. (Late L.) Late
L. antirnomum. (XI cent.) Origin un-
known.
Antipathy. (Gk.) From Gk. dvriird-
0(ia, antipathy, lit. ' a suffering (feeling
strongly) against.' Gk avri, against ;
irafofp, to suffer. See Pathos.
Antiphon. (L. Gk.) Late L. anti-
phona, an anthem ; see Anthem.
Antiphrasis. (Gk.) See Anti- and
Phrase.
Antipodes. (Gk.) Gk. dj/T/Vo5s,pl.,
men with feet opposite to ouis, from nom.
sing, dvriirovs. Gk. dvri, opposite to ; and
TTOVS. foot, cognate with Foot.
Antique, old. (F. L.) F. antique.
L. anliquus, also anticus, formed with
suffix -tats from ante, before ; as posticus is
from/tfj-/, behind. Doublet, antic.
Antiseptic, counteracting putrefac-
tion. (Gk.) Gk. dvri, against ; and
o-T/wTt/f<5s, putrefying, cn/Trr-os, rotten, from
ariirtiv, to rot.
Antistrophe. Cik.) From Anti-
and Strophe.
Antithesis. (Gk.) From Anti- and
Thesis.
Antitype. vGk.) From Anti- and
Type.
Antler. (F.) M. E. auntelerc, for
auntoher(l\ Q. F. antoilher, said to
have been once in use (Littre). In this
case the O. F word is supposed to be
equivalent to a Late L. *antocularcm, ace.,
i.e. the branch (of the horn) in front of
the eyes ; cf. G. aiigen-sprotse, a brow-
antler (lit. eye-sprout). See Romania, iv
349. From ante, before, and oculus, the
eye.
Anus, the lower orifice of the bowels.
(L.) L dmts.
Anvil. (E.) M. E. anvdt^ anfeld, an-
felt. A. S. anfilte, onfihi - A. S. an, on,
on, upon; and a verb *ficltan (see below),
causal of *fealtan, to infix, redupl. verb
cognate with O. H G. *fa/zan, M. H. G.
vahen, whence G.falz, a groove, ^f Some
derive it from on and fealdan, to fold ;
however, the O. H. G. anafah, an anvil,
is not derived from ana, on, and faldan.
APHORISM
to fold up, but from M. H. G. valzen, as
above. Cf. L incus, an anvil, from in,
on, and cudere, to strike ; and note the
A. S. gloss: ' Cudo, penutio, anfilte ;'
Voc. 217. 5.
Anxious. (L.) L. anxi-its, distressed ;
with suffix -0HS. L. angere, to choke,
distress.
Any. ^E ) A. S. <r nig, any ; from an,
one, with suffix -ig (E. -y). 4- Du. eenig,
from cen t one; G. eimger, from ezn, one.
See One.
Aorta. (L. Gk) Late L. aorta
Gk. doprrj, the great artery 'rising' from
the heart Gk. atiptoOcu, to rise up ;
dfipfiv, to raise.
Apace. (E. and F.) For a pace, i.e.
at a (good) pace; where a is put for
on (cf. a-Joot) ; see A- (2 \ Pace, M. E.
pas, is from F. pas (L. passus}. See
Pace.
Apart, aside. (F.-L.) F. <* part,
apart, alone, singly ; Cot L. ad partem,
lit. to the one part or side, apart. L. ad,
to ; par tew. ace. of pars, a part.
apartment, a separate room. (F. -
Ital. L.) F. appancment. Ital. appar-
tamento^n apartment, a partition, lit. sepa-
ration. Ital. appartare, to separate.
Ital. a parte, apart. L. ail partem ; see
above.
Apathy. ^Gk > From Gk. dtrafcrn,
want of feeling Gk. d-, not ; 7ra0V, to
suffer. See Pathos.
Ape. (E.) M. K ape ; A. S. apa -f Du.
aap; Icel. apt , Swed. apa ; G. affe ;
Irish apa (from KJ ; O Bohem. op.
Aperient. iL.) XVII cent. Lit.
' opening.' L. aperient-, stem of pres. pt.
of aperire. to open. Perhaps from ap-, old
form of ab, from, away, and -0r- = Lith.
we)- in iverti. to move (to and fro),
whence Lith. at-weili^ to open. Brugm,
i. $ 361.
Apex. (L") L apex, summit.
Aph-,/>r/fcr. (Gk.j See Apo-.
Aphaeresis, the taking away of a
letter or syllable from the beginning of
a word. (L. -Gk ) Late L. aph(jeresis.
Gk. d</>cu/xfa/y, a taking away. Gk <</>-, for
ttTro, away ; a'ipcois, a taking, from aipfiv,
to take. See Heresy.
Aphelion, the point in a planet's orbit
farthest from the sun. (Gk.) Coined from
Gk. d<p-, for drro, from ; #\ios, the sun.
Aphorism, a definition. (Gk.) Gk.
<$y ; a definition. Gk. fyopifav, to
APIARY
define, limit. - Gk. d</>-, for air6, off;j
opifrw, to limit, from opos, a boundary.
Apiary, a place for bees. (L.) L api-
arium, neut. of apidrius, belonging to
bees. L. api-, stem of apis, a bee.
Apiece. (. and F.) Ong. (at so
much) a piece, where a is the indef. article.
ApO-, prefix, off. (Gk.) Gk. diro, off,
from ; cognate with E. of, off; see Of. It
becomes aph- before an aspirate
Apocalypse. (L.-Gk.) M.E apo-
calips (Wychf). L. apocalypsis : Gk.
diroK&kviftis, a revelation. Gk. drroKa\vir-
rew, to uncover, reveal. Gk. diro, off;
nnd Kakvirrfiv, to cover. Of tca\td, a cot.
Apocope. (L.-Gk) L. apocope.- Gk
diroKoinj, a cutting off (of a letter).
Gk. diro, off ; and Khimiv, to hew, cut.
Apocrypha. (Gk.) Lit. 'hidden
things ; ' hence, uncanonical books of the
Old Testament. Gk. diroKpvQa, neut. pi.
of dir6Kpv<f>os, hidden. Gk. diro/epvirTciit,
to hide away. Gk. diro, from, away;
Kpvirrciv, to hide.
Apogee, the point of the moon's orbit
furthest from the earth (F. L. Gk x F.
apogee (Cot.). L. apogaum. Gk. diro-
yatov, neut. of dnoyaios, away from earth.
Gk. diro, away from ; 777, earth.
Apologue, a fable, story (F.-L.
Gk.) K apologue. L. apologus. - Gk
dwoAo-yos, a fable. Gk. diro, off; \6yos,
speech, from \fyav, to say.
apology, a defence. (L. Gk) L.
apologia. Gk. aTro\oyia, a speech made in
defence. Gk. diro, off; Ao-yos, a speech
(above).
Apophthegm, Apothegm. (Gk.)
Gk. dirwpOtyna, a thing uttered, a terse
saying. Gk drro, off, out ; and tyOcyyopai,
I cry aloud, utter
Apoplexy. (F.-Late L.-Gk.) F.
apoplexie Late L apoplexia. Gk. dno-
ir<\Tjia, stupor, apoplexy. Gk. diroirhrjv-
ofiv, to cripple by a stroke. -Gk. diro, off;
ir^Tffffftiv, to strike.
Apostasy. (F.-Late L-GkM F.
apostasie. Late L. apostasia. Gk. diro-
ffra<ria, late form for diroaTcuns, revolt, lit.
'a standing away from.' Gk. OTTO, off,
away ; 0-rdaiy, a standing, from ara-,
base allied to iVrry/it, I place. Cf. Statics
apostate. (Late L - Gk.) M. E
apostata. Late L. apostata. Gk. diro-
vTdrrjs, a deserter, apostate. - Gk. diro, off ;
crrdriys, standing, from era- (see above).
Apostle. (L.-Gk.) A. S. apostoL-
APPEAL
L. apostolus. Gk. diro<rroAo?, one who is
sent off. Gk. diro, off; oreAAfii/, to send.
Apostrophe. (L. Gk.) L. apo-
strophe. Gk. djro(rrpo<i7, a turning away ;
in ihetonc, a turning away to address
some one else. Gk. diro, away; <TTp4<t>tv,
to turn, ^f In the sense of a mark used to
denote an omission, it should be apostroph
(L. apostrophus, Gk. diroVT/wx^os).
Apothecary. (F. - Late L. - Gk.)
M. E. apotecary, potecary. Q. F. apote-
caire. L&te L. apothecdrius , lit. a store-
keeper. Late L. apotheca, a store-house
(esp. for drugs). Gk. dvoQ^K^, a store-
house. Gk. diro, away ; ri-Orj-fu, I put.
Apotheosis, deification. (L. Gk^
L. apotheosis . Gk. diroQtajvts, deification.
Gk. diro0f6a>, I deify, set aside as a god.
Gk. diro, away, fully ; 0*6*?, a god.
Appal, to terrify. (F.-L.) The present
sense is late; the M.E. apalled meant
' rendered pale ' ; cf. Chaucer, C. T., 10679
1^365). O F. apallir, apalir, appalir,
to wax pale, also to make pale (Cot.).
O. F. a-, prefix; O F. pale,palle, pale.-
L. ad, to ; pallidus, pale Cf. Pale.
Appanage, Apanage, provision for
a dependent, &c. (F. L.) O. F. apanage
^also appanage^, properly, a provision for
maintenance. O. F. apaner, lit. to supply
with bread (Late L. appdndre}.~\*. ap-
(ior ad\ to, for; pan-is, bread.
Apparatus, gear. (L.) L. apparatus,
preparation. L. apparatus, pp. of appa-
rdre, to prepare for. L. ad, for ; par are,
to get leady.
Apparel, to clothe. (F.-L.) M.E.
apaiailen. O. F. apareiller, to dress,
apparel O. F. a, to ; pareiller. parailler,
to assort, put like things with like, to
arrange, from pareil, like, similar. L.
ad, to; Med. L. pariculus (Ducange
has partita, pancula}, similar, fiom L.
pari-, stem of par, equal. Cf. Par. Der.
apparel, s.
Apparition. (F. L.) Y.apparittan
L. ace. apparittoftem. 'Li. appdreie, to
appear. See Appear.
apparitor, an officer who attends
magistiates to execute their orders; an
officer who serves the process of a spiritual
court. (L.) L. appdntor, an attendant,
lictor, L. appdrere, to appear as attend-
ant, wait on. See Appear.
Appeal, v. (F.-L.) M. E. apelcn. -
O. F. apeler, to call.-L. appelldre, to
address, call upon, speak to ; trom L, ap-
APPEAR
(for acT), to ; and *pcllarc, to speak, allied
to A. S. spell, a tale.
Appear, to become visible. (F. L.)
M. E. aperen. O. F. aper-, tonic stem (as
in pres. subj. apere) of O. F. apareir,
aparoir, to appear. L. appdrere. L. ap-
(for <&/), to, forth ; par ere, to come in
sight, aLo spelt parrere. Cf. Apparition.
Appease. (F. L.) M. E. ape sen,
apaisen. A. F. apeser, apeiser, O. F.
apeser (F. apaiser^), to bring to a peace
O. F. a pets, a pats, to a peace. L. ad
pacem, to a peace. See Peace.
Appellant. (,F.-L.) F. appellant,
pres. pt. of appeller, O. F. apcler, to
appeal ; see Appeal.
Append, to attach. ( - L.) Formerly
also M. E. apcnden, to pertain to. O F
apendre, to depend on. I,, appendert, foi
L. appendere, to hang to 01 upon. L. ap-
(for ad), to ; penderc, to hang.
appendix, an addition. (L ) L.
appendix. L. appendtrc, to suspend upon.
L. 0/- (for a./), to ; pendcre, to weigh.
Appertain.' (F -L.) ^ M F. aper-
tenen.Q F. apartenir (F. appaitcmr),
to belong to. L <?/- (for #</), to; yVr-
tinere, to belong. See Pertain.
Appetite. F.-L.) O. I< appetit.-
L. appctitus, an appetite ; lit. ' assault
upon.' L appetere, to attack. L. a/- i,for
m/), to ; petere, to seek, attack
Applaud. (L.) L. applaudcre, to
applaud. L. ap- (for a<f), at ; plaudeie, to
applaud, clap (hands). Dsr. applause,
from pp. applaiisus.
Apple. (E.) M. E. tf/A'f A. S. ,*//<?/,
^//.-f-Du. appel; Iccl. *///; Swed. //<?,
Dan. <?/<?; (j.apfel; Irish abhal', Gael.
ubhal] W. /?//; Kuss. iabloko\ Lithuan.
obolys. Origin unknown. Some connect
it with Abella in Campania ; cf. Verg.
^ 7 ,n. vn. 740.
Apply. (F. - L.) M. E. aplyen. - O, F.
aplter. "L. applicare, to join to, turn or
apply to. L ap- (for ad), to ; plicare, to
fold, twine. Der. appli-ance ; also appli-
cation (F. application^.
Appoggiatura, a grace-note or passing
tone prefixed, as a support, to an essential
note of a melody. *ltal. L. and Gk.)
Ital. appoggiatura, lit. a support. Ital.
appoggiare, to lean upon. Ital. ap- (for
ad\ to, upon ; poggio, a place to stand or
lean on, &c. L. ad t to; podium, an ele-
vated place, a balcony, irom Gk. TTO&OJ/.
See Pew.
APPROPRIATE
Appoint. (F.-L.) M.E. apointen
O. F. apointer, to prepare, arrange, settle.
Late L. apptinctarc, to repair, appoint,
settle a dispute ; Ducange - L./- (for ad)',
Late L. punctdre, to mark by a point, from
Late Is.puncta, a prick, fern, of puntttu,
pp. ; see Point. Der. disappoint.
Apportion. (F.-L.) F. apportioned
to portion out to. F. ap- (put for a before
/, in imitation of L. ap-=^ad\ to; portion,
a portion ; see Portion.
Appose. (F. L.) F. apposer ; formed
to represent L. apponere, on the analogy of
composer, exposcr, and other presumed re-
presentatives of compounds of L. pone re ;
but really formed on F. poser (horn L.
pausare). See Pose.
Apposite. \L ) L. appositus, suitable ;
pp. of apponere, to put near. L. ap' (for
ad), to; poneie, to put. Sec Position.
Appraise. (F. - L ) M E. apraiwi,
to value O. F. *aprciser (cf O. K apre-
her in Roquefort) O. i' . a-, prefix ;
preiser, to value, from/;v/j, value, pi ice.
L. ad, at ; ptetuun, a price
appreciate. U>0 Fiom pp. of L.
appretidre, to value at a price. L. ap-
(tor ^/ , at ; prctium, a price.
Apprehend. ( F. ~ L ) F appt ehtnd) e
(Cot ). L apprehcndcre, orig to lay hold
of. L. a/- ^foi ad), to, al , prchendeie,
to grasp. See Prehensile.
apprentice. ;F.-L.) O ^.apnntls,
nom of apientif (see Godefroy, s. v.
aprcntic). The (). F aprentis, apientif,
lepiescnt Late L. *apprendit~ivus, nom.,
and * apprenditivttm , ace., from a Late L.
*apprenditus, used as a pp. of L.
apprendcre, to learn, short for L. appre-
hcndcre, to lay hold of (above).
apprise, to inform (!". L.) From
the M. E. sb. apHse, information, teach-
ing. O. F. aprise, instruction. O F.
ctppris, apn^, pp of aprendre, to learn.
1^ apprendcre (above).
Approach. (F. L.) TA.HL.approchen,
aproc hen. O F. aprochicr, to approach.
L appropidre, to diaw near to (Exod. iii.
5"). L. ap- (for ad), to; prope, near.
Approbation. ( F. - L } F. approba-
tion. -L ace. approbationem, approval.
L. approbatits, pp. viappt obare, to approve.
See Approve.
Appropriate. (10 From pp. of L.
appropridrc, to make one's own. L. fl/-
(for ^/), to; proprius, one's own. See
Proper.
APPROVE
Approve. (F. L.) O. F. approver.
L. approbdre, to approve L. op- (for </),
to ; probdre, to test, tiy, esteem as good.
Per. appro-val\ dis-approve.
Approximate. (L.) From pp. of I..
approximdre, to draw near to. L. ap-
(for ad), to; proximus, very near, superl.
adj. iromprope, near.
Appurtenance. (F.-L.) K.Y.apur-
tenaunce (O. F apartenance], that which
belongs to. O. F. apartcmr, to belong to.
See Appertain.
Apricot. (F. - Port. - Arab. Gk. -
I,) Foimerly also apricock, from Port.
albricoquc directly. Also abricot. F.
abricot, ' the abricot, or apricock plum ; '
Cot. Port, albricoque. kxizb. al barqilq,
\\here al is the def. art. Mid. Gk. irpaiKo-
KIOV (Dioscorides) ; pi. rrpniK6/cia. The
pi. irpaiKotcta was borrowed from L prii-
coqua, apricots, neut. pi of pracoquus,
another form of pracox, precocious, early
ripe (Pliny; Martial, 13. 46) I,, pne,
beforehand ; and coquere, to cook, ripen.
See Precocious and Cook, ^f Thus the
\\ord reached us in a very indirect mannei
April. (L.) L. Aprttis ; said to be so
named because the earth then opens to
produce new fruit. L. aperire, to open ;
see Aperient.
Apron. (F. IO Foimerly napion
O Jh . naperon, a large cloth ; augmentative
form of O. F. nape, a cloth (F. nappe)."
L ntappa, a napkin, cloth (with change of
in to ;/, as in F. natte, a mat). See
Map.
Apse. (L. Gk.) Now used of a recess
at the end of a church ; formerly apse,
apsis, a turning-point of a planet's orbit.
L. apsis, pi. apsides, a bow, turn. Gk
tti/i's, a tying, fastening, felloe of a wheel,
cui ve, bow, arch. Gk. ait-rtiv, to tie, bind.
Apt, fit (L.) XIV cent. L. apt us,
i' bed as pp. of apisd, to reach, get, but
really pp. of O. Lat. apeie, to fit or join
together.
Aquatic. (L.) L. aquaticus, pertain-
ing to water L. aqua, water.
aqua-fortis. L aqua fort is , strong
water.
aquarium.. L. aquarium, a water-
vessel. L. aqua, water.
aquarius. L. aquarius, a water-
bearer. L. aqua, water.
aqueduct. L. aqiuzductus, a con-
duit ; from aqua, gen. of aqua, water, and
, a duct ; see Duct.
ARCH
. As if from L. *aqueus } adj.,
a form not used. L. aqua, water.
Aquiline, like an eagle. (F. L.) F.
aquilin ; hence nez aquilin, * a nose like
an eagle ; ' Cot. L. aquillnus, adj. from
aquila, an eagle. Cf. Eagle.
Arabesque. (F.-Ital.-Arab.) XVI I
cent. . Arabesque, Arabian-like ; also
full of flourishes, like fine Arabian work.
Ital. Arabesco ; where -esco 'E.. -ish.
Arab. *arab, Arabia.
Arable. (F.-L.) F. arable. - L.
ardbtlis, that can be ploughed. L. ardre,
to plough. (V A1 <-) See Ear (3).
Arbiter. (L.) In Milton. L. arbiter,
a witness, judge, umpiie.
arbitrary. (L.) In Milton. - L.
arbitrdnus, oiig. like the decision of an
umpire. L. arbitrdre, to act as umpire.
L. arbiter (above).
arbitrate. (L.) From pp. of L.
arbitrdre, to act as umpire (above).
ArboreOUS, belonging to trees. (L.)
L. arbore-us, adj. fiom arbor, a tree ; with
suffix -ous.
Arbour, a bower. (F. L.) The word
scenib to be really due to M. E. hcrbere,
also erbtre, from O. F. herbier, L. her-
barium, a heib-garden, also an orchard.
L. herba, grass, herb. The special sense
was due to confusion with L. arbor, a
tree.
Arc. (F.-L.) XIV cent. F. arc.-
L arcum, ace. of arcus, a bow, arch, arc.
arcade. (F. Ital. L.) F. arcade.
Ital. arcata, an arched place; fern, of
pp. of arc are, to arch. Ital. area, a bow,
L. ace. anum (above).
Arcana. (L.) L. arcana, things kept
secret, secrets. L. an ere, to keep.
Arch (0, a vault, &c. (F.-L.) O. F.
arc he, a chest, box (L. area, see Ark) ;
also, by confusion, an arch, owing to the
use of Mcd. Lat. ana \\ith the sense of
L. arcus , a bow, aich. See Arc.
Arch (2\ roguish, waggish. (L. Gk.)
' So arch a leer;' Tatler, no. 193. The
examples in the New E, Dictionary prove
that it is nothing but the prefix Arch-,
chief (for which see below \ used separately
and peculiarly. Cf. * The most atch act '
in Shak. Rich. III. iv. 3. 2 ; * An heretic,
an arch one;' Hen. VIII. iii. 2, 102.
Also * Byends ... a very arch fellow, a
downright hypocrite ' ; Bunyan's Pilgrim's
Progress. A. S. arce-, O. F. arche*, L.
arM- t Gk. a/>x- (prefix). See below.
ARCH-
prefix, chief. (L.-Gk.) The
form arch- is due to A. S. arce-, as in arce-
bisceop, an archbishop, and toO. F. arc he-,
as in arche~diacre, an archdeacon. This
form was borrowed from L. archi-^Gk.
dp\i-, as in dpxi-(iri0Koiros, an archbishop,
Gk. dipxfw, to be first, to rule; cf. Gk.
ip\r), beginning. Der. arch-bishop, arch-
deacon, Sec. ; but, in arch-angel, the ch
remained hard (as k> in the Romance
languages, on account of the following a.
Cf. Ital. anangelo, Span, arcangel.
archaeology. Gk.) Gk. dpxato\oyia
Gk. dpx<*ios, ancient, which is from
apxrf, the beginning ; and the suffix -logy,
Gk. -Ao7a, due to \6yos t discourse, from
\tyav, to speak.
archaic. <Gk ) Gk. dpxaifcos, antique,
p'imitive. Gk. dpxaios, old. Gk. apx*),
a beginning.
archaism. (Gk ) Gk. apxaivpos, an
antiquated phrase. Gk. apxaifriv, to
speak antiquatedly. Cik. apxatos, old
v above).
Archer. (F.-L.) M. E. archer. -
A. F. archer ; O F. archier, a bow-man.
Late L. arcdnus, a bow-man; from
arms, a bow.
Archetype, the original type (F. -
L Gk.) F. archetype, 'a prmcipall
type ; ' Cot L. atchetypum, the original
pattern. Gk. dpxcrvnw, a model; neut.
of dpxfTviros, stamped as a model. Gk.
dpx(- dpx*-, prefix (see Archi-) ; TVITOS,
a type
Archi-, prefix, chief. (L. - Gk ) L.
archi-. for Gk. dpxi- ; see Arch-.
archimandrite. (L. Gk.) L archi-
mandrlta, a chief or principa) of monks,
an abbot. Late Gk. apxtfAar^pirr^, the
same Gk. dpxi-: chief; jidvopa, an en-
closure, fold, afterwards a monastery. See
Arch-.
archipelago, chief sea, i e. Aegean
sea 'Ital. Gk.) Ital. arcipelago. modified
to archipelago. Gk. d/>x'-, chief; and
TTfArryos, <;en.
architect. ( F. - L. - Gk. ) F. archi-
/eite. L. architectus^ the same as archt-
tecfon.Gk. apxtTeKTajv, a chief builder
or artificer. Gk. '^x'"> chief i^see Archi-) ;
TKTOW, a carpenter, builder.
architrave. (F -Ital - L. and Cik )
In Milton. F. architrave Ital. archi-
trave, the part of an entablature resting
immediately on the column. A barbarous
compound ; from Gk. d/>x<-t prefix, chief,
ARGENT
principal, and Lat. trabem, ace. of trabs,
a beam. See Trave.
Archives, s. pi., public records ; but
properly an archive is a place where re-
cords are kept. (F.- L.-Gk.) F. ar~
chif, pi. archives; Cot.-L. archtuum,
archium.*- Gk. dp\nov, a public building,
residence of magistrates. Gk. dpxn, a
beginning, a magistracy
Arctic. (F.- L.-Gk) U.E.arttk.-
O F. artique\ F. antique L arcticus.
Gk. dpKTiKos, near the constellation of
the Bear, northem. Gk. dptcros, a bear.
Cognate with L. ursus ; see Ursine.
Der ant-antic.
Ardent. (F.-L.) XIV cent. M.E
ardaunt. Q. F. atdant, pres. part, of
ardre, to bum. L. ardent-em, ace. of
pies pt. of ardere, to burn.
ardour. ( F. L.) O F. ardour, at dor,
heat. L. ardorem, ace. of ardor, a burn-
ing, fervour. L ardere, to burn.
ArdtLOUS. (L.) L. ardu~us, steep,
difficult, high ; with suffix -ous. 4* Irish ard,
high ; Gk. opOos, upright.
Are, pres. pi. of the verb substantive.
(L.) O. Northumbrian aron, O. Merc.
earun, as distinguished from A.S.(Wessex)
sint, sind,sindon Cf Icel. er-u, they are.
Prom the Idg. V^^> to DC - ^ rom whence
also are Skt s-anti, Gk. tla-tv, L. s~unt,
G. s-md, Icel. er-u (for *jv),they are.
am. O. Northumb. am, O. Merc earn,
A S. eom.+Skt. as-mi, Gk. t-/x*, Goth.
i-ni, Icel e-m ; &c.
art. O Northumb ard, O. Merc, eard ;
A.S. eart (with / due to / in sceal-t, shalt,
&c.\ Icel. est, ert.
is. A S is -f Icel. , later er. Cf. also
(ioth. and (i is-t, Skt. as-ti y Gk. ccr-rt, L.
es t. See also Be, "Was
Area. (L.) XVI cent. L. area, an
open space.
Areca, a genus of palms. (Port.
Canaree.) Port, areca Canarese afaki,
a<\ike, areca-nut ; r being substituted for
the cerebral d (II. H. Wilson). Accented
on the first syllable.
Arefaction; see Arid (below).
Arena. (L) L a^ena, sand ; the
sanded space in which gladiators fought.
Ong. hat'ena ; cf. $o\A\\t fasena, sand.
Aigent. (F. L.) White; in heraldry.
F. argent. L atgentum, silver; from
its brightness Cf. Gk. apyvpos, silver,
Skt. arjuna(s\ white. (-y^ARG, to shine.)
Brugm. i. 529, 604. See below.
ARGILLACEOUS
Argillaceous, clayey. (L.) L. ar-
gilldceus, adj tiom argil la, clay, esp.
white clay. Cf. Gk. d/ryos, white.
Argonaut. (L. Gk.) L. argonauta.
Gk. dpyovavrrjs , one who sailed in the
ship Argo. Gk. dpyu, the name of Jason's
ship (lit. swift, from dpy6s, swift) ; and
vavrrjs^ a sailor ; see Nautical.
Argosy, a merchant-vessel. (Dalma-
tian.) Formerly spelt nrguze and ragusy
(see N. and Q. 6 S. iv. 490 ; Arbef's Eng.
Garner, 11. 67). The orig. sense was 'a
ship of Ragusa,' which is the name of a
port in Dalmatia. Ragusa appeals in
XVI cent. E. as Aragouse.
Argue. (F. L.) M. E arguen.
O. 1 ( . argner. Late L. argutare (L. ar-
giltari), frequent, of argue? e, to prove by
argument, lit. to make clear ; cf. argutus,
clear.
Arid, dry. (LO XVII cent. L aritfus,
dry. L. drcre, to be dry.
arefaction. (L.) XVI cent. Coined
from L. arefaceie,to make dry. L. dre-re,
to be dry ; tm&facere, to make.
Aright. (E.) For on right, in the right
way.
Arise. (E.) M. E. arisen. A. S.
drisan. A. S. d~, prefix ; man, to rise.
See Hi se.
Aristocracy. (Gk.) Modified from
Gk. dpiaTOKpana, government by the
nobles or 'best' men. Gk. dpiaro-, for
a/xffros, best ; and ftpartiv, to be strong,
govern, from Kparvs, strong. The form
dp-iaros is a superlative from the base
dp- seen in dp-trrj, excellence. Der. aristo-
cratic ; whence aristocrat, for ' aristocratic
person.'
Arithmetic. (F.-L.-Gk.) In sh
F. anthmetiqiie ; Cot. L. arithmetica.
Gk. dpiBfjLrjTLKrj, the science of numbers;
fern, of dpiBfjLijTiKus, adj., from dpiOfit-fiv,
to number. Gk. d/xfytos, number, reckon-
ing.
Ark, a chest, box ; hence a large float-
ing vessel. (L.) A. S. arr.-L. area, a
chest, box; cf. L. arccie, to keep.
Arm (i\ part of the body. (E.) M.E.
arm. A. S. eai w.-f-Du. arm ; Icel. armr,
Dan., Swed., and G. arm ; Goth, arms \
L. armus, the shoulder ; Russ. ramo,
bhoulder. See Brugm. i. 524.
Arm (2), to furnish with weapons. (F.
L,) F. armer. L. armdre, to fur-
nish with arms. L arma, arms.
armada, a fleet. (Span,-L) Span.
ARRACK
armada, an armed fleet ; fern, of arwado,
pp. of armar, to arm L. ar mdre, to arm
(above). Doublet, army.
armadillo, an animal. (Span. L.)
Span, armadillo, lit 'the little armed one,'
because of its hard shell. Dimin. of ar-
mado, pp. of armar, to arm ; as above.
armament. (L.) L. armamcntnm>
an equipment. L. armdre, to arm, equip.
L. arma, arms.
armature, doublet of armour.
armistice. (F. L.) F armistice. -
Mod. L *armistitium, coined on the
analogy of sol-stitium, i.e. solstice. L.
armi-, for arma, arms ; and -stitium, foi
-stafium (through atonic position), from
statum, supine of stare, to stand. (Cf.
Solstice.)
armour. (F L) M. E. armour, ar-
mure. O. K armitre, armeute.'Ij. ar-
mdhlra, armour. L. armdtus, pp. ol
a;-wtf?r,toarm. L <zrw<3,arms. Doublet,
armature.
arms, s. pi. weapons (F. L.) M. E,
ar/nes. Q P. armes, pi L. arma, neut,
pi., arms, lit. * fittings. <VAR, to fit.;
army. (F L.) O. F. armee, fern, oi
pp. of armer, to arm. L armdta, fern
of pp. of armdre, to arm. L. arma
aims.
Aroint thee ! begone ' Oiigin tin
known. The usual reference to ryntye in
Ray does not help us.
Aroma, a sweet smell. (L.Gk.)
Late L. aroma Gk. dpvjjia, a spice
sweet herb. Der. aroma t-ic, from the
Gk. stem dpcyftar-.
Around, prep, and adv. (E. and F.
L.j M. E. around', for on round \ sec
A- (2) and Bound.
Arouse. (E^/^Scand.) From A- (4}
and Bouse.
Arquebus, a kind of gun. (F. Do.'
F. arquebuse, ' an harquebuse, or hand-
gun/ Cot.; Walloon haikibitse, dialectal
variation of Mid. Du. haeckfnisse, Du,
haakbus, lit. *a gun with a hook/ This
refers to the hook whereby it was attached
to a point of support. Mid. Du. haeck^
Du. haak, a hook ; and Mid. Du. busse,
Du. bus, a hand-barrel, a gun. See
Hackbut.
Arrack, an ardent spirit. (Arab.)
Arab. *araq, sweat, juice, essence, distilled
spirit. Arab, root 'araqa, to sweat.
^| Sometimes shortened to Rack', cf. Span.
raquc, arrack.
ARRAIGN
Arraign. (F. - L.) M. E. arainen. -
O. F. areisnier, to speak to, discourse
with, cite, anaign. O. F. a (L. ad}, to ;
rcisncr, reisoner, to reason, from O. F.
reson, raison, reason, advice, from L. ace.
rationem ; see Reason.
Arrange. (F. - L. and O. II. G.)
M. E. arayngen, arengen. O. F. arengter,
to put into a rank. O. F. a (L. ad},\Q\
? angier, rengier* to range, from O. F.
rang, reng, a rank. See Rank.
Arrant, knavish, notoriously bad. (F.
L) This word is now ascertained to
be a mere variant of errant (cf parson for
person}. Chancei has thcef erraunt , arrant
thief, C. T. 17173; and see Piers Plow-
man, C. vii. 307. See Errant.
Arras, tapestry. (F.) So named from
Arras, in Artois, noith of France.
Array, \erb. (F. L. andQ. Low G.)
C). F arraio , to array O. F. arrai.
arroi, preparation. L. ad , becoming a> -
befoie r}, to, for ; O Low G. and O. Fries.
rede (cf. Goth garaid-s], ready, A. S.
riede, ready ; so that to array ib ' to get
leady,' See Ready.
Arrears, sb. pi. (F. - L ) From M. E
arere, adv., in the rear. O. F. arere (F.
arritre] , behind. Late L ad ret) o, back-
ward L. ad, to; retro, behind. ^| What
we now call arrears answer* to M. E.
aremges, s. pi. formed from M. E. arete
with F. suffix -age.
Arrest, to stop. (F. - L ) O. F. ares-
ter (F. arreter], to stay O. F a ( = L.
ad], to; L. restore, to stay, remain, from
re-, back, and stare, to stand ; see Rest
Arrive. (F. L ) F. arnver. Late
L. arnpare, adrJpare, to come to shore,
land L. ad, to ; ripa, shore, bank. Der.
arnv-al.
Arrogate. (L.) From pp. of L. arro-
gare, to ask, adopt, attribute to, add to.
L. ar- (for ad], to ; rogdre, to ask. Der
arrogant, from the pres. pt.
Arrow. (E.) M.&.arewe,arwe. A.S.
arwe, and earh (rare).-f- Icel. or, an arrow
(gen. orvar] ; allied to Goth, arhwazna,
an arrow. From Tent, base arhw- ; cog-
nate with L. an-us, a bow.
arrow-root. (E.) So called, it is said,
because the tubers of the Maranta were
used as an antidote against poisoned
arrows.
Arse. (K) M. E. ars, ers. A. S. ars.
-f*Gk. fyfos, the rump. Idg. type *orsos.
ARTILLERY
Arsenal. (Span. -Arab.) Span, ar-
senal, a magazine, dock- yard, arsenal ;
longer forms, atarazanal, atarazana, whcie
the a- answers to Arab, al, def. article.
Cf. Ital. darsena, a wet dock. Arab, ddr
af-find'a/i, a house of construction, place
for making things, dock-yaid. Arab, diir,
a house ; al, the ; and pita ah, art, trade,
construction.
Arsenic. (L. - Gk. - Arab. - Pers.)
Late L arsenicvm. Gk.d/wrmffoi/,aisenic;
seeming to mean a male principle (the alche-
mists had a strange fancy that metals were of
different sexes \ But really borrowed from
Arnb. az-zernikh ; where az is for al, the,
def". art., and zcrmkh, orpiment, is from
Pers. zcrnj, orpiment, yellow arsenic (from
zar, gold). See Devic, p. 4.
Arson, incendiarism. (F. L.) O. F.
arson, incendiarism. Late L. ace. ar-
sionem, a burning. L. ars-us, pp. of
ardere, to burn. See Ardent.
Art (i), 2 p. s. pres. of verb. (E.) See
Are.
Art (2), skill. (F.-L.) M.E. art.-
O. F art. L artem, ace. of ars, skill.
Artery. (L. Gk.) L arteria, properly
the wind-pipe; also, an artery. Gk. d/m;-
pia, wind-pipe, artery.
Artesian, adj. <F.) Artesian wells are
named fiom F. Arttsien, adj. formed from
Artois, a province in the north of f ranee,
where these wells were early in use.
Artichoke. (Ital. - Arab.) Ital. arti*
ciocco, a corrupt form ; Flono also ^ives
the spellings auhicioico, archicioffo; also
(without the ar, which answeis to the
Arab. def. ait al, the") the forms carciouo,
canioffo. Cf. Span, alcachofa, an aiti-
choke Arab, al kharshuf, or harsliaf, an
artichoke. ^[ Not Arab, ardi shaukl
(Diez'i, which is a modern corrupt form
bonowed from Italian
Article, a small item, part of speech.
(F. L. ) F artii le. L. articulus, a joint,
knuckle, article in grammar ; lit. ' a small
joint.' Pimm, of artus* a joint, limb.
articulate. (L.) L. articnlatu*, dis-
tinct ; pp. of articulate, to supply with
joints, divide by joints. L. articnlus, a
joint (above).
Artifice. (F -L.) In Milton. -F.
artiJice. lLs. artificiittn, a trade, handi-
craft; hence skill. L. arti-, stem of ars,
art; and -Jic-, for facere, to make. Der.
artific-er, a skilled woikman.
artillery. (F.-L.) Q.Y.artillerte,
ARTISAN
equipment of war, machines of war, in-
cluding cross-bows, &c., in early times.
O. F. artiller, to equip. Late L. *artil~
/are, to make machines: a verb inferred
from the sb. artillator, a maker of machines.
Extended from arti-, stem of ars, art. We
also find artillidtor, answering to an older
*articulator\ also Late L. artiiufum, arti-
fice ; articula, art.
artisan, a workman. (F. - Ital. - L.)
F. artisan. ltd. ^artigiano, a workman.
Late L. *artttianus, not found, but formed
from L aititus, cunning, artful. L. arti-,
stem of ars, art.
As, conj. (E.) M. E. as, als, ahe, also,
al so. As is a contraction of also. (Proved
by Sir F. Madden.) See Also.
Asafoetida, Assafcetida, a gum.
(Med. L. Pers. and L.) From Pers. aza,
mastic ; the L. fotida, fetid, refers to its
offensive smell. See Fetid.
Asbestos, a mineral. t^Gk.) Gk. a-
crpeaTos, unquenchable ; because it is in-
combustible. Gk. d-, neg. prefix; and
-tr/30To?, quenchable, from a&ivvviu, I
quench, extinguish. See Biugm. i. 653.
Ascend. (LO L ascendere, to climb
up L. ad, to; standeie, to climb. See
Scan Der ascens-wn, from pp. ascensus.
Ascertain. <F. - L.> From O. F.
atertazner, aceitcner, to make ceitam
(with s inserted). F. a v = L.^/, to) ; and
cettatn^ certain See Certain.
Ascetic. (Gk.) Gk. a<7Kr)Titc6s, given
to exercise, industrious; applied to hermits,
who strictly exercised themselves in reli-
gious devotion. Gk. dcr/frjrrjs, one who
practises an art, an athlete. Gk. d<ri>,
to work, exercise ; also, to mortify the
body, as an ascetic.
Ascititious, incidental. (L.) Coined,
as if from L. *ascTt7u'tis, from ascitus, pp.
of asdscere, or adsciscere, to receive, learn.
L. ad, to; sciscere, to learn, inceptive
form of sctre, to know.
Ascribe. (L.) L. ascr7bcre, to write
down to one's account. L. a- (for ad}, to ;
scnbere, to write.
Ash, a tree. (E.) M. E asch. A. S. <PSC.
-f-Dn. esch ; Icel askr ; Dan. and Swed
ask ; G. esche. Teut. type *askiz. Cf.
Kuss. iasene, Lith. fists, ash.
Ashamed. (E.) A. S. dscamod, pp. of
dscamian, to put to shame. A. S. a-, ex-
tremely ; scamian, to shame, from scamu,
shame, 0. Or for A. S. of seamed, with the
same sense (with prefix of-, off, very).
ASPECT
Ashes. (E.) The pi. of ash, which is
little used. M. E. asche, axe, sing. ; the
pi. is commonly aschen, axen, but in North-
ern E. it is asches, ashes. A. S. azsce, pi.
astan, cexan, ascan.+I)u. asch ; Icel. and
Swed. aska ; Dan. aske\ Goth, azgd, pi.
azgon ; G. asche. Teut. stems *askon-,
Ashlar, Ashler, a facing made of
squared stones. (F. L.) It consists of
thin slabs of stone for facing a building ;
formerly applied to a square hewn stone ;
and, probably, so called because it took
the place of the wooden beams used for
the same purpose. O. F. aiseler (Livre
des Rois), extended from O. F. aiselle,
aisiele, a little board, dimin. of ais, a
plank L. ajcil/a, dimin. of L. axzs an
axis, also, a board, a plank.
Ashore. (E.) For on shore.
Aside. (K.) or on side.
Ask. (E.) TA.K.asken,axien. A. S.
dscjan, ahnan, acsian ; the last answers to
prov. E. ax. + Du. eischcn ; Swed. aska ;
Dan tuke , G. hcischen, O. H. G. eiscon.
Teut. types *aiskon, *aiskojan. Cf. Russ.
ukate, Lith jcskuti, to seek; $fo\..ichchha,
a wish, desne, esh, to search.
Askance, obliquely. (Fiiesic). Spelt
a-scance by Sir T. \Vyat ; ascanche by Pals-
grave, who gives de trauers, tn lorgnant,
as the F. equivalent. Hardly from Ital.
scansare, i to go a-slope or a-sconce, or
a-skew, to go sidelin;' Florio. Rather from
Friesic aa Skands, obliquely, to one side
(Outzen) ; from skdn, oblique. Cf. E. Fries.
sch in, oblique, sihuns, obliquely; Low G.
schuns ; Du. schitin, oblique (whence Dan.
flaa skom'}. O. lories. <f=Teut. au.
Askew, awry. (O. Low G ) For on
skew ; Hexham gives M. Du. scheef, 1 askew,
awry ; ' see Skew.
Aslant. (ScandJ For on slant.
Asleep. (E.) For on sleep ; Acts xiii.
36.
Aslope. (E.) Foi on slope.
Asp, Aspic, a serpent. (F. - L. - Gk.)
F. aspe, aspic L. aspidem, ace. of aspis.
Gk. dtnn's (gen. <i<riri&os\ an asp.
Asparagus, a vegetable. (L. Gk.
Pers V) L. asparagus. Gk. dcnrapayos.
Supposed to be of Pers. origin ; cf. Zend
{paregha, a shoot, a prong ; Lithuan.
spurgas, a shoot (Fick, Prellwitz).
Aspect. (L-) L. aspectus, look. L.
aspectns, pp. of aspicere, to look. L. a*
(for ad), to, at ; specere, to look.
ASPEN, ASP
Aspen, Asp, a tree. (E.) M. E. asp,
Chaucer, C. T. 2923 ; aspen is an adj. (like
golden} ,and is used for aspen-tree ; cf. Ch
C. T. 7249. A. S a>spe, <rps. + Du. /;
Icel. osp, Dan. and Swed asp ; G. ^r/tf , <z.rjv.
Cf. Lithuan. apuszis ; Russ. osina.
Asperity. (F.-L.) F. #/#. -L
aspentdtem, ace. Qiaspentds, roughness
L. asper, rough
Asperse, to cast calumny upon. (L.)
l<rom L. asper sus, pp. of asper gere, to
besprinkle. L. as- (for ad} ; spargere, to
scatter.
Asphalt. (Gk.) Gk. dff<}>a\Tos, dff<t>a\~
rov, asphalt, bitumen. A foreign word.
Asphodel. (Gk ) Gk. d<r</>o5Aos a
plant of the lily kind. Der. daffodil,
C J- v -
Asphyxia, suffocation. (Gk.) Gk. d-
a<pvia, a stopping of the pulse; cf. a*
<r<t/tfTos, without pulsation. Gk. <l-, not ;
and cr</>vts, the pulse, from cr<pv*tv, to pul-
sate ; cf. (r</>v7/ios, pulsation
Aspire. ( F. L.) F. aspirer, to breathe,
covet, aspire to. L. asplrdre, lit. to breathe
towards. L a- (for rt^/i, to; spirare, to
breathe. Der. aspir-ate, v. to pronounce
with a full breathing.
Affg (C. L) M E asse. A. S. assa.
Irish assan.<- L. asinus; whence also
W. asyn, Swed. asna, Icel. asni. Hence
also (or from L. dimin. asetlus) came Irish
a sal, Du. ezel, Dan. and G. esel, Goth.
asilus. Prob of Semitic origin ; cf. Arab
at an, Heb. dthon, a she-ass.
Assail. (F.-L.) M. E amilen -O. F.
asatllir, to attack. Late L. assalire ; L
assillre L. #</, to ; satire, to leap, rush
forth See Salient.
Assart, the offence of giubbmg up trees
and destroying the coverts of a forest. (F.
L.) From A. F. assarter. F. essarter, to
grub up, clear ground of shrubs. L ex,
out, thoroughly ; Late L sartdie, frequent
of L. sarrire, sarire, to grub up weeds.
Assassin, a secret muiderer. (F.-
Arab.) F. assassin. From Arab, haskdshtn,
pi., eateis of ' hashish,' the name of a
sect in the 1 3th centiuy ; the * Old Man of
the Mountain ' roused his followers' spirits
by help of this preparation, and sent them
to stab his enemies, esp. the leading cru-
saders. Arab. hashtsh t an intoxicating
preparation from the </nV</ leaves of Can-
nabis indtca, a kind of hemp. Cf. Arab.
fyashiy, dry.
Assault. (F. - L ) O. F. assalt. - L.
ASSOCIATE
ad, to ; sat/us, a leap, attack, from saltus,
pp. of satire, to leap. See Assail.
Assay, s. ; the same as Essay, q. v.
Assemble. (F. L.) O. F. assembler.
Late L. assimulare, to collect (different
from L. assimnldre, to feign). L. as- (for
ad), to ; simul, together.
Assent. (F.-L.) O.F. <WJ*/*>.-L.
assentire, to assent, agree to. L. as- (for
ad), to ; sentire, to feel, perceive.
Assert. (L.) From L. assertus, pp.
of asset ere, to add to, claim, assert. L.
as- (for ad), to ; serere, to join, connect.
Assess, to fix a tax. (F.-L.) O. F.
assesser. Late L. assessdte, to sit as as-
sessor, to assess ; cf. L. sb. assessor, one
who adjusted taxes ; ong. a judge's assis-
tant, one who sat by him. L. assessus,
pp. of asndere, to sit near. See Assize (i).
Assets, sufficient effects of a deceased
debtor. (F. L.) O. F. asses (pron assets},
sufficient (to pay with) ; properly an adv.,
but, in E., mistaken to be a pi. sb. L. ad
satis, up to what is enough.
Asseverate. (L ) L. aswuerdtus, pp.
of asseuerdte, to speak in earnest. L. as-
(for ad), to ; seuet us, earnest.
Assiduous. (L ) L asstdu-us, sitting
down to, applying closely to ; with suffix
-ous. L. assidere, to sit near. L. as- (for
ad), at, near ; sedere, to sit. See Sit.
Assign. (F.-L) O F.aw^/w.-L.
assignare, to assign, mark out to. L. as-
(iorW), to, signdre, to maik,from signum^
a maik, sign.
Assimilate. (L.) From pp. ofL. as-
simildre, to make like to. L. as- (for ad\
to , stmtlis, like. See Similar.
Assist. (F - L.) F. assister. L. as-
sistere, to step to, approach, assist. L. as-
(for ad), to; stitere, to place, stand, from
stare, to stand
Assize ( i )i a session of a court of justice.
(F. L.) M. E. asstse. O. F. assise, an
assembly of judges ; also a tax, an impost.
Probably fern. pp. of O. F. asseoir, to sit
near, assist a judge. L. assidere, to sit
near ; see Assiduous, Assess.
assize (2), a fixed quantity or dimen-
sion. (F. L.) O. F. assise, a tax, impost ;
the Late L. asslsa was also used in the
sense of a fixed allowance of provisions.
The same word as the above. Another
form is Size, q. v.
Associate. (L.) From pp. of L. as-
socidre, to join to. L as- (for ad-\ to;
socidre, to join, associate. L. socius, a
ASSOIL
companion, lit. follower. L. sequi, to
follow. See Sequence.
AsSOll, to absolve, acquit. (F.-L.)
M. E. assoilen. Q F. as(s]oille, pies. subj.
of assondre, asoldre, to absolve. L. ab-
soluere, to absolve. - L. ab, from ; soluere,
to loosen. See Solve. Doublet, absolve.
Assonant. (L.) L. assonant-, stem of
assonans, sounding like; pres. pt. ofaswn-
are, to respond to L. as- (for ad-\ to ;
sonar e, to sound, from sonus, sound.
Assort. (F.-L.) O. F. assortir, to
sort, assort, match (i.sth century). O. F.
0.r- ( = L. as-, for L. </), to ; sort-, stem of
L. JWT, lot. See Sort.
Assuage. (F.-L.) O F. asonagicr,
asoagter, to soften, appease ; (Piov. asua-
viar}. Y. a ( = L. a</), to ; and L. suauts,
sweet. See Sua^e.
Assume. (L.) L. assfimere (pp. as-
sumptus], to take to oneself. L. as- (for
0aT), to ; sftmere, to take, which is from
emere, to take, with a prefix of doubtful
origin. Der. assumption (from the ppA
Assure. (F.-L.) M.E. assuren.-
O F. assurer, to make secure. O. F. a
( = L. ad), to ; seur, sure, from L. seciirus 9
secure, sure. See Sure.
Aster, a flower (Gk ) Gk. dar-qp, a
star. See Star.
asterisk. (Gk ) Gk. drrrcpcV/coj, a
little star, also an asterisk *, used for dis-
tinguishing fine passages in MSS. Gk.
dcrrf/j-, stem of darrjp, a star
asteroid, a minor planet. (Gk.) Pro-
perly an adj., signifying ' star-like.' Gk.
dffTfpo-ftSrjs, star-like. Gk. currepo-, for
dorffp, a star; and ?5-oy, form, figure.
Asthma, difficulty in breathing. (Gk.)
Gk. aaB y*a, panting. Gk. ddf *tv, to breathe
hard. Cf. Gk. dtT/fii, I blow. See Air.
Astir. (E.) For on stir ; harbour's
Bruce, xix. 577
Astonish, Astound. (F.-L.) The
addition of -ts/i, as in exttngu-ish, is due
to analogy with other verbs in -ish, M.E.
astonien, astitnien, astonen ; whence later
astony, afterwards lengthened to astonish ;
also astound, by the addition of excrescent
d after , as in sound, from F. son. All
from O. F. estoner (mod. F. ttonner^, to
amaze. Late L. *extonarc, to thunder
out, from ex, out, and tondre, to thunder.
Cf. L. attonare, to thunder at, astound ( with
prefix at- for L. ad, at).
Astray. or on stray, Barbour's Bruce,
xiii, 195. See Stray.
ATHWART
Astriction. (L.) From L. ace. as-
trictionem, a drawing together. L. astrtc-
tus, pp. of astringere ; see Astringent.
Astride. (E.) For on (the] stride.
Astringent. (L.) From stem of pres.
pt. of astringere, to bind or draw closely
together. L. a- (for ad], to ; stringer e, to
draw tight.
Astrology. (F.-L.-Gk.) Y. astro-
logie. lu. atlrologia, (j) astronomy; (2)
astrology, or science of the stars. -Gk.
do-rpo\oyia, astronomy. Gk. dffrpo-, for
do-rpov, a star ; and -Ao7i, allied to \6yot,
a discourse, from \iytiv, to speak.
Astronomy. (F.-L.-Gk.) F. as-
trononne. L. astrononna. Gk. dcrrpo-
vo/Ma. Gk. darpo-v, a star; and -i/o/zia,
allied to fo/ioy, law, from vtpeiv, to dis-
tribute
Astute. (L.) L astfitus, crafty, cun-
ning. L. astus, craft.
Asunder. (E.) Jh or on sunder, A. S.
on-sundran, apart. See Sunder.
Asylum. (L.-Gk.) L. asy/um -Gk.
dav\ov, an asylum ; neut. of dVvAoy, adj.
unharmed, safe from violence. Gk. d-,
not ; and 0v\ij, a right of seizure ; cf.
avKdoj, I despoil an enemy.
Asymptote, a line which, indefinitely
produced, does not meet the curve which it
continually approaches. (Gk.) Gk. davfi-
irTUTos,not falling together, not coincident.
Gk. d-, not ; avu, for avv, together; and
TTTCUT^?, falling, from niwretv (pt. t. iri-
TTTw/ra), to fall. ( VPET )
At. (E.) M.E. at, A.S. **. + Icel. at\
Goth, at; Dan. ad; Swed.d/; L. ad.
Atabal, a kettle-drum . (Span. - Arab.)
Span. atabaL Arab, at (for al, def. article) ;
tab/, a drum.
Ataghan ; see Yataghan.
Atheism. (Gk.) Coined from Gk.
d9f-os, denying the gods, without a god;
with suffix -ism. Gk. d-, negative prefix ;
9(6s, a god.
Athirst. (E ) M. E. ofthurst, athurst,
very thirsty; ong. pp. ot a verb. A. iS.
o/pyrsted^ very thirsty ; pp. Qfoffiyrstan, to
be very thirsty. - A. S. of, very (prefix);
and fyrstan, to thirst ; see Thirst.
Athlete. (L.-Gk.) L. <*////#*. -Gk.
dO\rjT7i$ t a combatant, contender in games.
Gk.dflA.^-fii'jto contend for a prize. Gk.
a0Aos (for dfe^Xos), a contest ; S.9\.ov (for
affflAoc), a prize. See Wed.
Athwart, across. For on thwart, on
the transverse, across ; see Thwart.
ATLAS
Atlas. (Gk ) Named after Atlas, the
demi-god who was said to bear the world
on his shoulders ; his figure used often to
appear on the title-page of atlases. Gk.
"ArXas (gen. "AT\avros), prob. 'the sus-
tainer ' or bearer, from ^TEL. to bear.
at 1 antic, an ocean, named after Mt.
Atlas, in the N.W. of Africa. (Gk ) From
'ArA.aim-, stem of "ArAas ; with suffix
-/cos.
Atmosphere. (Gk.) Lit. 'a sphere
of air round the earth/ Coined from
aTfj.6-, stem of dittos, vapour, air ; and
Sphere.
Atoll, a group of coral islands forming
a ring. (Maldive Islands.) * We denve the
expression from the Maldive islands . . .
where the form of the word is atolu. It is
prob connected with the Singhalese prep.
atul, inside ' (Yule )
Atom. (F. L Gk.) F af owe (Cot)
L. atomus Gk. arouos, sb.,an indivisi-
ble particle; allied tod'ro/ios, adj , indivisi-
ble. Gk. d-, not ; TO/A-, 0-grade of Tyn-, as
seen in rc/i-i/eii/, to cut, divide.
Atone, to set at one, to reconcile (E )
Made up from the words at and one, and
due to the frequent use of the phrase at
ooi, at one (i. e reconciled) in Middle j
English. Al at on all agreed; Rob. of
Glouc. p. 113. Tyndall has alone maker,
i.e. reconciler, Woiks, p. 158. Der. atone-
ment ', i. e. at-one-ment ; we actually find
the word onement, leconciliation, in old
authors; see Hall, Satires, in. 7. 69
Atrocity. (F. - L.) F. at recite, Cot. -
L. atrdcitatem, ace. of atroatas, cruelty.
L at rod-, from atrojc, ciuel.
Atrophy. (Gk.) Gk. drpo^ia, want of
nourishment or food, hunger, wasting away
of the body, atrophy. Gk. d-, not; and
Tp<f>tv (pt. t. T-Tpo<-a) } to nourish.
Attach. (F.-Teut.?) O. F. attacker,
to attach, fasten. O F. a, for L. ad, to ;
and (perhaps) a Low G. word with the
sense of E. tack, a nail. See Tack. Cf.
Picard at taker, to attach ; Bret, tacha, to
fasten, from tack, a tack, nail ; and see
Detach, Attack. Der. attach- ment.
attack. (F.-Ital.-Teut.?) Y.atta-
quer. \\a\. attaccare, to fasten, attach;
attaccare battaglia, * to ioyne battell/
Florio. Cognate with F. attaJier ; so that
attack is a doublet of attach.
Attain. (F.-L.) M. E. ateinen.-
O. F. ateign-, pres. stem of atetndre,
ataindre, to reach to. L. atiingere, to
ATTORNEY
attain. L. at- (for ad}, to; tangere, to
touch.
attainder. (F.-L.) From the O. F.
ateindre, verb, to convict; used substan-
tively ; see above.
attaint, to convict. (F. - L.) From
M. E. atteynt, ateynt, convicted, whence
the verb has been evolved ; orig. pp. of
O. F. ateindre (above). , fl" Confused with
L attmctus ; whence E. tatnt.
Attar of Roses. (Arab.) Also, less
correctly, otto of roses, i.e. perfume. Arab.
'itr, pei fume. Arab, root 'atara, to smell
sweetly.
Attemper. F. L.) Q.. atempter
to modify. O F. a ( = L. ad], to ; tempter,
tcmperer, to temper. L. temper are, to
apportion, regulate, qualify. See Temper.
Attempt. (F.-L.) O. F. atcmpler >
to undertake. L. attentare, to attempt
L. at- (for ad), to; tent a re, to try; see
Tempt.
Attend. (F.-L) O. F. atendre, to
wait. L. attcndere (pp. attenttts\ to
stretch towards, give heed to. L. at- (for
ad}, to ; tender e, to stretch Der. attent-
ion (from the pp.) ; aitent, adj., 2 Chron.
vi 40, vii. 15.
Attenuate. (L. } From pp. of L. at-
tenudre, to make thin. L at- (for ad), to;
tcnu-is, thin. See Thin.
Attest. (L ) L at testa n, to be witness
to. L. at- (-^ad}, to; test an, to be
witness, fioin L. test is, a witness.
Attic, a small upper room. (L. Gk )
It orig meant the whole of a parapet wall,
terminating the upper facade of an edifice.
Named from the Attic order of architecture ;
see Phillips, ed. 1 706. L. Atticus. Gk.
'Arrt/fos, Attic, Athenian. Cf. F attiqtte,
an attic, Atiiquc, Attic.
Attire. ' F. - Tent. '>) M . E atir, atvr,
sb. ; atir en, a'yren, verb O. F. atuier,
to adorn (Roquefort). O. F. a ( = L ail,
prefix); andO. F. tire, iiere, a row, file ,
so that atirier is properly ' to arrange.' Cf.
O. Prov. tiera, a row ( v BartschX See Tier.
Attitude. (Ital. L.) Orig. a painter's
term, from Italy. Ital. attitudine, aptness,
skill, attitude. L. aptitiidinem, ace. of
aptitiido, aptitude. L. aptus, apt.
Attorney. (F. L.) M. E. attonrne.
O. F. atom* [i. e. atornd], lit. * one ap-
pointed or constituted ; ' }>p of atorner, to
direct, prepare, constitute. F. a ( L ad],
to ; O. F. torner, to turn, from L. tor-
nare. See Turn.
ATTRACT
Attract. (L.) From L. attractus y pp.
of attrahere, to attract. L. at- (=ad),
to ; trakere, to diaw.
Attribute. (L.) Yromattributtis,w.
of L. aftribuere, to assign. L. at- ( ad} ,
to ; tribttere, to assign ; see Tribute.
Attrition. (L ) From L. ace. attrl-
tzcmem, a rubbing or wearing away. L.
attritus, pp. of after ere i to rub away. L.
at- ( =*ad), at ; terere, to rub. See Trite.
Attune, to bring to a like tune. (L
and L Gk.) From L. at- (~ad], to;
and E. Tune, q v.
Auburn. (F.-L.) M.E. abonte, au-
lurne, orig. citron- coloured or light yellow.
O. F. albornej auborne, blond (Godefroy) .
Late L. alburnus, whitish, light-
coloured. Torriano explains Ital. alburno
by ' that whitish colour of women's hair
called an aburn colour.' Cf. L. alburnum,
the sap-wood or inner baik of tree;*
(Pliny). -L albus, white.
Auction. (L.) L. auctionenii ace. of
auctio, a sale by auction, lit. 'an increase/
because the sale is to the highest bidder.
"L. auctes, pp. of au^t'tc, to increase. See
Eke.
Audacious. (F. L) F auda^ieux,
bold, audacious. L. *andaciostts t not
found; extended fiom L audan-, from
aitdax, bold L. audere, to daie.
Audience. (F. 1,.^ F. audience, 'an
audience or hearing ; ' Cot L. audientia,
a hearing. L. audient-, stem of pres. pt.
oi audit e, to heai . For *aitndne ; cf. Gk.
a.L(j$ca0ai, to perceive, for dfiffOea&cu.
Biugm. i. 240.
audible. (L.^ Late L. audibilis, that
can be heard. L. audlre, to hear.
audit. (L.) From L. audilus, a
hearing, L. audire, to hear ; whence also
audi-tor.
Auger. V E.) For nauger. ME naue-
gar ( = navgar}, naugcr, a tool for boring
holes A. S. nafogar, an auger, lit. nave-
piercer, tor boiing holes in the nave of a
wheel. A. S. nafu, a nave ; gar, a piercer,
that which gores; see Nave (i) and
Gore (3). -J- Du. avcgaar (for navegaar) ;
Icel. nafarr\ Dan. naver\ Swed. itafvare ,
O. H. G. nabager.
Aught. (E.) M. E. aht y aght, aught.
A S. aht> earlier awiht ; from a, ever, and
wtht, a creature, wight, whit ; lit. * e'er a
whit.' See Whit.
Augment. (F. - L . ) F. augmenter. -
L. auginentare, to enlarge. L. augmentum,
AUSTRAL
an increase. L. augere, to increase. See
Auction.
Augur. (L.) M. E. augur. L. augttr,
a sooth-sayer ; said to mean a diviner by
the flight and cries of birds. Hence a sup-
posed etymology (not certain) fiom at/ts, a
bhd, and -gur, telling, allied iogarrire t to
shout. Cf. L. au-ccps, a bird-catcher.
August. (L.) L. augustus, venerable ;
whence K. august, venerable, and August,
the month named after Augustus Caesar.
Cf. Skt. djas, strength. Bmgm. i. 213.
Auk, a sea-biid. (Scand.) Swed. alka ;
Dan. alke ; Icel alka, dlka, an auk.
Aunt. (F. - L. ) M.E aunte. - A. F.
azinte\ O. F. ante (mod. F. t-ante}.*~ L.
ainita, a father's sistei . Cf. G. attune, nurse.
Aureate. (L.) Late L. auredtus, gilt,
fiom aureus, golden; in place of L. au-
ratus, gilded, pp. of aitrdre, to gild. L.
cturitw, gold ; O. L. ausutn. Der. aur-
elia, a gold- coloured chrysalis ; aur-e-
ol a, aur-c-ole, the halo of golden glory
in paintings ; auriferous, gold-producing,
fiomferre, to bear.
Auricula, a plant. (L.) L. auritula,
the lobe of the ear ; used to mean the
' bear's ear,' a kind oi primrose ; see below.
auricular, told in the ear, secret (L.)
Late L. auricularis, in the phr. aunculans
confessio^ auriculai confession. L. auri-
cula, the lobe of the ear ; double dimin.
from aun-s, the ear. See Ear.
Aurora, the dawn. (L ) L aurora,
the dawn ; from prehistoric *ausosa.^Gk.
y^olic a&uy, Ion, ijws, dawn, from pre-
historic *avff(u$. See East.
Auscultation, a listening. (L.) L.
auscultationem, ace. of au:>cultatio, a
listening; from the pp. of auscultate, to
listen. L. *aus-, base of aun's, the ear.
See Ear.
Auspice, favour, patronage. (F. L.)
F. auspice, a token of things by the flight
of birds, an omen, good fortune. L. au-
spidum, a watching of biids for the pur-
pose of augury. Short for *auispidum.
L. atn-, for auis, a bud ; and spicere,
ipecerc, to spy, look into.
Austere. (F. - L. - Gk.) M. E.
austere. - O. F. austere. - L. austerus,
harsh, severe. Gk. avvrypos, making the
tongue dry, haish. Gk. avctv, to dry.
See Sere.
Austral. (F.-L.; <?rL.) We find F.
australe, * southerly;' Cot. L. Austratis,
southerly. - L, Austcr, the South wind.
AUTHENTIC
Authentic. (F.-L.-Gk.) M.E. au-
tentike, autentik. Q. . autentique , later
authenttque (Cot.). L. authenticus ',
original, written with the author's own
hand. Gk. av0VTiit6s, vouched for, war-
ranted. Gk. avO&Tfjs, also avro-fVTijs, one
who does things with his own hand, a
'self-worker'; see Auto-. (3. Gk. evrijs
(for *<T'T77s) is prob. allied to L. sons
(gen. sontis\ guilty, responsible.
Author. (F.L) M.E. autour,
autor ; later author (with th once sounded
as /, but now as th in thmX OF. autor
(Bartsch) L. auctorem, ace. of auctor, an
originator, lit. ( mcreaser, grower/ L.
auger e, to increase. Cf. Auction.
AutO-, prefix. (Gk.) Gk. auro-, stem
of airu9, self. Der. auto-biography ', a
biography written by oneself (see Bio-
graphy) ; atitograph, something in one's
own handwriting, from Gk. ypafaiv , to
write (see Graphic).
autocracy. (Gk ) Adapted (with
suffix -cy for Gk -rtia) from Gk. auro-
icpaTfia, absolute power. Gk. avro-, self;
-KpaTfta (in compounds), power, from
Kpartciv, to rule Gk. xparvs, strong;
cognate with E. Hard.
automaton, a self-moving machine.
(G.) Gk. avTufjaroV) neut. of avTo/waros,
self-moving. Gk. avro-, for avros, self;
and -paras, cognate with Skt. matds,
thought, considered, known, pp. of man,
to think. (VMEN.)
autonomy, self-government. (Gk.)
Gk. avrovofjiia, independence. Gk. avr6-
yo/xos, free, living by one's own laws Gk.
avro-, self; and vouos, law, from j>t'/*o/*cu,
I sway, vf^dVy to distribute.
autopsy, peisonal inspection (Gk.)
Gk. avToi/sia, a seeing with one's own eyes.
Gk. avro-, self; ityis, sight (see Optic).
Auto-da-fe. (Port.-L.^ Lit. 'decree
of faith , ' a judgment of the Inquisition,
also, the execution of such judgment, when
the decree or sentence is read to the
victims Port, auto, action, decree; da,
short for de a, of the \f, faith. [The Span,
form is auto de jt, without the article
la Port. #."] L. actum, ace. of actus,
act, deed ; de, prep. ; ilia, fern, of ille, he ;
fideni, ace. of fides, faith.
Autumn. (F. L.) M.E. autumpne.
O.K. autompne. L. autumnns, auctum-
nus, autumn. (Perhaps allied to augere,
to increase.)
Auxiliary. (L.) L. auxilidrius,
AVERAGE
helping, assisting. L. auxtlium, help.
L. augere, to increase.
Avadavat, a finch-like E. Indian bird.
(Arab, and Pers.) Formerly amadavat
(N E. D.) ; or amudavad, N. and Q. 6
S. ii. 198. Named from the city of Ahmed-
dbdd, whence they were imported. Arab.
Ahmed, a proper name ; Pers. dbad, a city.
Avail. (F.-L.) M.E. auailen ( =
availen}. Compounded of O. F. a, to ;
and vail-, tonic stem of O. F. valoir (valer),
to be of use. - L. ad, to ; tmlere, to be
strong.
Avalanche. (F. L.) F. avalanche,
the descent of snow into a valley. F.
avaler, to swallow ; but the old sense was
'to let fall down.' F. aval, downward,
lit 'to the valley.' F. a ( "L. ad], to,
val, vale, from L. uallem, ace. of ualhs, a
valley.
Avarice. (F. L) M.E. auarice
(with u for z;). F. avarice. L. auaritia,
greediness L. auarus, greedy ; cf. L.
attidus, greedy. L. auere, to wish, desire.
Avast, stop, hold fast. (Du.) Du. hou
vast, houd vast, hold fast. Du. hou, short
foim of hond, imper. of houden, to hold
^see Hold) ; and vast, fast (see Fast).
Avatar. (Skt.) Skt. avatdra, descent ;
hence, the descent of a Hindu deity in
incarnate form. Skt. ava, down; and ///,
to pass over, pass.
A vaunt, begone ! (F. L.) A. F.
avaunt; O.F avant, forward! Ste Ad-
vance.
Ave, hail. (L ) Short for Aue A,\iria,
hail, Mary (Luke i. 28). L. aue, hail!
imper. sing, of auere, to fare well.
Avenge. (F. L.) O. F. avengier, to
avenge. F. a (L. ad\ to , vengier, to
avenge, from L. mndicare, to lay claim
to, also, to avenge. See Vindicate.
Aventail, the mouth-piece of a visor.
(F. L.) A. F. aventaille ; O.F. esventail,
air-hole. O.F esventer, to expose to air.
L. ex, out , ucntus, wind. See Ventail.
Avenue. (F. L.) Y.avenlte^advenne,
access ; hence an approach to a house (esp.
one shaded by trees) ; fern, of avenu, pp. of
F. avenir, to come to. L. ad, to ; uemre,
to come.
Aver. (. L.) A . F. and O. F. avercr.
Late L. auei'are, aducriire, to afhini to
be true. L. ad, to; uerus, tine.
Average, an equalised estimate. (F.)
Formerly a duty, tax, import; then, an
extra charge on goods, the incidence of
AVERT
such a charge, the general estimate or
apportionment of loss of goods, &c.
Formed, with suffix -age, from F. avar-ie,
now usually * damage* (cf Span, averia,
haberia, i the custom paid for goods that
are exported ' (Pineda), Port and Ital.
avaria, Late L. avana, avcna). A
Mediterranean maritime term, orig. signify-
ing ' duty charged on goods ' (G. P. Marsh,
in N. E. D.). Ongin unknown; perhaps
from Ital. avere, havere, goods, chattels
(F. avoir), a sb. use of havere, haver (L.
habere), to possess, ^f Or from Arab.
'avdr, damage, the relationship of which is
obscure.
Avert. (L.) L. d-uertere, to turn away.
L. d ( = ab), off, away , uertere, to turn.
Der. averse, from L. pp. ducrsus.
Aviary. (L.) L. auidiium, a place
for birds; neut. of adj. auidnus, belonging
to birds. L. aui-, stem of auis, a bud.
Avidity. (F.-L.) F . aviditi, greed i-
ness, eagerness. L. auiditdtent, ace of
auiditds, eagerness. L. auidus, greedy,
desirous L. auere, to crave.
Avocation. (L) From L. diwcd-
tidnem, ace. of duocdtio, a calling away of
the attention, hence a diversion, amuse-
ment ; afterwards used in the sense of
employment L. duocdtus,\)\>. vid-uocdre,
to call away. L d (- ab), from, away;
uocdre, to call. See Vocation.
Avoid, to shun. (F.-L.) M E.
auoiden ( avoiden), to empty, empty out,
get rid of; Int^r, to keep away from, shun.
O. F. esvuidier, to empty out, get quit
of. O F. es-, prefix (L. ex, out); and
O. F vuit, vuide (F. vide), empty, void.
See Void.
Avoirdupois. (F.-L.) Formerly
avoir de pois (Anglo-F. aveir de peis),
goods of weight, i.e. heavy articles. F.
avoir, goods, orig. 'to have;' de, of;
O. J 1 . poi:>, A. F. peis, weight L habere,
to have; de, of; pensum, that which is
weighed out, neut of pensus, pp. of pen-
dere, to weigh, ^f The F pois ib now
misspelt ponis. See Poise.
Avouch. (F.-L.) M.E. avomhen
O. F. avochier,\ call upon as guarantor
(Godefroy) L. aduocdie, to call to or
summon ^a witness) L. ad, to; uocdre,
to call. Cf Vouch.
avow, to confess, to declare openly.
(M T \ TLJT t- s~\ i-
v r . 1, ) M K. avowen. O. ^ . avouer t
avoer L. aduocdre, to call upon Med.L.
to call on as patron or client, to acknow-
AWKWARD
ledge, iccognise. L. ad, to; uocdre, to
call, f Another M.E. avowen, to bind
with a vow, to vow, is obsolete ; see Vow.
Doublet, avouch (above).
Await. (F.-L. andO.H.G.) O. F.
aivaitier, agaitier, to wait for. O. F. a
( = L ad), foi ; waitier, to wait, from
O. H. G. wahtcn, to watch, from the sb.
wahta (G. u-acht), a watching. See "Wait.
Awake, Awaken. (E.) M.E.
awakien, awaken ; and awaknen, awake-
nen ; both orig intransitive. Two A. S.
verbs are confused; divacian, wk. vb. ;
and onw&cnan, with wk. pres. t., but
strong pt. t. onwdC) pp. onwacen. The
prefix is either A- (2) or A- (4). See
Wake, Waken.
Award, vb. (F.-L. and O. Low G.)
M. K. awarden A. F. awarder-, O. F.
eswarder, esgarder, to examine, adjudge.
O. F. es- ( - L. ex}, out ; O. F. warder, to
ward, guard, from O. Low G., as in O. Sax.
war don (cf. G. wart en}, to watch, guard.
See Ward, Guard.
Aware. (E.) A corruption of M. E.
iwar , ywar, aware (common) ; from A. S.
gewcer, aware. A. S. ge-, a common
prefix, not altering the sense ; war, ware,
wary ; see Wary.
Away. (E.) For on way, i. e. on
one's way, so as to depart. A.S. onweg,
away. See Way.
Awe. (Scand.) M. E. a^e, aghe, awe.
{ Also e^e, eghe, eye ; all ong. dissyllabic.
The latter set aie from A. S. ege, awe.]
Icel. agi, awe, fear ; Dan. ave +A. S. ege ;
Goth, agis, fear, anguish ; Irish eagal^
fear, terror; Gk. a'x ^ nnguish, affliction.
(-/AOH.) T>ex.aw-ful.
Awkward, clumsy. (Scand. and E )
Orig. an adv., signifying * tiansverscly,' or
'in a backhanded manner.' M.E. awk-
ward, awkwart ; ' aukwart he couth him
ta' he gave him a backhanded stioke,
Wallace lii 175. p. The suffix -ward is
E. , as in for-ward on-ward, &c The
prefix is M. E. auk, awk, contrary, pei verse,
wrong; Ibis is a contraction of Icel. ofug-
[Swed. afvug, in Widegren], like hawk
from A.S. hafoc. Icel. ofugr, often con-
tracted to ofgu, adj., turning the wrong
way, back foremost, contrary, y. Here
of- is ior af-, off, from, away; and -ug- is
a suffix. Cf. O. H. G. ap uh, M. H. G. eb-
uh, turned away, perverse; from apa~
G. ab, off, away, and the suffix -h. 8.
Thus the sense of awk is * turned away ' ;
AWL
from Icel. a/-, cognate with E. of, off,
Gk. &iro.
Awl. (E.) Aule in Shak. ; M. E. atle, a!,
Wyclif, Exod. xxi. 6. A. S. al, al\ Exod.
xxi. 6 ; Levit. xxv. ro.-f Icel. air ; O. H. G.
ala, G. ahle ; Du. aal. Teut. types *aloz,
*ald. ^f Distinct from M. E. auk, flesh-
hook, A. S. aivel, grappling-hook. (Phil.
Soc. Trans. 1906; p. 261.")
Awn. (Scand.) M.E.agi//ie(i 3th cent.),
awene, awne. A. S. pi. cegnan, Corp. Gl.
Icel. ogn, chaff, a husk ; Dan. avne,
chart; Swed. agn y only in pi. agnar,
husks. -f* Goth, ahana ; O. H. G. agana,
chaff. Cf. Gk. pi. axvai, chaff; O. L.
agna, a straw.
Awning. (O. F.?) In Sir T. Herbert's
Travels, ed. 1665, p. 8 ; the proper sense
seems to be ' a sail or tarpauhng spread
above a ship's deck, to keep off the sun's
heat.' Perhaps from O. F. auvan, auvant,
mod. F. auvent, ' a pent-house of cloth
before a shop-window , ' Cot. Cf. Prov.
anvan, Late L. antevanna, auvanna,
avanna. Perhaps from L. ante, before ;
uannus, a fan (fern sb .
Awry. (E ) For on wry, on the twist ;
Barbour, Bruce, iv. 705. See Wry.
Axe, Ax. (E.) M E. ax, ex. A. S. ax,
older ioims aats } ^cwr.-fDu. aaks ; Icel.
ox, oxi ; Swed yxa ; Dan. oxe ; Goth.
akwizi \ O H.G. tuJnis; G.axt] IL.ascia
(if for *tf<rj7a); Gk. divrj.
Axiom. (Gk.) XVcent-Gk. d^a
(gen. diw/xaTos) , worth , quality ; in science,
an assumption. Gk. aioo>, I deem worthy.
Gk. d'ios, worthy, worth, lit. ' weighing
as much as.' Gk. ayeiv, to drive , also, to
weigh. (^AG )
Axis, axle. (L ) L axis, an axis, axle-
tree. + Gk. awv; Skt. aks/ia, an axle,
wheel, cart. Cf also A. S. cax, an axle ;
Du. as ; G. achse ; Russ. os' ; Lith. aszzs.
W\G, to drive.) See below.
axle. (Scand.) M. E. axel. [A. S. has
eaxl, but only with the sense of shoulder.]
Icel. oxull, axis; whence oxul-tre, an
axle-tree ; Swed. and Dan. axel, axle.
P. It is a dimin. of the foim appearing
in L. axis i see Axis. Cf \V. eckel, axle.
Der. axle- tree, where tret is a block of
wood.
Ajrl interj. (E.) M. E. ey ! A natural
interjection. <fl The phr. ay me is French ;
O. F. aymi t alas for me ' Cf. Ital. ahime,
Span, ay di me, Gk. ot/xot. See Ah.
Ay, Aye, yea, yes. (E. ?) Spelt / in
BABE
old edd. of Shak., &c. Origin uncertain;
perhaps a variant of Yea.
Ay ally a native waiting-maid, in India.
(Port. L.) Port, aia, a nurse, governess
(fern, of aw, a tutor). Prob. from I^.auia,
a grandmother. L. anus, a grandfather.
Aye, adv., ever. (Scand.) M.E. ay.
Icel. ei t ever.-f*A. S. a, ever, also awa ;
Goth, aiw, ever, case-forms from Teut.
*aiwoz (Goth. aiws}> an age, which is
allied to L. cettum, Gk. aluv, an age. Cf.
Gk. a?, ad, ever.
Aye-Aye, a kind of lemur. (F. - Mada-
gascar.) F. aye-aye, supp. to Littre.
From the native name ai-ay in Madagas-
car ; said to be named from its cry.
Azimuth. (Arab.) Azimuthal circles
are great circles on the sphere that pass
through the zenith. Properly, azimuth is
a pi. form, answering to Arab, as-samut*
ways, or points (or quarters) of the horizon ;
from a! samt, sing., the way, or point (or
quarter) of the horizon. Arab, al, the ;
said samt, a wny, quarter, direction; whence
also E. zenith. See Zenith.
Azote, nitrogen. (F. Gk.) So called
because destructive to animal life. F.
azote. Gk. d-, negative prefix ; fom/cus,
preserving life, from fa-rj, life, {aw, to
live.
Azure, blue. (F.-Arab.-Pers.) M.E.
asur, azure. O. F. aztir, azure; a cor-
rupted form, standing for lazur, which was
mistaken for t'azttr, as if the initial /
indicated the def. article ; Low L. lazur,
an azure-coloured stone, also called lapis
lazuli. Arab. Idzward (see Devic) . Pers.
Idjuward, lapis lazuli, a blue colour. So
called from the mines of Lajwurd, where
the lapis lazuli was found (Marco Polo,
ed. Yule).
Baa, to bleat. (E.) In Shak ; an imita-
tive word.
Babble. (E.) M E. babelen, to prate,
mumble, chatter. The suffix -le is fre-
quentative ; the word means t to keep on
saying l>a, fa,' syllables imitative of a child'b
attempts to speak. -f-Du. babbelen ; Dan.
bable ; Icel. babbla \ G. bappeln \ and cf. F.
babiller.
Babe. (E.) M.E. bab, earliest form
baban. Probably due to infantile utterance;
cf. Babble.
BABIRUSA, BABIROUSSA
Babirusa, Babiroussa, a kind of
wild hog. (Malay.) Malay bdbl rilsa,
lit. * deer-hog/ or * hog like a deer ' ; from
rilsa, deer, and bdbl, hog.
Baboon. (F. or Low L.) O. F. babuin,
F. babouin ; we also find M. E. babion,
babian, babewine ; Low L. babeivynus, a
baboon (A.D. 1.295). Origin uncertain.
Cf. O. F. babou, a grimace (GodefroyX
Prob. from the motion of the lips. Cf.
Babble.
Bacchanal. (L. Gk.) L Bacchanalis,
a worshipper of Bacihus, god of wine.
Gk. Bd/f^oy, god of wine.
Bachelor. (F.-L.) M. K.bacheler.-
O. F. bacheler. I.a.te L. *baccalaris, but
only found as batcalarius, a holder of a
small farm or estate, called in Late L.
baccaldria. Remoter origin unknown, and
much disputed. Hardly from Late L.
baica, for L. uacca* a cow.
Back. (E.) M. E. bak. A. S. bttc.+
Icel. bak', O. Sax. bak , O. Fries, bek.
Der. a-back, q. v. ; back-bite, M. E. bak-
biten (P. PL B. li. Soi , back-ward, M.E.
bacward (Cursor Mundi, 2042).
backgammon, a game. (E.) In
Butler's Hudibras, pt. iii. c. 2. The sense
is * back-game,' because the pieces, when
tnken, are put back. See gammon (2).
Bacon. (F. Teut.) M . E. bacon. O. F.
bacon ; Low L. baco. Q. II . G. bacho,
M. H. G. bache, buttock, ham, a flitch of
bacon. Cf. G. bathe, a wild sow ; M. Du.
bak, a pig; M. Dan. bakke, a pig.
Bad. (E.) M. E. badde. Formed from
A. S. baiddel, s., a hermaphrodite; and
allied to A. S. billing, an effeminate
man.
Badge. (Unknown.) M. E. bage ; Prompt.
Parv. Low L. bagia, bagea, i signum, in-
signe quoddam ; ' Ducange ; apparently,
a Latin version of the E. word. Origin
unknown.
badger. (Unknown.) Spelt bageatd
in Sir 1. More ; a nickname for the brock.
Dr. Murray shews that badger -- animal with
a badge or stripe. See above.
Badinage, jesting talk. (F.-Prov.-
L.) F. badinage. F. badiner, to jest.
F. badin, adj., jesting. Prov. bader ( F.
layer}, lit. to gape; hence, to be silly.
Late L. badare, to gape ; prob. of imitative
origin, from ba, expressive of opening the
mouth. Cf. Babble.
Baffle, to foil, disgrace. (F. ?-G.?) A
Scotch word, as explained in Hall's Chron.
BAIRN
Hen. VIII, an. 5. To baffull is 'a great
reproach among the Scottes ' ; it means to
disgrace, vilify. Cf. Lowland Sc. bauchle
(XV cent. bachle\ to vilify. Origin doubt-
ful ; but cf. F. beffler, to deceive, mock
(Cot.), bafoiier ^Cot. baffotier, to baffle,
revile, disgrace) ; allied to Ital. beffare, to
flout, scofTe (Floiio), from bcffa, a scoff;
Norman F. buffer, to slap in the face ;
Prov. bafa, a scoff. Prob. from M. H. G.
beffcn, to scold ; cf. G. baffen, Du. baffen,
to bark, yelp ; of imitative origin, like
Du. paf, a pop, a box on the ear.
Bag. (Scand.) M. E. bagge. Icel. baggi,
O. Swed. bagge, a bag, pack, bundle. Not
found elsewhere in Teutonic. ^Gael. bagis
from E.)
bagatelle, a ti ifle, a game. (F. - Ital.
Tcut.) F. bagatelle, a trifle. Ital. bagat-
tella, a trifle, dimm. of Parmesan bagata,
a little property ; from Lombard baga,
a wine- skin, of Tent, origin ; see Bag,
baggage (i).
baggage i , luggage. (F.- Scand.)
mjL.oaggage, bagage. O. F. bagage, a col-
lection of bundles. O. F. bague, a bundle.
baggage (2), a worthless woman. (F.
Scand.) The same as Baggage ( i), in a
depraved sen^e. Perhaps influenced by F.
bagasse, ' a baggage, quean/ Cot. ; Ital.
bagasna, l a baggage-wench ; * Florio.
Bail (i), security : as verb, to secure.
(. L.) O. F. bail, s. custody; from
bailler, a law term, to secure, to keep in
custody. L. baiulare, to carry a child
about, to take charge of a child. L.
baiulus, a porter, carrier.
bailiff. (F.-L.) M.E37i/.-O.F.
baillif, Cot. Late L. bajultvum, ace. of
bajullvus, a custodian, &c. L. bdiulare
(above).
bailiwick. (F.-L.; and E.) From
M. E. baili, short ior bailif (above) ; and
M. E. wik, A. S. wTc, a district ; hence,
i district of a bailiff; ' later, ' office ' of the
same.
Bail (2), a bucket. See Bale (3).
Bail (3), at cricket. (F.-L.?) O.F.&2*/,
an iron-pointed stake ; Godefroyadds that
* in the arrondissements of Vervins and
Avesnes, bail is the name of a horizontal
piece of wood fixed upon two stakes.'
Perhaps from L. baculum^ a stick.
(Doubtful.)
Baim, a child. (E.) M.E. bam. A.S.
beam. + Icel., Swed., Dan., and Goth.
bam. Lit. ' that which is born ; ' Tent.
35
BAIT
type *barnom, neut. sb , from ba>', 2nd
rade of ber-an, to bear ; with suffix -no-.
ee Bear (i).
Bait, to feed. (Scand.) Lit. < to make
to bite ; ' a bait is * an enticement to bite.'
M.E. batten, beiten. lczl beita, to make
to bite, causal of bita, to bite ; Swed. beta,
to pasture ; Swed. Me, Dan. bed, a bait.
See Bite.
Baize, coarse woollen stuff. (F. L.)
An error for bayes, pi. of F. baye, ' the
cloth called bayes ;' Cot. O. F. bat, bay-
coloured. L. badius, bay. From the ong.
colour. Cf. Span, bayo, bay, bayeta,
baize; &c. See Bay (i).
Bake. (E.) M. E. baken. A. S bacan,
pt t. boc, pp. bacen. -f- Icel. and Swed.
baka ; Dan. bage ; Du. bakken ; G. backen ;
cf. Gk. tfHayeiv, to roast, (y^ BHOG.)
Bakshish, Backsheesh, a present,
small gratuity. (Pers ) Pers. bakhshish,
a gratuity ; from bakhshidan, to give ;
baksh, a share, portion Cf. Zend, baksh,
to distribute ; Skt. bhaj, to divide.
Balance. (F-L) M. K. balance. -
F. balance, * a ballance, pair of weights or
ballances ; ' Cot. Cf Ital. Inlander L.
bilancem, ace. of bilamc, having two scales
L. bi-, for bis, double, twice; and lanx,
a dish, platter, scale of a balance.
Balas-rnby, a variety of ruby, of a
pale rose-red or orange colour. (F.
Low L. Arab Pers ) Formerly balais.
F. balais ; Med. L. balascus, balascitts
Arab, balakhsh, a ruby (^De vie). Pers.
badakhshi, a ruby ; named from Badakh-
shan, N. of the river Amoo (Oxus).
Balcony. (Ital. - Tent ) Ital. balcone,
palcone, ong. a stage. O. H. G. balcho, a
beam. +O. Sax. balko, a beam. See Balk(i).
Bald. (C.) M. E. balled-, the orig.
sense was * shining, white,' as in ' bald-
faced'&z.^ a. stag with a white streak on
its face ; cf. prov. E. ball, a white-faced
horse. Gael, and Irish bal, ball, a spot,
mark, speckle (properly a white spot or
streak) ; Bret bal, a white streak on an
animal's face; W. bali, whiteness in a
horse's forehead. Cf. Gk. />a\tos, white,
(f>a\aKp6s, bald-headed ; Lith. baltas, white
Baldachin {pronounced baoldakin or
baeldakm), a canopy over an altar, throne,
&c. (F. or Ital. - Arab.) F. baldaquin ;
Ital. baldacchino, a canopy, tester, orig
hangings or tapestry made at Bagdad.
Ital. Baldacco, Bagdad. Arab. Baghdad,
Bagdad.
BALLAST
Balderdash, poor stuff. (Scand. ?) It
formerly meant a jumbled mixture of
liquors. Cf. Dan. balder, noise, clatter;
and daske, to slap, flap. Hence it appears
(like slap-dash] to have meant a confused
noise; secondarily a hodge-podge (Halli-
well) ; and generally, any mixture. (Un-
certain.)
Baldric, a girdle. (F.-M. IT. O.-
L.) O. K *baldric (not recorded), older
form of O. F. baldret, baldrei ; Low L.
baldringus.''N{. II. G. balderich, a girdle;
extended from O. H. (i. balz, a belt. L.
bait ens, a belt. See Belt.
Bale (i), a package; see Ball (2).
Bale (2 \ evil. (E.) M.E. bale. A. S.
bealu, balu, evil. -f- O. tries, and O. S.
balu ; Icel. bol, misfortune ; O. H. G.
balo, destruction. Tcut. *bahvom, neut. of
*balwoz, adj. evil ; cf. Goth, balwawesei,
wickedness. Der. balc-ful.
Bale (3), to empty water out of a ship.
(K Teut) XVII cent. It means to
empty a ship by means of bails, i.e.
buckets. F. bailie, a bucket. Cf. Du.
bahe, a tub ; Swed. balja, Dan. bailie^ G.
balje, a tub. Late Lat *bacula (Diez),
dimin. from Du. bak, M. Du back, a trough.
Balk (i), a beam, ridge of land. (E.)
M. E. balke. A. S. balca, a ridge, heap ;
which explains balked = laid in heaps,
i Hen. IV, i. i. 69. 4- O. Sax. balko, a
beam ; Du. balk, a beam, bar ; Swed. balk,
a beam, partition; G balken. Tent. stem
*balkon-, a bar. Cf Phalanx.
balk (2\ baulk, to hinder (E.)
M. E. balken. To put a balk or bar in a
man's way.
Ball (i), a spheucal body. (F.
O. H. G ) M. E. bal, balle - * . balle -
M. H. G. balle, O, H G. batto (G. ball\
a ball, sphere. + Icel. bollr.
bale (i\ a package. (F.-O H. G >
M.E. bale. Y. bale, a ball, also a pack,
as of merchandise ; Cot. The same as F.
balle, a ball ; hence, a round package.
Ball (2), a dance. (F.-Late L.) F.
bal. F. bailer, to dance. Late L. ballare,
to dance. -|- Gk. /SaAA/^W, to dance.
ballad. (F. -Prov.- Late L.) M.E.
balade.-O.. balade ; F. fo/fofc. - Pi ov.
balada, a song for dancing to. Late L.
balldre, to dance.
Ballast, a load to steady a ship. (Scand.
or O. Low G.) Three forms aie found:
(i) O. Dan. barlast, i.e. bare load, mere
weight, Swed. barlast ; (2) O. Low G.
BALLET
ballast, i.e. ' bale last,' useless load, Du.,
Dan., E. Fries, ballast ; (3) Dan. bag-last,
i.e. back load. Of these, (3) seems due to
popular etymology; and (2) arose out of
(i). See Last (4) ; also Bare, Bale (2),
Back. Cf. M. Du. bal-daedt, evil deed
(Hexhara).
Ballet. (F.-LateL.) F. ballet, dimm.
ot bal, a dance. See Ball (2).
Balloon, a large ball. (F.-O. H. G.)
Formerly baloon, a ball used in a game like
football; (also ballone, from Ital. ballone,
in Florio). O.F. balon, 'a little ball, or
pack ; a football or baloon ; ' Cot. Mod.
F. ballon ; Span, balon ; Ital. pallone ;
augmentative form oi F. balle, &c., a ball.
See Ball (i).
ballot. (Ital. -O. II. G.) Ital. ballot-
tare, 'to cast lots with bullets, as they
vse in Venice ; ' Florio. Ital ballotta, a
little ball used for voting ; damn, of Ital.
halla, a ball. See Ball d).
Balm. (F. - L. - Gk.) A modified
spelling; M. E. basme, bame, baume.
O. F. basme. *-\j. balsamnm. (jk t fiaXoa-
pov, fragrant resin of the &a\<ranos, or
balsam-tree. Prob. Semitic ; cf. Heb.
basdm, balsam,
balsam. (L. Gk.) L. balsamum ;
as above.
Baluster, a rail of a staircase, small
column. (K Ital. L. Gk.) F. bahts-
tte\ bahtstres, 'balhsteis, little, lound,
and short pillars, ranked on the outsides of
cloisters, terraces,' &c. ; Cot. Ital. balaus
t)'o, a baluster ; bO called from a fancied
resemblance to the flower of the wild
pomegianate. Ital. balausto, balatistra,
the flower of the pomegranate. L. balaits-
tnim. Gk. fiaXavomov, the flower of the
wild pomegranate. Der. baluslr-ade, F.
balustrade, from \\.3\.balau$trata, furnished
with balusteis.
Bamboo. (Port. Malav.) Spelt mam-
bti (1662). O. Poit. mamkit (Garcia).
Malay stmdmbu, a rattan like bamboo.
Bamboozle, to hoax. (Unknown.)
Ban, a proclamation. (E.) Chiefly in
the pi. banns (of marriage). M. E. ban.
A. S. gebnnn, a proclamation (the prefix
ge- making no difference). Cf. A. S. dban-
nan, to summon, oider out. Influenced
by O. F. ban, of G. origin (as below). -f-
Du. ban, excommunication; Icel. and
Swed. bann, Dan. band, O. H. G. ban, a
ban. AH from Teut. strong vb. *bannan~,
to proclaim ; as in O. H. G. bannan. Cf.
BANG
l^.fama, a rumour. (-y^BHA.) Brugm.
i. 559-
Banana, the plantain-tree. (Span.)
Span, banana, fruit of the banano ; said to
be of African origin (from Guinea).
Band (i), Bond. (Scand.) M.E.
band\ variant, bond. Icel. band; Swed.
band\ Dan. baand\ cf. Du. and G. band.
Teut. *bandom, n. ; from band-, 2nd grade
of bind-an, to bind ; see Bind. Allied to
A. S. bend, Goth, bandi, a band. Cf. Skt.
bandha, a binding. Der. band-age (F.
bandage") ; band-box ; bandog, q. v.
band (2), a company of men. (F.
Teut ) F. bande ; Cot ; whence G. bande,
a gang, set. Low Lat. bonda, a gang ;
allied to Low L. bandum, a lanner. See
Banner and Bind.
Bandanna, a bilk handkerchief with
white spots. (Hind.) Hind, bandhnfi, 'a
mode of dyeing in which the cloth is tied
in different places, to prevtnt the parts tied
from receiving the dye ... a kind of silk
cloth ; ' Shakespear's Hind. Diet.
Bandicoot, a large Indian iat.(Telugu.)
Telugu pandi-kokku, lit. pig-rat (Yule)
Tel./rtwr//, a pig, kckku,*. rat.
Bandit. (Ital.-O. H. G.) In Sh.-
Ital. bandtto, outlawed, pp. of bandire, to
proscribe. Low L. bannire, to proclaim.
O. H. G. bannan to summon; whence
O H. G. ban, cognate with E ban.
Bandog, a large dog. \E.) Orig.
banddog, a dog that is tied up. See
Prompt. Parv. p. 43. See Band (iX
Bandy, to beat to and fio, contend.
(F Teut.^ Ong. to band (Tin bei vile).
P. bander, 'to bind ; also, to bandie, at
tennis;' Cot Sc bander, to league against.
F. bande, a band ; see Band (2).
bandy-legged, bow-kgged. (F.
Teut. and Scand.j Prob. fiom bandy, for-
meily the name of a bent stick for playing
a game called bandy, in which a ball was
bandied about See above.
Bane, harm. (E.) A. S. ban a, a mur-
dcrei, bane.+O Sax. and O. H. G bano\
Icel bani* Dan. and Swed. bane, death,
murder. Teut. stem *banon-, m. Cf. Goth.
banja, a wound. Der. bane-ful
Bang (i\ to beat. (Scand. N In Sh.
Icel. banga, Dan. bankc, to beat; O.
Swed. bang t Icel. bang, a hammering. Cf.
G. ben gel, a cudgel.
Bang (2), a narcotic drug. (Pers.
Skt.) Pers. bang . Skt bhangd, hemp ; the
drug being made from the wild hemp.
37
BANGLE
Bangle, a kind of bracelet. (Hind.)
Hind, bangri, a biacelet, bangle. (H. H.
Wilson.)
Banian; see Banyan.
Banish. (F.-O.H.G.) M.E.&WW-
sken. Q. F. banis-, stem of pres. part, of
banir, bannir, to proscribe. Low \,.ban-
nire, to ])roclaim ; see Bandit.
Banisters; a corruption of Balusters
Banjo, a bix-stringed musical itistt la-
ment. (Ital. Gk) A negro corruption
of bandore, bandoia, or pandore. \\.n\.
pandora, a musical instrument, usually
with three strings Gk. rravdovpa, the
same. Perhaps of Egypt, ong.
Bank (i), a mound of earth. (Scand.)
M. E. banks. O. Scand *banke, orig
form of Icel. bakki, ridge, eminence, bank
of a river; cf. Dan. bakkc, Swed. bicke,
bank ; whence also Norman F. banque, a
bank. Tent stem *bankon~. Cf. O Sax
and Du. bank, O. II. G. banch t A. S. bene,
a bench (see Bench).
bank (2), for money (F. Tent.) F.
banque, a money-changer's table or bench.
M. Dn. banck, M. H G. bane, a bench,
table. See above.
bankrupt. ^F. Ttal. Tent, and
L ) Modified from F. banqueroute, bank-
ruptcy, by a. knowledge of the relation of
the word to L. rnptus, broken. Jtal. banca
rotta, a broken bank, due to the money-
changer's failure. M II. G. bane, a bench
(see above) ; and L. ntpta, fern, of mptus,
pp. toirumpere, to break.
Banner. (F. Tent. M E. banere.
O. F. banere (*>upp. to Godefroy, s. v.
bam ere)* also bamere Low L * bandana
(Ducange gives banderia}, a banner. Lo\\
L. bandum, bannum, a standard. Fiom
a Tent. (Langobardic) source ; cf. Goth.
bandiva, a sign, token. ' Uexillum, quod
banduin appellant; 7 Paul us, de Geslis
Langob. i. 20. Prob. allied to Ban ; see
Skt. bhanati in Uhlenbeck.
banneret, orig. a knight \\ho had
men under his own banner. ( F. Tent.)
M. TL.banerel. O. I< . baneret v \ banneref] ;
lit. * bannered.' O. F \banere (above) ; with
suffix -<?/-L. pp. -dhts.
Bannock, a cake. (C. L.t} Gael.
bannach, a cake. Perhaps from L. pam-
citim, a thing baked ; from pam-s, bread.
Banns, pi. of Ban, q. v.
Banquet. (F.-Ital -Tent.) Y.ban-
quet.~ Ital. banchetto (Torriano), a feast;
also a bench ; dimin. of banco, a bench.
BARBAROUS
M. H.G. bane, a bench, table; see bank
(2).
Banshee, a female spirit supposed to
warn families of a death. (C.) Gael.
beanshith, a banshee, from Gael, bean, a
woman ; sith, a fairy j O. Irish ban-si Jt,
fairies (Windisch, s. v. side}, from O. Ir.
ben ( E. qtiean}, a woman, side, fairies.
Bantam. (Java.) A fowl from Bantam,
in Java.
Banter, raillery. (Unknown.)
Bantling, an infant. (G. ?) Prob.
considered as band-ling, one wrapped in
swaddling bands ; with double dimin.
suffix -l-tng\ but really an adaptation of
G. bankhng (with the same sense as bank-
art}, an illegitimate child; from bank, a
bench ; i. e. k a child begotten on a bench,'
not in the marriage-bed (Malm). Cf.
bank (2).
Banyan, a tree. (Port. -Skt.) An
English, not a native name for the tree. So
called because used as a market-place for
merchants or ' bannyans,' as we termed
them; see Sir T. Herbert, Travels, ed.
1 665, pp. 51, 123. Port, baman, an Indian
merchant. Skt. baiMj, a merchant.
Baobab, a tree. (African.) The native
name in Senegal (Adanson).
Baptise, Baptize. (F.-L.-Gk.)
Formerly baptise; M. PI. baptisen.~(J.Y.
baptiscr. L. bapthare. Gk . fiairri ( L v ;
irom &O.TTTCIV, to dip. Der. baptist, Gk.
ParrTiffTrjs, a dipper; baptism, Gk, /3a7mcr-
/*a, Pairriffftos, a dipping.
Bar, a lail. (F. - Late L.) M. E. bane.
O. F. barre. Late L. barra, a bar.
Barb (0, hook on an arrow. (F. L.'t
F. barbc. L. barba, a beard. Hence O. F.
Jlesche barbette, ' a bearded or barbed
arrow ;' Cot. See Beard.
barbel, a fish. (F.-L.) M.E. bar-
belle O. F. barbel. F. barbeau. L ba?
bclhis, dimin. of barbus, a barbel. L.
barba, a beaid. ^f Named from four
beard-like appendages near the mouth.
barber. (F. L.) M E. barbour.
A F. barbour* with suffix -our-Lat. ace.
-atorem ; cf. O. F. barbier, a barber.
F. barbe, a beard; from L. barba,
beard.
Barb (2), a horse. (F. - Barbary.) F.
bat be, a Barbary horse; named from the
country.
Barbarous. (L Gk.) L. barbar-us;
with suffix ~ous, Gk. 0ap0apos, foreign,
lit. stammering ; a name given by Greeks
BARBED
to express the strange sound of foreign j
languages. Cf. L. balbus, stammering.
Barbed, accoutred, armed ; said of
horses. (F. Scand. ?) Also (more cor-
rectly), barded. F. bardt, ' barbed as a
horse/ Cot. F. barde, horse-armour.
Icel. bartS, a brim, edge ; also, a beak
or armed prow of a waiship (cf. barftt, a
shield) ; whence it may have been applied
to horses (Diez).
Barbel, Barber; see Barb (i).
Barberry, Berberry, a shrub.
(Med. L.) from Med. L. barbaris, a bar-
berry-tree; of unknown origin. Hence
also M. F. berberis, Sp. berbcris, and even
mod Arab, barbdns. <ft The spelling
should be berbery or bnrbary\ no con-
nexion with berry.
Barbican. (F.) M. E barbican. F.
barbacane, a barbican or outwork of a
castle ; also, a loop-hole ; also, an outlet
for water. Prob. from Eastern bab-khanah,
gate-house (Yule).
Bard. (C.) W. bardd, Irish and
Gael, bard) a poet. Cf. Gk. ippafav, to
speak.
Bare. (E.) M.E. bar. A. S. bar. -f-
Icel. berr\ G. bar, baar. Teut. type
*bazoz ; cf. Lith. basas, O. Slav, bos ft,
barefooted.
Bargain. (F.- Late I,) M.E. bar-
gayn, bb. O. F. bargaignier, bargenir, to
chaffer. Late L. barcdmdre, to change
about. Remoter origin unknown.
Barge. (F.~ LateL. C.?) M.E./w^v.
F. barge. Late L. barga, variant of
barca ; see Bark (i).
bark (i), barque. (F.-Late L.-
C. V) Bark is an E. spelling of F. barque,
a little ship. Late L. barca, a sort of ship
or large boat, a lighter. Perhaps of Celtic
origin (Thurneysen). O. Irish bare (fem.
rt-stem), a bark.
Bark (2), the rind of a tree. (Scand.)
M.E. bark. Swed. bark\ Dan. bark ;
Icel. borkr. Teut. type *barkuz.
Bark (3), to yelp as a dog. (E.) M. E.
berkcn. A. S. beorcan, to bark. Cf. Icel.
berkja, A. S. borcian, to bark. Perhaps
of imitative origin.
Barley. (E.) M.E.for//.-A.S./*zr/*v.
Cf. A. S. here, barley (Lowl. Sc. bear] ; and
-lie, for lie, like. Cf. also Goth. barizeins,
made of barley ; L.jfor, corn.
barn. (E.) M, E. berne. h.S.bent,
contr. form of ber-ern (Luke iii. 17).
A. S. bere 9 barley ; and ern t am, a place
BARRATOR
for storing. A. S. am is for *nH*(f*),
cognate with Icel. rann ; see Ransack.
Barm (i), yeast. (E.) M.E. berme.
A. S. bcorma. 4- Low G. baim\ Swed.
bar ma \ G. bar me. Teut stem *bermon- ;
perhaps allied to Ferment.
Barm (2), the lap (E.) M. E. barm.
A. S. bcann, lap, bosom. -fO. Sax., Swed.,
Dan. batm\ Icel. barmr\ Goth, barms.
Teut. type *barmoz ; from bar-, 2nd grade
of ber-an, to bear ; see Bear (i).
Barn. (E.) See Barley.
Barnacle (0 a kind of goose. (F.
Med. L.) Dimin. from F beinaque i,Cot.) ;
Med. L. bet naca. l Bcrnaca, aues aucis
palustnbus similes , ' Ducange. Used by
Giraldus Cambrensis Cf. Port, bernaca,
bernacha\ Span, bcrnida (Neuman). (See
Max Muller, Lectures, 2nd Series.)
barnacle (2), a sort of shell-fish. (F.
Med. L.) The same as Barnacle (i).
See N. E. D. ; and Max Muller, Lect. on
Science of Language, ed. 7, ii. 583.
Barnacles, spectacles, orig. irons put
on the noses of horses to keep them quiet.
(F.) The sense of 'spectacles' is lale,
and due to a humorous allusion. M. E. ber-
nal , dimm. bernakilL ' Bcrnak for hors,
bernakilli Chamus' (i.e. L. canms)\ Prompt.
Parv. AVe find bcrnac in A. F. (in an
Eng MS.) , Wright's Vocab. i. 100, 1. 3.
Origin unknown.
Barometer, an instrument for measur-
ing the weight of the air. (Gk.) Gk. /3a/>o-,
for /3a/>os, weight ; and /IT/JO^, a measure ;
see Metre.
Baron, a title. (F.- LateL.) M.E.
baron. F. baron ; older form ber, nom.
(Prov. bar], the suffix ~on marking the ace.
case (Diez^. Cf. Ital. barone, Sp varon,
Port, varao. Late L. baro, ace. -dnein, a
man, a male. Origin unknown.
Barouche, a carriage. (G. Ital. L.)
G. barutsche.^\\s\. baroaio, biroccio, a
chariot, orig. a two- wheeled car. L. bi-
rotus, two-wheeled ; with suffix -occio
assimilated to that of carr-occio, a chariot
i^Diez). L. />/'-, double ; and rota, a wheel.
Barracks. (F.-Ital.) F. baraque.
Ital. baracca, a tent for soldiers ; cf. Sp.
barrata. Prob. connected with Late L.
barra, a bar, pale.
Barrator, one who incites to quarrels
and lawsuits. (F.) Formerly barratour,
baratour ; from M. E. barat, deceit, strife.
F. barat, ' cheating, deceit, guile, also
a barter,' Cotgrave. Allied to Barter.
39
BARREL
^Influenced by Icel. baratta, a fight, a
turmoil.
Barrel. (F.) M. E. lard. - O. F. (and
F.) baril. Perhaps from Late L. barra, a
bar, pale ; from the staves of it.
Barren. (F.) M. E. barain.-k. F.
barain, -e ; O. F. brehaing, fern, bre-
haingne, baraigne ; F. brehaigne, sterile.
Of unknown ongin.
Barricade. (F.-Span) F. barn-
cade. Span, barncada, a barricade, lit.
one made with barrels lull of earth. Span.
bar r tea, a barrel. Perhaps from Span.
barret, a bar ; see Barrel.
Barrier. ( F.) M . E. ban ere. O. F.
barrere i^Godefroy, s. v. basset n\ ; F. bar-
rt?re. F. bearer, to bar up. F. barrc, a
bar. See Bar.
barrister. (Low L.' A barbarous
word ; formed with suffix -/<?;* ( Low L.
-istarius] from the sb. bat . Spelman gives
the Low L. foim as barrastertus.
Barrow (i ), a burial-mound. (E.) For
berrow (like pat son for person, &c.).
M. E. bergh, beriv, a hill, mound. O.
Merc, berg; A. S. beorg, beorh, a mountain,
hill, mound, -f- O Sax., Du., G. berg.
Teut. type *bergoz, a bill. Cf. O. Irish bri,
a mountain ; Skt. brhant, large.
BarrOW (2), a wheel -barrow. (E."i M.E.
barewe. A. S. bar-, 2nd grade viber-a?i,
to beai, carry. Cf. M. II G. rade-ber,
wheel- barrow, from rat/, wheel.
Barter, to traffic. (F.) M. E bartryn.
O. > ' .bareter, baratcr, ' to cheat, beguile,
also to baiter ; ' Col. O. F. barat, ' cheat-
ing, also a barter ;' Cot. p. Of doubtful
origin ; perhaps Celtic (Littrt'). Cf. Bret.
barad, treachery, Irish brath, W. brad,
treachery, Gael brath, advantage by unfair
means; Irish bratiaih, Gael, bradach,
thievish, roguish ; W. bradti* to plot.
Barton, a court-yard, manor. (E.) O
Northumb. bere-tfin (Matt. 111. 12) A. S.
bere, barley ; and titn, an enclosure ; see
Barley and Town.
Barytes, in chemistry. (Gk ) Named
from its weight. Gk. ftapvTrj<>> weight.
Gk. /3a/>vs, heavy. See Grave (2).
barytone. (Ital.-Gk.) Better bari-
tone ; a musical term for a deep voice.
Jtal. baritono, a baritone. Gk. /3api5-s,
heavy, deep ; and TO^OS, a tone ; see Tone.
Basalt. (L.) Also basaltes L. ba-
sa/te?, a hard kind of marble in ^Ethiopia.
An African word (Pliny\
Base (i), low. (F.-L.) M. E. bass,
BASK
base. F. bas, m,, basse, fern. Late L. bas-
sus, low ; the same word as L. Bassus y
piopername, which seems to have meant
' stout, fat,* rather than merely ' low.'
Base (2) , a foundation. (F. L. Gk.)
M. E das. F. base. L. basis. Gk. /8a<m,
a step, a pedestal, base. Gk. base $-,
to go (as in paivtiv, to go) ; with suffix
-ffi- (for -TI-) ; cf.Skt ga-ti(s),a. going, fiom
gam, to go. See Come.
Basement, lowest floor of a building.
(K - Ital L.) Appears in F. as sottbassc-
ment, the basement of a building ; formed
from sous, under, and -bassement, borrowed
from Ital bassamcnto, Jit an abasement
Ital bassare, to lower. Ital. basso, low.
Late 1 ,. bassus ; see Base ( I )
Basenet, Basnet ; see Basinet.
Bashaw ; the old form of Pasha.
Bashful. (F. and E ) For abash-ful\
see Abash. Prob. by confusion with abase
and base.
Basil (i \aplant (F.-L.-Gk.) O.F.
basile (Supp. to Godefroy) ; short foi
basilic : cf. 1 ( . basilic, ' herb basill ; ' Cot.
L. basihcum, neut. of basihctis, royal.
Gr. ^aaiKiKov, basil ; neut. of (SaaihiKfa,
royal. Gk. )8ao-tAt9, a king.
basilica, a large hall (L. - Gk.) L.
basilica, fern, of basilicus, royal.
basilisk, a fabled sei pent. (L. Gk.)
L basihscus Gk. fiaaiKiOKos, lit. royal;
also a lizard or seipent, named from a spot
on the head like a crown (Pliny, viii. 21).
Gk. (3aai\v$, a king.
Basil (2), the hide of a sheep tanned.
(F. Span. Ai ab. ) A. F. baseyne (Liber
Albus, 225). F. bawne, M. F. bassane.
Span badana, a dressed sheep-skin Aiab.
bitanak* the [inner] lining of a garment,
for which basil-leather was used. C f. Arab
bain, the inside.
Basin. (I 4 . Late L.) M.E. bacin,
basin C). P bacin, baclnn; F. bassin.
Late L. bacJnmu>, baichfnus, a basin
(Due.). Supposed to be from Late L.
bacca, water- vessel (Isidore). Cf. Du. bak,
a bowl, tiough.
basinet, basenet, basnet, a light
helmet. (F. LateL.j In Spensei ; F. Q.
vi. i. 31. O.F. bactnet, chmin. of bacin t
a basin ; from its shape
Basis. (L. Gk.; L. basts. Gk. Pdvi s ;
see Base (2).
Bask. (Scand.) M. E. baske, to bathe
oneself, Palsgiave ; and cf. bathe hire, to
bask herself, Ch. C. T. Nonnes Prestes
40
BASKET
Tale, 447. -Icel. *ba$ask (later batiast),
for baba sik, to bathe oneself. Cf. also
Swed. dial, at basa sig i solen, to bask in
the sun, badf.sk, fishes basking in the sun
(Wedgwood). See Bathe, ^f Formed
like Busk.
Basket. (F. ?) M. E basket. Mod.
Norman F. basquette (Moisy). Origin
unknown.
Basnet ; see Basinet.
Ba*SS (1)1 the lowest part, in music.
(K. L.) The same word as Base (i) ;
but so spelt in imitation of Ital. basso,
base.
Bass (2\ Barse, a fish. (E.) M. E.
bane; also base, bace (with loss of r).
A S. bats, a peich.+Du. baars ; G. bars,
barsch, a perch. Named fiom its prickles.
From *bars~, 2nd grade of Tent, root
*btrs, whence also Bristle, q. v. Cf. Skt.
bhrshtt, pointed.
Bassoon, a base instrument. (F. L )
F. basson, augmentative from F. bassc,
base (in music), fern, of bas 9 base. See
Base (i).
Bast. ( EJ M. E. bast ; bast-tre, a lime-
tree. A. S bast, inner bark of a lime-
tree ; whence bast is made.-)- Icel., Swed.,
Dan., G. bast. Often spelt bass.
Bastard, an illegitimate child. (F.)
M. E. bastatd, applied to Will. I.-O. F.
bastard^ the same as Jils de bast, lit. ' the
son of a pack-saddle/ not of a bed. [The
expression a bast ibore, illegitimate, occurs
in Rob. of Glouc. p. 5i6.]-O. F. bast, a
pack-saddle (F. bdty t with suffix -ard, from
O. H. G hart, hard, first used as a suffix
in proper names and then generally.
Baste (i), to beat. (ScancL?) The
form bas-it occurs as a pp. in 1553. Cf.
Swed basa, to strike, beat, whip.
Baste (2), to pour fat over meat (Un-
known ) InSh. * To baste, linirej 1 Levins,
cd. 1570.
Baste (3\ to sew slightly. (F. M.
II. G) M.E. basten. <J.Y. bastir, F.
batir, to sew slightly; a tailor's term.
M. H. G. besten (for *bastjan), to bind;
oiig. to tie with bast. G. bast, bast. See
Bast
Bastile, a fortress. (F.) O.F. bastille,
a building. -O. F. bastir (F. batir), to
build. Origin uncertain ; perhaps allied to
Baton.
Bastinado. (Span.) Fiom Span, bas-
tonatia, a beating. Span, baston, a stick.
Late L. bastonem, ace. ; see Baton.
BATTER
Bastion. (F.-Ital.) F.
bastione, part of a fortification. Ital. bas-
tir e, to build; allied to O.F. bast if , to
build. See Bastile.
Bat (i), a cudgel. (E ) M. E. batte.-
A. S. batt (Eng. Studien, xi. 65). Cf. Irish
bata, bat, a staff. Der. bat-let, with double
dimin. suffix -l-et.
Bat (2), a winged mammal. (Scarid.)
Bat has taken the place of M. E. bakke
Dan. bakke, now only in comp. aften-bakke,
evening-bat. Cf. O. Swed. natt-backa,
'night-bat* (Ihre); for which we find
Swed. dial, natt-batta (Rietz).
Batch. (E.) A batch is as much as is
baked at once ; hence, a quantity. M.E.
bac i he, a baking; from A S bacan, to
bake. See Bake.
Bate (i), to beat down, diminish.
(F. L.) Short for Abate, by loss of a.
Bate (2), strife. (F.-L.) M.E bate',
a clipt form of Debate, in the sense of
strife ^f So also fence for de-fence.
Bath. (E.) M.L. faf. A.S. ba$.+
Icel. bat; O. H. G. bad-, Swed, Dan.,
Du.,G. bad. Teut, *ba-fom, neuter. The
ong. sense was a place of warmth; cf.
O. H. G. bajan (G. bahen\ to foment.
bathe. (E.) A. S. baftian, to bathe. -
A. S. baft, a bath. And see Bask.
Bathos. (Gk.) Lit. depth, sinking. -
Gk. /3d0os, depth ; cf. $0.6, deep.
Baton, Batoon, a cudgel. (F.) F.
baton, O.F. barton. Late L. bastonem,
ace. of basto, a cudgel Origin doubtful ;
connected by Diez with Gk. flaarafav, to
support.
Battalion. (F. - Ital. - L.) F. bataillcn.
Ital. battaghone, a battalion. Ital. bat-
taglia, a battle ; see Battle below.
Batten (i), to grow fat; to fatten.
(Scand.) Ong. intransitive. Icel. batna,
to grow better, improve, recover. Cf.
Goth, ga-batnan, to be bettered ; Icel.
bat-i, s., improvement, E. Better, q. v.,
and Boot (2^. Cf also Du. batcn, to
yield profit ; baat, profit.
Batten (2), a wooden rod. (F.) To
batten down is to fasten with battens. Batten
is merely another spelling of Baton.
Batter (i\ to beat. (F.-L.) M.E.
bat-er-en\ with fiequentative suffix -er-.
F. batire. L. batter e, populai form of
battuere, to beat.
batter (2), a compound of eggs, flour,
and milk. (F. - L.) M. E. batour, bature.
O. F. bature, a beating. F. battre, to
BATTERY
beat (above). So called because beaten
up.
battery. (F.-L.) .baterie,batterie,
'beating, battery;' Cot.- F. battre^ beat.
battle. (F. - L. ) M. E. batatlle, bataik.
-O. F. bataille, (i ) a fight, (2 ) a battalion.
Folk-L. battalia, neut pi. (turned into
a fern, sing.), fights; Late L. battuaha,
neut pi. of adj. battudlts, fighting. -Late
L battuere, to beat.
battledoor. (Prov -L.) M. K.batyl-
doure, Prompt. Parv. - Prov. batedor, Span.
batidor, a washing-beetle, which was also
at first the sense of the E. word. [The
corruption to batlledoor was due to con-
fusion with battle, vb to fight ] Prov.
bat re, Span batir, the same as F. battre, to
beat ; with suffix -dor, which in Prov. and
Span L suffix -torern, ace. form from
nom. -tor, expiessing the agent.
Battlement. (F.) M. K. batelment,
batil)nent*bateillctnent, from O.F. bateil-
lier, to fortify; formed from batai //<?, battle,
fight, but confused with O. F. bawdier, to
fortify, denvatne of O. F. baitir, to build.
See Battle and Bastile.
Bauble (0, a fool's mace; (2) a play-
thing. (I 4 .) (i> M.K baby II, bable, babel,
Cower, C. A. i 224; (2) M E. babel,
Tudor E. bauble. l<rom O. F Iniubd,
babel, a child's plaything ^Godefroy\
Perhaps connected with M Ital. babbola,
a toy (Flono) ; and with L. babulus, a fool.
Cf E. Babble.
Bavin, a faggot. (F/ Prov. E (Wilts /
bavin, a faggot ; hence, as adj., soon kin-
dled and burnt out, J lien IV. in 2.61.
O. F. baffe, a faggot, bundle (Godefroy,
Roquefort). Remoter oiigin unknown.
Bawd, a procurer or procuress, go-
between (F. - O. II. G.) The full M. E
form is bawds f rot, P. Plowm. A. in. 40
(.another MS. has baivde).^ O. F. *balde-
strot (found only in the later fotrn baude'
trot), equivalent to Lat. pronuba, a bnde-
wornan. O. H. G. bald, bold, gay, lively
(cognate with E. boldj; and M H. G.
sfrotzen, vb. (E. strut).
Bawl. (Scand.) Icel baula, to low as
a cow ; Swed. bola, to bellow : see Bull,
Bellow.
Bay (i), reddish brown. (F L J
M. E. bay. Q. F. bat. L. badius, bay-
coloured.
bayard. (F.-L.) A bay horse,
from the colour ; also, any horse. The
suffix -ard is Teutonic ; see Bastard.
BEADLE
Bay (2), a kind of laurel ; properly, a
berry-tiee. (F.-L.) M. E. bay, a berry
F. bate, a berry. L. baca, a berry.
Bay (3) , inlet of the sea (F. - L ) F.
bait, an inlet. Late L. baia, a harbour
(Isidore), p. Confused with bay, a recess
in a wall. O.F. baee, a gap. Late L.
baddta, fern of pp. of baddre, to gape.
Bay (4), to bark as a dog. (F.-L)
M. E. bay en. Q F. baicr, to yelp (Gode-
froy). Cf. Ital. baiare, 'to barke,' Flono.
From the sound.
Bay (5 ), in phr. at bay. (F. - L. ] For at
abay. F abois, abbots ; $tre aiix abois, to
be at bay, lit. ' to be at the baying ot the
dogs. 7 PL of F. aboi, the bark of a dog ;
verbal sb. from F. aboyer, O. F. abater, to
yelp, bay. -O. F. a (forL. ad] ; and baier
v above).
Bay-window; from Bay (3, sect, ft)
and Window.
Bayonet. (1O XVII cent. F. baion-
nette\ bayonette,& knife; Cot. Probably
named from Bayonne (France\ where
fiist made or used
Bazaar. (Pers) Per*, bazar, a mai-
ket.
Bdellium. (L.-Gk-Heb: A pie-
uous sLibstauce. L bdellium Gk. /JSc'A-
hiov. Pleb. bedolakh (Gen. n. I2\
Be-, prefix. (E.) A. S. be-, prefix ;
often causative, as m be-nttmb, to make
numb. Note also be-head* to deprive of
the head ; be-set, to set upon, set round ;
be-mire, to cover with mire ; v,.
Be, to exist (E.) M. E. been. A.S.
beon, to be -f W. bod, to be ; Russ. bitite ;
L fore (pt t fui\\ Gk. tyvtiv , Skt bhu.
(VBIIKU.)
Beach. (K. '^ X\ r l cent Ong.
* bhingle.' Prob. E., and the same a-.
prov. E. bache, a valley; also, a sandbank
near a nvei. A. S. bat., a valley ; Kemble,
Cod. Dipl. in. 386.
Beacon. (E.) M. E btken. A. S.
beacn, beiti.^O. Sax. bokan; O. H G.
bouhhan. Tent, type *bauknom, neut.
Bead. (E > Ong. 'a prayei ; ' hence
a perforated ball, for counting prayers.
M E. bede, a prayer, a bead. A. S. bed,
gebed, a prayer. A. S. biddan ( * *bidjari} t
to pray. 4- Du bede\ Ci. bitte\ Goth.
btda t a prayer. See Bid (i)
Beadle. (F. - Teut.) M. E. bedel. -
O. F. bedel, F. bedeau, a beadle ; lit. 'pro-
claimer,' or * messenger/ M. H. G. butel*
O. H. G. butil. - O. H. G. but-, weak
BEAGLE
grade of biotan, G. bieten ; cognate with
A.S. beodan, to bid. Cf. A.S. bydel, a
beadle, from beodan. See Bid (2).
Beagle, a dog. (Unknown.) M. E.
V, Squire of Low Degree, 1. 771.
eak. (F.-C.) M. K. /w.-F. bee.-
Late L. beccus, of Gaulish origin. Cf.
Irish bacc, W. bach, a crook, a hook.
Beaker. '^Scand. L. Gk.) M.E.
Inker, hyker. Joel, bikarr, a cup. + O
Sax. bikeri\ Du. beker; G. baker \ Ital.
Incchicre. (3. Perhaps from Late L. /VA/-
nuniy a wine-cup. Gk. &IKOS, an earthen
wine-vessel ; a word of Eastern origin.
Beam Ci), a piece of timber. (E/)
M.E. ;//. A.S. /va///, a tree. f- Du.
to/// ; G. baum, Cf, also Icel. bad /fir, a
tree; Goth, bagms.
Beam (2), a ray. ^E.) [Usually iden-
tified with Beam (i\ specially used to
signify a column of light; cf. A.S. byr-
ncnde beam, ' the pillar of fire/] But A. S
beam, a beam (as in sunne-bcam, a sun-
beam) answers to a Teut, type ^bau-moz,
prob. cognate with Gk. (pav-ais, light, tyaos
(for </>afos), also <]>&$, light. See Phos-
phorus.
Bean. (E.] M. E. bcne. A S. bean.
+ Du. boon ; Icel. baun\ O. H. G.pvna,
bona (G. bohne^. Teut. type *bainia, f.
Bear (i), to carry. (E.) M.E. bo en.
A. S. ^mr/z.^Icel. &mz ; O. II. G. bet an ;
Goth. bairan\ also \<.ferre\ Gk. <J>epeiv ;
Skt. M?' ; O. Ir. berim, I bear ; Russ. brate,
to take, carry ; Pers. burdan, to bear.
(VBHER.) Ber. w/^ar.
Bear (2), an animal. E."i M. E. /w*r
A.S. A?nz.+Icel. &rw (fyorri); O. H. G.
hero, pero, G. &*r; Du. beer. Cf. Lith.
beras, brown (Kluge"). Teut. type *beron-.
Beard. (E.) M. E. berd. A.S. beard.
+Du.l>aant ; G. bart. Teut. type *bardoz,
Allied to Russ. boroda ; Lith. barzda ; L
barba, beaid; from Idg. type *bhardha.
Beast. (F.-L.) M.E. fcvfc.-O.F.
forte (F. ^<?).-.L. /;w//Vr, a beast.
Beat. (E.) M. E. &**;*. A.S. beatan.
flcel. &7/a; O.H.G. /feaw, M. H. G.
bozen. Teut. type *bautan-.
BeatlJfy. (F.-L.) F. biatifier.-l^
beatificare, to make happy. L. bcati-, for
beatus, pp. of ^<frtf, to bless, make happy ;
and -fie-, for facere, to make.
beatitude. (F.-L) F. beatitude.
L, beatitudinem t ace. from nom. i/*'~
//7<^?, blessedness. L. beati- t for beatus,
blessed ; with suffix -l
BEDRID, BEDRIDDEN
Beau, a dressy man. (F.-L.) F. beau ;
O. F. bit. L. bellus, fair. For *ben-lus ;
from &T*- (as in ben-e], variant of bon- % as
in bon-iis, good. Brugm. ii. 67.
beauty. (F. - L.) M. E. beute. - A. F.
bade, O. F. beaute, belttt. \^. bellitatem,
ace. of bdlitas, fairnebs. L. bellus, fair
(above). Der. beautt-ful, beaute-ons.
Beaver \i), an animal. (E.) M. E.
j bever. A. S &yr, beef or. 4" Du. &wr ;
i Icel. fy^rr ; Dan. bciver ; Swed. bafoer ;
I G. dz/^r ; Russ. bob? 9 ; Lith. bebrus ; 1,.
jjf^r Skt. babhrus (i) brown ; (2) a large
1 ichneumon. Teut. type *bebruz\ Idg. t)pe
| *bhebhi wj, reduplicated deriv. of bhrit-,
brown, tavny. Brngm. i. 566. See
i Brown.
! Beaver (2}, Bever, lower part of a
helmet. (F.) Alleied by confusion with
beaver-hat. M. E. baviere. O. F. baviere,
a child's bib ; alto, the bever (beaver) of
a helmet. F. haver, to slavei. F. bave,
foam, slaver. Perhaps from the move-
ment of the lips ; cf. Bret, babouz, slaver.
Beaver Cv, Bever, a shoit imme-
diate lepast. [F. L.) M.E. beuer ( =
bever). A. F. bcivre, a drink ; substantival
use of O F. bevre t beivre, to diink. L.
j Inhere, to dunk.
Becalm, to make calm. See Be- and
Calm.
Because. (E. and. L.) See Cause.
Bechance. (K. and F. - L.) See
Chance.
Beck (i), to nod, give a sign. (E.)
M. E. bck-yn, the same as bek-nyn, to
beckon (Prompt Parv ). See Beckon.
Beck (2), a stream. (Scand.) M.E.
bek. Icel bekkr\ Swed. batk ; Dan. b&k
a stream. Teut. type *bakkiz. Also
Teut. type *bakiz\ whence Du. beek, a
beck ; G. bach,
Beckon. (E.) M. E. beknen. A. S.
bccnan, beacman (also biecnan], to make
Mgrib. A. S. beacn, a sign. See Beacon.
Become. CE.) A. S. been man, to
arrive, happen, turn out, befall, -f Goth.
bi-kwiman ; cf. G. be -quern, suitable, be-
coming. From Be- and Come.
Bed. (E.) M. E. bed. A. S. bed, bedd.
f Du. bed; Goth. badi\ G. bctt, Teut.
type *badjom t n.
bedrid, bedridden. (E.) M.E.
bedrede (Ch. C. T. 7351); bedreden (P.
PL B. viii. 8s\ A. S. bedrida, bedreda, lit.
4 a bedrider ; ' one who can only ride on a
bed, not on a horse. A. S. M, a bed ; and
43
BEDSTEAD
*rid-a, one who rides, from the weak
grade of ridan, to ride.
bedstead. (E.) M.E. bedst*le.~
A. S. bed, a bed ; and stedc^ a stand,
station ; see Stead.
Bedabble, Bedaub, Bedazzle,
Bedew, Bedim, Bedizen. Sec
Dabble, Daub, &c.
Bedell. (Low L. - Teut.) From the
Latinised form (bedellui\ t of O. F. and
M. E. bedel ; see Beadle.
Bedlam. (Palestine.) M. E. bedlem,
corruption of Bethlehem, in Palestine.
Now applied to the hospital of St. Mary
of Bethlehem, for lunatics.
Bedouin. (F. Arab) Q.^. bedouin,
a wandering Arab; ong pi. Arab bada-
wTn, pi. of Arab, badaivly, wandering in
the desert. Arab badw, a desert.
Bedridden, Bedstead ; see Bed.
Bee. (E.) M. K. bee A. S. ^, earlier
Jw.+Du. bij\ O II G bla Cf. G.
bte-ne \ Lith bi-tte ; Ir. bea-c/i. Perhaps
f flatterer' ; cf Skt. bh:, to fear ; O. H. G.
bi-ben, to tremble.
Beech. (E. v A. S bohe, bZce, a beech ;
becen, adj., beechen ; both derivatives (by
mutation) fiom the older form boc. See
Book.
Beef. (F.-L.) M.E. A^-A.F. bcf\
O. F. boef (F. bofuf\ L. 'bouem, ace. of
bos, an ox.+Gk 0<>v?, ox; Ir. b6, Gael. A),
AV. fo/w, Skt. <?, A S. eft, a cow ; see Cow.
beef-eater, a yeoman of the guard.
(Hyb.) Lit ' an eater of beef; ' hence, an
attendant. Cf. A S. hldf-<lta, a loaf-eater,
a servant. *f| The usual derivation (from
Mr. Steevens' imaginary beaufetier, later
spelt buffetier] is historically baseless.
Beer. (E. ) M. E. bere. A S. bear. +
Du. and G. bier \ Icel. bjorr.
Beestings ; see Biestings
Beet. (L.) M. E. bete. A. S. bete.-
L. beta, beet (Pliny).
Beetle (0, an insect. (E ; Prov, E
bittle. A. S. bitda, lit. ' biting one.' A. S.
bit-, weak grade of bitan, to bite , with adj.
suffix -ol ; cf. wac-ol, wakeful. See Bite.
Beetle (2), a large mallet. (E ) M. E.
betel. A. S. bytel ( = O. Wcs *bictel,
O. Merc *betel) ; cf. Low G. bolel. Teut.
ty$t*baut-iloz, i a beater ; ' hom*baut-an-,
to beat ; see Beat.
Beetle (3;, to overhang (E.) From
the M. E. adj. bitel-bmiwed, 'beetle-
browed ; ' P. Plowm. A. v. 109. Orig.
sense doubtful ; either from M. E. bitcl %
BEHOOF
sharp, or from M. E. bitil } a beetle. In
either case from bit-, weak grade of bitan,
to bite.
BefaU, Befool, Before ; see Fail,
&c.
Beg. (F.) M. E. beggen. A. F. begger,
Langtoft, i. 248 ; used as equiv. to be-
guigner, Britton, I. 22. 15. Formed
from the sb. beggar ; see below.
Beget, Begin; see Get, Gin (i).
Beggar. (F.) M. E. beggare\ cf.
Beggera. Begum or Beghard, Rom. Rose,
7256 (F. text, Bcgnin\-V.Y. begard, be-
gart, Flemish beggaert. Late L. Beghardtts.
Formed, with suffix -ard i^G. -hart) t from
Begue, a man's name. See Beguine.
Begone, Beguile ; see Go, Guile.
Beguine, one of a class of leligious de-
votees. (F.) Chiefly used in the fern. ; K,
btguittc, Low L. beghina, one of a religious
order, first established at Liege, about A.D.
1207. Named after Lambert Le Begue,
priest of Liege (i2th c.) ; whence also
Beguin, Beghard, masc. Le Begue means
' stammerer/ from the verb begui^ to stam-
mer, in the dialect of Namur; allied to
Picard bguer t F. begayer.
Begum, in the E. Indies, a lady of the
highest rank. (Pers. Turk.) Pers. be-
gum, a queen, lady of rank. Turk, beg,
bey, a bey, goveinor. See Bey.
Behalf, interest. (E.) Formerly in the
M. E. phrase on my behahte = on my
behalf, on my side ; substituted for the
A. S. phr. on {mijt} healfe, on the side of
(mel, by confusion with be heaife (me],
used in the same sense. From A. S. be,
by; and hcalf, sb., side. See Half.
Behave. (E.) I.e to be-have oneself,
or control oneself ; from have with prefix
be-, the same as prep. by.
behaviour. (E. ; with F. suffix^}
Formed abnormally fiom the verb to
behave ; confused with F. sb. avoir, (r)
wealth, (2) ability. Cf.Lowl. Sc. havings,
(i) wealth, (2) behaviour.
Behead. (E.) From Be- and Head.
Behemoth. (Heb. Egypt.) Heb.
behemoth, said to be pi. of behemah, a
beast ; but probably of Egypt, origin.
Behest, Behind, Behold. (E.) See
Hest, Hind, Hold (i).
Behoof, advantage. (E.) M. E. to hi-
houe, for the advantage of. A. S. behof*
advantage. + O. Fries, bihof, Du. behoef,
advantage ; G. behuf\ Swed. behof\ Dan.
bekov, need. 0. The prefix be is A,S. be %
44
BEHOVE
E. by. The simple sb. appears in Icel.
ho/, moderation, measure ; cf. Goth, ga-
hobains, tempeiance, self-restraint. From
A. S. hof, 2nd stem of the vb. Heave.
behove, to befit. (E.) A. S. bekdfian,
verb formed from the sb. behdf above, -f-
Du. behoeven, from sb. behocf \ Swed. be-
hofva ; Dan. behove.
Belabour, Belay; see Labour,
Lay.
Belch. (E.) M. E. belken. A. S.
bealcian, he/can, to utter ; translating L.
eructare, used figuratively. Cf. bale, sb.-f-
Du. balken^ to bray. See Bellow and Bell.
Beldam. (F. L.) Ironically for bel-
dame, i.e. fine lady. F. belle dame. ^L.
bella, fern, of bellus, fair ; and domina,
lady, fem. of dotmnus, lord. See Beau.
Beleaguer. (Du.) See Iieaguer.
Belemnite, a fossil. (Gk.) Gk.
0\ffwiTTjs, a stone shaped like the head
of a dart.-Gk. &4\fnvov, a dart. Gk.
&a\\(iv, to cast. (y^GwEL.)
Belfry. (F. - G.) Grig. a watch-
tower/ Corrupted (partly by influence of
beir) from M. E. berfray, berfrey, a watch-
tower. O. F. berfiei, berfroi, belfroi (F.
beffroi). M. II. G. bercfnt, a watch-tower.
M. H. G. berc-, for berg-, base of bergen,
to protect; and M.H.G. frit, fride, a
place of security, a tower, the same word
as G. friede, peace ; hence the lit. sense
is * a protecting shelter/ w at ch- tower.
Allied to Borough and Free.
Belie. (E.) A. S. beleogan, to tell lies
about. Fiona be-, by, prefix ; and leogan,
to lie. See Lie (2).
Believe. (E.) M.E. beleuen (l>eleven).
The prefix be- was substituted for older
-. O. Merc, gelefan, A.S. gcliefan, ge-
lyfan, to believe; lit. to hold dear.+Du*
gclooven ; O. II. G. gilouban, G.g-laitbcn ;
Goth, ga-lauljan. Teut. type *Iaubtan,
with A.S. ge-, prefix; from laud, 2nd
stem of Teut. root *lenb = Idg. VLEUBH,
to like. See Lief.
Bell. (E.) M. E. belle. A. S. belle,
a bell.-f-Du. bel. Perhaps named fiom its
loud sound ; cf. A. S. bellan, to roar,
bellow, bee Bellow.
Belle, a fair lady. (F.-L.) F. belle,
fem. of F. beau, O. F. bel, fair. L. bellus,
fair, fine. See Beau.
belladonna. (Ital.-L.) Ital. bella
donna, fair lady. L. bella domina ; see
Beldam. A name given to the nightshade,
from the use of it by ladies to give ex-
BEND
pression to the eyes, the pupils of which
it expands.
Belligerent. (L.) More correctly,
belligerant. 'L. belli gerant-, stem of pres.
pt. of belhgerare, to carry on war. L.
belli-, for bello-, stem of bellum, war ;
gererc, to carry on (war). Bellum is for
O. Lat. duellum ; see Duel.
Bellow. (E.) M. E. belwen (c. 1300).
Not fully explained. It may have resulted
from confusion of A.S. bellan, to roar,
bellow, with the str. verb beJgan, to be
angry, or with the rare verb bylgian, to
bellow (which would have given billow).
See Bell. Cf. Bull.
Bellows. (Scand.) M. E. beli, bely,
below, a bag, but also used in the special
sense of 'bellows.' Bellows is the pi. of
M. E. below ) a bag, from Icel. belgr', and
M. E. beli (from A. S ) also means belly.
Cf. G. blase-balg, a * blow-bag,* a pair
of bellows ; A. S. bl&st-belg, bellows, lit.
' blast- bag.' See below.
belly. (E.) M. E. bely. A.S. ba!&
belgi a bag, skin (for holding things) ;
hence (later), belly. -f Icel. belgr, bag;
Du. balg, skin, belly; Swed. balg, belly,
bellows ; Dan. bdlg, husk, belly ; G.
balg\ Goth, balgs, bag. Teut. type *balgiz.
From lalg-, 2nd stem of Teut. root belg
(-Idg. VBIIELGH), to well. Cf. Irish
bolg y bag, belly ; bolgaim^ I swell ; W. bol,
belly. Der. bellows, q. v.
Belong, Beloved, Below; see
Long, Love, Low.
Belt, a girdle. (L.) M. E. belt. A. S.
belt. -4" Icel. belt t ; Irish and Gael, bait, a
belt, border; O. H. G. bah ; Swed. balte ;
Dan. balte. All borrowed from L. balteus,
a belt.
Beltane, Old May-day. (C ) O Irish
bel-tene{ Wmdisch) ; lit. ' fire-kindling/ from
an old custom. Celtic type *belO'te(p}nid' t
where bdo- is cognate with A. S. b&l, a
blaze, and -tepnid is from *tepnos, type of
O. Iiish ten, fire ; cf. L. tcp-eie, to be warm
(Fick. li. 125, 164).
Bemoan. (E.) Fiom Be- and
Moan.
Bench. (E.) M. E. benche. - A. S.
bcnc. + Du. bank, a bench, table, bank for
money ; Swed. bank ; Dan b<znk ; Icel.
bekkr ; G. bank. Teut. type *bankiz.
Doublet, bank.
Bend (i), to bow, curve. (E.) M. E.
benden. A. S. bendan, orig. to string a
bow, fasten a band or string to it ; cf. A. S.
45
BEND
bend) a band ( = Teut. *bandiz) ; from band,
2nd stem oibind-an, to bind. See Bind.
So also Icel. benda, to bend a bow ; allied
to band, a cord.
bend (2), an oblique band, in heraldry.
(F. - G.) O. F. bende, also bande, a
band ; see Cotgrave. The same word as
F. bande, a band of men ; see Band (2).
Beneath. (E ) M. K. benelhe. A. S
beneoban, prep, below. A. S be-, by ;
neotian, adv. below, from the base neob-
in neo$-era, nether ; with adv. suffix -an.
Cf. G. nied-en, nied-er\ sec Nether.
Benediction. (F.-L.) F. btnedic-
tion L. benedictionctn, ace. of benedictio,
a blessing. L. benedict us, pp of bcne-
dTcere, to speak well, bless L. benc, well ;
and dlcere, to speak (see Diction).
benison. (F. L) M. E beneysnn
OF beneison. L ace. benedictioticrn
Benefactor. (L) L. benefmtor, a
doer of good. L. bent, well ; an& factor,
a doer, from faccre, to do.
benefice. (F.-L.) M E. benefit
-F. bMjice (Cot.). -Late L. bencjlcnim,
a grant of an estate; L benejinum, a
well-doing, a kindness. L &*;/<', well;
axi&facere, to do.
benefit. (F-L) Modified (badly',
from M. E. benfet. - O. F. bienfet (F.
bienfait}. 1 ^. benefactittn, a kindness con-
ferred; neut. of pp. of bcnefacere, to do
well, be kind.
Benevolence. (F-L) Y.bMvo-
lence (Cot.). L. benfuole?tfia, kindness.
L ace. bene uolentcm, kind, lit. well-
wishing. L. bene, well; and uolentem,
ace. of uolens, wishing, from uolo, I wish
(see Voluntary).
Benighted. ( E.) See Wight.
Benign. (F. L) O. F benigne (F,
Ignin} L. benignus, kind ; short lor */><?-
nigenus.~\~,. beni-, for *}>enit<;, variant of
bonus, good ; and -genus, born (as in
indigenus}, from geneie, old form of
gignercj to beget.
Benison, blessing; see Benedic-
tion.
Bent-grass. (E.) M. E. lent. A. s.
beonet, for earlier *l>tnuf^ bent-grass (in
place-names). -f-O. H. G binnz, G. bmse,
bent-grass.
Benumb. From Be- and Numb.
Benzoin, a resinous substance. (F.
Ital. Arab) F. benjotn, 'gum benzoin
or gum benjamin ; ' Cot. Ital. ben-
zoino, bengivi (Torriano). The Itai. lo
BESEECH
bengivi seems to have been substituted for
the Arab, name, htban jawt, lit. frankin-
cense of Java. (Further corrupted to gum
benjamin.}
Bequeath. (E.) A. S. becweftan to
assert, bequeath. A. S. be-, prefix ; and
cwetian, to say, assert. See Quoth.
bequest. (E.) M. E. biqueste, l>i-
qmste. froimed, with added -te (cf. M. E.
rcqueste], from A. S. *bicwiss, *bccwis
(not found), sb. due to betwefian, to be-
queath, assert, say. The components of
this form occur ; viz. be-, bi-, prefix, arid
cwiss (in ge-cwis), a saying. Cwiss is
from Teut. *&we$siz, IJg. *g(w)etti 9 formed
(with suffix -//-) from Idg. base *g(iv]et- t
whence cweftan, to say (Sievcrs, A. S.
Gr. 232) ; and becwiss is thus a regular
denv. oi beciveban^ to bequeath.
Bereave. (E) A.S. bcreafian, to
dispossess ; see Heave.
Bergamot (i), an essence. (Ital.) Ital.
bergamotta, the essence called beigamot -
Ital. Rergamo, a town in Lombaidy.
I Bergamot (2), a kind of pear. (F.~
Ital. Turk) F. bergawotte (Cot.).-
Ital. betgamott-a (pi. -e}, 'a kind of excel-
lent pears, come out of Turky ; * Torriano.
Turk, beg ainuldi, ' prince's pear/
Turk, /vjf, prince ; annfui, pear.
Berry. (E.) M.L. bcrte. A. S. beric.
-f-IHi. pi'Sj bczie ; Icel. ber\ Swed. bar \
Dan Ixcr \ G. bee re; (ioth. vast. All
from a base /'<?j-. Lit. 'edible fruit;* cf.
Skt. bhaS) to eat. Der. goo*c-berry t
&c.
Berth. (E.) Formerly ( convenient
^ea-ioom.' A { suitable position.' From
A. S. byr- (as in ge-byr-ian, to suit) with
suffix -th. Cf. Du. hurt, a turn ; Low G.
bort, good position.
Beryl. (L. - Gk.~ Skt.) M. E. beriL
O.I 1 beril. L. berylht f . C J k. pripvt -
Aoy ; cf. Arab, billaux, crystal, beryl.
Skt. vai&iirya (Prakrit vehlriyd), ong.
beryl, bi ought from Vidma in S. India
i,Vule ; Bohtlmgk).
Besant, Bezant, a gold circle, in
heraldry. (F. L. Ok.) Intended to
represent a gold coin of Byzantium. -
O. F. besant, 'an ancient gold coin;'
Cot. L Byzanthiiti.~(j\i. Bv^avrtov, the
name of Constantinople.
Beseecll. (E.) M. E. bewchen. From
be-, prefix; and sechen, Southern form
corresponding to Northern scken, to seek.
See Seek.
BESEEM
Beseem, Beset, Beshrew, Be-
side, Besiege; see Seem, Sit, Shrew,
&c.
Besom, a broom. tE.) M. E. besum,
lesme. A. S. &esvia.+T)u. bczcm; G. be sen.
Tent, type *besinon- y m.
Besot, Bespeak; see Sot, Speak.
Best ; see Better.
Bestead ; from Be- and Stead.
Bestial. (F.-L.^ F. bestial. - L
J >cstiahs, beast-like. L. bestia, a beast.
See Beast.
Bestow, Bestrew, Bestride ; see
Stow, &c.
Bet, to wager. (F.-Scand.) Short for
abet, in the sense to maintain, or ' back,'
x&abct is explained in Phillips, ed. 1706.
See Abet. Der. bet, sb.
Betake. (E. and Scand.) See Take.
Betel, a species of pepper. (Port.
Malayalim.) Poit. betel > /^/^. Malaya-
Inn ve\\ila, i.e. zw z7#, mere leaf (Yule).
Bethink, Betide, Betimes, Be-
token ; see Think, &c.
Betray. (F. - L. ; with E. prefix.}
From be-, piefix; and O. F. t)a:r (F.
trtihir}, to deliver up, from L. trader e.
m The prefix be- was due to confusion
with bewray. See Tradition.
Betroth. (E.) See Troth.
Better, Best. (E.) 1. From the
Tent, base *bat, good, was formed the
Tent. comp. stem *batizon-, as in Goth
batiza, better, A. S. bctcra (with mutation
BEZONIAN
In Sh. Sonn. I2I.-O. F. *1rivel, *buvel,
only found in mod. F. biveau, and in F.
buveau, ' a kind of squire [carpenter's rule],
having moveable and compasse branches,
or the one branch compasse and the other
straight; some call it a bevell ; ' Cot. Cf.
Span, baivel. Origin unknown.
Bever, a potation ; see Beaver ($\
beverage. (F.-L) O. F. bevrage
to Godefroy), drink. O. F. bevre,
^
boivre, to drink. L. bibere, to drink.
bevy. (F. L.) It answers to O. F.
bevee, a drink ; from C). F. bevre, to drink
(above). Cf. Ital. bcva, a bevy (Florio) ;
also, a drink (Torriano).
~
Beware, Bewilder,
see Wail, Ware, Wild,
Bewail,
Bewitch ;
Witch.
Bewray, to disclose. (E.) Properly
to accuse. M. E. bcivraicn, biwreyen, to
disclose. A. S. be-, piefix (see Be-) ; and
iviegan, to accuse (for older *ivrogian,
with mutation fiom o to e). Cf. Icel.
rcegja (for vragja), to slander, Swed. roj'a,
to discover ; O. t ries. biwrogia, to accuse ;
Goth, ivrohjan, to accuse; G. ;&?;/, to
censure, p. These are causal verbs, from
the base wroh- seen in Goth, ivrohs,
accusation, Icel. rog, a slander.
Bey, a governor. (Tuik.) Turk, beg
(pron. nearly as l>ay\ a lord, prince.
Beyond. (E.) M. E. beyonde. A. S.
begeondan, beyond. A. S. be-, for be or bt,
by ; and geond, prep, across, beyond, from
from a to e), M. E. better. The A. S. bet, \geon, >on. Cf. Goth, jaindre, thither,
M. E. bet, is adverbial and comparative \jamd, there ; from jains, that, yon. See
2. FVom the same base was formed Goth. Yon.
batista, best, A. S. betst 'Jor bet-ist\ M. E.
best. Similaily Du. betcr, best] Icel. betri,
b(ztr\ Dan bedrc, bedst Swed. baft re,
bast] G. besscr, best.
same base) batten, boot
Der. (fiom the
Between. (E.) A. S. bctwconan, be-
tween ; earlier betwconum. A. S. be, by ;
tweomtm, dat. pi. of twconc, double, allied
to tiv <?, two ; see Two Here tivconum
(also twinttm} ansu ers to Goth.tweifinatm,
dat. pi. of tiveihnai, ' two each.' Cf. L.
bini.
betwixt. (E.) (M.E. betunx\ to
which / was afterwards added A. S.
betivix, betivux, betiveox, betweohs, appa-
rently extended from A. S.betwtk, between.
From A. S. be, by ; and *twth, answering
to tiveih- in Goth, tweih-nai, two each.
See above.
Bevel 9 sloping; to slope, slant.
(F.)
Bezel, the part of a ring in which the
stone is set. (F.) Also spelt basil \ it
also means a sloping edge. O. F. bisel
'Roquefort) ; mod. F biscau,*. bezel, basil,
slant, sloped edge. Cf. Span, bisel, the
slanting edge of a looking-glass. Per-
haps from L bis, double.
Beziqne, a game at cards. (F. Pers.)
F. besigue (with g) ; also btsy (Littre).
/3. The first form = Pers. bazichah, sport, a
game ; the second = Pers. bazi, play.
Pers bazidan, to play. [A guess.]
Bezoar, a stone.' (F. Span. Arab.
Pers ) O. F. bezoar, F. btsoard. Span.
bezoar. Arab, badizahr. Pers. pad-zahr,
bezoar ; lit. ' counter-poison,* from its
supposed virtue. Pers. pad, expelling ;
and zahr, poison.
Bezonian, a beggarly fellow. (F.)
In 2 Hen. IV. v. 3. 118. Formerly
47
Bl-
bisonian ; made by adding E. -tan to
F'. bisogne, spelt bisongne, in Cotgrave,
'a filthe knave . . . bisonian.' Or from
Ital. bisogno, need, want ; whence btsogni,
pi. ' new-levied souldiers, such as come
. . . needy to the wars'; Tornano (not in
Flono). Otigin unknown.
Bi-, prefix. ( L.) L. bi-, for *dui- t twice.
L. duo, two. So also Gk. S<-, Skt. dvi
See Two.
Bias. (F. - L.) F. biais, a slant,
slope ; hence, inclination to one side. Cf.
Ital. s-biesco, s-biescio, oblique. Orgm
unknown.
Bib. (L.) A cloth under a child's
chin; from M. K. Inbben, to drink. L.
bibere, to drink. Hence wine-bibber
(Luke vii. 34) ; L bibens itlnum ^Vulg).
Bible. (F.-L.-Gk.) M.E. bible.-
F. bible. Late L. biblia, fern, sing.; for
L. biblia, neut. pi. Gk. #i/3Ata, collection
of writings, pi. of 0i/3\iov, little book,
dimm. ol #//3\o?, a book Gk. fivfi\os,
Egyptian papyrus ; hence, a book.
bibliography. ^Gk.) Gk. 0</3\/o-,
for &i0\toi> ; and ypatyftv, to write.
bibliomania. (Gk.) Gk. /3t\/o-,
for 0i&\ioi> ; and Mania.
Bice. (F.) Properly ' gi ayish / ; hence
blew byce, grayish blue. F. bis, dusky.
Cf Ital. bigio, gray. Origin unknown.
Bicker, to skumish. (Uncertain.)
M. E. biker, a fight ; bikeren, to skirmish.
Cf. M. K. beken, to peck ; bitten, to thnibt
with a pointed weapon. Apparently from
O. F. bequer, to strike with the beak (see
Beak) ; or from A.S becca, a pick-axe.
Cf. Du bikken, to notch a mill-stone ; also
E. Fries, bikkern, to hack, gnaw, from
bikken, to hack, bikke, a pickaxe (G.
bicke).
Bicycle. (Hybrid ) In use since 1868.
Coined iibni Bi- and Cycle.
Bid (i), to pray. (E.) Nearly obso-
lete ; preserved in bidding-prayer, and in
to bid beads (pray prayers). M. E. bidden.
A. S. biddan + Du. bidden ; < 1 bitten ;
Icel. biGja\ Goth, bidjan. Tent, type
Abidjan-, allied to L. fido, I trust ; Gk.
vfiOo}, I prevail upon ; from^BIIEIDH
See Urugm. i. 589 ; n. 890.
Bid (2), to command. (E.) M. E bedcn.
A. S beodan, to command. -f-Du. bieden,
to offer ; Icel. bjdda ; G. bieten ; Goth.
ana-biudan ; Gk. nfvQofjiat, I enquire ; Skt,
budk, to understand. Tent type *beitdan~.
(VBHEUDH.) Confused with Bid (i),
BIGOT
the forms of which have taken the place of
those of Bid (2).
Bide, to await, wait. (E ) M. E. biden.
A. S. bJdan -f- Du. beiden ; Icel. bifta ;
Swed. bida ; Dan. bte ; Goth, beidan ;
O. H. G bttan. Tent, type *bldan-.
Biennial, lasting two years. (L.)
Formed as if from bienni-itm, a space of
two years ; the true L. woid is biennalis.
L. In- two ; and anndlis, lasting a year,
yearly. L. annus. So also tri-ennial,
from tri- (foi tres], three; quadr-enmal ,
more correctly quadn-ennial, from quadri-
(foi qnadms}< belonging to lour ; quinqni-
enmal, from quinqui- (for quinque}, five ;
dec-en nial, from dec-em, ten ; cent-ennial y
horn centum, a hundred; mill-ennial,
from mille, a thousand, &c.
Bier, a frame on which a corpse is
borne. (E.) M E. beerc, bare. A.S.
b&r, ber. A. S. b&r-, 3rd stem viberan, to
carry, -f- Du baar ; O. If. G. bdra (G.
bahre}; allied to Icel. barar, fern, pi.;
\j.fe*etrum ; Gk. <pip*rpov.
Biestings, Beestings, the first
milk given by a cow after calving. (E.)
A. S. by sting, byst (for *bicst), thick milk,
trom A.S. ^w/ 1 , first milk after calving.
-f-Du. biest\ G. biest-miUk
Bifurcated, two-pronged. (L.) Late
L. bifunatu** pp. of bifurcori, to part in
two directions. L. bi-furcus, two-
pronged; from bi-(s^, double; furca, a
fork.
Big. (Scand. ?) M. K big \ aho bigg,
rich (Hampole). Not A. S. Cf. prov. k,
^ r , big, bog, boastful. Prob. of Scand.
origin. Cf Norw. bngge, a strong man.
Bigamy, a double maruage. (F. L.
^/Gk.) b. Irigamie. Late L. bigamia;
a clumsy compound from L. in-, double
(see Bi-), and Gk. -yapta, from "yajtos,
marriage. It should rather have been
digamy (Gk. Si-ya/^'a).
Biggen, a night-cap. (F.) M. F.
begum, * a biggin for a child ; ' Cot.
Named from the caps worn by beguines ;
see Beguine.
Bight, a coil of rope, a bay. (E.)
M. h. bight. A. S. byht, as in wceteres
byht, a bight (bay) of water (see Grem).
A. S bug-, weak grade of bilgan, to bow,
bend ; with mutation of w to^.-f-G. bucht.
Teut. type *btihtiz. See Bow ^i).
Bigot, ^n obstinate devotee to a creed.
(F.) F. bigot, 'an hypociite, supersti-
tious fellow ; ' Cot. Applied by the
BIJOU
French to the Normans as a term of
reproach (Wace). Of unknown origin.
It is an older word than beguine, with
which it seems to have been somewhat
confused at a later period.
BIJOU, a trinket. (F.-C.?) F. bijou.
Perhaps from Bret. bizou, a ring with a
stone, a finger-ring, from biz, a finger.
Cf. Corn, bisou (the same), from his,
bes, a finger; W, by son, ring, from bys,
finger.
Bilberry, a whortle-berry. (Scand.)
Dan. bollebcEr, a bilberry; where bar is E
berry. In M. Dan., bolle had the sense of
Dan. bugle, i. e. boss (Kalkar). Cf. Norw.
bola, a bwelling, tumour. ^[ North Eng.
blea-berry - blue-berry see Blaeberry.
In both cases, -berty takes the E. form ;
see Berry.
Bilbo, a sword ; Bilboes, fetters
(Span.) Both named from Bilboa or
Bilbao in Spam, famous for iron and
steel.
Bile (i), secretion from the liver. (F
-L.) F. /'/&.-L. bilis. L. bilis is for
*Mstis 9 Brugm. i. 877 ; cf. W. bust I,
Bret, best!, bile (Fick, ed 4. ii. 1 75). Der.
bili-ous.
Bile (2), a boil. (E.) See Boil (2).
Bilge. (F.-C.) A variant of bulge,
which ong. meant the bottom of a ship's
hull ; whence bilge-water (N. E. D ). See
Bulge.
Bill (i), a chopper, sword. (E.) M. E.
bit, swoid, axe. A.S. bill, sword, axe.
+ O. Sax. bil, O. H. G. bill, n. ; (cf. G.
bills, axe, f.). Tent, type *bt/jom, n. i
bill (2), a bird's beak. (E.) M. E.
bile, A S. bile (Teut. type *bilizi}. Allied
to Bill (i).
Bill (3), a writing, account. (F. L)
A. F. In lie Late L billa, a writing; the
dimin. is billcta, bulleta, shewing that billa
is a corruption of L. bulla, a papal bull,
&c. ; see Bull (2).
billet (i), a note (F.-L.) A. F. bil-
lette. Late L. billet ta, billeta, dimin. of
billa,*. writing; see Bill (3) above.
Billet (2), a log of wood. (F.) F.
billette, billot, a billet of wood. Dimin.
of bille, a log, stump. Origin unknown.
billiards. (K) F billard, 'abillard,
or the stick wherewith we touch the ball
at billyards ; ' Cot. Formed with suffix
-ard (G. -hart) from bille, a log, stick, as
above.
Billion ; see Million.
BIRCH
Billow, a wave. (Scand.) Icel.
a billow; Swed. bblja ; Dan. bolge.+Nl.
H. G. bulge, a billow, a bag. Lit. ' a
swell' or surge ; cf. Icel. belgja, to inflate,
pnff out. The Icel. bylgja has mutation
of u to/, and, like M. II. G. bulg-e, is from
bulg-, 3rd stem of belgan, to swell with
anger.
Bin. (E.) M. E. binne. A. S. binn,
a manger; Lu. ii. 7 -f-Du. ben, G. benne,
a soit of basket. Perhaps of Celtic origin ;
cf. Gaulish Lat. benna, body of a cart ; W.
ben, a cait.
Binary, twofold. (L.) L bTndriut,
consisting of two things. L. binus, two-
fold L. bi~, double ; see Bi-.
Bind. (E) M. E. binden. A. S. bin-
dan. 4- Du. and G. bmden ; Icel. and
Swed. binda ; Dan. bmde ; Goth, bindan ;
Skt. bandh, to bind. (y^BHENDH.)
Bing, a heap of corn ; obs. (Scand.) In
Suney'i* Poems. Icel. bingr, Swed. binge,
a heap.-f-M. H. G. bige, a heap of corn ;
whence Ital. bica. ^ Distinct from bin,
though perhaps confused with it.
Binnacle, a box for a ship's compass.
(Port. L. ) A singular corruption ot the
oldei u ord bittacle, by confusion with bin,
a chest. Port, bitacola, a bittacle (i.e.
binnacle) ; Vieyra. Cf. Span, bitacora,
F. habitacle, the same. The Port, bitacola
stands for *habitacola, the first syllable
being lost. L. habitaculum, a little dwell-
ing, i. e. the * Hime of timber in the steer-
age of a ship where the compass stands '
(Bailey). L. habitdre, to dwell; frequent,
of habere, to have.
Binocular, having two eyes. (L.)
From Lat. bm-i, two each ; ocul us, eye ;
with suffix -arts.
Binomial, having two terms. (L.)
From Late L. bhwim-its, equiv. to L.
binominis, adj. having two names; with
suffix -ahs. From L. In-, two ; nomin-,
for nomen, a name.
Biography. ^Gk.) A written ac-
count of a hie , from /3t'o-, for #t'os, life ;
and 7pa</>t>, to write. The sb. #/o? is
allied to Quick.
biology. (Gk.) Science of life ; from
Gk. #t'o-, tor #t'oy, life ; and -Aoy/a, a dis-
coursing, from ^0709, a discourse.
Biped. (L.) L. biped-, stem of bipcs,
two-looted ; from bi>, two ; pes, foot.
Birch, a tree. ^E.) M. E. bircke.
A.S. bine, f.+G. birke, f.<Teut. *Mrk-
jdn-. P. Also A. S. berc> beorc. -4- Du.
49
BIRD
berk i Icel. bjork, Swed. bjork, Dan. birk
(cf. North E. /;*>/>).<Teut. *bcrk$, f. Cf.
also O. Slav, brtza, Russ. bereza ; Lith.
berzas. Also Skt. bkurja, a kind of birch.
Bird. (E.) M. E. brid (the r being
shifted) ; A. S. bridd, a bird, esp. the
young of birds.
Biretta, a clerical cap. (Ital.~ L.
Gk.) Ital. bcretta (Tornano) ; cf. Late
L. birrctum, orig. a scarlet cap. Late L.
birrus, burrus, reddish. See Bureau.
Birth. (Scand.) M. E. burthe, birthe.
Cf. Icel. fatrdr, m. ; Swed. bord* Dan.
byrd, f. ( = O. Icel. lyrf, f ). + A. S.
gebyrd, f. ; O. II. G. giburt (G. geburi) ;
Goth, gabaurths, f.<Teut. *//rtos = Idg.
*bhrtis (Skt. bhrtis, f. nourishment). All
from the weak grade of >y/BHER, to
bear See Bear (i).
Biscuit, a kind of cake. (F. L.) F.
biscuit, lit. twice cooked. F. bis (L. bis^,
twice ; and cuit, cooked, from L. coctuni,
ace. of coctus, pp. of coqtiere, to cook.
Bisect. (L-) From L. bi-, short for
bis, twice ; and sect-urn, supine of secure,
to cut.
Bishop. (L. - Gk.) A. S. biwp. - L.
episcopus. Gk. iirifffcoiros, a bishop ; lit.
' overseer.' Gk. ir/, upon; owoiro?, one
that watches, from (TKOTT-, 0-grade of ff/fcir-,
as in aKfir-TOfjiat, I spy, overlook. See
Species.
Bismuth, a metal. (G.) G. bismuth;
also spelt wismut, wissmnt, wissmuth.
Origin unknown.
Bison, a quadruped. (L. Teut.) L.
bison (Pliny) ; Late Gk. ftiffcav. Not a L.
word, but borrowed from Teutonic ;
O. H. G. wisunty G. wisent, a bison ;
A. S. weosend, a wild ox ; Icel. msundr.
Sec O. II. G. wisunt in Schade.
Bissextile, a name for leap-year.
(L.) Late L. bissextilis annus, bissextile
year. L. btssextus, an intercalary day; so
called because the intercalated day (for-
merly Feb. 24) was called the sixth of
the calends of March; there being thus
two days with the same name. L. bis,
twice ; sextus, sixth, from sex, six.
BlSSOn, purblind. (E.) In Sh. M. E.
bisen. O. Northumb. bisen, blind (Matt,
ix. 28). Origin unknown.
Bistre, a dark brown. (F.-G.?) F.
bistre, a dark brown. Perhaps from prov.
G. biester, dark, gloomy, also bistre (Flu-
gel).
Bit (i), a mouthful, small piece. (E.)
BIZARRE
M. E. bite (2 syll.). A. S. bita, a morsel.
From A. S. bit-, weak grade of bttan, to
bite.-f-Du. beef; Icel. biti; Swed. bit\
Dan. </#.< Tent, type *biton-, m.
bit (a), a curb for a horse. (E.) M. E.
/;///. A. S. bite, m. a bite, a biting. < Teut.
type *bitiz, a bite; cf. bitol, a curb.*f*Du.
gebit; Icel. bitill (dimin ) ; Swed. bctt ;
Dan. bid; G . gclnss.
Bitch. (E.) M. E. biche, Incche. A. S.
^ffV.+Icel. bikkja ; aKo grcy-baka.
Bite. (E ) M. E. In fen. A. S. bitan.
4- Du. bijtcn ; Icel. bit a ; Swed. bita ;
Dan. bide ; G. beissen. Teut. type *bitan-.
Allied to Ij.fmdere (pt. t.ffdi), to cleave ;
Skt. bhtd, to cleave. (V^HEID.)
bitter. (E.) M. E. biter. A. S. fitter,
bitor, lit. t biting.' A. S. Int-, weak grade
of bitan, to bite.-f-Dn. bitter; Icel. bitr ;
Swed., Dan., G. bitter.
Bittern, a bird. (F. -Late L.) The
;/ is added. M. E. factor, bitoure. F.
butor, ' a bittor [bittern] ; ' Cot. Prob.
named from its cry; cf. L. butire, bubere,
to cry like a bittern ; whence also L. bntio,
said to mean * bittern,' though the same
word as buteo, i. e. buzzard.
Bitts, naval term. (Scand.?) The
bitts are two strong posts on deck to
which cables are fastened. Prob. from
Icel. biti, a bit, mouthful (see Bit (i));
also, a cross-beam in a house ; a thwart
(L. transtrum) in a ship. [F. bites, bitts
^see Cot.), Span, bitas, may have been
borrowed from E.] Cf. also A. S. bating,
a cable for holding a ship, from bietan,
to restrain, curb, equivalent (in form) to
Icel. beita ; see Bait. Also Swed. beting,
a bitt, whence betingbult, a bitt-bolt, bitt-
pin ; Dan. baling : used also on land for
tethering horses, as in Swed. betingbult, a
peg for tethering, from beta,^ to pasture, bait.
Bitumen. (L.) L. bitilmen, mineral
pitch. Cf. Brugm. i. 663.
Bivalve. (F. L.) From Bi- and
Valve.
Bivouac. (F. G.) F. bivouac, orig.
bivac. Swiss G. beiwatht, an additional
watch at night (Stalder); cf. bei~geben,
to add. G. bei, in addition ; ivacht, a
watch, from wachen, to wake. See "Wake
(0. Cf. G. beiwcuhe.
Bizarre, odd. (F.-Span.) F. bi-
zarre, strange, capricious ; orig, ' valiant/
Span, bizarro, valiant, gallant. Perhaps
of Basque origin; cf. Basque bizarra, a
beard. Cf. Span, hombre de bigote, a man
BLAB
of spirit; where bigote means 'mous-
tache/
Blab, to tell tales. (E.) M. E. blabbe,
a tell-tale ; blaberen, to babble. Cf. Dan.
blabbre, to babble ; Dan. dial, blaffre, G.
plappern, to babble, prate. Of imitative
origin ; cf. Gael .//#, a soft noise ; plabair,
a babbler ; blabaran, a stammerer, blabh-
dach, babbling, garrulous.
Black. (E.) M.E. blak. A.S. Mac,
HCEC [which editors have often confused
with bl&c, bright, shining]. Cf. Icel.
blakkr, dark ; also A. S. bl<zc, Low G. blak,
O.H.G. black, Icel. blek, Swed. bleck, Dan.
bl<zk t all meaning ' ink/ Connexion with
Dti. blaken, to scorch, is doubtful.
blackguard, a term of reproach. (E.
and F.) 1' rom black and guard. A name
given to scullions, turnspits, and kitchen
menials, from the dirty work done by
them. See Trench, Select Glossary.
Bladder. (E.) M. E. blotters. A. S.
bheddre, bl&dre, a blistei, bladder (lit.
blowing out).-f Du. blaar [Icel blafiral~\ ;
O. H. G. blalara (G. blatter}. Tent, type
*bl(edrdn~, wk. fern. From Teut. stem
*bhe- t to blow (see Blow (i) ); with suffix
-dron similar to Gk. -rpd ^cf. xv T P a > a pot).
Blade, a leaf, flat of a sword. (E.)
M.E. blade. A.S. bfad, a leaf. + Icel.
Mail, Swed., Dan., Du. Mat/, a leaf, blade;
G. blatt. Teut. type *bla-dom, ncut., with
sense of 'blown,' i.e. 'flourishing;' pp.
form (with suffix -do- *= Idg. -#-) from
VBHLO. See Blow (2).
Blaeberry, Bleaberry, a bilberry.
(Scand. and E.) From North E. blac,
livid, dark ; and berry. The form blae is
from Icel. bla-r, livid ; see under Blue.
Blain, a pustule. (E.) M. E. bleiu.
A. S. blegen, a boil, + Du. blein ; Dan.
Megn.
Blame, vb. (F. -E. -Gk/) M.E.
Ma wen. O. F. blasmer, to blame. L.
blasphetnare, to speak ill, also to blame.
Gk. /3Aa<7</>77/*V ; see Blaspheme.
Blanch (i), to whiten. (F.-O. II. G.^
From F. blanchir, to whiten. F. blanc,
white ; see Blank below.
Blanch (2), the same as Blench.
Bland. (L.) L. blandus, mild.
blandish, to flatter. (F.-L.) M. E.
blandisen. O. F. blandis-, stem of pres.
part of blandir, to flatter. L. blandiri, to
caress. L. blandus, bland.
Blank, white. (F. - O. H. G.) In
Milton, P. L. x. 656. -F. Manc.-O. H. G.
BLAZON
blanch, white. Nasalised form from
O. H. G. blah, shining; cf. Gk. <f>\6y~to$,
flaming, shining, from <p\iy~cw, to shine.
blanket. (F.-O.H G.) Orig.ofa
white colour. M. E. blanket. A. F. blan-
ket (F. blanched, dimin. from blanc, white;
see above.
Blare, to make a loud noise. (E.)
M. E. blaren. Cf. Du. blaren, Low G.
blan-en, to bleat ; M. H. G. bleren, bier-
ren (G.flarren], to bleat, blubbei. Prob.
imitative, like bleat ; but cf. Blaze (2).
Blason ; see Blazon.
Blaspheme, to speak injuriously. (L.
Gk.) L. blasphemare. Qk. jSAao^w;-
/xcn/, to speak ill of. Gk. /JA.cio'^/uos, adj.,
speaking evil. Gk. /SAcur-, for
i.e. huitful (cf #Aaj8-77, hurt) ; a
say : see Fame. Brugm. i. 744.
Blast, a blowing. (E.) M.E. blast.
A. S. bl&st, a blowing ; cf. Icel. blastr, a
breath, blast of a trumpet ; O. H. G. blast.
\ Formed with Idg. suffix -to- from the old
I base of Blaze (2).
Blatant, noisy, roaring. (E.) Spenser
has ' blatant beast'; F. Q. vi. 12 (head-
ing) ; also blattant, id. vi. I. 7. Prob.
imitative. Cf. Lowl. Sc. blad, to abuse ;
blatter, a rattling noise ; G. platz, a crash.
Blay, a bleak (fish\ (E.) A.S. bhege.
+ I)u Met ; G. bleihe.
i Blaze (i\ a flame. (E.) M. E. blase.
A. S. bhese, a flame, in com p. bdl blase,
a bright light ; blase, f. a torch ;<Teut.
type * blason. Cf. M. H. G. bias, a torch ;
also G. blasse, Icel. blesi, a * blaze ' or
white mark on a horse, Swed. Mas, the
same.
Blaze (2), to proclaim, noise abroad.
(Scand.) Mark i. 45. M. E. blasen.
Icel. blasa, to blow, blow a tiumpet, sound
an alarm ; Swed. blasa, to sound ; Dan.
blase, Du. blazcn, to blow a trumpet ; G.
blasen. Also Goth. uf-Mesan, to puff up.
j <Teut. type *t>/tes-an-, to blow; whence
I A S. btest, E. blast. Much confused with
blazon.
| Blazon (i), Blason, a proclamation.
i Hamlet, i. 5. 21 ; Shak. Son. 106. A cor-
I ruption from Blaze (2", M.E. l>lasen, to
i proclaim ; due to confusion with Blazon
i (2) below.
j Blazon (2), to pourtray armorial bear-
ings. (F.) M. E. blason, blasoun, a shield ;
whence blazon, verb, to describe a shield.
F. blason, a coat of arms, orig. a shield
(Brachet). Cf. Span, blason, heraldry,
BLEABERRY
blazonry, glory, hacer blazon, to blazon,
blasonar, to blazon, brag, boast ; suggest-
ing a (very doubtful) connexion with G.
blase n, to blow the trumpet, as done by
heralds, to proclaim a victor's fame ; see
Blaze (2) above. (See Scheler.) Or if the
orig. sense was a bright mark on a shield,
it is allied to Blaze (i).
Bleaberry ; see Blaeberry.
Bleach, (fe.) Orig. ' to whiten ; ' M.E.
blechen, Ancien Riwle, p. 324, 1. i. A. S.
bliecan. A. S. blac, shining, bright, pale.
See bleak below, -f- Icel. bletkja ; Du.
bleeken ; G. bleichen ; <Teut. *blaikjan~.
bleak (i). orig. pale. (Scand.) M.E.
bleik. Icel. bleikr, pale ; Swed. blek ;
Dan. bleg.+K. S. blac Du. Meek ; G.
bleich. Teut. type *blaiko~. From *blaik-,
strong grade of Teut. *Meikan- (A. S.
bltcan}, to shine.
bleak (2), a fish. (Scand.) From its
pale colour.
Blear-eyed, having watery, inflamed ,
or dim eyes. (E.) M.E. bleer-eyed.
Cognate with Low G. blarr-oged, blear-
eyed ; cf. blarr oge, an eye wet with tears,
from blarren, to howl, weep ; which seems
to be allied to E. blare.
Bleat. (E.) M.E. blelcn. A. S. bid-
tan, blcian, to bleat as a sheep. -f-Du
blaten\ O II. G. plazan. Cf. Russ. ble
jate, to bleat ; \^,.Jlerc, to weep.
Bleb, Blob, a small bubble or blister
(E.) Cf. M. E. blober, a bubble on water
blubber, a bubble. By comparing blobber
blubber ^ with bubble, having much the saint
meaning, we see the piobabihty that they
are imitative, from the action of forming
a bubble with the lip-s.
Bleed. (E.) M. E. bledcn. A. S. bit-
dan, formed (by mutation of v to / 7 ) from
A. S. bldd, blood. < Teut. type *blodjan-, to
lose blood>Icel. bhc^a.
Blemish, to stan. 'F.) M. E. ble-
itiisshen.<-(). F. bletms-, stem of pres. part,
of blemir, blesnur, to wound, stain, make
pale. -O. F. blcmc, blesme, wan, pale. Of
unknown origin.
Blench, to shrink from. (E.) M. E.
blenchen, to avoid, elude. A.S. blencan,
to deceive ; as if from a Teut. type * blank-
jan-, causal of *blinkan- t to blink. But
proof is wanting
Blend, to mix together. ( Scand.)
M. E. blenden. Due to blend-, base of the
pres. indie, of Icel. blanda (Swed. blanda,
Dan. blande], to blend ; cognate with
BLISS
A. S. and Goth, blandan, str. redupl. vb.,
O. H. G. blantan, to mix.
Bless, to consecrate, &c. (E.) The
orig. sense may have been ' to consecrate
by blood/ i. e. either by sacrifice or by the
sprinkling of blood, as the word can be
clearly traced back to blood. M. E. blessen,
A. S. bletsian, O, Northumb. bledsia, bloed-
sia (Matt. xxv. 34, xxvi. 26), which can
be explained from blod, blood,with the usual
vowel-change from o to oe or e. Teut. type
*blodison. Cf. bleed. (Suggested by Sweet ;
Angha, iii. 156.)
Blight. (E.) XVIT cent. Of unknown
origin ; perhaps from A. S. *bhht, O. Merc.
*bleht, exactly answering to Icel. blettr, a
spot, stain.
Blind. (E.) A. S. M/a/.+Du. blind\
Icel. bhndr\ Sw., Dan., G. /*#rf;<Teut.
type *blindoz (Idg. base *bhlendh-}. Cf.
Lith. blqsti-s (3 pr. s. blendzia-s], to become
dim ' of the sun).
blindfold, vb. (E.) M.E. blind-
f olden, verb (Tyndale) ; corruption of
bhndfelden (Palsgrave), where the d is
excrescent. The true word is bhndfellen,
to ' fell * or strike blind, Ancren Riwle, p.
106. -A.S. blind, blind; and fellan, to
! strike ; see Pell.
] Blindman's buff; see Buff.
j Blink, to wink, to glance. (E.) M. E.
i blenken, to shine, to glance ; whence mod.
E. blink, by change of en to in, as in
many words. Allied to A. S. blanc, white
(as in blanc-a, a white horse"), cognate with
O. 1I.G. blanch, M. II. G. Main; see
Blank. Cf. Du., G. blinken, Swed.
blinka, Dan. blinke, all late forms; and
A. S bin an, to shine.
Bliss. (E.) See Blithe.
Blister. (F.-Teut.) M. E. ifatcr,
blister. (Not found before I3OO.)-O. F.
ble*>fre, 'tumeiu,' (iodefroy. Of Teut.
origin ; cf. Icel. blastr (dat. bi'fsirf}, a
blast, also a swelling, allied to E. Blast.
From the notion of blowing out.
Blithe. (E.) M. E. blithe. A. S.
blifa, sweet, happy.+O. Sax. blifti, bright,
glad ; Du. blijde, bhj ; Icel. bltdr; Swed.,
Dan. bltd\ O. H. G. blidi, glad; Goth.
blet/hs, merciful, kind.
bliss. (E.) M. K. blis. A. S. bits,
bhss ; contr. from A. S. blifts, happiness,
lit, blitheness. A. S. blifte (above). +
O. Sax. blizza, blTdsea, happiness. Teut.
stem *btt$sid, with $</*, the suffix being
-tia, as in L. ladi-tia.
BLOAT
Bloat, to swell. (Scand.) We now
generally use bloated to mean f puffed |
out ' or ' swollen,' as if allied to blow.
But the M. E. form was blout, soft ; con-
nected with Icel. blautr, soft, effeminate,
imbecile, blotna, to become soft, lose
courage. Cf. Swed. blot, Dan. blod* soft,
pulpy, mellow. Allied to Icel. blauftr,
soft ; A. S bleaj), G. Mode, weak.
bloater, a prepared hemng. (Scand.)
A bloater is a cured fish, cured by smoke ;
but formerly a * soaked ' fish. Icel. blautr,
soft. Cf. Swed. blotfisk, soaked fish ; from
biota, to soak, steep ; Irom blot, soft
(above).
Blob, a bubble. (It.) See Bleb.
BlOGJC, a large piece of wood. (F.
M. H. G.) M. E. blok. - O. F. bloc.-
M. H. G. block, a block ; cf. Du. blok, Dan.
blok, Swed. block. Der. block-ade.
Blond. (F.) XV cent. F. blond, m.
blonde, fern, 'light yellow;' Cot. Referred
by Diez to Icel. blandinn, mixed ; cf. A. S.
blondcn-fcax, having hair of mingled
colour, gray-haired. See Blend. ^ But
the Low L. form is blundu^, pointing to
a Teut. type *blundo-, answering to Skt.
bradhna-s, reddish, pale yellow (KlugeX
Cf. O. Slav, brori ', white ; Brugm. i.
814.
Blood. (E.) M. E. Mod, blood. A. S.
/>/<*/.+ Du. bloed, Tcel. Mod, Swed. blod,
Goth, bloth ; G. bint ; <Teut. type *blodom,
n. Hence bleed.
Bloom, a flower. (Scand.) M. E.
blome\ not in A.S. Icei. blom, blomi, a
flower; bwetl. bio mm a ; Dan. blomme^
Du. bloent ; Goth, bloma ; allied to O. Ir.
blath,\^.flos\ see Flower. And see below.
blossom. (E.) M. E. blosme, also
blostme. A. S. blostma, a blossom ; from
base bid" of A. S. bio-wan, with suffixes
-tf and -ma (Teut. 0;0).-f*Du. bloesem ;
M. II. G. bluost (with suffix -j/). See
above
Blot (i), a spot. (F.-Teut.) M. E.
blot\ from blotten, vb. -M. F. blotter, to
blot;' Cot.-O. F. blotte, bloste, a clot of
earth. (Prob. Teutonic.)
Blot (2), at backgammon. (Scand.)
A blot is an 'exposed' piece. Dan. blot,
bare, naked ; whence give sig blot, to lay
oneself open, expose oneself; Swed. blott,
naked ; blotta, to lay oneself open.+Du.
bloot, naked, blootstellcn, to expose ; G.
bloss, naked. Allied to Icel. blautr, soft ;
see Bloat.
BLUNDERBUSS
Blotch, a large blot. (F.) From O. F.
blocke, 'tumeur'; (Godefroy, s.v. bloste).
Blouse, a loose outei frock. (F.)
From F. House, a fiock much used by
workmen (XVIII cent. \ Origin unknown.
Blow (0, to puff. (E.) M. E. blowen.
A. S. blawan. -f G. blahcn, O. II. G. bid-
han\ allied to lu.JJare.
Blow (2), to bloom, flouiish as a flower.
(E ) M. E. blowen. A. S. blowan +Du.
bloeijen ; G. bluhen, O. II. G. bhiojan.
Allied to L. florert ; see Flourish.
Blow (3), a stroke, hit. (E.) M. E.
bloive. Not in A. S. ; but we find M. Du.
strong verb blouwen (pt t. blau}, to strike,
dress flax by beating; O. H.G. bliuwan,
whence G. />/#//<?, to beat; Goth, bliggwan,
to strike ; all from Teut. *bhwwan-, to
strike. (History obscure.)
Blubber. (E.) M. E. blobtr, a bubble ;
bloberen, to bubble up, to weep copiously.
Of imitative origin ; cf. Blob. The
blubber of the whale consists of bladder-
like cells filled with oil. Blubber-lipped
with swollen lips. Cf. E. Fries, blubber,
a bubble, a blob of fat ; blubbern, to
bubble.
Bludgeon. (F. Teut.) A.F. bohon,*
cross-bow bolt. O. H. G. bolz ; see Bolt.
Blue, a colour. (F.-O. H. G.) M. E.
blew, bteu.-h F. bin, blew, O. F. bleu,
blue O. H.G. bldo, blue, iivid, G. blau.
+Icel bldr, livid ; Swed. bla, Dan blaa ;
A S. bl<w (O. E. Texts, p. 588^) ; < Teut
type *bltewoz. Cognate with Lat.y7<Fwwi f
yellow.
Bluff, downright, rude. (Du. ?) A
blujf 'is a steep headland. It appears to be
Dutch. M. Du. blaf, flat, broad ; blaffaert,
one having a broad flat face, also, a
boaster (Oudemans) ; blaf van het voor-
hooft, ' the flat of a forehead * (Hexham) ;
blaffen, blefen, to mock (id.). Cf. E.
Fries, bluffen, to make a noise, bluster,
impose on.
Blunder, to flounder about, err.
(Scand.) M. E. blondren, to confuse, to
move blindly or stupidly. Formed (as a
frequentative) from Icel. blunda, to doze,
slumber ; Swed. blunda, to shut the eyes ;
Dan. blunde, to nap. Cf. Icel. blundr,
Dan. and Swed. blund, a doze, a nap.
From the sense of ' confusion/ Allied to
Blend and Blind.
Blunderbuss, a short gun. (Hyb.)
In Pope. Formerly spelt blanterbusse,
plantierbusse (Palmer, Folk-Etymology) ;
BLUNT
i, e. 'a gun on a rest.' Apparently from
L. plantdre, to plant (see Plant); and
Du. bus, a gun, orig. a box, barrel; see
Box (i). But the corresponding Du. woid
is donderbus, i. e. thunder-gun.
BlTUlt, dull. (Scand.?) M. E. blunt,
Wont, dull, dulled. Origin unknown;
perhaps allied to Icel. llunda, Dan.
blunde, to sleep, doze ; see Blunder.
Blur, to stain ; a stain. (Scand. ? )
Fioperly 'to dim'; metaphorically, 'to
deceive.' We find: 'A blirre, deceptio ;
to blirre, fallcre ; ' Levins (1570). Of
uncertain origin. Cf. Swed. dial, blura,
to blink, partially close the eyes; Swed.
pttra, Swed. dial. blira, to blink ; blirra
fojr
eyes
j to quiver (be dim) befoie the
said of a haze caused by heat;
Bavarian plerr, a mist before the eyes.
Blurt, to utter impulsively. (E.)
Lowl, Sc. blirt, to make a noise in weep-
ing; cf. M. E. bleren, to make a loud
noise, to blaie Of imitative oiigin.
Blush. (E.") M. E. blttschcn, blusshen,
BOHEA
short for aborde, used by Palsgrave. F.
aborder, * to approach, accost, abboord,
or lay aboord ; ' Cot. F. a, to (L. ad) ;
bord, edge, brim, side of a ship, from
Icel. bord, Du. boord, side of a ship. See
Board (i).
Boast. (F.) M. E. bost. [W. bost,
Corn, bost, Irish and Gael, bosd, are all
borrowed from E.] From A. F. bost^ a
boast. Prob. from Norw. bausta, to act
with violence, baust, boastfully (Ross). Cf.
E. Fries, busen, to be boisterous.
Boat. (E.) M. E. boot. A. S. bat.
Cf.lcel.6atr; Swed bat; Vu.toot; Russ.
bof; W. bad; Gael, bata, a boat. p. The
Icel. woid is borrowed from A. S. ; and
the other forms either from E. or Icel.
Teut. type *baitoz, m.
"boat-swain. (E.) Lit. 'boat-lad;'
Icel. svc inn, a lad ( = A. S. swan}.
Bob, to jerk. (E ) Perhaps imitative.
Bobbin, a wooden pin on which thread
is wound ; round tape. (F.) Foimerly
bolin. F. bobine, ' a qui^ for a spinning
. . . . , ,
to glow. A.S. blyscan, used to translate j \\heele, a skane, ' Cot. Orig. unknown.
Bode, to foreshew. (E.) M. E. boden,
bodian. - A. S. bodian, to announce. - A. S.
boda, a messenger; bod, a message. From
L. rutilate, to shine (Mone, Quellen, 355} ;
cf. dblysian, abhsian, to blush ; from A. S.
blys in bitl-blys, lit. 'a fire- blaze.' -fDu
, . .
blozen, to blush, from bios, a blush ; Dan. : bod-, weak grade of beodan, to command,
blusse, to flame, glow, from blus, a torch ;
Swed. blossa, to blaze, from blots, a torch.
From Teut. root *bleus, to glow.
Bluster, to be boisterous (E.) Doubt-
less associated in idea with blast (Icel.
blaslr, Swed. blast). Cf. E. Fries, blus-
iern, to be tempestuous (esp. of wind) ;
announce. See Bid (2
Bodice, stays. (E.) A corruption of
bodies (pi. of body}, which was the old
spelling. ^Cf. F. corset, from sorps.}
Bodkin, orig. a small dagger. (?)
M. E. boy de kin, Ch. Origin unknown.
Body, the frame of an animal. (E.)
bhistet , bluscr, a breeze; blusw, to blow ] M. E. bcdi; A.S.toa'ig.+O. II. G. potach.
strongly; blwe, wind. | Boer ; the same as Boor.
Boa, a large snake. (L.) L. boa Bog. (C.) Iribh bogach, a bog, from
(Pliny); perhaps allied to bos, an ox ; from bog, soft; cf. Irish bogaun, I shake; a bog
its size. I being a soft quagmire. So also Gael.
Boar, an animal. (E.) M.E. bore, boor, bogan, a quagmire; bog, soft, moist ;
A.S. to-. -f- Du. beer; M. H. G. ber.
Teut. type *bairoz, in. i
Board ij. (E.) M. E. bord. A.S.
bord, board, side of a ship, shield. 4" Du
boord', Icel. bor8, plank, side of a ship ; G.
to soften, also to agitate.
boct, soft.
Boggard, Boggart, a spectre.
with F. suffix-.} From bog, variant of
Cf O. Irish
(C. ;
Bug (i); with suffix -ard, -art (. -ard
&w/;'Goth. -baurd in fotu baurd, a" foot- as in bast-ard). See below,
stool. Cf. Irish, Gael., W., and Corn
bord, a board
"
(from E.).
e sense
Teut.
of a
type
explains star-board, lar-board, on beard,
over-board. Der. board, to have meals as
a lodger ; from board, a table.
board (2), to go on board a ship, to
accost. (F. Teut.) The sb. board is E.,
but the verb, formerly spelt borde, bord, is
Boggle, to start aside, swerve for fear.
(C. ? ) Prob. coined from prov. E. boggle,
bogh, a spectre. Cf. W. bu>g, a goblin ;
bygel, a scarecrow ; bwgwl, a threat,
bygylu, to threaten; bwgwth, to scare.
See Bug (i).
Bohea, a kind of tea. (Chinese.) So
named from the Bohea hills; the moun- 1
tain called Bony (or Wu-i) is situated in
54
BOIL
the province of Fokien or Fttkian, on the
S. E. coast of China.
Boil (i), to bubble up. (F.-L.) O.K.
boillir, to boil (F. bottillir). L. bullire, to
bubble up, boil. L. bulla, a bubble ; see
Bull (2). Cf. Norman Y. boillir, to
boil.
Boil (2), a small tumour. (E.) Prov.
L. bile ; prob. affected by boil(i). M. E.
byle. A.S. byl, a boil, swelling. -f-Dn.
bnil; G. bcule. Cf. Goth, ufbauljan, to
puff up ; Icel. beyla, a hump (with muta-
tion). See Bowl (2).
Boisterous. (F.) Lengthened from
M. E. boistous, Ch. ; lit. * noisy/ Boistous
is formed, with O. F. suffix -oits, from
Norw. batisl-a, to act with violence ; like
cloister from L. clattstmm. Cf. Norw.
I'aztst, boastfully ; bans, blustering. See
Boast.
Bold. (E ) M. E. bold, bald\ A S.
leald, bald, balj>.+l<&\. ballr; Du. bond;
O. H.G. bald; cf. Cloth, balthaba, adv.,
boldly. Teut. type *balj>oz.
Bole, stem of a tree. (Scand.) M. E
bole. Icel. bolr, bulr, the trunk of a tiee,
stem; Swed. bat; Dan. bul. Cf. Gk.
</>aA-a7, a log, trunk. Cf. Balk (i).
Boiled, swollen. (Scand.) Earlier
forms are M. E. bollen, pp., and bolned,
pp. The latter is the pp. of M. E. bolnen,
to swell. Dan. bulne, Sw-ed. bulna, Icel.
bolgna, to swell, inchoative forms from
\\k. grade of belg- (cf. Icel. belg fa, to in-
flate). Cf. A. S. belgan (pp. bolgeii), to
swell with anger. See Bellows, Billow.
Bolster. (E.) A. S. bolster, with suffix
ster as in hol-ster. Fiom its round shape.
+ Du. bolster, bnhtcr ; Icel. bolstr ; O.
II. G bohtar (G. polster). Teut. type
*bul-stroz; fiom Teut. */>///, weak grade
of *beul, to puff up. See Boil (2). (See
Fianck.)
Bolt (i), a stout pin of iron, an arrow.
(E.) A. S. &?//.+ Du. bout, formerly bolt ;
Dnn. bolt; G. /We, boken. Root unknown.
Bolt (2), Boult, to sift meal. (F.
L. Gk.) Spelt boulte in Palsgrave.
O. F. btilter; mod. F. blutcr; oldest form
lukter, a corruption of *bttreter, to sift
through coarse cloth ; cf. M. Ital. burat-
tare, to boult (Florio). - O. F. and F.
bure, coarse woollen cloth. - Late Lat.
bura, burr a, coarse red cloth. Lat.
burruSy reddish. Gk. irvppts, reddish.
Gk. irvp, fire. See Bureau and Fire.
Bolus, a large pill. (L.-Gk.) Late
BOOBY
L. boltts (not L. bdfas), a Latinised form
of Gk. j8o;A.oy, a clod, lump.
Bomb, a shell for cannon. (F. or Span.
L. Gk.) F. bombe ; Span, bomba. L.
bombitSj a humming noise. Gk. /3oyu/3o?,
the same. See Boom (i).
bombard. (F.-L.-Gk.) The verb
is from E. bombard, a great gun ; Sh. F.
bombarde, a cannon; extended from F.
bombe ; see Bomb. Der. bombard-ier, F.
bombardier (Cot.).
Bombast, orig. cotton wadding; hence
padding, affected language. (F. L.
Gk.) From O. F. bombace (with added /),
cotton wadding. Late L. bombacem, ace.
of bombax, cotton ; for L. bombyx. Gk.
/0o/^8t/, silk, cotton ; orig. a silkworm.
Cf. ' to talk/z/j/w;/.'
bombazine, bombasine, a fabric
of silk and worsted. (F. L. Gk.) F.
bofHbasin. H.ate L. bombdcinitm.^'L^. bom-
bydnus, adj. silken; from bombyx , silk;
see above.
Bond. (E.) See Band (i).
Bondage, servitude. (F. - Scand.)
M. E. and A. F. bondage, servitude ; the
sense being due to confusion with the verb
to bind. But it orig. meant the condition
of a bondman, called in A. S. bonda, a
word borrowed from Icel. bondi, a hus-
bandman. And bondi =bucndi, a tiller;
from Icel. bila, to till, prepare, cognate
with A. S. Inian, to dwell, and G. batten.
Thus A.S. bmda is allied in sense and
origin to E. boor, q. v.
Bone. (E.) M. E. boon; A.S. ban.
-|-Du. been ; Icel. bein ; Swed. ben; Dan.
been ; O. H. G. bein. Teut. type *bainotn.
bonfire. (E.) Orig. a bone-fire.
' Bane-Jire, ignis ossium ; ' Catholicon
Anglicanum, A. D. 1483 ; where bane is
the Northern form of bone. Cf. Picard/w
d'os, a bonfire.
Bonito, a kind of tunny. (Span.
Arab.) Span, bonito. Arab, baynlth,
a bonito.
Bonnet. (F.) F. bonnet ; O. F. bonet
(A. D. 1047), the name of a stuff of which
bonnets or caps were made. Origin
unknown.
Bonny, fair. (F. L.) From F. bonne,
fair, fern, of bon, good. L. bonus, good;
O.L. ditontts '"^
Bonze, a priest. (Port. Japanese.)
Port. bonzo.~ Jap. bonzo, a religious man.
Booby. (Span.-L.) Span. Mo, a
blockhead, booby (related to F. baube,
55
BOOK
stammering). L. balbus, stammering;
hence, stupid.
Book. (E.) M. E. book ; A. S. boc^ a
book ; also, a beech-tree. The orig.
' books ' were pieces of writing scratched
on a beechen board. -4- Du. boek ; Icel. bok\
Swed. bok ; Dan. bog; G. buck ; all in the
sense of ' book ' ; Goth. boka, a letter, pi.
bokoi) M ntings. p. With A. S. boc, beech, cf.
L. fagus, a beech, Gk. <f>rjyos, a tree with
edible fruit.
Boom (i), to hum. (E.) M. E. bom-
*nen, not found in A. S. 4*1)11. bommen,
to boom, to give out a hollow sound like
an empty barrel. An imitative word;
like L. bornbus, Gk. /8<>ftoy, a humming.
Boom (2), a pole. (Du.) Du. boom;
the Du. foim of Beam (i).
Boomerang 1 , a wooden missile weapon.
(Australian.) Jbrom the native Australian
name.
BOOH (0, a petition. (Scand.) M. E.
bone, Ch. Icel bon ; Dan. and Swed. /w/,
a petition. + A. S. boen, ben (whence bene
in Wordsworth). The sense of ' favour '
arose from conlusion with Boon (2).
Boon (2), good. (F. L.) In the phr.
' boon companion.' F. bon, good. L.
bonus. See Bonny.
Boor, a peasant. ( Du.) Du. boer, a
peasant, lit. 'tiller of the soil.' - Du.
bouwen, to till. 4 A S. btlan, to dwell in,
whence gebur t s.,a peasant (only preserved
in neigh'bour). So also G. batten, to till,
\\hcnce batter, a peasant; Icel. bua, Goth
bauan, to dwell. Teut. stem *bu~ t related
to Be. (Streitberg, 90.)
Boot (i), advantage, profit. (E.) M. E.
bole, boot. A. S. bot, profit.4Du. boete ;
Icel. bot (cf. bati), advantage, cure; Dan.
bod, Swed. bot> remedy; G. busse, atone-
ment; Got 1 ), bota. Teut. type *bota t f.
Fiom lot-, strong grade of bat-\ see
Better. Der boot-less, profitless.
Boot (2), a covering lor the foot. (F.)
M. E. bote. O. F. bote(k . bottc) ; cf. Span.,
Port., Late L. bota. Origin unknown.
Booth. (Scand ) M. K. bot he. - M.
Dan. both (Kalkar), Dan. bod\ Swed. bod
(cf. Icel. bub, a dwelling, booth). Dan.
boe t Swed. bo^ Icel. bua, to dwell ; see
Boor. 4 G. bude, a stall. Teut. type
*bu]>a, f. Cf. also Irish both, a hut,
\V. bdd, a residence ; Lith. buta, buttas.
a house. See Build
Booty. (F. Low G.) Formeily spelt
. 1?. butin, 'a booty, prey;' Cot.
BOTANY
- M. Du. bute, Du. buit; cf. Icel. byti,
Dan. bytte, Swed. byte, exchange, baiter,
also booty, spoil ; G. beute, spoil.
Borage. (F. - Span. - Arab.) For-
merly bourage. F. bourrache. Span.
borraja. Arab, abu rashh, lit. 'father of
sweat ; ' because it is a sudorific.
Borax. (Low L. Arab. Pers.) Low
L. borax ; also boracum. Arab, buraq.
Peis. burah, borax (Vullers).
Border, an edge. (F. Low L.
Teut.) M. E. bordure, bordeure. Q.Y.
bordeure (Span, bordaaurd), an edging.
Low L borddtfira, edging. Low L. bor-
ddre (Ital. bordare, Span, bordar, F.
border], to edge. Low L. bordus (F.
bord}. Teut. (O. Low G.) ^r</, side; see
Board.
Bore (i), to perforate. (E.) M. E.
borien, A. S. bonan. 4 Du. boren\ Icel.
&?>'#; Swed. borra ; T)&n.bore; G. bohren.
Also \,.f orate, to bore; Gk. Qapastv, to
plough. Brugm. i. 510. (y^BHER,
to cut.)
bore (2), to worry. (E.) Possibly a
metaph. use of the verb above ; lien. VIII,
i. i. 128.
Bore (3), a tidal surge in a river.
(Scand.?) Perhaps from Icel. bara, a
billow caused by wind ; Norw. baara, a
billow, swell in the sea.
Boreas, the north wind. (L. Gk.)
L. Boreas. Gk. Bo/x'ay, Bo/5/5as, the N.
wind.
Borough. (E.) M.E bttrgh, borgh ;
also borwe. A. S. burh, burg (gen. and
dat. byng), a fort. Perhaps iiom Teut.
bttrg-i weak gade of *l>crgan-, to pro-
tect ; whence Goth, bairgan, to hide, keep ;
see Barrow. 4 Du. btirg; Icel. borg;
Swed. and Dan. borg\ G. burg; (joth.
baurgs. See below. Biugm. i. 566, 11.
1 60.
borrow. (E.) M. E. borwcn ; A. S.
borgian, lit. to give a pledge. A S. borg,
borh, a pledge. A S. borg-, weak grade
of beoigan, to keep, protect ; see Bar-
row and Borough.
Bosom. (E ) M. E. bosom. A. S.
bosm 41-^u. boezem ; G. bit sen.
BOSS, a knob. (F.-O II. G.) M.E.
l>oce, bos. (). F. boce (I 1 , bossc] ; cf. Ital.
bozza, a swelling; M. Ital bozzarc, to
rough-hew, to bungle. Prob from O. H.
G bozan* to beat ; a bump being the
tfiVct of a blow. Cf. botch, beat.
Botany. (F. Gk.) F. botaniqi4*>
BOTARGO
orig. an adj. Gk. fioTaviK6s, belonging
to plants. Gk. Poravrj, glass. Gk.
@6ffK(iv f to pasture; cf. &or6v, a grazing
animal.
BotargO, a cake made of the roe of the
sea-mullet. (Ital. Arab.) M.Ital. botargo,
pi. botarghe ; see Florio and Tornano.
Arab, butarkha^ botargo ; given by Devic.
Supposed to be composed of bu, Coptic
def. article, and Gk. rapixos, dried fish
(Joum. des Savants, Jan. 1848, p. 45).
Botch (i), to patch. (E.) Origin
unknown. Similar is M. Du. butsen, to
strike, beat, also to patch up ; cf. Du.
botsen, to beat.
Botch (2), a swelling. (F. G.)
M. K. boche. O. North Y . boche \ Picaid
boche ; O. F. boce (F. boise), a swelling ; see
Boss.
Both. (Scand) M.E. bafa Scot.
baith. Icel. batiir, both, dual adj. ; Dan.
bacuie; Swed. /;&/.+ G. bade. And cf.
A. S. bd, both ; Lat. -bo in ambo\ Gk. -<poj
in dfj.-(f>ci} ; Skt. -bha in u-hha, both. Icel.
-Mr is for tieir, they, the; so that bo-th
was orig two words ; cf. Goth, bafio sktpa,
both the ships (Luke v. 7).
Bother, vb and sb. (K.) In Swift. Cf.
pother ; prov. Q.pudder, confusion ; M.K
puthcren, to bestir oneself. Origin un-
known.
Bots, small woims. (E.) Lowl. Sc.
bats. Of unknown origin.
Bottle (i), a hollow vessel. (F.-
Late L. ~ Gk.) M. E. hotel. - F. bonteille.
Late Lat. buticula, double dimm. of
Late L. butis, buttis, a cask, a butt; see
Butt (2).
Bottle (2), a bundle of hay. (F.-
O. H. G. i M. E. hotel. - O. F. 'hotel, bot-
elle, a small bundle, dimin. of botte, a
bundle, as of hay. O. II. G. bozo, a bundle
of straw or flax; allied to O. II. G. bozan,
to beat (see Beat); perhaps fiorn the
beating of flax.
Bottom. (E.) M. E. botttm, bothoni.
A. S. /'0//H. 4.1)11. bodem ; Icel. botn ; Swed.
botten-, Dan. bund\ {\.boden \ \j&.fundtts\
Gk. irve^y; Vedic Skt. budhna, depth,
ground. Allied lo Irish bonn, sole of the
foot; Gael, bonn^ sole, bottom; W. bon,
base, stock. See Fundament. Brtigm.
l - '03, 704.
Boudoir. (F.) F. boudoir, a private
room for a lady ; lit. a place to sulk in.
F. bouder, to sulk. Cf. E. pout.
Bough. (E.) M. E. bough. A.S. bog,
BOURD
boh ; of which the orig. sense was 'an
arm.'+Icel. bogr, Swed. bog, Dan. bov,
the shoulder of an animal, hence the bow
(shoulder) of a ship ; G. bug-, Gk. irfjx v *>
the fore-arm ; Skt. bahus, the arm. Teut.
type *bogtiz\ Idg. type *bhaghus. See
Bow (4). Brugm. i. 184.
Bought, a bend, turn, fold. (Low G.)
In Spenser, F. Q. i. I. 15. Low G. bugt,
a bend; Du. bogf^ bocht; Dan. bugt. Cf.
G. bucht. The E. form is Bight. And
see Bout.
Boulder, a large stone. (E.?) Etym.
obscure; cf. Swed. dial, bullersteen, a
large lolling stone; so called from its
rolling down stream with a crash. Swed.
Indira, to thunder, roar; and stecn, a
stone. Danish has Intldre, to ioa.r,btilder,
a crash.
Boult, to sift meal , see Bolt (2).
Bounce, to jump up quickly. (E.)
M. E. Intu^en, to beat. Cf. Lo\\ G. bun-
sen, to beat, knock at a door; Du. bonzen,
to bounce, throw, from Du. bons, a bounce,
thump; G. bumps, bounce; Icel. bops,
bump 1 Prob. imitative.
Bound (D, to leap. (F.-L.-Gk.)
F. bondir,\& bound; but orig. to resound.
L. bomhitare, to resound. L. bombns,
a humming sound. Gk. /3o/ti/8os, the same.
Der. re-bound (F. rcbondir).
Bound (2), a boundaiy. (F.-C.?)
M. h. hounde* Ch. ; with excrescent d, as
in soun-d. A. F . bottnde, bunde; O.I 4 .
bonne, a boundary ; also spelt bodne (Bur-
guy) , Late Lat. bodina (contr. form
[ bonnd], a bound, limit. Perhaps of Celtic
origin ; Thurneysen, 91. Der. bound-ary.
\ Bound (3), ready to go. (Scand. ; In
! ' the ship is bound for Spain,' &c.
\ Formed, with excrescent d, from M. E.
boun, ready, Ch. C. T. 11807. I CG ^
\buinn, piepared; pp of bfia, to till, pre-
I pare. 4* A.S. buan ; see Boor.
I Bounden, the old pp. of Bind. (E. N >
As in 4 bounden duty.'
Bounty, orig. goodness. (F. - L/
M. E. bonntee. O. F. bontet. L. ace.
honitdtem, fiom bonitas, goodness. L.
bonus, good. See Bonny.
Bouquet. ( F. Late L.) F. bouquet ;
I O. I', bosquet, orig. * a little wood,' dimin.
of O. F. bos (F. bois^, a wood. Late L.
i boscum, buscum, ace. of bosciis, buscus, a
| wood ; of unknown origin. Cf. Bush.
Bourd, a jest ; to jest. (F,) M. E.
bottrde, sb. ; bourden, v. F. bourde, a
BOURN
game ; bourder, to play. Of unknown
origin. (Not as in Diez.)
Bourn (i), a boundary. (F.) In Sh.
F. borne, a bound ; for O. F. bodne,
variant of O. F. bonne, a boundary ; see
Bound (2).
Bourn (2), Burn, a stream. (E.)
M. E. bourne. A.S. buina, a fountain,
stream, well.+Icel brunnr; Swed. bt-unn ;
Dan. brond\ G. brunnen, Goth, brunna,
a spring, well.
Bouse, Bouze, Boose, to drink
deeply. (Du.) M. K. bousen (ab. 1300).
M. Dn. *b?lscn, later buyzen, to drink
deeply. M. Du. buse (Latinised as biisa
by Erasmus"), bttysc, a large cup, also a
tap, a conduit (Kihan) ; Du. buis, a con-
duit, pipe. Cf- O. F. buse, a conduit ;
G. bansen, to bouse.
Bout, a turn, a round, occasion. (Low
G.) Ihe same as Bought (above) ; piob.
influenced by about.
Bow (i), to bend. (E.) M. E. bo-wen,
bogen, Imgen. A. S. btlgan. + Du. buigen;
O. H. G. biogan; Goth, biugan; Teut.
type *beugan- or *bfigan*. Cf Skt. bhuj,
to bend ; Lat. fugere, to take to flight,
give way ; Gk. tytv-ynv, to flee. Brugm. i.
658, 701.
bow (2), a bend. (E.) From the
verb.
bow (3), a weapon to shoot with. (E.)
M. E. b<nve. A. S. boga, a bow ; because
it is bent or bowed. -\-l)\\. boog; Icel. bogt : ;
Swed. bage; Dan. bue ; O. H. G. bogo ;
G. bogen. From A. S. &?- ; cf. bog-en, pp.
of bilgan, to bend.
bow-Window. (E.) A window of
semi-circular form ; not the same as bay-
window.
Bow (4), the ' shoulder' of a ship.
(Scand.) From Icel. bogr, shoulder; see
Bough. 4- Du boeg, bow of a ship.
Bowel. (F. - L.) M. E. bouel. - O. F.
bod] (mod. F. boyau]. Lat. ace. boiellum,
a sausage ; in Late L., an intestine ;
dimin. of botulus, a sausage.
Bower, an abode, chamber, arbour.
(E.) M. E. hour. A. S. bur, a chamber.
A.S. bnan, to dwell. + Icel. bur, a
chamber ; Dan. buur, Swed. bur ; O. Sax.
bur; O. H. G. biir. Teut. types *burom,
n., *bu>'oz, m. ; see Boor. Cf. Booth.
Bowl (r\ a round wooden ball. (F.
L.) M. E. boitte.-V. boule.-'L. bulla, a
bubble ; hence, a round thing, a ball.
Bowl (2), a drinking-vessel. (E )
BRACELET
M. E. bolle. A. S. bolla ; from its round
form.+Du. bol, ball ; Icel. bolli, O. H. G.
botta, bowl (G. bolle}. From Teut. *bul- 9
weak grade of */><?/-, to swell ; cf. Goth.
uf-lwtljan, to puff up. See Boil (2).
Bow-line. (Scand.) Not so called
because it keeps a sail bowed (for it rather
keeps it straight), but because fastened to
the ship's bow, Norw. and Swed. bog-
Una, bow-line, from bog, bow of a ship;
Du. bocghjn, from boeg, bow. P"or the
pronunciation, cf. bow-sprit. See Bow (4)
and Line.
Bow-window; see Bow (i).
Box; (i), the name of a tree. (L. Gk.)
M. E. box-, A.S. &w. Lat. buxus, the
box-tree. Gk. TTVOS, the box-tree.
box (2), a chest or case to put things
in. (L.-Gk.) M. E. box-, A. S. ^jr.-L.
buxum, anything made of box-wood;
hence, a box. Lat. buxtis, the box-tree.
(Hence a box at a theatre ; a shooting-/^jr ;
a Christmas box or present; &c.) Cf.
Pyx.
Box (3), to fight with fists; a blow.
(E.) The verb is from M. E. box, sb.,
a blow. Cf. N. Fries, bakke, Silt bokke,
a blow (Outscn) ; M. H. G. buc, a blow ;
Du. beit ken, G. pochen, to beat.
Box (4), in phr. * to box the compass.'
Apparently one of the numerous uses of
the vb. formed from box < V 2), See
N. E. D.
Boy. (E.) M. E. boi, boy. Preserved
in E. Fnesic boi t boy, a boy (Koolman) ;
allied to M. Du. boeve, a boy, Du. boef,
a knave, -f Icel. bob, a knave; G. bttbe,
Bavarian bitcb, bit a, but, a boy. Cf. A. S.
Bofa, personal name.
Boycott, to combine with others in re-
fusing to have dealings with any one. (E.)
From the treatment accorded to Capt. Boy-
cott, of Lough Mask House, co. Mayo, Ire-
land, in Dec. 1880.
Brabble, to quarrel. (E.) Cf. Du.
brabbden, to stammer, confound ; Avhence
brabbeltaal, foolish talk. See Blab,
Babble.
Brace, orig. a film hold. (F. L.)
From the notion of embracing. O. F.
brace, the two arms (Bartsch) ; hence a
measure of 5 feet, formed with extended
arms (Cot.); and hence, a grasp. Lat.
brachia, pi. of brachium, the arm. -f- Irish
brae, W. braich, the arm ; Gk. Qpaxicov,
bracelet. (F, - L.) F. bracelet \
dimin. of O. F. brace I, an armlet (Bartsch).
BRACH
*-L. brachidle, an armlet. L. brackium,
an arm.
Brach, a kind of hunting-dog. (F.
G.) M. E. brache, pi. braches, A. F.
brackcz, pi. of bracket, dimin. of O. F.
/mr (F. brogue). O. H. G. bracco (G.
brack}, a dog that hunts by the scent.
Bracken, fern. (E.) M. E. braken.
A. S. braccan, pi. ; Kemble, C. IX v. 277.
Cf. Svved. braken, Dan. bregne, fern ; cf.
Icel. burkni, fern.
Bracket, a corbel, &c. (F.-C.?^)
Formerly spelt bra^get, as in Minsheu, ed.
1627. So named from the resemblance to
the front part of a pair of breeches, as
formerly made. F. braguctte, ' a cod-
piece,' Cot. (the front pait of a pair of
breeches) ; the allied Span bragueta also
meant a projecting mould in architecture,
a biacket or corbel. Dimin. of O. F.
brogue ) 'a kind of mortaise,' Cot ; from
fa-agues, breeches; so also Span, bragueta
is the dimin. of Span bragas, breeches.
L. braca, breeches; said to be of Celtic
(or Teutonic ?) origin. See Breeches.
Brackish,. (DiO Du. brak^ briny,
nauseous; older foim wrack, brackish
(HexhanVi ; allied to M. l)u. ivracke, a
wreck, Du. waken, to reject, blame, dis-
approve. Du. wiak, ong. 2nd grade of
~a'reken, to wreak , ong to drive. See
Wreck. [So also ivrang, sour, is allied
to wnngeni to wring. See Franck.]
Bract. ;L.) Lat. bractca, a thin plate
01 leaf of metal.
Brad. (Scand) M. E. />;W.-Icel.
broddr, a spike ; Swed. brodd, Dan. brodde,
a frost-nnil.+A. S. Inord, a spike. Teut.
type *brozdoz. Cf. O. Irish brot, Ir. brod,
W. brath, a sting.
Brae, brow of a hill, steep bank, slope.
(Scand.) M. E. bra, bro (North). -Icel.
bra, biow; hence, brow of a hill; see
Brow.
Brag, to boast. (Scand.) M. E. brag-
gen, to sound loudly, to vaunt. Prob.
from M. Dan. brage, to crack, to brag.
Cf. A. S. gfbnrc\ a breaking, crash,
noise ; Icel. brak, a creaking, braka, to
create ; cognate with L. fragor, noise.
Also (late) M. F. bragner, f to flaunt,
brag,' Cot. ; M. F. bragard, ' gay, gallant,
braggard,' whence E. braggart. We find
also W. bragal, to vociferate (from E.) ;
Bret, braga, to brag (from F.). Cf. Bray.
Bragget. (W.) M. E. bragot. - W.
bragot, a kind of mead ; allied to Irish
BRAND
bracat, malt liquor. W. brag, malt ; Irish
and Gael, braich, malt, fermented grain.
Cf. Gael, brack, to ferment.
Brahman, Brahmin. (Skt.) Skt.
brdhmana, a brahman, holy man. Skt.
brahman, prayer; also devotion, lit. 'a
greatness ' of the soul ; cf. brhant, great.
(VBHERGH, to be greaO '
Braid ( i ) , to weave. (E.) M.E. breiden .
A. S. brcgdanj brcdan, to brandish, weave,
braid. 4- Icel. btegfta, to brandish, turn
about, change, start, braid, &c. ; whence
bragb, a sudden movement.
braid (2), full of deceit. (E.) In
All's Well, iv. 2. 73, braid is short for
braided, i.e full of braids or tricks. M.E.
braid, trick, deceit. A. S. brtrgd, deceit;
from A. S. bragd, 2nd grade vibregdan, to
diaw out, weave, knit, braid.
Brail, a kind of ligature or fastening.
(F. C. ?) O. F. braid, a cincture ; ong. for
fastening up breeches. F. b) aie, breeches.
L. braue, breeches.
Brain. (E.) M.E./>raj'^. A.S bragti,
brccgen, the brain, -f- Du. brein. Cf. Gk.
pptXpos, the top of the head.
Brake (i), a machine for breaking
hemp ; a name for various mechanical
contrivances. (O. Low G.) M. E. brake.
Low G. brake, a flax-biake; M. Du.
bracckej ' a brake to beat flax ; ' Hexham ;
Du. braak. Du brak, 2nd grade vibreken,
to break ; see Break.
Brake (2), bush. (E.) M.E. brake,
-f-Lovv G. Inake, willo\\-bush (Bremen);
also stumps of broken trees, i ought growth.
Fiom A. S. brccan, (pt. t brae], to break,
^f In the sense of * fern,' modified from
Bracken.
Bramble. iE) M.E./&7. A.S.
bremel) brembcl. Allied to Du. braam, a
blackberry ; Swed. brow-bar^ Dan. brom-
l>ter,G brombeere, a blackberry. Here Du.
braam, G. brom ^O.H.G biamcf, answer
to A S. brbni v see Broom) ; of which A S.
brem-el (ioi Teut.*/>r$w//<w) is the diminu-
tive).
Bran. (F.) M. E. bran. Q. F. bran,
bren. Cf. W. bran, Irish bran^ husks,
chaff(from E.) ; Bret brenn, bran.
Branch. (F.-L.) F. l<wc/ie.-L*ie
L. branca, the paw of an animal.
Brand, a burning piece of wood, scar
of fire, a sword. (E.) M. E. brottd, A. S.
brand, a burning, a sword : from brann,
2nd stem of Teut. *brennan-, to burn ; see
Burn, -f" Icel. brandr, a fire-brand, sword-
59
BRANDISH
blade (fiom its flashing) ; Swed. and Dan.
brand, fire-brand, fire; M. H. G. btant,
a brand, sword.
brandish. (F. Scand.) M.E braun-
disen. F. brandiss-ant ', pres. pt. of brand tr,
to brandish a sword. A. F. brand, a
hword. Icel. brandr ; see Brand above.
brandy. (Du.) Formerly brand-
wine^ brandy-wine ; whence brandy. Du.
brande-wi}n, M. Du. brandwijn, brandy ;
lit. 'burnt' (i.e. distilled) wine (or, ace.
to Kilian, because it easily burns). Du.
branden, to burn ; and wijn* wine ; bee
Burn.
Branks, a punishment for scolds. (F.)
See Jarmeson. Hence were borrowed
Gael, brangas V O Gael, brancas^, a suit
of pillory ; Gael, brang, Irish brawas, a
halter. North F. branques, pi. of bran-
que, Norman form of F. bianche, branch,
* also, the cheeke of a bit,* Cot. See
Branch*
Bran-new. (E.") Short for brand-new,
i e. new from the fire. See Brand.
Brant- fox, Brant-goose or brent-
goose. The prefix is Scand., as in Swed.
Trandraf, a brant-fox, brandgas, a brent-
goose. The orig. sense is ' burnt,' with
the notion of redness or blackness
Brasier, Brazier, a pan to hold coals.
(F. Scand.) F. brasier. Y. braise, live
coals. Swed. brasa, fire (below)
Brass. (E.) M E bras A S. brtfs.
Perhaps allied to the verb seen in Icel.
brasa, to haiden by fire; Dan brav, to
fry; cf. Swed. brasa, file. Der. Inaz-in^
A S. brcesen
braze 0\ to harden (E.) K Lear,
i. i. ii. It means to harden like brats,
see below.
braze (.2), to ornament \\ith brass.
(E.) In Chapman, tr. of Homer, Od. xv
113; from brass } sb. 'Aero, ic brasige , '
.^Elfric, Grain, p. 215.
Brassart, the piece of armour which
protected the upper part of the arm. (F.
L.) F. brassa) t (Cot ), brassard ( Littre);
also brassal. Formed with suffix -an/
from F. bras, arm. L. brachium, arm.
Brat (l), a cloak, rough mantle (C.)
It also meant a rag, clout, or pinafore.
Gael, and Irish brat, a cloak, rng ; C). Irish
brat, a rough cloak ; W. brcthyn t woollen
cloth. (W. brat\*> fiom E.)
Brat (2), a child ; esp. ' a beggar's brat'
Perhaps 'a rag,' the same as Brat (i).
Brattice, a fence of boards in a mine.
BREACH
(F.-Teut.?) M.E. bretasche, bretasce,
brutaske, a parapet, battlement. O. F.
bretesche, a small wooden outwork, battle-
ment; cf. Prov bertresca, Ital. bertesca,
the same. A difficult word ; prob. formed
from G. brctt, a plank.
Bravado. (Span.) See Brave.
Brave. (F. Ital.) F. brave, ' brave,
gay, fine, proud, braggard, valiant;* Cot.
Ital. btavo\ the same as Span, and
Port, bravo ; Prov. bran. Etym unknown;
none of the explanations are satisfactory ;
the Bret, brav, O. Swed. braf, appear to
be borrowed from F.
bravado. ^Span ) Altered from Span.
bravada, ' 3 bravado ; ' Minsheu's Span.
Diet Span, bravo, brave.
bravo, a dai ing villain. (Ital.) Ital.
bravo, brave ; as a sb., a cut-throat, villain.
bravo! well done' (Ital,) Ital. /"aw }
brave ; used in the voc. case masc.
j Brawl (i), to quarrel. (E.?) M E.
| brawl en. Perhaps E. Cf Du. brallen,
\ to brag, boast ; Dan. bralle, to prate,
i chatter; G. prahlen, to brag.
I Brawl ' 2\ a sort of dance. (F. - Scand.
0/-O.H.G.) 'A French trawl,' L.L L.in.
j 9. F. bransle, *a totter, swing, . . . brawl
I or dance ; ' Cot. F. bransler, to reel ; mod.
j F. branler. Allied to O. F. brandeler
| (LittnT), brandillcr* to shake (Cot ),
! frequent, forms of F. brandit 9 to brandish.
1 See Brandish.
, Brawn, muscle. (F.-O.H.G.) M.E.
1 braitH, muscle, boar's flesh. O. F. braon,
a slice of fle^h ; cf. Prov. bradon, the same,
i O.I I G. btatott, ace. of brato, a slice
\ of flesh for roasting. O H (i. bratan
j ^d faatti\y to roast. 4- A S. btddan.
j Bray J), to bruise, pound. (F. G)
M. E or ay en O. F. breier (F. broyer}*
(J Sax. brtlan (G. bt eJien , to break;
! see Break
Bray ^2 , * 11[lia ^ e a roaiing noise.
(Y -C.) A. F. brater\ F. brat re (Med.
Lat bragire}* Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael.
bragh, a buist, explosion, />rai<?/i,to crackle
(Thurneysen) ; and cf. L frag-0), noise.
Braze ; see Brass.
I Brazier ; see Brasier.
Breach. (E.) M E brake, a fracture
A.S. brece, as in hlaf-gebrece, a piece of
bread (more commonly britc t a breaking);
C). tries. breke. & S. brecan> to break,
^f M. E. bieche is also partly from O F.
bj'eche (F. brcche], a fiacture. G. brechcn.
to break,
BREAD
Bread. (E.) M. E. breed A. S. bread.
-fDu. brood; Icel brand; S wed. and Dan.
brod\ G. brot. Teut type *braudom, n. ;
or *brandoz, neut. form in -oz. It some-
times means 'bit' or 'piece'; cf. A.S.
' breadrn, frusta pants? Blickling Glosses ;
O. Northumb. bread, a bit, morsel ; John
xui. 27.
Breadth. (E.)
The final -th is late;
from M. E. brede, breadth; Ch A. S.
M?</.+Icel. breidd; O. H. G. breiti vG.
breite] ; Goth, braidei, f From Teut.
*braidoz, broad ; see Broad.
Break. (E.) M. E. breken , pt. t. brak\
pp. broken. A. S. brecan, pt. t. ^;w, pp.
brocen + Du. breken; Goth. brikan ; G.
brechen. Cf. Icel. braka, to creak; Svved.
braka, to ciack ; Dan. brcekke; Lat./raw-
gere. to break ; Gael, bragh, an explosion.
(VBHREG.) The orig. sense is to break
with a noise, to crack.
Bream, a fish (F. Tent.) M.E./>m?w.
O . F /?m wf (F . brtme) . M . H . ( i .
brahsem (G. brassctt) ; O. H. G. brahszna
(Kluge). Cf. Du.
Breast. (E.) M.
breosL -f- Icel.
A.S.
' v Swed. M>J/, Dan.
bryst) : Teut. type *brettttoin, n Also G.
/>r//.y/, Du. ^rj/, Goth, bruits . Teut. stem
*brust- (with weak grnde\
Breath. (E.) \\.}LJ>recth,breth. A S.
;v?0 . -f- . 1 1 . G. bradam . ( i b rodcm , broden.
brodel, steam, vnpotir, exhalation.
Breech. (E ) See Breeches.
Breeches. (E ) Really a double
plural, the form breech being, in itself, a pi.
foim. A.S. brh, breeches; pi. oibroc, with
the same sense 4"Hu broek, a pair of
breeches; Icel. brok (pi bnrkr}; M.H.G.
bruoch Cf. L. braca, ?aid to be a woid
of Celtic (but rather of Teutonic) origin.
BRIDEGROOM
same sense as F. bise, the N. wind ; cf.
Span, brisa, Port, briza, the N.E. wind;
Ital. brezza, a cold wind. Orig. unknown.
Breeze (=0, cinders. (F. Scand.)
O. F. brese (breze in Cot.J, F. braise, live
coals See Brasier.
Breve. (Ital. L.) Orig. a short note ;
now the longest in use. Ital. breve, brief.
L. brents, short. Der. semi-breve,
brevet. (F. L.) F. brevet, ' a brief,
breviate, little writing;' Cot. Dimin. from
F. bref, brief. L. brettis, short.
breviary. (F. L.) F. brevfaire.-*
L. breuiartum, a summary. L. brents.
brevity. (F.-L.) F. bricvctf.-I,.
ace. breuitdtem, shortness. L. breui$,
short.
Brew.
(E.) M. E. bnwen. A. S.
'
See Brogues.
breech. (E.^
M. E b,ee<h; A.S.
bret, the breech; A.S. LeeJuloms, n.
146. Cf. A. S. brei, breeches, pi. of broc\
see above.
Breed. (E.) A. S. brtdan, to produce
or cherish a brood. A.S. brdtl, a brood
(with mutation from ^to ^\-f G. bruten;
from brut. See Brood.
Breeks, breeches. ^Scand.") Northern
E. From Icel. brakr, pi. of brok ; see
Breeches.
Breeze (i), a gadfly. (E.) M.E. brese.
A. S. brtosa.
Breeae(2),astrongwind. (F.) Formerly
brize. O. F. brise, used by Rabelais in the
breoivan, pt. t. breaw, pp. gebrowen.
bromven; G.brauen; Icel. brugga; Swed.
brygga ; Dan. brygge. Cf. L. de-fiu-tunij
new wine boiled down ; Thracian &PVTOV,
beer, (y KHREU, to decoct.)
Brewis, Browis, pottage. (F.~
O. H.G.) M.E. brewes, broives.-Q..
brouez, broez, nom. of brouet, broet, soup
made with broth of meat ; dimin. of breu,
pottage (Roquefort). O. H. G. brod, brot,
broth ; see Broth. Also spelt brose.
Briar, Brier. (E ) M.E. brere.
A. S. bitir, O. Merc. brer.
Bribe. ( F.) M. K. bnbe. - C . F. bribe,
a piece of bread given to a beggai.
Cf. briber, to beg; Span bnba, idleness,
bnbar, to loiter about ; Ital. birba, fraud ;
bitbantc, an idle beggai. Origin un-
known ; not Celtic.
Brick. (F.-M. Du. N F. brique, a
brick; also a fragment, bit. M.Dti. bncke,
a brick ; cf. Walloon bnquet, a large slice
of bread. Du. breken, to break. Der.
brnk-bat (see Bat).
Bride. (E.) M. E. bride ; also birde,
brude, Intrde. A. S. bryd, a bride. + Du.
brmd\ lce\. bnltir; Swed. and Dan. brud;
O.H.G. brnt; G. Inaut; Goth, bnlths.
Teut. type *bnldiz t f.
bridal. (E.) Formerly bride-ale, a
bride-feast. A. S. bryd-ealo, a bride-ale,
bride- feast. -A.S. bryd, bride; and ealo,
ale, also a feast ; see Ale.
bridegroom. (E.) For bndegoom ;
the second r is intrusive ; by confusion
with groom. A. S. bryd-guma, lit. bride-
man; where gwna is cognate with L.
homo, a man ; see Homage. + Du. brtude-
gom; Icel. brft$gn*m\ Swed. brudgum;
6c
BRIDGE
Dan. brudgom ; G. brautigam, O. H. G.
briitigomo.
Bridge. (E.) M. E. brigge, brugge.
A. S. brycg.+lw\. bryggja ; Swed. btygga ;
Dan. brygge, a pier ; Du. brtig ; G. bmuke.
Teut. type *^; ugja, f. Allied to Icel. />,
Dan. r<?, a bridge, pavement; O. Swed.
bro, a paved way.
Bridle. (E.) M. E. bndeL A. S.
bridel. + TK. breidcl; O. II. G. /;r/V&/,
brittil (whence F. MV& s . A. S. brldel
represents an earlier *brtgde1 (cf. briqdils,
a bridle, O. E. Texts, p. 44, 1. 127).- A. S.
bregd-an. to pull, twitch (with change of
e to *). See Braid.
Brief (i ), short. (F.-L.) M.E.
-P\ bref.-l.. Ireuis, short. + Gk.
short.
brief (2 \ a writ, &c. (F.-L.) F.
brief, a brief; Cot. The same as F. bref
above ; from its being m a short form.
Brig, Brigade ; see Brigand.
Brigand. (F. - Ital.) F. brigand, a
robber. Ital. brigante, Z.K intiiguer, rob-
ber; ong. pres. part, of bngare, to strive
after. Ital. briga, strife, quarrel, trouble.
Orig. uncertain.
brig ; short for brigantine.
brigade. (F.-Ital.) F. brigade, a
crew, troop. Ital. brigata, a troop; oiig.
fem. of pp. of brigare, to strive, fight, a^
above.
brigandine, a kind of armour. (F
Ital.) F. brigandine, a kind of armour,
worn by brigands. F. brigand, a robber ;
see above.
brigantine, brig, a ship. (F.-
Ital.) Brig is merely short for brigantine.
- F. brigantin, a kind of ship" - Ital.
brigantino, a pirate-ship. - Ital. brigante,
a robber. See Brigand.
Bright. (E.) M. E. bright. A. S.
beorht, berht. + Icel. bjartr; M. H. G.
berht ; Goth, bairhts, shining. Teut. type
*berhtoz, shining. Cf. Gk. </>o/>*oy, white.
Brill, a fish. (E.) Origin unknown.
Brilliant, shining. (F.-L -Gk.-
Skt.) F. brillant, pres. part, of briller,
to glitter; cf. Ital. brillare, to sparkle.
The orig. sense was to sparkle as a beryl.
L. beryl/us, a beryl ; see Beryl.
Brim. (E.) M.E. Mm. (Not in
A. S.) Cf. Icel. barmr, brim ; Swed.
bram, border, edge; Dan. bramme', M.
Du. breme ; G. gebrame, border.
Brimstone, sulphur. (E.) M. E.
brimston, bremstoon, also brenstoon (Wy-
BROCADE
clif). M. E. brenn-en, to burn, and stoon,
stone. So also Icel. brennisteinn, brim-
stone. See Burn.
Brindled, Brinded, streaked.
(Scand.) Icel. brond-, as in brondottr,
brinded, said of a cow. Icel. brandr, a
brand, flame, swoid. Thus brinded ~
branded.
Brine. (E.) M. E. brine. A. S. bryne
(for brine], brine, salt liquor. -f-M. Du.
bnjne ; Du. bn'/n, pickle.
Bring. (E.) A. S. bringan, also
brengan, pt. t. brohte.-{-]}\\. brengen\ G.
bnngen; Goth, briggan (wiitten for
Iningatt], pt. t. brahta.
Brink. (Scand. > M. E. brink.-' Dan.
I brink, verge ; Swed. brink, descent or
slope of a hill; Icel. brekka (iurbrinka^, a
slope, crest of a hill ; allied to Icel. bringa,
a grassv slope, orig. the breast.
Brisk. (F. - Ital.) Spelt bruisk in
Lowl. Sc, (1560). F. In usque, 'brisk,
lively, quicke, rash, harsh;' Cot. Ital.
brusco, tart, harsh ; see Brusque.
Brisket. (F.) O. F. bnschct (Brachet),
s. v. brechef], also brnschet (Ducangej ;
btichet, 'the biisket, 01 bi east-piece/
tmichet, < the craw-bone of a bird ; ' Cot.
Guernsey brftquct (for */vj^t/). Dan.
bmsk, Icel. bijdsk, gristle ; cf. Norw.
brjoskutt, gristly.
Bristle. ( E.) M. E. brittle, bcntk,
birstle-, dim in. of A. S. byrst, a bristle. -f
Du. barrel. Icel. bunt\ Swed. borst;
G. borste. From Teut. *bur$-, weak grade
of *bcrs - Idg. *bhers, to bristle ; cf. Skt.
sahasra-bhrshti, having a thousand points.
See Burr.
Brittle. (E.) M. E. britel, brotel,
bnitcl. For A. S. *brytel* Teut. *b>titiloz,
from brut-, weak giade of A. S. breotan,
to break. It means ' fragile.' Cf. Icel.
brjota, Swed. bryta, Dan. bryde, to break.
Broach. (F.-L.) M.E. sett en on
broche*= to set a-broach, tap liquor. F.
mettre en broche, to tap, by piercing a
barrel. F. brocher, to pierce ; broche,
' a broach, spit,' Cot. ; see Brooch.
Broad. (E.) M. E. brood. A.S. brad.
-f Du. breed\ Icel. brefor; Swed. and
Dan. bred\ Goth, braids; G. bicit.
Brocade. (Span. L.) Span- ^raraafo,
brocade; ong. embioideied, the pp. of a
verb *brocar (not used) answering to F.
brocher, *to broach, also, to stitch . . . with
great stitches ; ' Cot. - F. broche. - Late L.
btocca, L. broccus\ see Brooch.,
62
BROCCOLI
broccoli. (Ital.-L) ItaL broccoli,
sprouts ; pi. of broccolo, a sprout. Dimin.
of brocco, a skewer, a shoot, stalk. L.
broccus, projecting, like teeth. *
brochure, a pamphlet. (F.-L.) F.
brochure, a few leaves stitched together.
F. brocher> to stitch ; see Brocade.
Brock, a badger. (C.) A. S broc.-
\V., Corn., and Bret. bioch\ Irish, Gael.,
and Manx broc, a badger. Named from
his white-streaked face ; cf. Gael. brocach,
speckled, grayish, as a badger ; Gk. tyoptcos,
white, gray. (Cf. E. gray, a badger.)
Brocket, a red deer two years old.
(F. L.) F. brocart, the same; so called
because he has but one tine to his horn.
F. broche, a spit, albo, a tine ol a stag's
horn ; see Brooch.
Brogues, coarse shoes, leggings. (C.
E.) Gael, and Irish bro^, shoe ; M. Irish
brace t shoe. A. S. broc, breeches; or Icel.
brok. See Breeches.
Broided, braided. (E.) The wk. pp.
broided took the place of the str. pp.
bi oiden, woven, itself due to confusion of
browden with braider (below). Broiuden
repiesents A.S. brogdcn, pp. of bregdan,
to braid. See Braid.
Broider, to adorn \\ith needlework.
(F.) fin I Tim. ii. 9, broidered (as in
some edd. N . is an error for broided '; see
above.] Used as the equivalent of F.
broder, ' to imbroyder,' Cot. The oi is
due to confusion with broided. O. K
brouder, also brosder (Supp. to Godcfioy) ,
cf. Late L. brnsdits, brosdus, embroidered
work (Ducange). Of unknown origin;
perhaps from Teut. *biozti- t whence A. S.
brord, Tcel. broddr, a spike ; see Brad.
Broil (O, to fry, grill. (F.) M. E.
bioilen. A. F. braille r (Bozon), O. F.
bruiller, to boil, roast (Roquefort). Origin
unknown; cf. O.K. brinr, to roast; per-
haps fiom M.H.G. bmejen, to scald ; see
Brood.
Broil (2), a tumult. (F.) F. brouiller,
to jumble, confuse, confound. Cf. Ital.
brogliare, to disturb, brogho, confusion
(whence E. im-broglio\ Origin un-
known.
Broker. (F. - L.) M. E. bracour,
an agent, witness of a transaction. A. F.
Irocour, an agent ; orig. a * broacher ' or
seller of wine. Late L. broaator, one
who broaches. Late L. bracca, i. e. spike;
see Brooch.
Bromine, a chemical element. (Gk.)
BROTHEL
Named from its ill odour. Formed, with
suffix 'ine, from Gk. /3/xD/*-os, a stink.
Bronchial. (Gk.) Gk. Pp6yx*> neut.
pL, the lamifications of the windpipe.
Gk. /x57x*> the windpipe; cf. fyayxos, a
gill. Der. bronch-itis ; from /tyo-yx *-
Bronze. (F. - Ital. - L.) F. bronze.
Ital. bronzo\ bronzino, made of bronze
(z = ds). L. <es Brwnduslnum. L. Brun-
dusiitni) Brindisi (in Italy) ; where bronze
mirrors were made (Pliny, xxxiii. 9).
Brooch. (F. L,) Named fiom the
pin which fastens it. M. E. broche, a pin,
peg, brooch. F. broche, a spit, point.
Late L. brocca, a pointed stick ; broca, a
spike ; L. broccus, pi ejecting, like teeth.
Brood. (E.) M. E. brod. b.S.brdd
(rare); 'hi breJaS heora brod* they
nourish their brood ; /Hfnc's Horn. ii. 10.
+Du. broed\ (j.brut. Teut. stem *bro-d- y
from a verbal base *;-J-, preseived m G.
bru-hen, to scald (ong. to heat), Du.
broe-ien, to brood, hatch; from the idea of
' heat ' or ' warmth.' Der. breed.
Brook (1), to endure, put up with.
(E.) JV1. E. broken, brouken. A S bnt-
can, to use, enjoy; which was the orig.
sense. 4* Du. gebtuiken^ Icel. briika, G.
brauchen, Goth, brukjan, to use; cf. L.
fntt, to enjoy. See Fruit. (V^HREUG.)
Hrugm. i. nr.
Brook (2), a small stream. ^E ) M. E.
brook. A.S. Mv.-fDu. brock, G. brack t
a marsh.
brook-lime, a plant. (E.) M. E.
brok-lemke, brok-lenwk. From A.S. brdt 9
a brook, and hleomot,, biook-lime.
Broom. (E ) M. E. bronie, broom.
A S. brow, the plant broom ; hence, a
besom made from twigs of it.-f-Du. brem ;
Low G. braam, broom. Teut. type *br&-
moz Allied to Bramble, q. v.
Brose, a later form of brow is or brewis',
see Brewis.
Broth. (E.) A.S broj> 4-Icel. brcti;
O. H. G. brod. Teut. type *brofom, n. ;
from bro-, bru-, weak grade of breu-, as in
A. S. breowan, to brew. Lit. ' brewed.'
Brothel. (E.; confused -with F.-
Teut.) 1. M. E. brothel, a lewd person,
base wretch. A.S. broken, pp. of
breoSan, to perish, become vile ; whence
also abrotien, degenerate, base. Hence
was made brothel- house, a house for vile
people (Much Ado, i. i. 256), afterwards
contracted to brothel. 2. Orig. distinct
from M. E. bordel, which was used, how-
BROTHER
ever, in much the same sense. O. F. bor-
del, a hut, orig. of boards. Du. botd, a
plank, board; see Board-
Brother. (K.) M. E brother. A. S.
/WJ0r.-f.Du. breeder \ \ce\. brodir; Goth.
brothar\ Swed. and Dan. broder; G.
bruder\ Gael, and Ir. brat hair; W.
brawd; Russ. brat'; Lat. fritter; Gk.
(pparijp ; Skt. bhrdtr. Teut. stem */>; other- ;
Idg. stem *bhratcr~.
Brougham, a kind of carriage. (Per-
sonal name.) Date 1839. Named after
the first Lord Brougham.
BrOW. (E.) M. E. broiue. A S. bru.
4- Icel. brftn, eyebrow; Lith. bruwis ;
Russ. brove; Gk. 6<f>pvs ; Peis. abrii ; Skt.
////;// Brugm. i. 554.
Brown. (K.) *M. E. broun. A.S.
brftn. -f-Du. bruin; Icel. brftnn; Swed.
brun\ T)an.bruitn; G.braitn; Liih.br ttnas.
Cf Gk. tppvvoSy a toad; Skt. ba-bhnt(s) t
tawny.
BrOWSe. (F. M. H G.) For broust;
lit. ' to feed on young shoots.' M. F.
brouster (F. brouter), to nibble off young
shoots. M. F. broust (F. broitf], a sprig,
shoot, bud. M. H. G. /;r0c, a bud ; Bavar.
brosst, brass, a bud. From the weak grade
of O. II. G. briozan, to break, also, to
break into bud ; which is cognate with
A. S breotan See Brittle.
Bmiu. (Du.) In Reynard the Fox,
the bear is called bruin, i e. brown. Du.
bruin, brown. See Brown.
Bruise. (E. ; partly F.) A. S. (to)-
brysan, to bruise. Influenced by O F.
bruiser, briscr, to break, perhaps of Celtic
origin ; cf. Gael bris, to break, Irish bris-
im, I break. (The spelling ///, from A S.
y, occurs in S. Eng. Legendaiy, 295 58.)
Bruit, a rumour. (F L. ?) F. bruit,
a noise. F. bruin, to make a noise.
Scheler derives F. bruire from L. rttglic,
to roar, with prefixed/' F brmt =l.ate
L. brugttus, a clamour (Ducan^c; ; cf L.
rugitu\, a roaring. Partly imitative; cf.
G brullen, to roar
Brunette. (F. - G.) F. brunette, fern,
of brunet, brownish. M. H. G. brim,
brown ; see Brown.
Brunt. (E) Prob. imitative ; cf. dint
(dunt\ a blow ; influenced by North E.
brunt, i. e . ' burnt/ as if the ( hot ' part of
the fight.
Brush. (F. - Teut. ?) M. E. brusche,
a brush ; also brush-wood, which is the
older sense, the orig. brush being made of
BUCKRAM
twigs. O. F. broce, F. brosse, brushwood ;
also, later, a brush. Low L. bruscia, a
thicket. Derived by Diez from O. H. G.
burst a, G. borstc, a bristle ; but perhaps
Celtic (Thurneysen).
Brusque, rough m manner. (F. Ital.)
F. bi usque. Ital. brusco, sharp, tart, sour,
applied to fruits and wine. Origin un-
certain
Brute. (F. -L.) F. brut, fern, brute.
L. briitus, stupid.
Bryony. (L.^-Gk.) L. bryonia.
Gk. ftpvojvia., fipvcwr}, bryony. Gk. PpvtiV)
to teem, grow luxuriantly.
Bubble. (E.) Cf Swed. bubbla, Dan.
boblc, a bubble ; also Du. bobbel, a bubble,
bobbelen, to bubble. Of imitative origin.
Buccanier. (F. -West Indian.) F
boucamer, a pirate. F. boucancr, to broil
on a sort of wooden fiame. F. boucan,
a wooden frame, used by hunters for
smoking and drying flesh. The word
boucan is said to be a F. spelling of a
Tupi (Bra/ihan) word, and to mean ' a
frame on which meat is smoke-dried.'
Buck 0), a male deer, goat. (E )
M. E. bukke. A. S. buc, male deer, bitica,
a he-goat. -f-Du. bok, Icel. bukkr, Swed.
bock, a he-goat ; Dan. btik, a he-goat, rain,
buck; G bock; aho W. Inuch, Gael, boi,
Irish boc. Brugm. i. 800.
Buck (2), to steep clothes in lye. (E )
M. E. boukcn. As if from A.S. *buaan,
not found. Prob. from A. S. buc, a pitcher
(prov. E bouk, a pail, tub) ; hut M. E.
bouken has the specific sense of ' steep in
lye,' like M. II. G. buehen, Swed. byka,
Dan. byge, Low G. bftkcn, buken (whence
Ital. bucare, r*. inter}.
^ bucket. (E.) A. F. boket (Bo/on).
Formed \\ith A. F. dimm. suffix -et from
A. S. bile, a pitcher. Cf. Gael, bucaid,
Irish bin < cad, a bucket (from E \
Buckle. (F -L.) M. E. /Wv/.-o. F.
bucle (F bomte), the boss of a shield, a
ring, a buckle. Late L. fatcula, the boss
of a shield ; buccula, beaver of a helm, boss
of a shield, buckle. Lat. buccula, the
cheek, dimm. of bucca, the cheek.
buckler. (K.-L.) M.E. bokeler.-
Oh. bucler (K. bouclier), a shield; so
named from the boss on it; see above
Buckram, a coarse cloth. (F.-
Ital.) M.E. bokeram. <C>. F. boquerant
(F. bottgrari), a coarse kind of cloth ; Low
L. boquerannns or (in Italy) bftc/iirdnus
(foi Ital. buchirano), late Ital. bucheratnt.
BUCKWHEAT
Origin uncertain; perhaps from Bokhara
(Tartary).
Buckwheat. (E.) Lit. beech-wheat;
from the resemblance of its seeds to the
mast of the beech-tree. The form buck is
from A. S. boc, as in buck-mast, beech-
mast. So also Du. boekweit, buckwheat ;
G. buchweizen. See Beech.
Bucolic, pastoral. (L. Gk.) 'L.bfico-
ticus. Gk. 0ovKO\ttc6s, pastoral. Gk.
/3ov/foAoj, a cowherd. Gk. ou-s, an ox;
and K\\tVj to drive.
Bud. (E.?) M. E. fo/flM<Afc, a bud ;
hidden, to bud. Not found in A. S. Cf.
Dn. hot, a bud ; batten, to bud, sprout.
Budge (i ), to stir, (F. - L.) F. bouger,
to stir; answering to Ital. bulicare, to
bubble up (Diez). L. bulttre\ see Boil
(1) above. Cf. Span, bulhr, (i) to boil,
(2) to stir.
Budge (2), a kind of fur. (F.?)
Perhaps related to O. F. bochet, bouchet, a
young kid.
Budget, a leathern bag. (F.-C.)
F. bougette, dimin. of bouge, a bag. L.
bulga,& leathern bag (Gaulish). O. Irish
bolg, bole, a sack.
Buff (i), the colour of dressed buffalo-
skin. (F.-L.-Gk.) F. bufflc, a buffalo.
L. bufalus \ see Buffalo.
Buff (2), in Blindman's buff. (F.)
Formerly blindman-buff, a game ; in which
game boys used to buffet one (who was
blinded) on the back, without being
caught, if possible. From O. F. bufe, F.
buffe, a buffet, blow ; cf Low G. buff,
$uf, a blow (LubbenX See Buffet (i).
Buffalo. (Port, 'or Ital. ~L.-Gk.)
Port, bufalo, Ital. buffalo, orig. a kind of
wild ox. L. bftfahtSi&\s>Q bubalus. Gk,
/3ou/3aAoy, a buffalo ; a kind of deer or
antelope. (Not a true Gk. word.)
Buffer (i), and (2) ; see Buffet (i).
Buffet (i), a blow; to strike. (F.)
M. E. boffet, buffet, a blow, esp. on the
cheek. O. F. bufet, a blow, dimin. oi bufe,
a blow, esp. on the cheek ; cf. bufer, buffer,
to puff out the cheeks, also to buffet; mod.
F. bouffer. Prob. of imitative origin, allied
iofouffer, to puff; see Buff (2), Puff.
buffer (i), a foolish fellow. (F.) Orig.
a stammerer ; hence, a foolish fellow. M .E.
buffen, to stammer. O. F. bufer, to puff
out the cheeks (hence, to puff or blow in
talking).
buffer (2), a cushion, to deaden con-
cussion. (F.) Lit. 'a striker;' from M.E.
BULGE
buffen, to strike, orig. to buffet on the
cheek; see Buffet (i).
buffoon. (F.) F. bouffon, a buffoon,
jester, one who makes grimaces. F. bottffer,
to puff.
Buffet (2), a side-board. (F.) F. buffet,
a side-board. Origin unknov\ n.
Bug (0, a spectre. (C.) In Sh.-W.
bivg, a hobgoblin, spectre ; Gael, and Ir.
bocan, aspectre.+Lithuan. baugus, terrific,
from bugti, to terrify, allied to Skt. bhiij,
to tuin aside; see Bow (i). Brugm. i.
7i-
Bug (2), an insect. (C.?) Said to be so
named because an object of terror, exciting
disgust; see Bug (i). But cf. A. S.
sceam-budda, dung-beetle (Voc.), prov. E.
s horn-bug (Kent).
Bug-bear. (C. andE.) A supposed
spectre in the shape of a bear; see
Bug (i).
Bugle (i), a wild ox; a horn. (F. L.)
Bugle, a horn, is short for bugle-horn ;
a bugle is a wild ox. O. F. bugle, a wild
ox. L. ace. buculum, a young ox ; double
dimin. of bos, an ox.
Bugle (2), a kind of ornament.
(F.-L.) Little black pipes, likened to
horns. ' Bugle, a little black home; 1
Cockeram. See above.
Bugle (3), a plant. (F.) F. bugle \
Cot. ; cf. Span, and Late L. bugula. Cf. L.
bugillo, (perhaps) bugle.
Bugloss, a plant (F.-L.-Gk/) Lit.
ox-tongue.' F. buglossc. L. buglossa ;
also buglossus. Gk. &ovy\a>aaos, ox-
tongue; from the shape of the leaves.
Gk. /3oC-s, ox ; yA.cDacr-a, tongue.
Build. (E.) M.E. bulden. Late
A. S. byldan, to build. A. S. bold, a house,
variant of boil, a dwelling, n. Teut.
*bti-J>loni, from bu- 9 related to bu-an, to
dwell ; see Bower. Cf. A. S. by than, to
build, from botl (above). [Cf. O, Swed.
bylja, to build (Ihre).-O. Swed. bol,
a house, dwelling; Icel. bol, a house,
Dan. bol, a small farm.]
Bulb. (I-.-L.~Gk.) F. *//*.- L,
bulbus, a bulb. Gk. /3oA./3dy, a bulbous
root, onion.
Bulbul, a nightingale. (Pers.) Pers.
bulbul, a bird with a melodious voice t
resembling the nightingale. Of imitative
origin.
Bulge, to swell out, (F.-C.) Formed
from ALE. bulge, a wallet, pouch.
O.F. boitlge (bouge\ a bag, L,
BULK
a bag (Gaulish). See Budget. Doublet,
bilge.
Bulk (i), size. (Scand.) M. E. bolke,
a heip.-Icel. bulki, a heap; O. Swtd.
bolk\ Dan. bulk, a lump. Cf. Swed.
bulna, to swell.
Bulk (2), the trunk of the body. (Du.)
In Sh. M. Da. bulcke, thorax (Kilian).
(Prob. confused with Du. buik, Iccl bfikr,
the trunk; Swed. bilk, Dan. bug, G. batuh,
the belly.)
Bulk (3\ a stall of a shop. (Scand.)
Perhaps related to Balk. Cf. Dan. dial.
bulk t a half-wall ; Icel. balkr, a beam, also,
a partition ; Line, bulker, a beam, a wooden
hutch in a workshop. Der. bulk-head, a
partition.
Bull (i), male of the cow. (E.) M. E.
bole, bule. Not found in A. S., but the
dimin. bulluc, a bullock, occurs. Prob.
' the bellower;' cf. M. II. G. bullcn, to
roar ; and see Bellow, -f- Du. bul\ Icel.
boh\ G. bulle\ Lithuan. bullm. Der.
bull-ock, A. S. bulltiC) as above.
Bull (2), a papal edict. (L.) M. E.
bitllc. Lat. India, a bubble, boss, knob,
leaden seal on an edict ; a bull (in late
Latin).
bullet. (F.-LO M. F &w//W, dimin.
of F. />0,;/t', a ball. L. ////k, a boss,
knob, &c.
. bulletin. (F. - Ital. - L.) F. />///&-
/*', a ticket. Ital. bullettino, a safe-
conduct, pass, ticket Dimm. of bulletta,
a passport, lottery ticket, dimin. of bit I/a,
a seal, bull. L. India, a boss, &c.
Bullace, wild plum. (F.-L.) M. E.
bolas. O.F. beloce t a bullace ; M.F.^r/aw*,
Cot. L. type *pilottca, pellet-like. Late
iL.pilofa, a pellet. -L.// /a, a ball.
Bullet, Bulletin; see Bull (2).
Bullion. (F.-L ) The A. F. bullion
meant a mint, and Late L. bulhona, bullio
meant a mass of metal, apparently, from
its being melted ; cf. F. bouillon, a boiling.
* Late L bulhonem, ace. of Indlio, a boil-
ing. L. bulln-e, to bubble up, boil. L.
bulla, a bubble.
Bully , a noisy rough fellow. (O. Low
G.) In Sh. The oldest sense, in E., is
'dear one, lover.' M. Du. botl, a lover
(of either sex) ; borrowed from M. H. G.
buole (G. buhle), lover.
Bulrush. (E) M.E.#/rj'*v&<?,Prompt.
Parv., p. 244, col. 2. Perhaps * stem-rush ';
from its stout stem ; cf. Shetl. bulwand,
a bulrush. -Dan. bul> stem, trunk; see
BUNDLE
Bole. Or bull may mean ' large,' with
ref. to a bull. Cf. bull-daisy, &c. (Britten).
Bulwark. (Scand.) Dan. bulwark,
Swcd. bolverk (Ihre) ; cf. Du. bolwerk, G.
boll-werk (whence F. boulevard}. Com-
pounded of Dan. bul, Swed. bol t trunk of
a tree, log, Icel. bulr, bolr, the stem of a
tree; and Dan. vark, Swcd. verk, a work.
Lit. 'log -work/ or 'bole-work'; see
Bole.
Bum-bailiff, under-bailiff. (E. and
F ) A slang term. Todd quotes passages
to shew that it arose from the pursuer
catching at a man by the hinder part of
his garment.
Bumble-bee, a bee that booms or
hums See Boom (i).
Bumboat. (E.) From bum and boat.
Ong. a scavenger's boat on the Thames
(A. D. 1685); afterwards used to supply
vegetables to ships.
Bump (i), to thump; a blow. (E.)
Of imitative origin ; cf M. Dan. Imfiipe,
to stuke \\ith the fist; W. pwtnpto, to
thump ; pwmp, a lump ; Corn, bom, bum,
a blow. The senses are : (i) to strike,
(2) a blow, (3) its effect. See Bunch.
Bump (2), to boom. (E.) Imitative;
cf. Boom (i), and Bumble-bee.
Bumper, a full glass. (E.) From
bump ; with the notion of a bumping or
full glass ; cf. thumping, i. e. great.
Bumpkin, a thick-headed fellow. ^Du.)
M. Du. boomken, a little tiee (Hexham);
dimin. of boom, a tree, a beam, bar ; see
Beam (i). The E. bum kin also meant
a luff-block, a thick piece of wood (Cot-
grave, s. v. Chicambault, and see bumkin
in the E. index) ; hence, readily applied
to a block-head, thick-skulled fellow.
Bun. (F.) Cf. prov. F. bugue, a kind
of fritters ; perhaps the same as O F.
bugne, a swelling or bump chie to a blow
(Burguy), also spelt bigne, 'a bump,
knob;' Cot. O. F. bugtwte, a fritter (Gode-
froy) ; also bugnet (id., Supp. p. 393).
1 Bignets, little round loaves, bun^/ &c.;
Cot. Minsheu has Span, bufiuelos, * pan-
cakes, cobloaves, buns.' See Bunion.
(Doubtful.)
Bunch. (E.?) M.E bunche. Cf.
M. E. bunchen, to beat. Prob. imitative,
like bump, bounce. And see Bunk.
Bundle. (E.) M. E. bundel. Dimin,
of O. Northumb. bund^ a bundle (Matt,
xiii. 30). A. S. bun^, weak grade of
bindan, to bind.+Du. botuiel\ G. bundet.
66
BUNG
, a stopple. (Du. L.) M. Du.
bonge (Uu. bom), a bung ; dialectal form
of *bonde, as preserved in F. bonde, a bung.
Cognate with Swiss ptmt (Weigand, s. v.
Spund). \j. puncta, an orifice ; orig. fern,
pp. of pungere^ to prick. Cf. W. bwng,
an orifice, also, a bung.
Bungalow, a Bengal thatched house.
(Hind.) Hind, bangalah, of or belonging
to Bengal, a bungalow; Rich. Diet. p.
293. From the name Bengal.
Bungle. (Scand. ?) Of imitative
oiigm. Cf. Swed. dial, bang/a, to work
ineffectually; O. Swed. bunga, to strike
(Rielz, Ihre.) And cf. Bang.
Bunion. (F.-G.) Q.Y.btngnon,ori[y
in the sense of a fritter (Godcfroy) ; but
really an augmentative of O. F. buigne
(F. bigne, 'a bump, swelling/ Cot.).
O. II. G. bungo, a lump (GrafY, in
Schmeller) ; cf. Icel. bunga, convexity.
So also Ital. bugnone, augment, of bugno,
a boil, a swelling. See Bun,
Bunk, a wooden case or box, berth.
(Scand.) Cf. O. Swed. bunke, the plank-
ing of a ship forming a shelter for mer-
chandise, &c. (Ihre) ; the usual sense of
Swed. bunke is a heap, pile, something
prominent ; M. Dan. bttnke, room for
caigo.
Bunt, the belly of a sail. (Scand.) It
answers in form to Dan. bundt, Swed.
Intnt, a bundle, a bunch ; from the weak
stem of the verb to Bind ^f But the right
words for ' bunt ' are Dan. bug, Swed.
buk, Du. buik, G. bauch ; see Bulk (2).
Bunting (0, a bird. (E. ?) M. E.
bunting \ also bitntyle (=-buntef), Lowl.
Sc. bunt 1 1 12. Origin unknown.
Bunting (2), a thin woollen stuff for
flags. (E.) Perhaps ' siftmg-cloth ' ; from
M. E. bonten, prov. E. bunt, to sift. Cf.
F. It a)) line, in the same senses.
Buoy. (Du. F.L.) Du. bod, a buoy ;
also a shackle, a fetter. O. F. bide, a
fetter, F. boute, a buoy. Late L. boia, a
fetter, clog. I,, boitf, pi. a collar for the
neck, orig. of leather.
Bur, Burdock; see Burr.
Burbot, a fish. (F,) F. bourbotte
(also barbate}.*- F. bourbetter, * to wallow
in mud/ Cot. F, bourbe, mud, Late L
borba, mud. Gk. Mp&opos, mud.
Burden ( i ), Burthen, a load carried.
(E.) A. S, byrtien, a load. From Tent.
*bur~, weak grade of *beran- t to bear ; see
Bear (i). -f Icel. byrtir, byr&i ; Swed.
BURKE
borda; Dan. byrde\ Goth, baurthei; G
burde \ from the same root, with varying
suffixes. For the form burden, see below,
Burden (2), the refrain of a song.
(F. Late L.) F. bourdon, a drone-bee,
humming of bees, drone of a bagpipe;
see Cot. Late L. Intrdonem, ace of burdo,
a drone. Prob. of imitative origin ; cf.
Lowland Sc. birr, to make a whizzing
noise, E. buzz, ^f Confused with Bur-
den (i).
Bureau. (F. L.) F. bureau, a desk,
writing-table; so called because covered
with brown baize. F. bureau, O. F. burel,
coaise woollen stuff, russet- coloured.
O. F. buire, M. F. bure, dark brown ; F*
bure, coarse cloth. L burnt s, reddish.
Gk. Trvpp6s, reddish. Gk. irvp, fire.
Burgeon, a bud. (F. Teut.) F.
bourgeon, a young bud. Lengthened from
Languedoc boitre, a bud, eye of a shoot
(Dit-z).-M. H. G. buren, O. H. G. pur-
/an, to raise, push up, push out. M. H. G.
bor, por, an elevation ; whence G. empor
{<=.m por), upwards.
Burgess. (F. - M. H. G.) M. E. bur-
geys. O. F. burgeis. Low Lat. burgensis,
belonging to a fort or city. Low Lat.
burgns, a fort M. II. G burc (G. burg)
cognate with A. S. burg\ see Borough.
burgher. (Du.) Fonnrrly burger.
Du. burger,, a citizen. Du. burg, a city;
cognate with E. Borough.
burglar. (A.F.-E.) \,?.bmgler,
burglour; Law L. b^lrgulator. 'L2iVf L.
burgnlare, to break into a house. A. S.
burh, burg ; see Borough..
burgomaster. (Du. and F.) Du.
burge-meestcr, a town-mastei . Du. burg,
connate with E. Borough ; and meester, a
master, from O. F. meistre ; see Master.
Burgonet, a helmet. (F.) F. bour-
guignote, f a burganet/ Cot. So called
because fiist used by the Burgundians.
F. Bourgogne, Burgundy.
Burial. (E.) M. E. buriel, biriel, a
tomb; also spelt beriels, biriets. A. S.
byrgels, a tomb. A. S. by)gan, to bury;
see Bury. The spelling with ~al is due to
association withfuner-al, &c.
Burin, an engraver's tool. (F.~ G.)
F. burin \ Ital. borino. Prob. from
M. H. G. borcn (G. bohreti), to bore ; see
Bore (i).
Burke, to murder by suffocation; to
murder, stifle. (Personal name.) From
the name of Bttrke, an Irishman who com-
67
BURL
mitted murders by suffocation; executed
at Edinburgh, Jan. 28, 1829.
Burl, to pick knots and loose threads
from cloth. (F. - L.) To burl is to pick
off hurls. M. E. burle, a knot in cloth.
O. F. bourle ; dimm. of F. bottrre, a flock
or lock of wool or hair. Late L. burra,
a woollen pad ; allied to L. burra, trifles,
trash, Late L. rebumts t rough.
burlesque, comic. (F. Ttal. L.)
F. burlesque. \\.&\* burlesco, ludicrous.
Ital. burla, waggeiy, a trick. A dimin.
from L. burra > trifles, nonsense (Ausomus)
See Burl.
Burly. (E.) M. E. burli, burliche,
borli ; prov. E. bower ly ; Shetland boorly.
Formed by adding the suffix -ly (A. S.
-lie) to A. S. btlr, a bower, a lady's
chamber ; hence, the old senses of ' fit for
a bower,' stately, excellent, large, great ;
and, finally, stout, big. E. g. 'a burly bed.'
Burn ( i ), verb. (E.) M.E. bernen; also
brennen. There are two forms, a. intrans.
A.S. bcornan, byrnan, strong verb, pt. t.
beam, bran, pp. bornen +O. Icel. brinna ;
Goth, brinna n ; Teut. type *brennan- ; cf.
A. S. bryne, flame, (3. trans. A. S. barnan,
wk. vb.+Icel. brenna, Dan. brande, Swed.
branna \ G. brennen ; Goth, branujan ;
Teut. type ^brannjan-, causal to the former.
Burn (2), a brook; see Bourn (2).
Burnet, a plant. (F.-O.H.G.)
Low L burneta. O. F. brunete, the name
of a flower : burnette, brunette, a kind of
dark brown cloth, also a brunette. Sec
Brunette. Named from the dark brown
colour of the flowei s.
burnish, to polish. (F. - O. H. G.)
M. E. burnishen ; also burtten. O. F.
burnir, bntnir (pres. part, burms-anf), to
embrown, to polish. O. H. G. bnlnen
(<*brunjatt). Q H.G. brun t blown; see
Brown.
Burnouse, Burnoose, an upper
cloak worn by the Arabs. (F. Arab)
F. humous, bournous.-*hi3ib. burttus, a
kind of high-crowned cap, worn formerly
in Barbary and Spain ; whence Span, al-
bornoz, a kind of cloak with a hood.
BUZT, Bur. (E ) M. E. burre, knob
on a burdock ; borre, roughness in the
throat. Not in A.S. N. Flies, but re,
borre, a burr, burdock. -f- Swed. borre, a&ea-
nrchin; kardborre, a burdock; Dan. borre,
buidock. From Teut. base *burz-<*l>urs- t
weak grade of Teut. root *bcrs, to bristle.
See Bristle. Der. bur- dock.
BUSS
Burrow, a shelter for rabbits. (E.)
M. E. borwgh, a cave, shelter ; merely a
varied spelling of borough. Der. bur> ow,
verb.
Bursar. (Med. L.-Gk.) Med. L.
bursarius, a purse-bearer. Med. L. bursa^
a purse. Gk. ttvpca, a hide, wine-skin.
Burst. (E.) M. E. bersten, bresten, pt.
t. brast. A. S. berstan, to burst asunder,
break; str. vb.-fDu. bersten\ G. bersten\
Icel. brestr* ; Swed. brista ; Dan. briste ;
also O. Irish briss-im (for *brest-itn), I
break.
Bury (i), vb. (E.) M. E. burien.
A.S. byrigan, byrgan* to hide in the
ground, bury. From burg-, weak grade
of beorg-an, to hide ; see Borough.
Bury (2), a town. (E.) As in Canter-
bury. A. S. byrig, dat. ofburk, a borough.
See Borough.
Bus, a shortened form of omnibus. (L.)
See Omnibus.
Bush (i), a thicket. (Scand.L.)
M. E. busch, busk. Dan. busk^ Swed.
buskep. bush, shmb.-f-Du. bosih\ O. H. G.
busc ; G. bnsch. All from Late L. toscus,
a bush ; a word of unknown origin.
Bush (2), the metal box in which an
axle works. (Du. ~L. Gk.) M. E. busse.
I)u. bits, a box, barrel (of a gun) ; G.
bmhse. Late L. btixis, a box. Gk. 7rv<s,
a box. Gk. irvos t box-wood, box-tree.
See Pyx.
bushel, a measure. (F. L. Gk.)
M. E. bushel. A. F. bou^selle, O. P . boissel\
Late L. bustelhts, a small box ; for
*boiste!> dimin. of O. F. boitfe, a box.
Late L. buxida, ace. of buxis, a box
(above 1 ).
Busk (i\ to get oneself ready. (Scand.)
Icel. biiask, to get oneself ready. Icel.
bud, to prepare ; and -sk, for sik, oneself.
See Bound (3) ; and cf. Bask.
Busk (2), a support for a woman's
stays. ( F.) M. F. {'usque, ' a buske, or
buste ; ' Cot. Mod. F. busc. Of uncertain
origin. Cf. M. F. buc, ' a busque ;' Cot.
Buskin. ( F. - Ital. - L. - Gk.) O. F.
bousequin (1483) ; also brottsequin.
M. Ital. borzachino, buskin, fine boot.
L. borsa. - Gk. /9v/xra, a hide. The M. Du.
brosekm was borrowed from F.
BUSS, to kiss. (E.) [The old word was
bass F. baiscr, to kiss. Lat, bastum, a
kiss.] The modern buss, of imitative
origin, may have been partly suggested
by it. Cf. prov. G. (Bavarian) bussen,
68
BUST
to kiss ; Lith. buczoti, to kiss ; also Gael,
and W. bits, mouth, lip.
Bust. (F. Ital.) F. buste. - Ital.
busto, the bust, trunk of human body,
stays; Late L. bustum, the trunk of the
body. Etym. uncertain.
Bustard, a bird. (F.-L.)
Formerly
also bistard (Sherwood) . O. F. bistarde,
a bustard; ' Cot. (Mod. F. outarde.} L.
auis tarda, a slow bird (Pliny, N. H. x.
21). Cf. Port, abelarda, also betarda, a
"
bustaid.
" Both O. F. bistarde and F.
outarde are from aui tarda ; in the former
case, initial a is dropped ; in the latter,
outarde stands for an oldei oustarde, where
ous L. auis. See Diez. Auis tarda,
lit. * slow bird,' is far from being truly
descriptive ; so that it is prob. a substitu-
tion for some form foreign to Latin.
Bustle. (Scand.) A frequentative of
Norw. bitsta, to be violent ; Swed. bosta,
to bustle, work. Cf. Icel. bttstla, to splash
about as a fish ; E. Fries, busen, to be
violent. See Boast and Boisterous.
Busy. (E.) M. E. bisy. A. S. bisig
(by s *'g\ active ; whence btsgu, exertion, -f-
Du. bezig, busy.
But (i), prep, and conj , except. (E.)
A. S. be-iitan, butan, bnta, lit. 'without.'
A. S. be, by ; ill an, adv. without, from tit,
out. -4- Du . but ten.
But (2) ; see Butt (i), Butt (2).
Butcher. (F.- G.) M. E. backer.-
O. F. bochicr, orig. one who kills goats.
O. F. boc (F. bouc) t a goat. G. bock, a
goat. See Buck.
Butler. (F.-Late L.-Gk.) M. E.
boteler, one who attends to bottles ; from
M. E. botel, a bottle ; see Bottle.
Butt (i ), a push, thrust ; to thrust. (F.
O. Low G.) [The senses of the sb. may
be referred to the verb; just as F. botte,
a thrust, depends on boutcr, to strike.]
M. E. butten, to push, stiike. O. F. botcr,
to push, butt, strike. O. Frank. *botan,
corresponding to M. Du. boot en, to beat,
M. H. G. bozen, O. H. G. bozan, to beat.
Der. butt (mound to shoot at), from M. F.
butte, the same, allied to F. but, a mark,
from bitter, O. F. boter, to hit. Der.
a-but. See Beat.
Butt (2), a large barrel. (F.-L.) We
find A. S. bytt\ but our mod. word is
really F. O.F. bottle, F. botte, ' the vessel
which we call a butt;' Cot. - Late Lat.
butta, buttiSy a cask.
Butt (3), a thick end. (E.) M. E. but,
BUZZ
butte. Cognate with Icel. buttr, short;
see Buttock. Der. butt-end.
Butt (4), a kind of flat fish. (E.)
Allied to Swed. butta, a turbot, M. Dan.
butte, Low G. but, Du. bot, a butt. Prob.
from but, stumpy ; see Buttock.
Butter. (L. - Gk.) M. E. botere ;
A S. but ere. L. butyntm. Gk. &OVTV-
pov, butter. Probably of Scythian origin.
butterfly. (E.) A. S. buttor-fleoge,
lit. butter- fly. So called from its excre-
ment lesembling butter, as shewn by the
M. Du. boter-sehijte,
butter-voider (Kihan).
G. butter-fliege.
a butter-fly, lit.
Du. botervlieg;
Buttery, a place for provisions, esp.
liquids. (K Late L.) A corruption of
M. E. botelerie, a butlery, properly a place
for a butler ; from M. E. boteler t a butler;
see Butler. (Thus buttery = bottlery.)
Confused with the word buffer.
Buttock. (K.) M. .//<?. Formed,
with dimin. suffix -ok (A. S. -uc\, from
butt, a thick end, a stump. Cf. Icel.
buttr, short, bfitr, a log ; Dan but, Swed.
butt, stumpy, sui ly; Du. bot, blunt, dull.
See Butt ( 3).
Button. (F. - O. Low G.) M. E.
boton, also, a bud. O. F. baton (F.
l>oitton),& bud, a button ; properly, a round
knob pushed out. O. F. bo'"r t to push,
push out; see Butt (i).
buttress, a support, in architecture.
(F.-O. Low G.) M. E. boteras; PaLgrave
has bottras, butteras. Orig. a pluial form,
as if for *buttcrcts. Q. F. boutcrez, pi. of
bouteret, a prop. F. banter, to thrust,
prop. Cotgrave also has boutant, a but-
tress, from the same verb ; see Butt (i).
Butty, a companion or partner in a
work. (F. Low G ) Shortened from
boty-felowe or booty-fellow, one who shares
booty with others. From boty, old spell-
ing of booty = F. butin, booty. Of Low G.
origin ; see Booty.
Buxom. (E.) M. E. boxom, buhsum ;
the old sense was obedient, obliging, good-
humoured. Lit. 'bow-some.' A. S. bilg-
an, to bow, bend, obey ; and -sum, suffix,
as in win- some. -\-Tt\\. buigzaam; G. bieg-
sam. See Bow (i).
Buy. (E.) From A. S. byg*, as in
byg-est, byg-eS, 2 and 3 p. sing. pres. of
A. S. bycgan, to purchase, whence M. E,
bitggen, biggen. + Goth, bugian. Der.
abide (2), q. v. See Sweet, N. E. G. 1 393.
Buzz. (E.) An imitative word; cf.
69
BUZZARD
Lowl. Sc. bizz, to hiss ; Ital. buzsicare, to
hum, whisper.
Buzzard. (F. L.) M. E. bosard,
bnsard, an inferior kind of falcon. F.
btisard. F. bttse, a buzzai d ; with suffix
an/ (from O.H.G. /for/). -Late L. busto
s= L. buteo, a sparrow-hawk.
By, prep. (E.) M. E. bi. A. S. bi,
^.+I)n. bij\ G,<W; Goth. M. Cf.Skt.
a-bhi, Gk. d/*-</.
By-law, a law affecting a township.
(Scand.) Kormeily also birlaw. Icel.
bie-r, by-r, a village (gen. hpjar, whence
bir-} ; log, a law. So also Dan. by-lov, a
town-law. Icel. bSr is allied to biia, to
dwell. See Boor.
Byre, a cow-house (E.) A Northern
E. clenv. of bower. A. S. byre, a shed,
hut. - A. S. bur, a bower ; cf. Icel. bur, a
pantry. See Bower.
c.
Cab (1) ; see Cabriolet.
Cab (2), a Ileb. measure. (Heb.) Heb.
gab, the 1 8th part of an cphah. The 1 iteral
sense is * hollow ' ; cf. Ilcb qabab, to form
in the shape of a vault ; see Alcove.
Cabal. (F. - Heb.) Ong. ' a secret.' F.
cabak, * the Jewes Caball, a hidden science ; '
Cot. \\nfo.qabbalah, reception, mysterious
doctrine. Heb. qdbal, to receive; qibbcl,
to adopt a doctrine
Cabbage (0 a vegetable. (F. L.)
M. K. cabache, caboche. K. (Picard) ca-
boche, lit. ' great head ,* cf. Puard tabus,
F. choux calms, large-headed cabbage. L.
cap-tit, head; with augmentative suffix;
cf. Ital. capouhia, head of a nail
Cabbage (-2), to steal. (K) From
F. cabasser, to put into a basket ; Norman
cabasser, to cabbage (and see Supp, to
Godefioy). F. cabas, a basket; Norman
cabas, tailor's cabbage; of unknown origin.
Caber, a pole (C. L.) Gael, cabar,
a rafter. L. type *taprio, a rafter; see
Chevron.
Cabin. (F.) M.E cabane. F. cabane.
Prov. cabana. Late L. tapanna, a
hut (Isidore).
cabinet. (F.) F. cabinet, dim in. of
F. cabane, a cabin (above).
Cable. (F. - L.) M. E. cable. - O. F.
cable. LateL. captttum, caplum, a strong
(holding) rope. L. caperc, to hold.
Caboose, the cook's cabin on board ship.
(Du.) Formerly catnboose>> Du. kombuis t
CADDY
a cook's cabin; also 'the chimney in a
ship,' Sewel. (Hence also Dan. kabys,
Swed. kabysa, caboose.)
Cabriolet. (F.-Ital.-L.) Cab is
short for cabriolet.- >F. cabriolet, a cab;
from its supposed lightness. -F. cabriole,
a caper, leap of a goat ; formerly capriole.
-Ital. capriola, a caper, a kid. - Ital.
caprio, wild goat ; capra, a she-goat.
L. caper, goat ; fern, capra.
Cacao, a tree. (Span. Mexican.) Span.
cacao ; from the Mexican name (cacauatl)
of the tree whence chocolate is made,
^f Not the same as cocoa.
CacMnnation. (L.) L. ace. cachin-
nattonem, loud laughter. L. cachinnare,
to laugh. Cf. Cackle.
Cachucha, a dance. (Span.) Span.
cachucha.
Cacique, a W. Indian chief. (Span.
W. Indian.) Span, cacique, an Indian
prince. From the old language of Hayti.
Cack, to go to stool. (L ) M.E.
cakken. L. caccii e.
Cackle. (K.) M.E kakckn, a fre-
quentative foim. Not in A. S. + Du.
kakclen; Swed. ka<.kla; Dan. Jiagle\ G.
gackcln. The sense is ' to keep on saying
kak , ' cf. gabb-le, gobb-le, gagg-lc.
Cacopony, a haish sound. (Gk.)
Gk. ftaieofficwia, a harsh sound. Gk. Kaif6~
0o>i/os, harsh. Gk. KCLKO-S, bad ; and
(fxuv--/), sound. Der. caiophonou* (Gk. jrcurd-
<f><jJVOS\
Cad, a low fellow. (F.-L.; Short
for Lowl Sc. cadie, an enand-boy; see
Jamieson. F. cadet ; see Cadet.
Cadaverous, corpse-like. (L.) L.
cadauerosus. L. cadaucr % a corpse. Lat.
{.ad-erf, to fall, fall dead.
Caddis, a kind of worsted lace or tape.
(F.) In Wmt. Tale, iv. 4. 208. M. E.
cadas, explained by bombictniuni in
Prompt. Parv. ; (hence Irish cadas, cad-
dis). Though also used to denote 'wor-
sted,' it was orig. coarse silk. * F cadarce*
1 the coursest part of silke, whereof sleave
is made ; ' Cot. Cf. Span, cadarzo, coarse,
entangled silk, that cannot be spun on a
reel ; Port, cadar^o, a coarse silk. Origin
unknown ; probably Eastern. Der. caddis-
worm, from the caddis-like shape of the
case of the larva.
Caddy, a small box for tea. (Malay.)
Better spelt catty. A small package of
tea, less than a half-chest, is called in the
tea-trade a caddy or catty. Malay katt, a
70
CADE
weight equal to l| Ib. avoirdupois. This
weight is also used in China and Japan,
and tea is often made up in packages con-
taining one catty.
Cade, a barrel, cask. (F. - L. - Gk. -
Heb.) F. cade.^lu. cadits, a barrel, cask.
Gk. K&&QS, a cask, jar. Heb. kad, a pail.
Cadence, a fall of the voice. (F,
Ital. L.) M. E. cadence. Y. cadence, * a
cadence, just falling of words;' Cot.
Ital. cadenza. Late L. cadentia, a falling.
L. cadent-, stem of pres. pt. of cadere, to
fall + Skt. fad, to fall.
Cadet, 01 ig. a younger son. (F. L.)
F. collet^ a younger brother ; Prov. capdel.
Capdet is a Gascon form - Late L. capit-
ellum (the substitution of t for // being
regular in Gascon ; P. Meyei; ; lit. a little
(younger) head, dimin. from L. capnt, a
head.
Cadi, a judge. (Arab.) Arab. qa&T,
qazi, a cadi or cazi, a judge. Hence Span.
ah a/de, the judge (E. alcayde}; where al
is the Arab. def. article.
Caducous, falling. (L ) L. caduc-us,
falling; with suffix -otis. L. cadere, to
fall. See Cadence.
Caesura. (L ) L. casfira, a cutting ;
a pause in a verse. L. ctrs-us, pp. of
cadere, to cut.
Caftan, a Turkish garment. (Turk )
Turk, qaftnn, a dress.
Cage. (F. -L.) F. r*4*.-Late L.
cavea, L. canca, a cave, den, cage. L.
cauus, hollow. See Cave.
Caique, a boat. (F. Turk.) F". caiqite.
Turk, kaik, a boat.
Cairn, a pile of stones. (C.) Gael.,
Iiish, W., Bret, earn, a crag, rock ; also a
pile of stones.
Caitiff. (F. - L.) M. E. cat f if. -
A.F. cat/if, a captive, a wretch (F. c/itttf)
L. captiuum, ace. of captnius', see
Captive.
Cajole. (F.) F. cajoler, to cajole;
formerly, to chatter like .1 jay. Perhaps
of imitative origin ; cf. cackle.
put, Cajeput (with j as y), a
tree "yielding an oil. (Malay.) Malay
kayu pilfih, lit. 'white wood.' Malay
kayu, wood; putih, white.
Cake. (K. or Scand.) M. E. cake.
N. F'ries. kak, hag, late Icel. and Swcd.
kaka ; Dan. kage. Tent, stem *kakon~,
fem. ; from Teut. root *kak-, of which the
strong grade is *kvk- (whence prov. E
cookie, Du. koek> G. kitchen, a cake).
CALENTURE
Calabadk, the shell of a gourd. (F.
Span. Arab. Pei s.) F. calebasst.**
Span, calabaza (Poit. calaba$d}, Arab.
Pers. kharbuz, a melon ; lit. ' ass-gourd/
i.e. large gourd. Peis. khar, ass (hence,
coarse) ; buzah, odoriferous fruit. Cf. Skt.
khara, an ass.
Calamint, a herb. (F. - L. - Gk.)
M. F. calamcnt, Cot. Late L. calamintha,
Gk. KaXaftivOr}.
Calamity. (F. L.) . calamity
L. ace. calatnitatem, a misfortune.
Calash, a sort of carriage. (F. G.
Slavonic.) F. ca!cche. (j. kalesche. }?o\.
kolaska, a small carnage, dimin. of kolasa,
a carriage; Russ. koltaska, a carriage.
Yol.hrfo, a wheel ; O. Slav. kolo. (VQEL.)
Calcareous. (L.) Should be cal-
carious. \j. caharnts, pertaining to lime.
L. cale~, stem of calx, lime.
calcine. (F. - L.) F. ca!ctnet\~
Mod. L. calcindre, to reduce to a calx.
L. calc- t stem of calx, lime.
Calculate. (L.) L. calculat-u$, pp.
of calculdre, to reckon by help of small
pebbles. L. cahithts, pebble* dimin. of
calx, a stone.
Caldron, Cauldron. (F.-L.) M.E.
cauderon, A. F. caudrun. Q. North F.
(Picard) cauderon, for O. F. chauderon^
mod. F. chaudron (Ital. CaHerone, Span.
calderoii], a \essel for hot water. Extended
fiom L. caldar-ia, a hot bath. L. caldus,
contr. form of calidtis, hot. L. calere, to
be hot.
Calendar. (L ) L. calendar ium, an
account-book kept by money-changers ; so
called because interest was due on the
calends (ist da}) of each month; also, a
calendar. L. latendi?, calends.
Calender (0? a machine for pressing
cloth. (F. - L - GkO F. calandie.-
Mod. \* t *calcndra, celcndra, a calender; an
adaptation of L. cyhndnts, a c> Under; see
Cylinder. Der. calender, a smoother of
linen, a mistaken form foi calendrer,
Calender (2), a kind of wandering
monk. (F. -Pers.) F. calender Pen*.
qalandar, a kind of wandenng Muham-
madan monk, who abandons everything
and retires from the woild.
Calends. (L.) L. calends, s. pi.,
the first day of the (Roman) month. Orig.
obscure ; but certainly from the base tal-,
as in O. Lat. calare, to proclaim. 4* Gk.
Ka\iv, to summon. Allied to Hale (2).
Calenture, a feverous madness. (F.
CALF
Span. L.) F. calenture. Span, cahn-
tura. L. calent-, stem of pres. pt. of
calere, to be hot.
Calf (i). (E.) M.E. half. O. Merc.
fa!/-, A.S. cealf.+Vu. kalf\ Icel. kalfr\
Swed. kalf; Dan. kalv, Goth, kalbo-,
G. kalb. Der. ^z/ztf, vb., A. S. cealfian.
Perhaps allied to Skt. garbha, womb, a
foetus. Brugm. i. 656.
Calf (2), the thick hind part of the
shank. (E. ) Pei haps the same as the above ;
cf. * Gaulish L. galba, great-bellied ; Icel.
kalfi, calf f the leg. Sec Cave in.
Caliber, Calibre, bore of a gun.
(F.) F. calibre, size of a bore ; Span.
calibre (1623). Etym. unknown. Perhaps
from Arab. qdlib, a form, mould, model,
Rich. Diet. p. mi (Diez). Mahn sug-
gests L. qua libra, with what measure.
Calico, cotton - cloth. (E. Indian.)
Named from Calicut, on the Malabar
coast, whence it was fir^t imported.
Calif, Caliph. (F.-Arab.) Y.eahfe,
a successor ol the prophet. Arab, kha-
lifak, successor. Arab. khalafa t to suc-
ceed. Doublet, khahfa.
Caligraphy, Calligraphy, good
writing. (Gk.) Gk. Ka\\iypa<j>ia Gk.
KO\\I~, prefix (for KI\\OS, beauty, from
Ka\6$, good, fair) ; and ypcupctv, to write.
calisthenics, callisthenics,
graceful exercises. (Gk.) From Gk.
Ka\\i<j8*v-j)s, adorned with strength.
Gk. /mAAt- (for tcd\\o$, beauty, from
ica\6s, fair) ; and ffOiv-os, strength.
Calipers, compasses. (F.) For caliber -
compasses, i. e. compasses for measuring
diameters; see Caliber.
Calisthenics ; see Caligraphy.
Caliver, a sort of musket. (F.) Named
from its caliber or bore ; see Kersey's Diet
See Caliber.
Calk ; usually Caulk, q. v.
Call. (Scand.) Late A.S. cea1lian\
cf. hildecalla, a heiald. E. Fries, kallen.
Icel. and Swed. kalla\ Dan. &*&.-f-Du.
kallen ; O. H. G. challon. Teut. type
*kallon- or *kallojan-, weak verb ; cf. W.
galiv, to call, Russ. golos" 1 , voice, sound.
Callet, Callat, a worthless woman.
(F.-Low L.-Low G.) In Oth. iv. 2
121. F. caillette, a gossip, chatterer;
lit. a little quail ; dimin. of cattle, a quail,
also a woman. Littre gives caille coiffee,
femme galante. See Quail. (Doubt-
ful.)
Callous, hard. (F. L.) F. calleux.-
CAMEL
L. callosus, thick-skinned. -L. callus, cai~
htm, hard skin.
Callow, unfledged, bald. (L.) M. E.
calu , calewe. A . S. calu , bald . -f Du . kaal,
bald ; Swed. kal ; G. kahl. Teut. *kalwoz,
early borrowed from L. caluus, bald.
Calm. (F.-L.-Gk.) F. calme, adj.
Allied to Prov. chaume, the time when the
flocks rest ; F. chdmer (formerly chaumer\
to rest from work ; Ital. calma, rest. Late
L. cauma, the heat of the sun (whence,
time for rest) ; Job xxx. 30. [It is sug-
gested that the change from au to al was
due to association with L. cal-ere, to be
hot.] Gk. /raOfta, heat. Gk. icaUiv, to
burn. Der. be-calm.
Calomel, a preparation of mercury.
(Gk.) Coined to express a white product
from a black substance. Gk. *oAo-s, fair ;
and /iX-as, black.
Caloric. (F. L) F. calorique. 'L.
calor, heat. L. calere, to be hot.
Calorific, making hot. (L.) I^.calori-
ficus, making hot. L. calon-, stem oicalor,
heat ; and -fie-, for fasere, to make.
Calthrop, Caltrap, a star-thistle, a
ball with spikes for annoying cavalry.
(L. and Teut.) M. E. kalketrappe, A. S.
calcetreppe, a star-thistle. Coined from
L. cald-, stem of calx, the heel ; and the
Teutonic word trap. Lit. ' heel-trap ' ; see
Trap. So also F. chaussetrappe, the same.
Calumet, a kind of pipe for tobacco.
(F. L. Gk.) Norman F. calumet, a
pipe ; parallel form to O. F. c^alftncl, F.
chalumeau, a pipe. L. calamus, a reed.
Gk. tca\auos, a reed. See Shawm.
Calumny. (F. L.) F. calomnie. L.
calumma, false accusation. L. calui,
caluere, to deceive.
Calve ; see CaOf.
Calx. (L.) L. calx, stone, lime (stem
calc- 1 ; in Late L., a calx.
Calyx. (L. -Gk.) L. /jjr.-Gk.
Ka\v, a covering, calyx (or cup) of a
flower. Allied to Helm (2).
Cam, a projection on a wheel. (Du.)
l)u. kamm, a comb (see Kilian' ; Low G.
kamm ; cf. Dan. kam, comb, also a ridge
on a wheel, cam, or cog. See Comb.
Cambric. (Flanders.) Named from
Kamerijk, also called Cambray, a town
in Flanders, where it was first made.
Camel. (F.-L.-Gk.-Heb.) M.E.
camel, camail, chamcL O. North F. came /,
f). F. chdmeL L. camelus. Gk. i
lleb. gdmaL Cf. Arab. jama/.
CAMELOPARD
camelopard, a giraffe. (L. Heb.
and Gk .) Formerly camelopardalis. L. ca-
melopardalis. Gk. tfajojAoirapSaAts, giraffe;
partly like a camel, partly like a pard.
Gk. Kaprj\o~s, a camel (Heb. gamdl) ; and
7ra/>5aAis, a pard ; see Pard.
Camellia. (Personal name.) A plant
named (by Linnaeus) after Geo. Jos. Kamel,
a Moravian Jesuit (i7th cent.), who de-
scribed the plants in the island of Luzon.
Camelopard ; see Camel.
Cameo. (Ital.) Ital. cammco, a cameo,
precious stone carved in relief. Origin
unknown.
Camera. (L.) L. camera, a chamber ;
hence camera obscura, a daik chamber,
box for photography ; see Chamber.
Camlet, a stuff. (F. Arab.) Formerly
camelot. M.F. camelot, Cot.; supposed
to be named from containing camel's hair.
Really from Arab, khamlat, khamalat,
camlet ; Rich. Diet. p. 628.
Camomile ; see Chamomile.
Camp. (F.- Ital.- L.) . camp (Cot).
Ital. tafnpo, a field, camp. \^.campitm,
ace. of campus, a field, ground held by an
army. Brngm. i. 563.
campaign, ong. a large field. (F. -
Ital. L.) F. campaigne, campagnc, an
open field, Ital. campagna, a field ; also
a campaign. L. campania, open field.
L. camptts, a field. (Also spelt champaign,
and even Champion in old authors.)
campestral, growing in fields. (L.)
From L. campestr-is, growing in fields;
with suffix -at. L. campus, a field.
Campanula. (L.) Lit. *a little bell ;'
dimm. of L. campdna, a bell. Hence also
cam pani- form.
Camphor. (F. Arab. Malay.) For-
merly spelt camphire (.with an inseited i).
F. camp/ire, 'camphire;' Cot. Low
L. camphora (whence the form camphor}
Arab, kafilr, camphor ; cf. Skt. karpura,
camphor. Malay kdpiir, lit. chalk ; kapfir
Barus, chalk of Barous, a name for cam-
phor. Barons is in Sumatra.
Can (0, I am able. (E.) A. S. can,
cann, ist and 3rd persons sing. pres. of
cunnan, to know. The pus. t. can is
really an old perf. t. ; the same peculiarity
occurs in Du. kttnnen, Icel. and Swed.
kunna, Dan. kunde, to know, to be able ;
G. konnen, to know. p. The pt. t. is
could, with intrusive /; M. E. coude, A. S.
ctlOe ; cf. Goth, hunt ha, Du. konde, G.
konnte \ shewing that A. S. cutie (for
CANISTER
*cuntie) has lost an n. y. The pp. couth,
A. S. c ftti, known, only survives in un-
couth, which see. Allied to Ken and
Know. (</ GEN )
Can (2), a drinking-vessel. (E.) A. S.
canne, a can, -f Du. kan\ led. kanna;
Swed. kanna ; Dan. kande ; G. kanm, a
tankard, mug. (Apparently a true Teut.
word.)
Canal. (F. L.^ F. canal (whence also
Du. kanaaf]. L. canal is, a channel, trench.
Canary, a bird, a wine, a dance.
(Canary Islands.) All named from the
Canary Islands.
Cancel. (F.-L.) F. canceller.- >Law
L. cancellarc, to cancel a deed by drawing
lines across it. L. cancellus* a grating, pi.
cancellt, lattice-work, crossed lines; dimin.
ofpl. cancri, lattice-work.
Cancer. (L.) L. cancer, a crab ; also
an * eating* tumour. Cf. Gk.irapmVos, Skt.
karkaia, a crab; cf. Skt. karkara, hard.
Named from its hard shell. Brugm. i. 464,
Candelabrum. (L.) I., candelabrum,
a candle-holder ; from candcla, a candle.
Candid. (F. L.) F. candicte, white,
fair, sincere. L. candidits, white, shining.
L. candere, to shine. L. *tand?re, to
set on fire (in comp. 7;/-tv;/<r/m?).-|-Skt.
chand(ior fchand),lo shine. (VSQEND.)
Bmgm. i. 456, 818 (2).
Candidate. (L.) L. candidates,
white- robed ; because candidates for office
wore white. L. candidus, white.
candle. (L.) A. S. candel L. can-
dela, a candle. L. candere, to glow.
Ctndonr. (F. L.) . candettr. L.
ace. candorcm, brightness (hence, sincerity).
Candy, crystallised sugar. (F. Ital.
Skt.) F. sucre candi, sugai -candy ; whence
F. se candir, 'to candle;' Cot. Ital.
candire, to candy ; candi, candy ; zucckeio
candi, sugar- candy. Arab, qand, sugar;
whence Aiab. qandi, made of sugar.
The word is Ar) an ; cf. Skt. khdK&ava,
sweetmeats, khan&a, a broken piece, from
kha&&, to break. Der, sugar-candy, Ital.
zucchero candi.
Candytuft, a plant. (H>b.) From
Candy, i. e. Candia (Crete) ; and tuft.
Cane. (F.-L.-Gk.) M.E. cane,
canne. F. canne. L. tanna. Gk. ifdyra,
a reed. Cf. Ileb. qaneh^ reed; Arab.
qandh, cane.
Canister. (L. Gk.) L. canistrum,
a light basket. -Gk. /cavaffrpof, the same,
Gk. icavrj Kavva, a reed.
73
CANNON
cannon. (F.-ltal.-L.-Gk.) F.
AMWff. Ital. cannone, a cannon, oiig. a
great tube, a mm-barrel. - L. canna, a reed ;
see Cane. % The Span, caflon, a tube, a
deep gorge, is cognate.
canon. (0> a ru ^ e> (L- Gk.) A. S.
canon. L. canon, a rule. Gk. KOVUV, a rod,
rule Gk. tcavy Kavva, a (straight) cane.
Canon (2), a digmtaiy of the church.
(F. L. - Gk )
O. F.
M. E canun, canoun.
. . ,..
cum, ace. of canonuns, adj , one on the
church-roll or list L. canon, the church-
roll ; also, a rule. See canon ^i).
Canine. (E-) L <aninus, belonging
to a clog. L. cam's, a dog ; see Hound.
Canister ; see Cane.
Canker. (F. L) North F. cancre
(F. chancre}. L. cancrutn, ace. of cancer,
a crab, a canker. See Cancer. flThe G
kanke'r may be Teutonic (Kluge) ; so
perhaps E. canker in the sense of < disease
of trees'; cf. Gk. yoyypos, an excrescence
on trees.
Cannel-coal. (L and E ) Lit. a
' candle-coal/ because it burns brightly
Prov E. cannel, a candle. See Candle.
Cannibal. (Span. \\ r . Indian ) For-
merly canibal. Span canibal', for Caribal,
a Carib, native of the Caribbean Islands.
The W. Indian (Hayti) word carib mean=>
' brave/ Hence also Caliban,
Cannon v 1 ) ; se ^ Cane.
Cannon (2), at billiards. (F. Span.")
A corruption of carrom, shortened form of
F. caramboler, v., to make a cannon at
CANZONET
Canorous, tuneful. (L.) L. canor-us ;
with suffix -ous.l^canere, to sing. Brugm.
i. 181.
Cant (1), to sing in a whining way,
whine. (L.) L. cantdre (whence Picard
and Walloon canter, to sing) ; frequent,
of canere, to sing. Casit was at first a
beggar's whine; hence, hypocrisy; see
Recant.
canticle. (L.) L.#w/fV/;//, a little
song; dimm. otcantittim,*. song; climin.
of cantus, a song; cf. cant us, pp. of
canere, to sing.
Canto. (Ital. - L.) Ital. canto, a sing-
ing, section of a poem. L ace. cantum,
a singing, song (above).
canzonet. (Ital. ],) Ital. canzo-
netta, dimm. of canzone, a hymn, song
L. cantionem, ace. of cantio, a song. L.
cantus, pp. of canere, to sing.
Cant (2), an edge ; as verb, to tilt. (Du.
-L.) Du. kant, an edge, corner. +Dan.
and Swcd. kant, edge ; G. kante^ a corner.
(3. All fiom Late L. cantus ', a coiner; which
is prob. from L. canthus -- Gk. Kai'Oos, the
corner of the eye, felloe of a wheel.
Canteen. (F. -Ital.) F. cantine.
Ital. canttna, a cellar, cool cave (hence
the sense of vessel for liquids). Oiigm
doubtful. Perhaps from Late L cant us 1 9.
corner.
Canter, an easy gallop. (Proper name.)
Short for Canterbury gallop, the pace at
v\ hich pilgrims rode thither.
Canticle, Canto ; see Cant (i).
Cantle, a .small piece. (F. L. ?) O.F.
billiards, to touch two other balls with canUl, a small piece (F. thanteau), dimin.
one's own ; see Hoyle's Games. Ong. of Picard cant (F. chant}, a coiner ; Late
sense, to touch the red ball ; whence
carambohr^ to cannon (as above) and
carambolage, sb , a cannon. Span, caram-
bola, a manner of playing at billiards, a
device, trick, cheat. Origin unknown.
Canoe. (Span W Ind.) Span.oitfoz;
orig a Haytian word for * boat.'
Canon (i) and (2) ; see Cane.
Canopy. (F. - Ital. - L. - Gk.) Should
be conopy\ but we find F. canape, borrowed
from Ital. canopL (Also F. conoptc?)<-L.
conopeum, Judith xiii. 9 Gk. Kuvuirfiav,
an Egyptian bed with mosquito curtains
(hence, any sort of hangings). Gk. /KyKww-,
stem of H^vojf^, a mosquito, gnat ; lit.
' cone-faced ' or ' cone-headed/ from the
shape of its head. Gk. K&VO-S, a cone ;
and &fy, face, appearance, from Gk. base
On, to see (see Optics).
L cantus. Piob. fiom ^.canthus, corner
of the eye ; see Cant (2).
Canton, aregion. (F. Ital.) If .canton.
-Ital. cantone, a nook, angle; also, a
corporation, township (Torriano) ; Late L.
cantonum, canto, a region, province.
Origin doubtful, fl" Canton (in heialdry),
a corner of a shield, is from F. tauten,
a corner, Ital. can tone, from Ital. canto, an
edge ; see Cant ^2).
Canvas. (F. L Gk.) M. E. canevas.
North F. canevas. Late L. canabdcins^
hempen cloth. L. canttabis, hemp. Gk.
Kawafiis, hemp. Cf. Skt. f<ma t hemp ;
see Hemp.
canvass. (F.-L.-Gk.) Orig. to
toss in a canvas sheet, to criticize or
discuss thoroughly. From canvas t sb.
Canzonet; see Cant (i).
74
CAOUTCHOUC
Caoutchouc. (F. Carib.) Y. caout-
chouc-, orig. a Caribbean word, cahnchu.
Cap, a head-covering. (Late L.) A. S.
cceppe. Late L. cappa, a cap (Isidore).
Capable. (F.-L.) F. capable. - Late
L. capabilis, comprehensible; afterwards,
able to hold. L. capere, to hold (below).
capacious, able to contain. (L.)
Coined from L. capaci-, stem of capax t
able to hold. L. capere, to hold, contain ;
see Heave. Brugm. i. 635. (-/QAP.)
Caparison, trappings of a horse. (F.
Span. Late L.) O. F. caparasson.
Span, caparazon, cover for a saddle ; aug-
mentative from Med. L. capai o, a cowl;
from Span, capa, a cloak, cover. Late L.
capa, a cape ; as below.
Cape (1 )> a covering for the shoulders.
(F. - Late L.) O. North F. cape. - Late L.
capa, a cape (Isidore of Seville); whence
also Prov., Span., Port, capa, Icel. kdpa,
&c. Allied to sap. Doublet, cope.
Cape (2), a headland. (F. Ital. L.)
F. cap. Ital. capo, head, headland. L.
caput, head.
Caper (0, to dance about. (Ital. L.)
Abbreviated from capreole (Sir P. Sidney).
Ital. capriolare^ to skip as a goat. Ital.
capriola, ' a caper in dancing,' Florio ;
also, a kid; dimin. of capra, a she-goat.
L. capra^ a she-goat ; cf. caper ', he-goat.
-|-Gk. /ea-rrpos, a boar; A. S. h<zfei\ Icel.
hafr.
Caper (2% the flowei-bud of a certain
plant. (F.-L.-Gk.) M. F. capre (F.
fdpre}. L, capparis. Gk. Kairwapis, caper-
plant ; itb fruit ; cf. Pers. kabar, capers.
Capercailzie. (Gael ) Here z repre-
sents M. E. ^, pron. as y. Gael, capull-
coille, great cock of the wood ; lit. horse
of the wood. Gael, capull, a horse (see
Cavalier) ; coille, gen. of coill, a wood,
cognate with E. Holt.
Capillary, like hair. (L.) L. capil-
laris, adj ; irom capillus, hair. Perhaps
allied to cap~ut, the head.
Capital ( i ), chief. (F.-L.) J. capital
L. capitals, belonging to the head. L.
capit-, stem olcapitt, the head.+Skt. kapa-
/0(w), skull ; A. S. hafela, head. Brugm.
i. 641.
capital (2), stock of money. (F.-
L.) F. tfl/*Ya/. - Late L. capitale, wealth;
neut. otcapitalis, chief; see Capital (i).
. ^ Capital (3), head of a pillar. (L. ; or
F. L.) L. capitellum, head of a pillar ;
dimin. from L. caput t head. Or from O.
CAPTIOUS
North- F. capitel (F. chapiteaii} ; from L.
capitellum (above).
capitation, poll-tax. (F.-L.) F.
capitation. \j&z L. ace. capitatidnem,
poll-tax. L. captt-, stem of caput, poll,
head.
Capitol. (L.) The temple of Jupiter,
at Rome, called Capitdhum. \^. tapit-,
stem of caput, a head ; but the icason for
the name is obscure ; see Smith, Class.
Diet.
Capitular, relating to a chapter. (L.)
j Med. L. capttularisj adj. of capitulum,
a chapter oi a cathedral, or a chapter of
a book ; see Chapter.
Capitulate. (L.) \j&zL.capittilatu$,
pp. of capitulare, to divide into chapters,
also to propose terms (for surrender).
Late L. capitulum , a chapter ; see Chapter.
Der. re- capitulate.
Capon. (L. Gk.) A. S. capun. L.
ace. caponem t from nom. capo. Gk. KaTrcav,
a capon.
Caprice. (F.-Ital.-L ?) F. caprice.
Ital. tapriccio, a whim. Peihaps from
Ital. capro. a he-goat; so that caprice "w
might mean a fusk like a goat's; see
Caper (i).
Capricorn. (L.) L. capricotnus,
horned like a goat. L. cafti-, for capro-,
stem of caper > goat ; and corn-u, horn.
Capriole, a peculiar insk of a horse.
(F. - Ital. - L.) F. capriole (see Cot.). -
Ital. capiiola, the leap of a kid; see
Caper (i).
Capsize, to upset. (Span. ? L.) Per-
haps from Span, capuzar, to sink (a ship)
by the head ; apparently a derivative of L.
caput) the head. (A guess.)
j Capstan. (F. - Span. - L. ?) F. cabe-
stan\ Prov. cabestan. Span, cabestrante,
cabrestante, a capstan. Of these forms,
cabestrante is the better, and is allied to
Span, cabestrage, a halter, or a haltering,
and to cabestrar, to halter. L. capistrant-,
stem of pres. pt. of capistrart, to halter.
L. capistrum (Spnn. cabestro), a halter.
L. cap-ere, to hold; with double suffix
-is-tro.
Capsule, seed-vessel. (F.-L.) F.
capstt/e, a small case. L. capsuta, dimin.
of capsa, a case ; see Case (2).
Captain. (F.-L.) M. E capitain.-
O. F. capitain. Late L. capitaneuS) capit-
amis, a leader of soldiers. L. capit-> stem
of caput, head.
Captious. (F.-L.) F. capticitx, cavil-
75
CAPTIVE
ling. L. capttosus. 'L. captio, a taking,
a sophistical argument. L. captus, pp. of
capere, to hold. See Capacious.
Captive. (F.-L.) F. captif (fern.
captive}. !^. captTuus, a captive. L.
captus, pp. of capere, to take.+W. caeth,
a captive ; O. Irish cachl, a female captive.
Captor. (L.) L. captor, a taker. L.
cap-, as in capere, to take; with suffix -tor.
capture. (F.-L.) F. capture. L.
cctptiira, a taking. -L. <r0/-, as m <rc/^, to
take ; with fern, suffix -tilra.
Capuchin, hooded friar, hood. (F. -
Ital. Late L.) M. F. capuchin ; F.
capucin. Ital cagpucino, a small hood,
hence a hooded friar ; dimin. of cappuccio,
a cowl. Ital. cappa, a cape ; see Cap and
Cape (i).
Car. (F.-C.) M.E.rtzm?.-O. North F.
carre, a car (Ducange, s. v. J\larcdlum\.
-Late L. carra, f. ; allied to L. carrus,
a car; of Gaulish origin. Bret. &?/v,
a chariot ; W. car, O. Gael. cAr, Irish
rarr. Allied to L. currus, a chariot ;
Brugm. 1. 516.
Caracole. (F.-Span.) ^ F. caracol,
caracole, a snail ; whence faire le caracole,
applied to a manoeuvre by soldiers, and to
turns made by a horse. Span, catacol,
a snail, winding staircase, turning about
(from the snail-shell's spiial form). Per-
haps of Celtic origin ; cf. Gael, carach,
circling, winding ; car, a turn, twist.
Carafe, a glass water-bottle. (F. -
Span. Arab ) F. carafe. Span, garrafa,
a cooler, vessel to cool wines in. Aiab.
ghiraf, draughts of water; Arab, root
gharafa, to draw water. (Dozy, Devic )
<f[ Or from Pers. qardbah, a large flagon ;
but see Carboy.
Carat. (F. -Ital.- Arab. -Gk.) F.
carat, a very light weight. Ital. carato.*-
Arab qirrdt, a pod, husk, carat, 24th
part of an ounce. Gk. Ktpanov, fruit of
the locust-tree ; also, a carat ; lit. ' a small
horn/ Gk. ntpar-, stem of Wpa?, a horn ;
see Horn.
Caravan. (F. Pers.) F. caravane.
Pers. kiinvdn, a caravan, convoy.
caravansary. (Pers.) Pers. kdr-
wdnsatdy, an inn for caravans. Pers.
kdrwdn, caravan ; sardy, public building,
inn.
Caraway, Carraway. (Span. -
Arab.) Span, al-carahueya, a caraway;
where al is merely the Arab. def. art. ;
also written carvi. Arab. kariviyd-a t
CAREER
karawiyd-a, caraway- seeds or plant. Cf.
Gk. icapos, tcapov, cumin.
Carbine. (F. Gk.) Formerly cara-
bine, a musket, the weapon of a carabin,
or musketeer. -F. carabin, 'an arque-
buzier ; ' Cot. Perhaps from O. F. calabrin,
a light-armed soldier ; of uncertain origin.
Carbon. (F. L.) F. carbone. ~L.
ace. carbonem, a coal.
Carbonado, broiled meat. (Span.
L.) Span, carbonada, meat broiled over
coals. Span, carbon, coal; see above.
carbuncle. L. carbunculus, (i) a
small coal, (2) a carbuncle, gem, from its
glowing, (3) a red tumour. Double
dirmn. of L. carbo, coal.
Carboy, a large glass bottle, protected
by wicker-work. (Pers.) Pers qardbak,
a large flagon ; which is prob. of Arab,
origin. Cf. Arab, qirbah, a water-skin,
water-bottle.
Carcanet. (F. Teut.) Dimin. of F.
carcan, a collar of jewels, or of gold .
O. H. G. querca, the throat ; cf. Icel.
kverkr, pi. the throat; \tih.gerkle, throat,
gerti, to drink. Brugm. i. 653.
Carcase, Carcass. (F.- Ital.) From
M. F. carquassc, a dead body. Ital.
carcassa, a kind of bomb-shell, a shell;
also, a skeleton, frame ; cf. Port. carcassa y
a carcase, a very old woman. Of unknown
origin.
Card '[O, piece of pasteboard. (F. ~
Ital. Gk.) Corruption of K carte, 'a
card/ Cot. Ital. carta-, L. (Jtas/a. Gk.
XdpTT), xaprr)?, a leaf of papyrus. Der.
cardboard. Doublet, chart.
Card (2), an instrument for combing
wool. (F. L.) F.ram^ Med.L.rtz?Y/*.r,
L. carduus, a thistle ; for wool-combing.
Cardinal. (L.) L. cardmdlis^ prin-
cipal, chief , ong. relating to the hinge of
a door. L. cardin-, stem of cardo, a
hinge.
CardOOn, a plant. (F. Prov. L.)
F. cardon, Cot. Prov. cardon; with aug-
ment, suffix from Med. L. ca>d-tis, a
thistle. See Card (2).
Care. (K.) M E. rare, A. S. caru,
ccarti, anxiety, -f- O. Sax. kara, sorrow ;
O. H. G. chara, a lament; Goth. kara\
Teut. type *Xwvf, f. Hence, care, vb. ; A. S.
carian. fl" Not allied to L. cfira.
Careen. (F. L.) Lit. 'to clean the
keel ; * hence to lay a ship on its side. F.
carine, carene, keel. L. carjna, keel.
Career. (F.-C.) F. carrtire, a race-
CARESS
course. Late L. can- aria itta), a road
for cars. Late L. carra, L. carnts, a car ;
of Celtic origin ; see Car.
Caress. (F.-Ital.-L.) F. carcsse,
a fondling. Itzl.carezza, a caress, fondling.
Late L. cdritia, dearness. L. carus,
dear. Brugm. i. 637.
Carfax. (F.-L.) M. E. carfoukes,
a place where four roads meet. O. F. pi.
carrefourgs, the same ; from sing, carre-
foitrg. Late L. quadrifurcus, four-forked.
L. quadri- (from qnatuor\ four; and
furca, a fork. See Pork.
Cargo, (Span.~C.) Span. cargo, freight,
load ; cf. cargar, to load. Late L. carri-
cdre, to load a car ; see Charge.
caricature. (Ital. r.) ital. cari-
catura, a satirical picture ; so called because
exaggerated or ' overloaded.' Ital. cart-
care, to load, burden. Late L. carricdre,
to load a car; see Charge.
Caries. (L.) L. caries, rottenness.
Cark, burden, anxiety. (F.-C.) A. F.
karke, North. F. form of F. charge, i. e.
load ; see Charge. Cf. M. E. karke, a
load ; as in ' a karke of pepper!
Carkanet ; see Carcanet.
Carminative, expelling wind from
the body. (F. L.) F. cat minatif, ' wind-
voiding ;' Cot. L. carininat-us, pp. of
catminare, to card wool (hence, in old
medicine, to cleanse from gross humours) ;
with suffix -Tuus. L. carmin-, from car-
ut en, a card for wool. L. tarcre, to
card.
Carmine. (Span. - Arab. Skt.) Span.
carmin, shortfonii ofcarmesin, adj. ; from
carmesi, crimson. Arab, qirmizt, crimson ;
from <7*Vw/s,cochineal. Skt. krmi, a worm,
the cochineal insect.
Carnage ; see below.
Carnal. (L.) L. carnalis, fleshly. -
L. earn-, stem of caro, flesh. Brugm. i.
5 T 5-
carnage. (F. L.) F. carnage, flesh-
time, slaughter of animals. Late L. car-
natictim, a tribute of flesh-meat ; cf.
carndtitm, time for eating flesh. L. earn-,
stem of care, flesh.
Carnation. (F. L.) F. carnation,
flesh colour (Littre). L. ace. carnationem,
fleshiness. L. earn-, stem of caro, flesh.
Carnival. (F.-Ital.-L.) Y.cama-
val, Shrovetide. Ital. carnevah, carnovale,
the last three days before Lent Med. L.
cante!evale,carnelevdmen,Tzm<)vyi\ of flesh.
Shrovetide. L. carnt-m, ace. of caro, flesh ;
C'ARP
and leuare, to lift, remove, take away,
from leuis, light.
Carnivorous. (L.) L. carniuorus,
flesh -eating. L. carni-, decl. stem of care,
flesh ; and uor-are, to devour.
Car Ob- tree, the locust-tree. (F. -
Arab.) M. F. carobe, carotibe. Arab,
kharrub, bean-pods.
Caroche, Carroche, a kind of coach.
(F.-Ital.-C.) Nearly obsolete; but
the present sense of carriage is due to it.
F. carroche, variant of carrosse, * a carosse
or caroach ; ' Cot. Ital. carroccia, car-
rozza, a chariot. Extended from Ital.
carro, a car. See Car.
Carol, a song. ( F. - L. - Gk . ?) For-
merly, a kind of dance. O.F. carole,
a (singing) dance. Godefroy (s. v. carole}
cites Swiss Rom. coraula, a round-dance,
also a dance- song. Prob. from L.
choraules, a flute-player to a chorus. Gk.
Xopav\r]s, the same. Gk. xP' s > a chorus,
lound-dance; and av\6s, a flute.
Carotid, adj. (Gk.) Gk /rapom5y,s.pl.,
the two great arteries of the neck ; it was
thought that an alteration in the flow of
blood through them caused stupor.
Gk. tcapoott, I stupefy ; /capos, stupor.
Carousal, (i) a drinking-bout; (2\ a
pageant, (i. F.-G. ; 2. F.-Ital) 1.
Sometimes used as if from ^he verb carouse
below. 2. But, in old authors, carousel
(also carousal) means a sort of pageant,
of which soiae kind of chariot-race formed
a principal part ; Dryden, Virgil, ^En. v.
777. F. carrottsel, a tilting-match. ItaL
caiosello, also spelt garosello, a tourna-
ment; of uncertain origin.
Carouse. (F.-G.) F. caroits, <a ca-
rousse of drinke,' Cot. G. garaus, right
out ; used of emptying a bumper. G. gar,
quite ; and ans, out. (Raleigh even writes
garouse\ directly fiom G. gai a its.} Der.
caroits-al, but only in one sense of that
word ; see above.
Carp (i), a fish. (F.) M.E. carpe.
XV r cent. O. F. carpe (Span. Port, carpa,
Ital. carpa, Florio s ; also Du. harper ;
Icel. karfi-, Dan. karpe\ Swed. karp\
G. karpfen ; O. H. G. charpho ; Russ.
karf ; Lith. karpa.
Carp (2), to cavil at. (Scand.) M. E.
carpen, which often merely means to talk,
say. Icel. kajpa, to boast; Swed. dial.
karpa, to boast, talk much, ^f The pre-
sent sinister sense is due to confusion with
L. carfvre, to pluck.
77
CARPENTER
Carpenter. (F. - C.) A. F. carpenter ;
O. North F. car pent ier (F. charpentier}***
Late L. carpentarius, sb. ; carpentdre^, to
work in timber. L. carpentum^ a carriage ;
a word of Celtic origin. O. Irish carpal,
Gael, and Irish carbcui^ W. cerbyd, a car-
riage, chariot, litter.
Carpet. (F.-L.) O. F. carpite. Late
L. carpi 'ta, carpeta, a kind of thick cloth ;
also carpia (F. charpie), lint. L. car-
pert, to pluck, pull to pieces (lint being
made of rags pulled to pieces, and carpet,
probably, from shreds).
Carraok. (F.) O. F. carraqne, a ship
of burden ; Late Lat. carraca, the same.
Of unknown origin.
Carriage. (F. C.) M.E. cartage, that
which is earned about (as in Bible, A. V.).
O. F. canage ; from carter, to carry ; see
Carry, ^f Its modern use is due to con-
fusion with caroch, a vehicle (Massinger,
Renegado, i. 2) ; see Caroche.
Carrion. r F. L.) M. E. caroigne, a
carcase. O. North F. carotgne ; Late L.
caronia, a carcase. L. caro, flesh.
Carronade, a sort of cannon. (Scot-
land.) So named because made at Carrou,
in Stirlingshire.
Carrot. (F. L. Gk.) F. carote, ca-
rotte. \ J . card/a. Gk. Kapwrov, a canot
Carry. (F. C.) O. F. carter. Late
L. carricare. L. carrus, a car ; see Car.
Cart. (E.) A S. crat, crat\ cf. Du.
krat. Or from Icel kartr, a cart ; whence,
probably, Picard carti, a cart.
Carte, a bill of fare. (F.-Gk.) Chiefly
in the F. phr. carte blanche, lit. white
paper. Late L. car la ; see Card ( i X
Cartel. (F. -Ital -Gk.) F. cartel -
Ital. cartello, lit. a small paper ; dimin. of
carta, piper, bill; see Card { i).
Cartilage. (F.-L) F. cartilage,
gristle. L. cartilaginem, ace. vtcartildgo.
Der. cartilagin-ous.
Cartoon. (F. -Ital. - Gk.) F. carton. -
Ital. cartone, lit. a large paper ; from carta,
a card ; see Card (i).
cartouche, cartridge. CF. -Ital.
Gk.) Cartridge (with intrusive r) ib for
cartidge, corrupt form of cartouche. F.
cartouche, a roll of paper. Ital. cartoccio,
a roll of paper, cartridge. Ital. carta,
paper; Late L. carta ; see Card ( i). ^[ The
cartridge took its name from the paper in
which it was rolled up.
cartulary, a register. (Late L. - Gk.)
Late L. cartuldrium, chartuldrium t a
CASINO
register. - Late L. chart ula, a document ;
dimin. of charta, a paper; see Card (i).
Carve. (E.) M. E. keruen. A.S. ceorfan ;
pt. t. cearf, pi. cur/on, pp. corfen. [The
A. S. ceorfan would have given *eharve ;
c was retained from the pt. pi. and pp.]
-f- Du. kerven ; G. kerben, to notch, cut ;
also Dan, karve, Swecl. karfva, to notch,
from the 2nd stem. Gk. ypdtfxiv. Brugm.
i. $ 79 1 -
Cascade. (F. Ital. L ) F. cascade.
Ital. cascata, a waterfall ; ong. fem. pp. of
cascare, to fall. For *casicare. - L. casdre>
to totter. L. cdsum, sup. vicadere, to fall.
Case (0, an event. (F. L.) M.E.
cats. F. cas. L. ace. cdsum, a fall, a
case. L, cJsus, pp. of cadere, to fall.
Case (2), a receptacle. (F.-L.) O. F.
casse. L. capsa, a box, cover. L. caperc,
to hold.
Casemate. (F. Ital.) F. casemate,
a loop-hole in a fortified wall. Ital. casa-
matta, a chamber built under a wall or
i bulwark, to hinder those who enter the
i ditch to scale the wall of a fort. It seems
to mean 'dark chamber.' Ital. and L.
' casa, house, cottage, room; and Ital. /K#//a,
, fem. of wattOy orig. mad, but the Sicilian
i maJf^^. means ' dim.*
i Casement, frame of a window. (F.
I L.) Coined with the sense of encasement,
j that which encases or encloses. From
case, veib ; with suffix -mcnt*
Cash, com. (F. L.) Ong. a till or box
to keep money in. F. cas f e, a case ; see
I Case (2) above. Der. cash-icr, sb., one
who keeps a money-box or cash.
Cashew-nut, the nut of a \V. and E.
Indian tree. (F. Brazilian.) Cashew is
I a corruption of F. acajou. Brazil, acaiu,
the fruit of the tree named acajaba or
acajaiba. (Mahn, Litti^.)
Cashier, to dismiss from service.
<J)u. F. L.) Du. cassercn, to cashier;
merely borrowed fiom F. casser, 'to
breake, burst, . . also to casseere, dis-
charge;' Cot. [Du. words, borrowed
from F., end in -^;r;/.] L. qnassare, to
shattei, frequent, of quaterc, to shake;
which annexed the senses of L. cassdre, to
annul, discharge, from L. casstis, void, null.
Cashmere, a soft wool. (India.) So
called from the vale of Cashmere, in India.
Also spelt cassimere, kerseymere.
Casino, a room for dancing. (Ital. L.)
Jtal. casino, dimin. of casa, a cottage,
house. L. casa, a cottage.
CASK
Cask. (Span. L.) Span, casco, a skull,
sherd, coat of an onion ; also a cask of
wine, a casque or helmet. The orig. sense
is ' husk ' ; cf. Span, cascara, peel, rind,
shell, Port. casca> rind, Span, cascar^ to
burst open ; formed (as if from Lat. *quas-
sicdre] from an extension of L. quassare,
to break, burst ; see Quash.
casque, a helmet. (F.-Span. L.)
F. casque. Span. casco, a helmet, head-
piece ; see above.
Casket, a small box. (Span.-L.) Ap-
parently confused with F. cassette, ' a small
casket ; ' Cot. Formally, it is a dimin. of
Cask.
Casque ; see Cask.
Cassava, a plant. (Span. - Hayti.)
Span. cazabe\ also cazavi, * the bread made
in the W. Indies of the fruit called the
yuca'^ Pineda. It propcily means the
plant, which is also called manioc ; said to
be from the Hayti casabbi, with the same
sense. See R. Eden's works, ed. Arber,
p. 175. See Tapioca.
Cassia, a species of laurel. (L. - Gk. -
Heb.) L. casta, cassia. Gk. Kaoia, a spice
like cinnamon. Heb. getsi'dth, in Ps. xlv
8, a pi. form from qetsl 'oh, cassia-bark.
Heb. root qdtsd ', to cut away ; because the
bark is cut off.
Cassimere ; sec Cashmere.
Cassock, a vestment. (F. Ital.) F.
casaqtte. Ital. casacca, an outer coat. Of
uncertain origin.
Cassowary, a bird. (Malay.) First
brought from Java. Malay kasuwdri.
Cast. ^Scand.) Icel. kasta, to throw ;
Swed. kasta ; Dan. kaste. Der. re-cast.
Castanets, instruments used for
making a snapping noi^e. (F. Span.
L. Gk.) F. castagnettes, 'finger-knack-
ers, wherewith players make a pretty
noise in some dances;' Cot. Span, tas-
tanetas, castanets ; pi. of castafieta, a
snapping noise resembling the cracking of
roasted chestnuts. Span, castafta, a chest-
nut. Lat. castanea, the chestnut-tree.
Cik. KOLGTOLVOV ; see Chestnut.
Caste, a breed, race. (Pott.-L.) Port
casta, a race, orig. a * pure' breed ; a name
given by the Port, to classes of men m
India. Port, casta, fern, of casto, pure.
L. castus, pure, chaste.
Castigate. (L.) L. castigates, pp. of
casttgdre, to chasten ; lit. ' to keep pure.'
L. castus, chaste. Doublet, chastise.
Castle. (L.) A. S. casteL - L. cas-
CATAPLASM
tellum, dimin. of castmm, a fortified
place. Der. castell-an, O. North F, caste-
lain, O. F. chastelain, the keeper of a
chaste^ or castle ; also chatelaine (fern. o
Y.chdtefain Q.lc.chastelain}, now applied
to a lady's chain or 'keeper* of keys,
&c.
Castor. (L. -Gk.) L. castor. -Ok.
Kaarup, a beaver. But of Eastern origin ;
cf. Malay kasturi, Skt. kastiiri, musk ;
Pers. khaz, beaver.
castor-oil. Named from some con-
fusion with castor earn, ' a medicine made
of the liquor contained in the little bags
that are next the beaver's groin ; ' Kersey.
But it is really a vegetable production.
Castrate. (L.) L. casttatus, pp. of
castrare, to cut.
Casual. (F.-L) F casuel. - L. ctisu-
ahsj happening by chance. L. cdsu-,
stem of cdsus, chance. See Case (i).
Cat. (E.) A. S. tat.+ Du., Dan. kat,
Icel. kottr, Sw. katt, G. katcr, katze\ L.
cdttts, W. cath, Ir. Gael, cat, Russ. kot\
koshka, Arab, qitt, Turk. kedi. (Prob.
Eastern.)
Cata-, prefix. (Gk.) Gk. /tara, down,
thoroughly.
Cataclysm, deluge. (Gk.) Gk. Kara-
K\vfffji6s } a dashing over, flood. Gk. fcard,
down ; /t\v(iv t to dash, \\ "'sh, as waves.
Catacomb. (Ital. - L.) Ital. cata-
comba y a sepulchral vault. Late L. cata-
cumbas ; of which the sense and origin are
unknown.
Catafalque, a stage or platform,
chiefly used at funerals. (F. Ital.) F.
catafalque. Ital. catafalco j of unknown
origin. See Scaffold.
Catalepsy, a sudden seizure. (Gk.)
Formeily catalepsis. Gk. /ca- r d\iji//is t a
grasping, seizing. Gk. /card, down; Aa/i-
j8avtv, to seize.
Catalogue. (F.-Gk.) F. catalogue.*
Late Lat. ace. catalogum, Gk. aTaAo7oj,
a counting up, em olment. Gk. /rara, fully ;
\7fti/, to say, tell ; see Logic.
Catamaran, a sort of raft. (Tamil.)
In Forbes, Hindustani Diet., ed. 1859,
p. 289, we have 'katwaran, a inft . . ; the
woid is orig. Tamil, and means tied logs.'**
Tamil /fott//, binding ; maraw, wood
(Yule).
Cataplasm, a poultice. (F.-L.-
Gk.) F. cataplasme. \.j t catapla$WQ.*~
Gk. /car<iirAo(rfia, a plaster, poultice. Gk.
dffacit', to spread over. Gk. tcard,
79
CATAPULT
fully ; and ir\daff(iv t to mould ; see
Plaster.
Catapult. (Late L.-Gk.) Late L.
catapulta, an engine for throwing stones.
Gk. Karaw{\Tr)s, the same. Gk. Kara,
down ; iraAA*, to swing, hurl.
Cataract. (L. Gk.) L. cataracta,
Gen. vii. ll. Gk. KaTafifiditrrjs, as sb., a
waterfall ; as adj., broken, rushing down.
Prob. allied to Kara f> pf}y w /, I break
down ; the 2 aor. /caTffifidyrjv was used
of the rushing clown of waterfalls and
storms. Gk. /card, down ; firjyvvfJit, I
break.
Catarrh. (F. - Late L. - Gk.) F.
catarrhe. Late L. catarrhus. Gk.
tfara/5/5ooy, a flowing down (of rheum),
a cold in the head. Gk. /card, down ; and
/Jcctv, to flow.
Catastrophe. (Gk.) Gk. KaTaffTpo<f>rj t
an overturning, sudden turn. Gk. /card,
down ; orpi<f>*tv, to turn.
Catch. (F.-L.) O. Picard cachier,
variant of O. F. chacier, to hunt, chase ;
hence, to catch. It answers to Ital. cac-
ciare, Late L. *captiare, extended form of
L. captdre, to catch. L. captus, pp. of
capere, to seize, ^f We even find M. Du.
kaetsen, to catch, borrowed from Picard
cockier. The M. E. pt. t. caitjte imitated
fauj/e, pt. t. of M. E. lacchen, to catch.
Doublet, chase (i).
Catechise. (L. Gk.) Late L. cate-
chizare, Gk. KCLTIJXI&W, to catechise,
instruct ; lengthened form of Karrjx^f^t to
din into one's ears, lit. 'to din down.'
Gk. KOLT-d, down ; %x f * v > to sound ; cf.
i}x 5 & ringing in the ears ; see Echo.
Category, a cla^s. (Gk.) Gk. tcarrj-
yopia, an accusation ; but in logic, a pre-
dicament or class. Gk. Karrjyopfiv, to
accuse. Gk. Kar~d, down, against; *<ryo-
/xtV, with the sense of dyopcvew, to declaim,
address an assembly, from dyopd, an
assembly.
Catenary, belonging to a chain ; used
of the curve in which a chain hangs. (L.)
From L. catena, a chain ; see Chain.
Cater, to buy provisions. (F. L)
Formed as a verb from M. E. cat our, a
buyer of provisions (whom we should now
call a cater-er}. Catour is shoit for
acatour, formed from acat, a buying, pur-
chase, Ch. prol. 571. O. F. acat (mod.
F. achaC), a buying. Folk-L. acaptum^ a
purchase; for accaptum.-* Folk-L. accap-
tare t to purchase (A. D. 1060), frequent, of
CATTLE
accipere, to receive, also to buy; see
Accept and Gates.
Cateran, a Highland robber. (Gael.)
Low L. cateranus, answering to Gael.
ceathaime, lit. ' common people ; ' cf.
ceathairne-choille, s. pi., freebooters, out-
laws. From Irish cethern* ceithern, a
tioop, band; cf. L. catenta, a band of
men. See Kern.
Catercousin. (F.-L.) Nares (ed.
1876) has : ' Cater-cousins , friends so
familiar that they cat together.' If so,
the word is from cater, vb., and
cousin
Caterpillar. (F.-L.) Adapted from
O. F. chalepehse, a caterpillar (Godefroy);
the latter half of the word was assimilated
to piUct'i one who pills , or robs or spoils.
O. F. chatepelose is lit. 'hairy she-cat.'
O. F. chatc, fern, of chat, cat ; pelosc,
hairy. L. catus, cat ; pilosus, hairy, from
pilus, a hair.
Caterwaul. (E.) M. E. fatenvawen\
coined from cat, and waivcn, to make a
wailing noise.
Cates, provisions. (F. L.) So called
because provided by the catour^ mod. E.
cater-er ; see Cater. * Cater, a steward, a
provider of cates\* Baret (1580).
Cathartic, purging. (Gk.) Gk. ica$ap-
ritfos, purgative. Gk. ifa0ai'/>cii>,to cleanse,
purge. Gk. icaOapos, pure.
Cathedral. (L. - Gk.) L. cathe-
dralis ecclcsia 'z. cathedral church, or one
which has a bishop's throne. Late L.
cathedra, a throne. Gk. /rafa'fya, a seat.
Gk. /caO-, for /card, down ; and (Spa, a
seat, chair, from t(o^ai ( = 48-^o/iat N , I sit;
see Sit.
Catholic. (L. - Gk.) L. catholuus
(Tertullian.) Gk. xaOoKiKos, universal.
Gk. KaOoK-ov, adv., on the whole, in
general. Gk. icaO-, for icard, according
to ; and o\ov, gen. of oAos, \vhole.
Catkin. (I^u.) A loose spike of
flowers, named from its i>oft downy ap-
pearance. M. Du. kattckcn, 'a kitling,*
Hexham. (It also meant 'catkin'; cf.
F. chattons in Cot.) Dimin. of Du. kat, a
cat (M. I hi katte}.
Catoptric, relating to optical icflec-
tion. (Gk.) Gk. Karo-nrpiK^, reflexive.
Gk. Karoirrpov, a mirror. Gk. tcar-& t
down, inward ; cir-To^m, I see, with suffix
-rpot', of the instrument.
Cattle. (F. L.) M.E. catel, property ;
hence, live stock, cattle. O. Noith F.
80
CAUCUS
catd. Late L. capitate, capital, property ;
see Capital (2) and Chattels.
Caucus, a name applied to certain
political meetings. (American Indian?)
Said to be from an Algonkin word mean-
ing to speak, to counsel, whence kaw-kaiv-
asu, a counsellor. * Their elders, called
cawcaivwassoughcs'j Capt. Smith's Works,
ed. Arber, p. 347. * Caucorouse, which is
captaine;' id. p. 377. ^f This is moie
likely than the entirely unsupported story
about caulkers' meetings
Caudal, belonging to the tail. (L.) L.
cauda, the tail.
Caudle, a waim drink. (F. L.) O.
North F. caudd, O. F. chaudel, a sort of
warm drink. O. F. chattel, chald, hot.
L. calduSj for calidus, hot.
Caul, a net, covering, esp. for the head.
(F.) O. F. cale, 'a kind of little cap ; '
Cot. Origin unknown.
Cauldron ; see Caldron.
Cauliflower. (F. L.) Formerly
colyjlory. From M. PZ. col (O F. col}, a
cabbage ; and flory, from O. F. Jlori,
fieuri, pp. of Jleurir, to flourish. The
O. F. col is from L. ace. cauleni, from
caulis^ a cabbage ; andyfc/7> is from L.
fiorere, to flourish. See Cole and Flourish.
Caulk, Calk. (F. - ],) M. E.
cauken, to tread ; hence, to squeeze in (as
oakum into a ship's seams). O. F. can-
quo, to tread; to tent a wound with lint.
L. cakdre, to tieacl, force down by
pressure. L. talc-, stem of calx, the heel.
Cause. (F. L ) F. cause. - L. causa,
caussa, a cause. Der. cause, vb.
Causeway, a paved way, raised way.
(F. L. ; auaE.) Formerly caus-ey-way ;
by adding way to M. E. cause, causie,
cazisey. Q. North F. caucie (mod. F
chausse'e, Prov. causada, Span, calzada}.
Late L. calcidta, for calcidta ma, a paved
way. Late L. cakiatus, pp. of cakidrc,
to make a roadway by treading it down ;
from L. cakdre, to tread. L. calc-, stem
of calx, heel ; see Caulk.
Caustic. (L. Gk ) L. caustitus. -
Gk. /caverns*, burning. Gk. Kavaros,
burnt. Gk. tcaiciv (fut. tfavaca), to burn.
cauterise. (F.-Late L.-Gk.) F.
cauteriset\ \A,\.t L. cautenzdre, to sear.
Gk. Kavrrjptafav, to sear. Gk. Kavrr)-
ptov, a branding-iron. Gk. Kaitiv, to
burn (above).
Caution. (F.-L.) F. caution. - L.
ace. cautionem, heed. L. cant us, pp. of
CEIL, CIEL
cauere, to beware. Cf. Skt. kavi(s\ wise.
Brugm. i. 635. Der. pre-caution.
Cavalier. (F. Ital. L.) F. cava-
lier, a horseman. Hal. cavaliere, the
same. L. caballarium, ace. of caballarius^
the same. L. caballus, a horse. See
Chevalier.
cavalcade. (F. - Itai. - L.) F.
cavalcade. Ital. cavahaia, a tioop of
horsemen; orig. fern, of pp. of cavahare,
to ride. Ital. cavallo, a horse. L. ca-
bal lum, ace. of caballus, a horse.
cavalry. (F. - Ital. - L.) O. F.
cavalier ie. Ital. cavalleria, cavalry.
Ital. cavaliere, a knight ; see Cavalier.
Cave. (F.-L.) M. E. caue.-Q. F.
(ave, a cave Folk-L. cava, a cave. L.
cauus, hollow. (^KEU.) Der. cav-ity\
cav-ern (F. caverne, L. lauerna}.
Cave in. (M. Du.) Properly to
calve in, a phrase introduced by Da.
navvies. Cf. W. Flanders inkalven, to
cave in ; E. Friesic kalfen, to calve as a
cow, whence half en /, to ca\e in. The
falling portion of earth is compared to a
calf dropped by a cow. Confused with
cave, a hollow.
Caveat, a caution. (L.) L. caueat,
lit. let him beware. L. cauere, to beware.
Caviare, roe of the sturgeon. \F.
Ital.) F. caviar. Ital. ivtaro\ whence
also Turk, khavyar, caviare.
Cavil. (F.-L.) O. F. caviller. -L.
cauilldri, to banter ; hence, to wrangle,
object to. L. cauilla, a jeering, cavil-
ling.
Caw. (E.) An imitation of the cry of
the crow or daw. Cf. Du. kaauw, Dan.
kaa , a jackdaw : which are imitative.
Cayman, an American alligator. (Ca-
ribbean.) Also caiman. The spelling
cayman is Spanish. Caribbean aiayiiman
(Littre).
Cease. (F. L.) F.f&rttr. L. cessare^
to loiter, go slowly, cease ; frequent, of
cedere (pp. cessus^, to yield, go away,
g-
Cedar, a tree. (F. - L. - Gk.) O. F.
cedre. L. cedrus. Gli. K*t>pos.
Cede. (L.) A late word (A. D. 1633).
L. cedere^, to go, to come, to yield.
Ceil, Ciel, to line the inner roof or
walls of a room. (F.-L.) Hence the
sb. ceil-ing or ciel-ing. M. E. ceekn> to
ceil ; from the sb. syle or cyll, a canopy.
F. del, a canopy ; the same word as V7,
heaven. [Cf. Ital. cido, heaven, a canopy,
81
CELANDINE
a cieling.]L. catum, heaven, fl Not to
be confused with E. sill, nor with seal ; nor
with seel (F. siller] \ nor with L. celdre,
to hide. The L. calare, to emboss, seems
to have had some influence on the word,
but did not originate it ; cf. M. 1. celure,
a canopy. Late L. ccelatura.
Celandine, a plant (F.-Gk.) O.K.
celidoine Late L. celidonia. - L. c heli-
donia. - Gk. x f ^ l ^ J/iOV ) swallow-wort.
Gk. x t ^ i ft v ~> stem of x ^ l ^ y t a swallow.
(The n is intrusive. )
Celebrate. (L) L. celebratus, pp.
of celebrare, to frequent, to solemnise,
honour. L. celeber, frequented, populous.
Celerity. (F.-L.) F. r^v/^.-L.
ace. celentattm, speed. L. celer, quick
Cf. Gk. WAqs, a runner; Brugm. i. 63?,.
Celery. (F.-L.-Gk.) F. ctleri, in-
troduced from the Piedmontese Ital. scl-
leri ; for Ital. selini, pi. of selino, parsley.
L. seltnon, parsley. Gk, attuvov, a kind
of parsley.
Celestial. (F.-L.) O.F. celestieL
L. c&lesti-s, heavenly. L. ccelum,
heaven.
Celibate. (L.) The orig. sense was
' a single life ' ; it was afterwards an adj.,
and again a sb., meaning * one who is
single. L. cahlhitus, sb. celibacy, single
life. L. calib*, stem of Calebs, single, un-
married. Der. celibacy (for *cahbatia).
Cell. (L.) M. E cclU. - L. cella,
small room, hut. Cf. celdre, to hide.
See Helm (2). (-/KEL )
Cellar. (F.-L ) M. F. celer. A. F.
celer \ O. F. celier. L. cellarium, a cellar.
-L. cella (above).
Celt (i), a name originally given to the
Gauls. (C.) From L. pi Celta, the
Celts ; the word probably meant ' war-
riors * ; cf. A. S. hild, Icei. hildr, wai ;
Lith. kalti, to strike ; L pcr-cellere^ to
btrike through, beat down (Rhys).
Celt (2), a primitive chisel or axe.
(Late L.) Late L. celtis, assumed nom.
of the abl. celte (-with a chu>el), in the
Vulgate Version of Job xix. 24. But this
reading is due to some error, and there
seems to be no such word in Latin.
Cement. (F.-L.) O Tt.dmwt-
L. c<p>nentitm, rubble, chippings of stone ;
hence, cement. Perhaps tor *cadmentum,
from ccedcre, to cut (Biugm. i. 587).
Cemetery. (L.~Gk.) Late L came-
terium. Gk. fcoi^r-fiptov, a sleeping-place,
cemetery. Gk. Koip&w, I lull to sleep ; in
CENTAUR
pass., to fall asleep. Allied to Kftfjtat t I
lie down ; Skt. f/, to lie down.
Cenobite. (L. - Gk.) L. c&nobita,
a member of a (social) fraternity (Jerome).
L. c&nobium, a convent. Gk. icoivo&tw,
a convent. Gk. KOIVO&IOS, living socially.
Gk. icoiv6-s, common ; jStosr, life.
Cenotaph. (F. - L. - Gk.) O. F.
cenotaphe. L. cenotaj>hium. (jk. Ktvo-
T&QIOV, an empty tomb. Gk. Kev6-s,
empty; r(ty-o?, a tomb.
Censer. (F. L.) M. E. cemer.
O. F. ccnsier, senscr (Godefroy) ; short-
ened from C). F. encensier.~\Ate L. in-
censarium, also incensorium (whence
mod. F. cncensoir}. L. mcensutn, in-
cense ; from pp. of inccndere, to kindle.
See Incense.
Censor. (L.) L. censor, a taxer, valuer,
assessor, critic. L. censete, to give an
opinion, appraise. 4*Skt fams, to praise.
censure. (F. L. ) F. censure. L.
censura, orig. opinion. L. censere
(above).
Census. (L.) L. census, a register-
ing. L, centre (above).
Cent, a hundred, as in per cent. (L.)
In America, the hundiedth part of a
dollar. L. centum, a hundred ; see
Hundred.
centenary. (L.) L. centcndrius,
relating to a hundred. L. centenus, a
hundred (usu. distributively). L. centum.
centennial. (L) Coined to mean
relating to a century L. ccnt-um, hun-
dred ; ann-us t a year.
Centesimal. (L.) L. centesim-us r
hundredth L cent- ui, hundred.
centigrade. (L.) Divided into a
hundred cfegreeb. L ccnti-, for centum ^
hundred ; gtad-us^ a degree ; see Grade.
centipede, centiped. (F.-L.) F.
centipede L. cfntipcaa, a many-footed
(lit. hundred -looted) insect L ctnti-, for
centum, hundred; and ped-, stem of /<?.$,
foot.
Centuple. (!-") T- centuplcx (stem
ccntuplic-}, a hundredfold. L. cent it -m y
hundred ; plic-an, to fold.
centurion. iL.) L. ace centwio-
ncm, a captain of a hundred. L. centnria
(below)
Century. (F. L) Y.cfntmie.**
L. ccntuna, a body of a hundred men ;
number of one hundred. L. centu-m^
hundred
Centaur. (L, Gk.) L. Centawus.
82
CENTAURY
Gk. KtvravpoSy a centaur, a creature half
man and half horse; which some have com-
pared with Skt. gandharvas, a demi-god.
centaury, a plant (L.-Gk.) L
centaurea. Gk, Ki'ravptcv, centaury ; a
plant named from the Centaur Chiron.
Centenary ? Centennial, Centu-
ple, Centurion, &c. ; see Cent.
Centre, Center. (F.- L.-Gk.) F.
centre. L. centrum. Gk. Ktvrpw, a
spike, goad, prick, centre. Gk. **>T&W,
I goad on. Cf. W. cethr, a spike.
centrifugal, %ing from a centre
(L.) L. centri-^ for ccnt)0~, stem of cen-
trum ; andfug-ere, to fly.
centripetal, tending towards a
centre. (L.) L. centn- (above); pet-ere,
to seek.
Ceramic, relating to pottery. (Gk.)
Gk./cc^ajuttf-os, adj. Gk. tcpa(jt-os, potter's
earth. Cf. xcpavvvfu (fut tf/>a<ro>), I mix.
Cere, to coat with wax. (L.) L.
cerdre, to wax L. cera, wax.-f-Gk. tcypos,
wax.
Cerecloth. (L. and E.) Lit. a waxed
cloth.
cerement. 'L.) From cere\ with
suffix -ment (L. -mentuni}.
ceruse, white lead (F.-L.) O. F.
ceruse. L. cerussa, white lead. L. cera ,
wax.
Cereal, relating to corn. (L.) L.
ccrcdhs. 1u. ceres, corn.
Cerebral, relating to the brain. (L )
From L. cerebr-um, the brain. Cf. Gk.
xApa, the head. Brugm. i. 619.
Cerecloth, Cerement ; see Gere.
Ceremony. (F. L.) M. E cere-
mome.<Y. rfrfrnom'e. L. carimoma, a
ceremony, rite.
Certain. (F. - L.) O. F. cettein,
certain L. cerf-us, sure; with suffix
-anus. Allied to L. cernere, to discrimi-
nate ; Gk. Kpivtiv, to separate, decide.
certify. (F.-L.) M. E. ccrtifien.-
F. certtfier. Late L. certificare, to make
sure. L. certi-, for cerfo-^ stem of artus
(above) ; and -fic~, forfac-ere, to make.
Cerulean, azure. (L.) L. caruleus,
c&rulus, blue; for *caluleus> *c(?lulus, from
calum^ sky. Brugm. i. 483.
Ceruse, white-lead ; see Cere.
Cervical, belonging to the neck. (L.)
From L. certth-, stem of certtix, neck.
Cervine, relating to a hait. (L.) L.
ferufn-us. L. ceru-u$> a hart ; see Hart.
Cess, limit, measure. (F. - L.) In
CHAIR
i Hen. IV. ii. i. 8. Orig. a tax, rate,
rating, assessment ; see Spenser, State of
Ireland, Globe ed., p. 643, col. 2. For
sess; from sess, verb, to rate; which is
short for Assess.
Cessation. (F.-L.) F. cessation.
L. ace. cessationem, a ceasing, L. cessa-
ttiS) pp. of cessare, to cease. L. cessus
(below).
Cession. (F. - L.) F. cession. - L.
ace. cessionem, a yielding. L. cessits, pp.
of cedere, to yield, to cede.
Cess-pool. (Hybrid.) Most probably
equiv. to (se)cess-pool; see N. E. D. Cf.
Ital. cesso, a privy (Torriano) ; which is
a shortened form of seccsso, a retreat.
L. secessus, ' the draught ; ' Matt. xv. 1 7
(Vulgate).
Cetaceous, of the whale kind. (L.
Gk.) L. cettts. Gk. Krjros, a sea-monster.
Ch.
Chablis, a vthite wine. (F.) From
Chablis^ 1 2 mi. E. of Auxerre, in the de-
partment of Yonne, France.
Chafe, to warm by friction, vex. (F.
L.) M. E. chaufen^ to warm. O. F.
chaufer (F. chatt/er), to warm ; cf. Prov.
calfar, to warm. Late L. *calefare, to
warm ; for L. calefacere, *o warm, make
to glow. L. ca/e-re, to glow; facere, to
make.
Chafer, Cockchafer. (E.) A.S.
cefer (also ceafor] , a kind of beetle. -J-Du.
kever\ G kafer.
Chaff. (E.) A. S. ceaf, later chaf, husk
of gram +Du. kaf\ Low G. kaff. % The
verb to ihaff^io chafe, i. e. vex. So also
chaff-wax^ for chafe-wax.
chaffinch, a bird. (E.) I.e. chaff-
finch \ it fiequents barn-doors.
Chaffer. (E.) The verb is from the
M. E. sb. chapfare^ also chaffare, a bargain-
ing. ** A. S. cccipi a bargain, and foru, a
journey, also business ; see Cheap and
Fare.
Chaffinch ; see Chaff:
Chagrin. (F.) F. chagrin, melan-
choly. [Diez identifies it witn F. chagrin^
shagreen ; but wrongly.]
Chain. (F. L.) O. F. chaine^ ckatou.
L. catena, a chain.
Chair. (F.-L. Gk.) M. E. cbaire,
chaere. Q F. chaitre, chatre.L* cathe*
> a throne, raised seat, chair. Gk.
, a seat. - Gk. *o0-, for *ar<4, down;
CHAISE
5(5pa, a seat, from c^o/icu (
I sit ; see Cathedral, Sit.
Chaise, a light carriage. (F. L.-
Gk.) F. chaise, a chair, also, a chaise ; a
Parisian modification of F. chaire, a pulpit,
orig. a seat.
Chalcedony, a kind of quartz. (L. -
Gk.) L. chaL'edonius , Rev. xxi. 19. Gk.
Xa\Krj^wv t Rev. xxi. 19.
Chaldron, a coal- measure. (F. L.)
O. F. chaldion, orig. a caldron; see
Caldron.
Chalice, a cup. (F. L.) A. F. chalice ;
O. F. cahce. L. calicem, ace. of calix, a
cup. Allied to calyx y but not the same
word.
Chalk. (L.) M. E. chalk. - A. S. ccah
(Southern). L. calc-, stem of calx, lime.
Challenge. (F. - L.) M. E. chalenge,
calenge, often in the sense 'a claim.'
A. F. chalenge, O. F. chalonge, calcnge, a
dispute, claim ; an accusation. L. calum-
m'a, false accusation ; see Calumny.
Chalybeate. (L. - Gk.) Used of
water containing iron. Coined from L.
chalyb-s, steel. Gk. \a\v\^ (stem \a.\vfi-},
steel ; named from the Chalybes, a people
of Pontus, who made it.
Chamber. (F.-L.-Gk.) F. cham
bre\ Prov. camlra. L. camera, camara,
a vault, vaulted room, room. Gk. Kapapa,
a vaulted place.
chamberlain. ( F. - O. H . G. - L. -
Gk.) F. chamberlain, O. F. ch a nib) -dene.
O. H. G. chamerhm, M. H. G. kamerlinc,
one who has the care of rooms; formed
with suffix -l-tnc (the same as *>-/-/;/>,
from L. camera (above).
Chameleon. (L.-Gk.^ L chame-
leon. Gk. xanat-ktuv, lit. a ground-lion,
dwarf-lion ; a kind of lizaid. Gk. x a /* ai
on the ground (also dwarf, in comp.) ; and
AtW, lion. Cf. L. humi, on the ground.
Chamomile. (Late L. -Gk.) Late
L. camomilla (chamomiUa\ Gk. xapai-
M\ov t lit. ground-apple, from the apple-
like smell of the flower. Gk. xap.ai-, on
the ground (see above) ; pij\ov, apple.
Chamois. (F. - G.) F. chamois ;
borrowed from some Swiss dialectal form;
cf. Piedmontese camossa. M. H. G. gamz
(for *gamuz), a chamois (G. gemse}.
Champ, to eat noisily. (E.) Formerly
cham or chamm ; of imitative origin, like
jam, to crush. Cf. Swed. dial, kamsa, to
chew with difficulty.
Champagne. (F. - L.) A wine
CHAP
named from Champagne in France, which
means ' a plain ' ; see below.
Champaign, open country. (F.-L.)
In Sh. F. champaigite, of which the Picard
form was campaigjie ; see Campaign.
Champak, a tree. (Skt.) Skt. cham-
paka> the champak.
Champion. (F.-L.) O.Y.cAam-
pion. 1 L. campionem, ace. of campio, a
combatant (Isidore). L. campus, a place
for military exercise; a peculiar use of
campus, a field. See Camp.
Chance, hap. (F. - L.) M. E. chcaunce.
O. F. cheance, chaancc. Late L. caden-
tia, a falling, a chance. L. cadere> to fall,
happen; see Cadence.
Chancel. (F.-L.) So called because
orig. fenced off by a latticed screen.
O. F. chancel, an enclosure fenced off with
an open screen. Late L. cancel I us, a
chancel, screen ; L. cancclli, pi. , a grating;
see Cancel.
Chancellor. (F.-L.) p. F. chance-
Her. Late L. ace. cancelldrinm, a chan-
cellor ; orig. an officer who stood near the
screen before the judgment-seat. L. can-
celll, a grating ; see Chancel, Cancel.
Chancery. (F. L.) onchancchy.
M . E . cham elerie. O.K. chancellerie.
Late L. cancel/ana, the record-room of a
cancellarius ; see Chancellor.
Chandelier. (F.-L.^ O.F. chande-
lier, a candle-holder. Late L. cande-
Idrius, m. ; cf. candeldna, a candle-stick.
L. candela; see Candle.
Chandler. (F.-L.) O.F. chandelier,
a chandler. Late L. candelarius, a
candle-seller. L. candcla ; see Candle.
Der. corn-chandler, where chandler merely
means seller, dealer.
Change, vb. (F. L.) O. F. changer,
changicr. ^^te L. camlndre, to change
(Lex Salica). L. camlire* lo exchange.
Cf. Late L. cambium, exchnnge ; whence
F. change, E. change, sb.
Channel. (I 4 . L) ME. chanel,
canel. O. F. chancl, cancl^ a canal. L.
ace. candlem ; see Canal.
Chant. (F.-L.) F . chanter, vb . - L.
cantdre, to sing ; frequent, of canere, to
sing. Der. chant-ry, M.E. chauntcne,
Late L. (.antdria*, chanli-deer, M.E.
chaunte-cleer, clear-singing.
Chaos. (Gk.) L. chaos, Lat. spelling
of Gk. \aos, chaos, abyss, lit a cleft. Cf.
Gk. xaaKtw, to gape. See Chasm.
Chap (i), to cleave, ciack. (E.) M. E,
CHAP
chappen, to cut; hence, to gape open like
a wound made by a cut. E. Fries, happen,
to cut ; not found in A. S.-f-M. Du. happen,
to cut ; Swed. kappa, Dan. kappe, to cut ;
G. happen, to cut, lop. See Chop (i).
Chap (2) ; see Chapman.
Chapel. (F.-L.) O. F. ehapele.-
Late L. cappella, orig. a shrine in which
was preserved the capa or cope of St.
Martin (Brachet).-Late L. capa, cappa,
cape, hooded cloak; see Cape (i).
Chaperon. (F.-L.) F. chaperon, a
protector ; orig. a kind of hood.- F. chape,
a cope. Late L. capa \ as above.
Chapiter, the capital of a column.
(F. L.) O. F. chapitre, usually a chapter
of a book, but representing L. capitutum,
which meant * chapiter ' as well as
* chapter.* See Chapter.
Chaplet . (F.-L. i M. E. chapelet. -
O. F. chapelet, a head-dress, wreath.
O. F. chapel, head-dress. - O. F. chape, a
cope ; see Chaperon.
Chapman, a merchant. (E.) The
familiar chap is merely short iof chapman.
A. S. ceapman, a merchant. A. S. ccap,
price, barter (see Cheap) ; and man, man
Chaps, Chops, the jaws. (E.) A
late word, of unknown origin ; possibly
from Chap (i). ^f Perhaps suggested by
North E. c hafts or chaffs, jaws (Cleveland
Gloss.).- Icel. kjaptr (pt pron. as //), the
jaw ; Swed. kaft, Dan. kiaft, jaw.
Chapter, a division of a book, synod
of clergy. (F. - L.) M. E. chapitre, in both
senses. F. chapitre, variant of an older
form chapitle. L. capitulum, a chapter
of a book (little head) ; also, in Late L.,
a synod; dimin. of caput, a head.
Char (i), a turn of work. (E.) Also
chare, chore, chewrc ; M. E. cher, char,
orig. a turn, hence, a space of time, turn
of work, &c. - A. S. cerr (below). Hence,
char-woman, a woman who does a turn of
work. See Ajar.
char (2), usually chare, to do a
turn of work. (E ) M. E. cherrcn, char-
ren, to turn ; A. S. cert an, to turn. A. S.
cerr (cierr, cyrr], a turn. [[ The sense
* burn ' is later than the appearance of the
sb. char-coal.
Char (3), a fish. (C. ) Of unknown
origin; perhaps named from its red belly
[the W. name is torgoch, red-bellied, from
tor, belly, and cock, red].-O. Gael, ceara,
red, from cear, blood; Irish cear, red,
also blood.
CHASE
Character. (L.-Gk.) L. character.
-Gk. x a />a*T^an engraved or stamped
mark. Gk. xapaacrtiv, to furrow, scratch,
engrave.
Charade. (F. - Prov.) F. charade,
introduced from Provengal charrada> a
long talk, from charra, to chatter (Supp.
to Littre) ; cf. Languedoc charrade, idle
talk. Cf. also Span, chart ada, speech or
action of a clown, from Span, charro, a
clown, peasant.
Charcoal. (E.) From char and coal;
but the sense of char remains unknown ;
some refer it to M. E. cherren, to turn (as
if to turn to coal), but there is no proof
of this. See char (2).
Charge. (F.-C.) F. charger, to
load. Late L. carricare, to load a car.
L. carrtts, a car, a Gaulish word; see
Cark, Car. Der. charg-er, a dish or hoise,
because carrying a burden.
Chariot. (F. C.) F. chariot, aug-
mentative of F. char, a car. L. carrtts, a
car ; see Car.
Charity. (F.-L.) O.F. charitet.-
L. ace. cdritatem, love. L. carus, dear.
Brugm. i. 637. fl" Not allied to Gk.
Charlatan. (F.-Ital.) . charlatan.
Ital. ciarlatano, a mountebank, great
talker, prattler. -Ital. ciai 'are, to prattle;
ciarla, prattle ; prob. of imitative origin.
Charlock, a kind of wild mustard.
(E.) Pnr,. E. carlock. - A.S. cerlic\
origin unknown.
Charm, t F. - L ) M. E. charme, sb.
-O. F. chartoe, an enchantment. -L. car-
men, a song, enchantment.
Charnel. (F.-L.) Properly an adj. ;
containing carcases, as in charnel-house.
O. F. charnel, adj. carnal ; as sb. a ceme-
tery. Late I- carnale, glossed by jlfischns
(flesh-house) ; Wright-Wulker, Voc. 184.
37. L earn all s\ see Carnal.
Chart. (F.-L.-Gk.) O. F. chart*.
L. charta, a paper. Gk. \afrn], a leaf
of paper. Doublet, card (i ).
charter. (F. - L. - Gk.) M. E.
chartre.~ O. F. charge. Late L cartttla,
a small paper or document. L. iharta, a
paper ; see above.
Chary, careful, cautious. (E ) M. E.
chart. A.S. cearig, full of care, sad.-
A. S. cectm, carti, care.4*Du. karig, G,
karg, sparing. Chary meant (i) sorrowful,
(2) heedful. See Care.
Chase (0> to hunt after. (F.-L.)
CHASE
O. F. charier, chacer t to pursue; see
Catch.
Chase (2), to enchase; short for en
chase, which see.
Chase (3), a printer's frame. (F. -L.)
F. chdsse, a shrine. L. capsa, a box ; see
Cas0 (2).
Chasm. (L. Gk.) L. chasma, a
gulf. Gk. x^^t a yawning cleft. Allied
to x a * K * ll 'y to gape ; see Chaos.
Chaste. (K. - L.) O. F. chaste. - L.
cast us, chaste ; see Caste.
Chasten. (F. - L.) Used in place of
M. E. chasty or chastien \ see below.
Chastise. (F. - L.) M. E. chastisen ;
shorter form chastien. O. F. chastier. L.
castigdre, lit. ' to make pure.' L. cashes,
chaste ; see Castigate.
Chasuble, a vestment. (F. - L.) F.
chasuble. Late L. casubula, with the same
sense as Late L. casula, a little house ;
hence, a mantle L casa, a cottage.
Chat, Chatter. (E.) M. E chateren,
also chiteren,\a chatter, twitter; frequent-
ative form of chat. An imitative word ;
cf. Du. kwetteren, to warble, chatter, Swed.
kvittra, to chirp.
Chateau. (F.-L^ F ch$feau,Q.Y
chaste I L. castellum, dimm. of cast rum,
a fortUied place. Der. castell-an ; also
chdtclaine ; for which see Castle.
Chattels, (F.-L.) PI. of M.E.
chatel, property, also cattle. O F. chatel,
0. North F. cattl, property ; see Cattle.
Chatter ; sec Chat.
Chaudron, entrails. (F.) Macb. iv
1 . 33. The r is inserted by confusion with
F. chaudron, a caldron. O F. chaudun,
older forms caudun, caldun, entrails
(Godefroyj. [Cf. G. kaldaunen, entrails ;
from Mid. Low G. kaldtinc, the same ]
Thought to be from Late L. calduna,
a dish containing entrails (Ducange). Per-
haps from L. calidu$, waim (F. chaud).
Chaw ; see Chew.
Chaws, by-form of Jaws ; see Jaw.
Cheap, at a low price ; ong. a sb. (E.)
M.E. cliep, cheep, barter, price; always a
sb. Hence, good cheap, in a good market
(F. ban marcht} ; whence E. cheap, used
as an adj. A. S. ceap, price ; whence the
verb ceapian, to cheapen, buy. So also
Du. koop, a bargain, koopen, to buy; G.
kauf, purchase, kaufcn, to buy; Icel.&aup,
Swed. kop, Dan. kiob, a purchase ; Goth.
kaupon (weak vb.), to traffic. [[Some
say that these words are borrowed from
CHEEK
L. ; in particular, that O. H. G. choufo, a
huckster, is from L. caupo, a huckster.
But this is now held to be unlikely (Kluge,
Franck).
Cheat, to defraud. (F. -L.) Cheat is
merely short for escheat ; cf. M. E. chete,
an escheat (Prompt. Parv.). The eschea-
ters were often cheaters ; hence the verb.
See Escheat.
Check, a sudden stop, repulse. (F.
Peis.) M. E. chek, a stop ; also check !
in playing chess. The word is due to the
game, which is very old. The orig. sense
of check was * king ' ' i. e. mind the king,
the king is in danger. O. F. eschec, * a
check at chess-play,' Cot. Fers. shdh,&
king, king at chess ; whence shah-mat,
check-mate, lit. ' the king is dead,' from
Aiab. mat, he is dead. Similarly we have
F. 4chec t a check, repulse, defeat, pi. tehees,
chess; Ital. scaao, a square of a chess-
board, also a check, defeat. See chess
below. <[fl)evic shews that O. F. eschec
represents Arab. esh~shag\ where esh is
for al, the def. art., and shag is the Arab,
pron. of Pers. shah
checker, chequer, to mark with
squares. (F. Pers/) To mark with
squares like those on a chess-board. M. E.
chekkei , ckekere, a chess- boat d. (Hence
7"he Checkers, an inn-sign WO. F. esche-
quier, a chess- board, ali>o, an exchequer.
Low L. scaccarium, a chess-board.
Low L. siacci, chess, pi. of scaccus, from
the Arab, form of Peis. shah, king.
checkers, chequers, an old name
for the game at draughts ; from ft&ihecker
or chess-board ; see above.
check-mate. (F. - Pers. and Arab.)
From Arab, ^shag-mat, for ihah~mat, the
king is dead; see Check.
cheque. (F. Pers.) A ]>edantic
spelling of check, from confusion with
exchequer ; it is really a name given to a
draft for money, of which one keeps a
memorandum or counter-check.
chess, the game of the kings. (F.
Pers.) Equivalent to checks, i.e. kings;
see Check above. O. F. esches, chess;
really the pi. of eschec, check, ong. * king.*
*f[ Fiom Pers. shdh y a king, were formed
O. F. eschec, F. tehee, E. check, Ital. scacco,
Span. xaque,jaque, Port, xaque, G. schach,
Du. schaak, Dan. skak, Swed. schack,
Low Lat. Indus scaccorum = game oif
checks, or of kings.
Cheek. (E.) M. E. cheke, cheokc. O.
86
CHEER
Merc, cece, A. S. ceace, cheek. f Dti. '
kaak y jaw, cheek ; Swed. kak, jaw.
Cheer. (F. L.) M. E. chere, orig.
the mien ; hence, * to be of good cheer?
O. F. chere, the face. Late L. cara,
face. (Relationship to Gk. fcapa, the head,
is doubtful.) Der. cheer-ful.
Cheese. (L.) M. E. these. O. Merc.
cese (A. S. f>w, for earlier *ctcse<*ceasi},
with f-mutation ; prehistoiic A. S. *ftSsi
< *casioz. L. caseus, cheese ; whence
other foims (G. kase, T)u. kaas) are bor-
rowed. Sieves, 2nd ed. 75. 2.
Cheeta, Cheetah, the hunting leo-
paid, a leopard used foi the chase. (Hind.
-Skt.) Hind. chita. Skt chitraka, a
cheeta ; fiom iliitra, spotted, aKo visi-
ble, clear. Skt. chit, to perceive. See
Chintz.
Chemise. (F. L.) F. chemise.
Late L. camisia, a shiit, thin dress;
whence O. Irish caimmse, shirt (Stokes).
Chemist, Chymist; short for al-
chemist ; see Alchemy.
Cheque, Chequer ; see Check.
Cherish. (l< . - L ) O. F. cherts-,
stem of pres. pt. of cherir, to hold dear.
F chcr, dear L cams, dear.
Cheroot, a cigar. ^Tamil.) Tamil
shitruttiiy a roll ; hence, a roll of tobacco
(Yule).
Cherry. (F. - L. - Gk ) M. E. cheri, a
mistake for cheris, the final s being mis-
taken for the pi. inflexion. O. North F.
cherise, O F. cerise ; representing Folk
L. *ceresia,
cerams, a cherry-
tree. Gk. Ktpaaos, a cherry-tree ; usually
said to come from Ccrasos, in Pontus ;
a story which Curtius doubts.
Chert, a kind of quartz. (?) Unknown.
Cf. Irish ceart, a pebble.
Cherub. ^Heb.) The tine pi v&chentb-
f/w. Heb. k ruv (pi. tftuv /";;/), a mystic
figure.
Chervil, a plant. (L.-Gk.) A.S cer-
flle. I; charephylla, pi. otch&rephyllum,
Gk. xaip4<j>v\\ov , chervil, lit. pleasant
leaf, Gk. xaip-w, to rejoice; <t>v\\ov,
leaf.
Chess; see Check.
Chest. (L. - Gk.) M. E. cheste, chiste.
A. S. fist. L. cista. Gk. Kiarrj, a chest,
box (whence G. ktste, &c.).
Chestnut, Chesnut. (F. - L. - Gk.)
Chesnut is short for chestnut, which is
short for chesten-nut, nut of the chesten,
which is the old name of the tree, called
CHICORY
in M. E. chestein. O.'F. chastaignt (F.
chcttaigne}, L. castanca, chestnut-tree.
Gk. KOLffravov, a chestnut. Chestnuts are
said to have been called Katrrava, or K&pva
.aravaia, from Rao-rava, Castana, the
name of a city in Pontus where they
abounded ; but more probably from Arm en.
kaskeui, a chestnut -tiee, from kask, a chest-
nut (Klnge).
Cheval-de-frise, an obstruction with
spikes. (F.) Lit. ' hoi se of Friesland,' a
jocular name; the pi. chevaux^de-Fiise is
commoner. See below.
Chevalier. (F.-L.) F. chevalier, a
horseman. F chcval, a horse. L. ca-
ballum, ace. of caballus, a horse.
Cheveril, kid leather. fF.-L.) O. F.
chcvrele, fern., a little kd. Dimin. of
O.F. chevre, F. chevre, a goat, kid. L.
caprant, ace. of capra, a she-goat.
chevron, an ordinary, in heraldry, re-
sembling t\\ o rafters of a house. (F. L,)
'Most likely meant to represent the saddle-
peak ^ Y.' chevron, ' a kid, a chevron in
building, a rafter;' Cot. Augmentative
form of chevre, a she-goat. L. capra, a
:? he-goat ; see Caper (i). Cf. L. capre-
olits, which likewise means a prop.
Chew, Chaw. (E.) M.E. chcwen.
A. S. cecnvan, to chew, eat.-f"Du kaauiven\
G. kauen ; O. H G.kntmri ; Russ.jwa/e.
Cf. also Icel. tyggja, tyggw, to chew
(Streitbergf).
Chibouk, a Tuikish pij^e. (Turk.)
Turk, chibfik, chybitk, a stick, tube, pipe
(Zenker, p. 349).
Chicanery. (F.-Pers.^) F. chtca-
nerie, wrangling, pettifogging; Cot. F.
chicaner, to wrangle; orig, to dispute in
the game of the mall or chicane (BrachetX
Perhaps from the medieval Gk. r&tc&vtov,
a word of Byzantine origin (id.) ; from
Pers. chaitgan, a club, bat.
Chicken. (,E,) Sometimes shortened
to chick ; but the M. E. word is chiken.
A. S. clcen, earlier *ciucin. -4- <Du. kieken,
kuiken, a chicken, Low G. kuken ; cf. G.
kuchlein, a chicken, Icel. kjukling, Swed.
kyckling\ related to Cock, which shews the
weak grade *cuc- ; see Cock (i). Sievers,
2nd ed. 165.
Chicory, a plant, succory. (F. L.
Gk.) F. chiiorte* L. cichorium.~ Gk.
Kixopia y neut. pi. ; also Kt^wfuov, tctx&pn>
succory, P. Succory is a comipter form
of the word, apparently for stcwry or
cichory, from L. cichorium*
CHIDE
Chide. (E.) M.E. chiden. A.S.cTctan,
to chide, brawl ; pt. t. cidde.
Chief. (F. - L.) M. E. chef, chief. -
O.K. chef, chief, the head. L. t)pe
*capum (Ital. capo}. L. capnt^ head.
Der. ker-chief, q. v.
Chieftain. (F. L.) Q.Y.chcvetatne.
Late L. capitaneus, capitanus, a captain.
L. capit-, from <#/?//, a head.
Chiffonier, a cupboard. (F.) Lit. a
place to put rags in. F. chiffonier, a rag-
picker, also a cupboard. F. chiffon, aug-
ment, of chiffe, a rag. Orig. unknown.
Chignon. (F. L.) Hair twisted;
another spelling of F. chahion, a link.
F. chatne, O. F. chaine, a chain. L. ca-
tena, a chain.
Chilblain. (E.) A blain caused by
a chill.
Child. (E) M.E. child. A.S. did.
Tetit. type *ki/f>om, neut. ; cf. Goth, kil-
thei, the womb.
Chill, cold. (E.) Orig. a sb. A. S.
celt, dele, chilliness. Teut. type *ka!iz,
sb. ; from *kal-an, to be cold, as in A. S.
calcw, to be cold, Icel. kala, to freeze. +
Du. kil t a chill ; cf. L. gelu, frost.
Chime, sb. (F. - L. - Gk ) M. E.
chitnbe, of which the orig. sense was cym-
bal ; henc; the chime or ringing of a cym-
bal. Shortened from O. F. chimbale, dia-
lectal form of O. F. cimbale, a cymbal.
L. cymbalum.Gk. KVH&O.KOV ; see Cym-
bal. N.B. We find M. E. chyme-belle,
which looks like a popular form for cymbal.
Der. chime, verb.
Chimera, Chimara. CL.-Gk.) L.
Mwwa. Gk. xtnaipa., a she-goat; also,
a fabulous monster, with a goat's body.
Gk. xiiwpos, he -goat.
Chimney. (F. L. Gk.) F. chemince,
*a chimney;' Cot. Late L. camlnata,
provided with a chimney; hence, a chimney.
L. caminus, an oven, a fire-place. Gk.
Kafiivos, oven, furnace.
Chimpanzee, an ape. (African.) I am
informed that the name is tsimpanzee in
the neighbourhood of the gulf of Guinea.
Chin. (E.) M. E. chin. A. S. cin.^f
Du. kin, Icel. kinn, Dan. kind, Swed.
kind ; Goth, kinnus, the cheek ; G. ktnn,
chin ; L. gena, cheek ; Gk. -yivvs, chin ;
cf. Skt. hanus, jaw.
China. (China.) Short for china-ware,
or ware from China. The name of the
people was formerly Chineses\ we have
dropped the final s, and use Chinese as a
CHIRURGEON
pi. ; hence Chinee in the singular, by a
second dropping of se.
Chinchilla, a small rodent animal.
(Span. - L.) Span, chinchilla, lit. ' a little
bug,' as if from its smell ; but undeservedly
so named. Span, chinche, a bug. L. d-
micem, ace. of cimcx, a bug.
Chinchona; the same as Cinchona.
ChinCOngh, whooping-cough. (.E )
For chink-cough; cf. Scotch kink-cough,
kink-host (host means cough}. A kink is a
catch in the breath, nasalised form of a
base *kik, to gasp. -f-Du. kinkhoest\ M.
Dvi.kieckhoest', Swed. kikhosta, chincough,
kikna, to gasp ; G. keichen, to gasp.
Chine. (F.-O.H.G.) O.F.^/;/*(F.
chine\, the back-bone. O.H.G.Jvfowtf, a
needle, prickle (G. schicne, a splint). For
the sense, cf. L. spina, a thorn, spine,
backbone.
Chink (i), a cleft. (E.) Formed with
suffixed k, from the base of M. E. chine, a
cleft, rift. A.S. cinu, a chink. A.S. cm-,
weak grade of clnan, to split (strong vb.).
4-Du keen, a chink, also a germ, kenen,
to bud ; cf. G. kcimen, Goth, keinan, to
bud. (Germinating seeds make a crack in
the ground )
Chink (2), to jingle. (E.) An imitative
word ; cf. clink, clank ; and see Chin-
cough. E. Fries, kinken (a strong vb.) ;
M. Dan. kinke.
Chintz. (Hindustani Skt.) Yoichints,
pi. of chint. Hind, chhint, spotted cotton
cloth, named from the variegated patterns
on it; chhlt, chintz, also a spot Skt.
<.hitra, variegated, spotted. See Cheeta.
Chip, vb. (E.^ Related (with a lighter
vowel; to i hap (i) or chop; as if to cut
a little at a time. Cf. A. S. for-cyppod,
gloss to praccisus v Lye; ; E. Fries, ktppen,
to cut.
Chirography, handwriting. (,Gk.)
From Gk. xtipoypatye'iv, to write with the
hand. Gk. \cipo-, from x**/> * ne hand;
ypa(p(ir, to write. Cf. chiro-mancy, foi-
tune- telling by the hand; Jiiro-pod-i$t>
one who handles (and cures) the feet.
Chirp. (E.) \\SQchirrnp. M. E.chir-
pen. Also M. E. chtrken, chinnen, to
chirp. The forms chir-p, chir-k, chir-m
are Irom an imitative base ; cf. Du.kirren t
to coo.
Chirnrgeon, the old spelling of sur-
geon. (F. L. Gk.) F. chintrgien,
4 a surgeon ; ' Cot. - F. chirurgie, sur-
gery. -L. ch7nirgia.~(jk. \ftpovpyia, a
CHISEL
working with the hands, skill with the I
hands, art, surgery. Gk. x et P~> from
v//>, the hand ; and tpyctv, to work.
Chisel. (F. - L.) M. E. chisel. - A. F.
chisel, O. F. tisel (F. ciseau). Cf. Late L.
ctsellus, scissors (A. D. 1352). O. F. cisel
answers to Late L. *ciscllum, with the
sense of L. cisoriuni* a cutting instrument
(Vegetius) ; see Scheler's note to Diez.
L. *clsum, for cces-um, supine of cadere,
to cut ; whence also Late L. incisor, a
carver, cutter ; see Caesura.
CMt (i), a pert child. (E.) M. E. chit,
a whelp, cub, kitten. Allied to kit-ling
(Icel. ketlingr), and to kit-ten] cf. G. kitze,
a female cat.
Chit (2), a shoot, sprout. (E.) In Hol-
land's Pliny, xui. 4. Perhaps allied to
M.E. chithe, a sprout (N.E.D.).-A. S.
ci8, a germ, sprout. Cf. Goth, keinan, to
produce a shoot ; G. keitn, a germ.
Chivalry. (F. L.) M. E. chivalrie.
QS.chevalerie, horsemanship, knighthood.
F. cheval* a horse. Late L. caballum,
ace. of caballw, a horse.
Chlorine, a pale green gas. (Gk )
Named from its colour. Gk.
green.
chloroform. (Gk. aWL.) The latter
element relates tofonnyl wA formic acid,
an acid formerly obtained fiom led ants.
\*. formica, an ant.
Chocolate, a paste made from cacao.
(Span. Mex.) Span, chocolate. Mex.
chocolatl, chocolate ; Clavigero, Hist.
Mex. i. 433. ^[ Not allied to cacao,
Choice. (F. - Tent ) Not E. M. E.
chois. - O. F. chois (F. choix\ - O. F.
choisir, O. North F. coisir, to choose. Of
Teut. origin. Goth, kattsjan, to try,
test; causal of kiusan, to choose. See
Choose.
Choir. (F. - L. - Gk.) The choir of a
church is the part where the choir sit.
Also spelt quire ; M.E. qtteir, quer.~
O. F. citer, later choeur, 'the quire of a
church, a tioop of singers;* Cot, L.
chorum, ace. of chorus, a choir. Gk.
Xp6s 9 a dance, a band of danceis or
singers. See Chorus.
Choke. (E.) M. E. choken, cheken,
cheoken. A. S. ccocian \ only in the deri-
vative aceocung, to translate L. * wninatio,
which the globsator hardly seems to have
understood, and in the pp. aceocod, ^Elfric,
Horn. i. 216 : with change from eo to eo,
shortening of <? to o in M. E., and subse-
CHRIST
quent lengthening. Cf. Icel. koka, to
gulp ; kok, the gullet.
Choler, the bile, anger. (F. L. - Gk.)
Anger was supposed to be due to excess of
bile. M.E. coler. - O.F. colere. - L. cholera,
bile ; also cholera, bilious complaint. Gk.
XoXpa, cholera ; x*4 bile ; \L\OS, bile,
wrath. See Gall.
Cholera. (L. - Gk.) L. cholera, as
above. And see Melancholy.
Choose. (E.) M.E. chcsen, chttscn.
A. S. ccosan (al?o cedsari), to choose
(pt. t. etas, ceds). -f I)u. and G. kicsen,
Icel. kjosa, Goth, kiusan; Teut. type
*keus-an-. Allied to L. gus-tare, to taste,
Gk. 7f<5o/iai, I taste, Skt. jush, to relish.
(VGEUS.) See Gust. Briigrn. i. 602.
Chop (i), to cut; a later form of
Chap (i).
Chop (2), to barter (E.) Piobably a
variant of chap, a verb which seems to
ha\e been evolved from the sb. chapman.
Chopine, a high-heeled shoe. (F.
Span.) In Hamlet, ii. 2. 447 ; lor chapine.
O. F. chapin ; later chappin (Cotgrave).
Span, chapin, a clog \\ith a cork sole,
woman's shoe, high cork shoe. Perhaps
liom Span, chapa, a thin plate (of metal),
used to strengthen the work it covers.
Chops ; see Chaps.
Chord. (L. - Gk.) I . chorda. - Gk.
XP&I* the string of a musical instrument,
orig. a string of gut. Brugm. i. 605.
^f The snrre word as Cord.
Chorus. (L. - Gk.) L. chorus, a band
of singers. Gk. xP^ J a dance, a band of
dancers or singers. See Choir. Dcr.
chor-al, chor*i-ster.
Chough, a bird. (E.) M.E. Jw$e,
chough. Not found in A S., which has
(however) the foims ceo, cio, and the early
forms nae> chyae. Somewhat similar forms
are seen in Du. kaauiv, Dan. baa, Swed.
ka/a, a jackdaw.
Chouse, to cheat. (Turk. ? N To act as a
chouse or cheat. Ben Jonson has chtaus in
the sense of * a Turk/ with the implied
sense of * cheat*; Alchemist, i. i. The
allusion is alleged to be to a Turkish
chiaus or interpreter, who committed a
notorious fiautl in 1609. Turk. chiTush,
a sergeant, mace- bearer, Palmer's Pers,
Diet. ; chawush, a sergeant, herald, mes-
senger, Rich. Diet. p. 534. Or (medi-
ately) from M. Ital. dans.
Chrism ; see below.
Christ, the anointed one. (L, Gk.)
CHRISM
A. S. Crist. Is. Cfinstus. G
anointed. Gk. \plv t I rub, anoint. Der.
Christ-ian, Christ-en-dom, &c. ; Christ
mas (see Mass ; anti-christ, opponent of
Christ (.from Gk. tori, against; see
i John ii. 1 8).
chrism, holy unction. (L. Gk)
Also spelt chrisome, whence chrisomc-child t
a child wearing a chrisome-cloth, or cloth
which a child wore after holy unction ; cf.
O. F. cresme, ' the crisome, or oyle ; ^
Late L. chrisma, holy oil. Gk.
an unguent. Gk. XP 10} (as above).
Chromatic, relating to colours. (Gk.)
Gk. xf w ! MLrilt ^9 adj. Gk. xP>t AaT ~> stem
of xw* a > colour ; allied to XP&* s ^ in>
chrome, chromium. (Gk,) A
metal ; its compounds exhibit beautiful
colours. Gk. xp^/*-, colour.
Chronicle. (F. Late L. Gk.) M. E.
cronicle, with mseited /; also cromke,
cronique. K. F. cronicle\ O. F. croniquc,
pi. croniques, chronicles, annals. Late L.
chronica, fern. sing. ; for neut. pi.
Gk. xpoviKa, pi., annals. Gk. xP OVilt " s i
adj. from xP vo *> time. Der. chron-u,
(as XpOVlKO?}.
chronology, science of dates. (Gk.)
From xP^ yo ^> time ^7' <x j from Ao*y-os,
discourse ; see Logic.
chronometer, time-measurer. (Gk )
From XP&VO-S, time ; pirpw, measure ; see
Metre.
Chrysalis, the form taken by some
insects. (Gk.) Gk. xP vffo ^' s tne gold-
coloured sheath of butterflies, chrysalis.
Gk. xP v(f ~** J^old.
chrys&nthexnuniy a flower. (L
Gk.) L. chrysanthemum Gk. xP v<f( * v ~
Otpov, a mangold. Gk. xP vff ~6*> M
avQepov, a bloom, from avfon', to bloom,
related to &v#o?, a flower, a bud.
chrysolite, a yellow stone. (F. L.
Gk.) O. F. cnsolite.\j.chrysolithtts,
Rev. xxi. 20. Gk. xP vff ^ l&0 *- "" ^
Xpvcro-Sj gold ; Xi'^os, stone.
chrysoprase. ( L. - Gk . ) L. M ; yso-
frasus, Rev. xxi. 20. Gk. xP v<J v*ixiaos, a
yellow-green stone. Gk. \pv<ru~s, gold , |
irpaffov, a (green) leek. j
Chub, a fish. (K.) Etym. unknown, i
Cf. Dan. kobbe, a seal, prov. Swed. Kubbi*& '
chubby, fat ; Norw. kMen, btumpy , \
Swed, kitbl>, a block, log. This does not .
explain the ch ; but see Chump.
Chubby, fat (E.) Lit. ' like a chub;' !
cf. prov. Swed. kubbug (above). I
90
. CID
Chuck (i), to strike gently, toss. (F.
Teut.) Formerly wiitten chock (Turber-
ville). F. choquer, to give a shock, jolt.
Du. schokkcn t to jolt, shake ; allied to E.
shock and shake.
Chuck (2), to chuck as a hen (E,)
An imitative word ; Ch. has chuk to ex-
press the noise made by a cock ; C. 1*.
15180(6.3464). Cf. cluck. Dtt.chuck-Ie>
in the sense l to cluck/
Chuck (3), a chicken. A variety of
chick, for chicken. See above.
Chuckle. (E.) To chuckle is to lattgh
in a suppressed way ; cf. Chuck (2).
Chump, a log. (E.) Cf. Swed. dial.
kumpa, to chop into logs ; humping^ a
log, round stick ; also Icel. kumbr y tre-
kumbr, a log of wood, from Icel. kumbr,
of kubbr, a chopping ;
chop. Der. chump-end^
nasalised form
Icel. kubbct) to
i. e. thick end.
Church. (Gk.) M. E. chirche, chircche.
A. S. cirice^ later circe ; (cf. Icel. kirkja ;
G. kirchg) Du. kerk}*~ Gk. ttvpiafcov, a
church, neut. of /rvpta/i^y, belonging to
the Lord ; or (possibly) from Gk. tevpiaica,
pi., treated as a fern. sing. Gk. nvpios,
a lord, orig mighty. Gk. Kvpos, strength.
Cf. Skt. fv7/'<7, a hero.
Churl. (E.) M. E. chtrl, chcorl. A.S.
ccorl) a man. f'Du. here I, G. kerl \ Dan.
Sw led. karl. Teut. tvpes, *kerloz t
*karloz
Churn, sb. (E.) A. S. cynn\ older
form cirin (printed r/rw), Coip. glos.
1866. -4- Icel. kirna, Swed. kama, Dan.
kierne, a churn; cf. O. Swed. kenta,
Swed. kaina, Dan. kierne, to churn, Du.
kcrncn^ to churn.
Chutney, Chutny, a kind of hot
relish. (Hind.) Hind, chatm (Yule).
Chyle, milky fluid. (F.~L.--(;k^ F.
ihy/e. L. chylus C.ik.
Gk x ( = xiF m(u )> l P our
chyme, liquid pulp. (L. (ik.) For-
merly chymus L. thy'inus.** Cik. x^/-*^^
juice. Gk x e '* ft/ > as above.
Chymist ; see Alchemist.
Ci Cz.
Cicatrice, scar. ( F . 1 F . cicatrice.
L ni atruew, ace. of ch Citi t\\ , a scar.
Cicerone. < Ital. L.) Ital. c ice> one> a
guide ; oiig. n Cicero. L. ace. Ciceronem^
proper name.
Cid, lit. a chief or commander. (Span.
CIDER
Arab.) Usually a title of Ruy Diaz,
the national hero of Spain. - Arab, sayyid,
a lord ; Richardson's Diet. p. 864.
Cider. (F. - L. - Gk. - Heb.) It
merely means strong drink. M. E. stctr,
cyder. . ddre\ O. F. cisdre (for *cisre}.
L. sicera. Gk. aipa, strong drink.
Heb. shekdr, strong drink. Heb. shakar,
to be intoxicated.
Cieling ; see Ceil.
Cigar, Segar. (Span.) Span. dgarro\
whence also P . cigare.
Cinchona, Peruvian bark. (Span.)
Named after the Countess of Chinchon,
wife of the governor of Peru, cured by it
A. P. 1638. Chinchon is S.E. of Madrid.
(Should be chinchona.)
Cincture. (L.) L. cmctura, a girdle.
L. dnctus, pp. Qfcmgere, to gnd.
Cinder. (E.) Misspelt for sinder (by
confusion with F. cendre - L cinerem ;
see Cinerary). A. S. sinder, scoria,' slag,
-f Icel. sindr ; Swed. sinder ; G. sinter,
dross, whence Du. snitch, cinders. *f[ The
A. S. sinder occurs in the 8th century.
Cinerary, relating to the ashes of the
dead. (L.) L. cinerdrtus. L. cincr-
stem of cints, dust, ashes of the dead.-f |
Gk. KOVLS, dust. Der. cineraria, a flov\er ;
named from the ash- coloured down on the
leaves. Brugm. i. 84.
Cinnabar, Cinoper. (L.-Gk.-
Pers.) L. dnnabans. Gk. teivi-apapi,
vermilion. From Pers. zinjifrah, zinjarf,
red lead, vermilion, cinnabar.
Cinnamon, a spice. (L. Gk.-Heb.)
L. dnnamomum.~(jk. Kivvap.o)fjLov.^ Heb.
qinndmon\ said to be of Malay origin
^Gesenws). Cf. Malay kayu-manis, cinna-
mon ; from kayu, wood, manis, sweet.
Cipher. (F. Span. ~ Arab.) O. F.
cifre (F. Mffre], a cipher, zero. Span.
dfra. Arab sjfr, a cipher ; lit. ' empty
thing ; * from stfr, adj. empty ; Rich. Diet,
p. 937. (A translation of Skt. cilnya, (i)
empty; (2) a cipher.) Der. de-cipher,
from L. de, in the verbal sense of -, and
cipher] cf. M. F. dechiffrer, 'to decvpher;'
Cot.
Circle. (F.-L.) A.S.r/;Y/; butM.E.
cercle. F. cerc/e. L. ctrctdus, chmin. of
circtts, a ling, circle ; see Ring (i). Der.
endrrle, semi-circle ; and see circwn-.
Circus, a ring. (L.) L. circus (above).
Circuit. (F.-L.) F. circuit. - L.
ace. circuitum, a going round. L. dr-
cuitus, also drcumitus, pp. of drcumire
CITE
(also drcuire\ to go round. -L. drcum,
round ; fre, to go.
Circuin-, prefix, round. (L.) L.
drcum, around, round; orig. ace. of
circus, a circle ; see Circle. Der circum-
ambient (see Ambient^ ; drcum-ambulate
(see Amble) ; and see below.
Circumcise. (L.) L. arcumcis-us,
pp. of circtttncidere, to cut round. L.
drcum, round ; and ccedere^ to cut.
circumference. (L.) L. drcum-
ferentia, boundary of a circle L drcum-
fercnt-,stem of pres pt. of drcum-ferre, to
carry round ; from ferre, to bear.
Circumflex. (L.) L syllaba dr-
cuniflexa, a syllable marked with a cir-
cumflex (A) or 'bent' mark. L. drcum-
flexus, pp. of arcum-flectere, to bend
round ; iiomJJectere, to bend.
circumjacent, lying near. (L.)
From stem of pres. part, of circum-iacere,,
to he around ; from iacere, to lie.
Circumlocution. (L.) L. drcum-
locutio, a periphrasis. L. circumlocutus,
pp. of circum-loqui , to speak in a round-
about way ; from loqui, to speak.
circumscribe. (L.) L. dnum-
. ^nbere, to write or draw around, to limit;
from scnbere, to write.
Circumspect, prudent. (L.) L. cir-
ainispectiis, prudent ; orif. pp. of circum-
tpicet e, to look around ; from specere, to
look.
circumstance. (F.-L.) Adapted
from O F circonstance ~\s.circumstantia,
lit. a standing aiound, also an attribute,
circumstance (influenced by F. drcon-
stance}. \j. dicumstant-, stem of pres pt
Qidrcum-stare, to stand round ; from stare >
to stand.
Circus ; see Circle.
Cirrus, a fleecy cloud, tendril. ' X L.)
L. cirrus, a curl, curled hair.
Cist, a sort of tomb. (JL.-Gk.) L.
asta, a chest. Gk. Kicrrrj, a box, chest.
Cistern. (F.-L. Gk.) F. cistern*.
L. dste?na> a reservoir for water, L.
cista 9 as above.
Cistvaen, a British monument. (L.
and \V.) \V. dstfaen, a stone chest,
monument made with four upright stones,
and a fifth on the top. W. cist, a chest
(from L. ds/a) ; and maen, a stone.
Cit, Citadel ; see Civil (below).
Cite, to summon, quote. (F. L.) F.
citer. L. dtdre, frequent, of dere t to
rouse, excite, call, -f- Gk. #/<w, I go.
9 1
CITHERN, CITTERN *
) See Hie. Der. ex-cite, in-citc,
re-cite.
Cithern, Cittern, a kind of guitar.
(L. - Gk. ) [Also M. E. giterne ; from O.
F. gititerne, a guitar.] The n is excres-
cent, as in bitter-n, in imitation of M. K.
giterne. l^,. cithara. Gk. KiOdpa, a kind
of lyre or lute.
Citizen; see Civil (below V
Citron. (F.-L-Gk.) F. citron -
Late L. ace. dtrdncm. l*. citnts, orange-
tree; orig. a tree with flagrant wood.
Gk. /cc'fyos, a cedar. Brugm. i. 764.
City; see Civil ('below;.
Civet. (F. Arab.) F. cwette, civet ;
also the civet-cat ; Ital zibetto; bonowed
from medieval Gk. (airfTiov (Brachet).
Arab. zabad t civet ; Rich. Diet p. 767
Civil. (F.-L.) F. civil. -l^. ciuTlts,
belonging to citizens. L chus, a citizen.
Allied to A. S. hnvan, members of a
household. Der. civil-ise, civil-i-an.
Cit ; short for citizen (below).
Citadel. (F.-Ital.-L.) Y.citadelle
Ital. cittaddla, a small town, fort ;
dim in. of dttade^cittaie (citta\ a city.
L. cluitatcm, ace. of cluitas, a city. L.
chris, a citizen (above).
Citizen. (F. L.) ME. citcsein,
from A. F. citi^oin, in which s was an
insertion O. F. citeain (F. citoyeit] ;
formed from O. F. cite (citf) city, by help
of the suffix -ain L. -amis ; see below.
city. (F. L ) M E. cite, alee
O.F. cite (F. cttt) Late L. ty\>e*civtatem,
for auitatem, ace. of cntitas ; see citadel.
Clachan, a small village with a church.
(Gael.) Gael. clachan,(i} a circle of stones,
(2) a small rude church, (3) a small village
with a church. Gael, clack, a stone So
also Irish clatkan, a hamlet ; clack, O. Ir.
clock, a stone.
Clack. (E.) M. E cJacken. Imitative ;
allied to Crack. E. Fries. klakken.+
Icel. klaka, to chatter; Du. klakkcn, to
clack, crack ; Irish clag, the clapper of
a mill.
Claim, to demand, call out for. (F
L.) O. P\ claimer, darner. L. clamare,
to call out ; cf. O. L. caltire, to pro-
claim; Gk. tfaAciV, to summon. Der.
ac-claim, de-claim, ex-claim, pro-claim,
re -claim ; also (from pp. clamalus] ac-
clamat-ion, de-clamat-ion* ex-clamat-ion,
tro-damat-ion, re-damat-ion.
clamour. (F. L.) M. E. clamour.
O.F. clamour. >L. ace. clamor em, an
CLARION
outcry. L. cldmare (above). Der. clamor-
ous
Clamber, to climb by grasping tightly.
(E. ; perhaps Scand.) XV. cent. M. E.
cfamcren, clambren. Cf. Icel. klambra,
to pinch closely together; Dan. klamre,
to grip firmly ; see Clamp. Affected by
Climb, of which the M. E. pt. t. was
damb, dam.
Clammy, viscous. (E.) Earliest form
daymy, perhaps from A. S. dam, clay (see
Clay) ; but confused with an adj. dam,
sticky ; with which cf. E. Fries, and Du.
klam, Dan. klam, clammy, moist. See
Clamp.
Clamour; see Claim.
Clamp. (Du) XV. cent. T)v.Mampe t
a holdiast ; whence klampen, to clamp,
grapple, also to board a ship, -f Dan.
klamme, a cramp-iron ; Swed. klamp, the
same ; Icel. klombr, a smith's vice ; Teut.
base *klamp, answering to the 2nd grade
of M. H. G. klunpfen, to press tightly
together. Cf. Clump.
Clan. (Gael) Gael, dann, offspring,
children ; Irish eland, dann, descendants,
a tribe ; \\.plant, pi. offspring, childien.
Cf. Skt. kula(ni], a herd, family. Biugm.
i. 669.
Clandestine. (L) L. dandestnws,
secret, clo>e Allied to dam t secretly.
Clang, to resound. (L.) L. clangers,
to resound ; whence clangor, a loud noise.
+Gk. K\ayyrj, a clang; allied to /cXcifeii',
to clash (fut. K\dyfu}. Der. clang- nr.
See below.
Clank, a heavy ringing sound. (Du )
XVII cent. Du. klank, *a ringing;'
Ilexham. Cf Du klonk, pt. t. otklmken,
to clink. See Clink. Der. clank, vb.
Clap. (E.) M.E. dappen. [Weonly
find A.S. dappctan, to palpitate; Voc.
473.] E. Fries, klappcn, to clap hands.
The orig. sense ii> to make a noise by
striking, -f" ^l klappa, Swed. klappa,
Dan. klappe, Du. klappen, M. H. G. klaffen,
to pat, clap, prate, make a noise. Allied
to Clack, Clatter.
Claret. (F. L.) Orig. a light red wine.
M E. claret. - O. F. ctaref, clairet (F.
clairet), adj.; dnnin. of dair, clear. L.
darus, clear. See Clear
Clarify. (F. - L ) O. F. clarifier. -
L. ddrificare, to make clear. L. ddri-,
from darus, clear; and -fa-, for facere,
to make.
Clarion. (F. L ) M.E. clanoun.
92
CLASH
O. F. *darion, daron (F. dainoii), a clear-
sounding horn. Late L. ace. dariontm.
L. dan- (as above).
Clash. (E.) An imitative word ; sug-
rted by clack and crash, dash, &c. Cf.
Fries, klatsen, to crack a whip.
Clasp. (E.) M. E. daspe, elapse, sb. ;
daspen, dap sen, vb. The base seems to be
klap-s-, extended from klap- (see Clap),
and influenced by M. E. clippen, to em-
brace. Cf. G. klafter, a fathom ; Lith.
glebys, an armful; and cf. Grasp.
Class. (F. L,) F. dasse, a rank.-
L. ace. classem, a class, assembly, fleet.
Clatter. (E) A frequentative of dat,
\vhich is a by-form of Clack. A. S. dat-
rung, a clattering ; E. Fries, klattcrn, to
clatter -f- Dn. klateren, to clatter. Of
imitative origin.
Clause. (F.-L ) F. rAzwjtf. Late L.
t/ausa, a passage from a book, a clause.
L. dausus, pp. of dander e, to shut.-f
O. Fries, slnta, to shut. See Slot (i).
(VSKLEU.) Brugrn. i. 795.
Clavicle, the collar-bone. (F. L )
F. daviculc, the collar-bone. L. datticula,
lit. a small key ; dimin of dams, a key.
Allied to daudere ; see Clause.
Claw. (E.) M . E. dau, dee. A. S.
clawu (also clea), a claw.-f-Du klaauw,
G. klaue\ Icel. Mo, Dan. Swed. klo.
Allied to Clew ; from a Teut. base *klau-,
2nd grade of *k!eu- } to draw together ;
cf. O. H. G. kluivi, forceps.
Clay. (E.) M. E. dai, dey. A. S.
ftceg.+Du. and Low G. klei, Dan. kl<zg
Teut. type *klai-ja, fern. ; from *klai~, 2nd
grade of Teut. root *khi- \ cf. A. S. dam
(for *klai-moz}i earthenware ; Gk. 7X01-0$,
sticky matter. See Cleave (2) and Glue.
Claymore, a Scottish broadsword.
(Gael.) Gael, daidheamh mor, a great
sword. Here daidheamh is cognate with
W. deddyf, O. Ir. daideb, sword ; and
Gael, mor, great, is allied to W. maivr,
great. Cf. W. dedd, a sword.
Clean. (E.) M. E. dene. A. S. dcene,
clear, pure, -f- O. Sax. deni, deini ; O.
Fries, klen ; Du. klein, small ; G. kletn,
O. H. G. chlcini, pure, bright, fine, small.
All from Teut. *klaini-, orig. ' clear, pure.'
Cleanse. (E.) A. S. ctensian, to
make clean. A. S. diene, clean.
Clear. (F. - L.) M. E. deer, der. - O.F.
der, dair. L. darns, bright, clear, loud.
Cleat, a piece of iron for strengthening
the soles of shoes ; a piece of wood or
CLEVER
iron to fasten ropes to. (E.) M. E. detc,
a wedge (as if from A. S. *tt&tf), also
elite, dote, a lump; cognate with Du.
kloot, a ball, G. kloss, a clot, lump. Allied
to Clot ; and see Clout.
Cleave (i ), to split. (E.) Strong verb.
A. S. cleofan, pt. t. c leaf, pp. clofcn (
E. <:/<?#<?). -f-Du. klieven, Icel. kljfifa (pt. t.
klauf], Swed. klyfva, Dan. klove, G. k lie-
ben. Teut. base *kleub ; cf. Gk. ^Av-
</>em, to hollow out.
Cleft, cliffc. (Scand.) The old spelling
is c lift. Tcel. kluft, Swed. klyft, Dan.
kloft, a cleft, chink, cave. Icel, kluf-,
weak grade of kljitfa (above) ; cf. Swed.
klyfva, to cleave.
Cleave (2), to stick. (E.) Weak verb.
The correct pt. t. is cleaved, not clave,
which belongs to the verb above. A. S.
dtfian, c!eofian,^i. t. <///&&. +Dn. k > levin ,
Swed. klibba sig, G. kleben, to adhere,
cleave to. All from Teut. base *klib-,
weak grade of Teut. root *kleib-, found in
A. S. clifan (pt. t. daf}, Du. be-klijven,
to cleave to. Allied to Clay, Climb.
Clef, a key, in music. (F. L.) F. clef.
L. clauem, ace. of claws, a key.
Cleft ; see Cleave (i).
Clematis, a plant. (Gk.) Gk. ^X^-m,
a creeping plant. Gk. /rAjj/mT-, stem of
K\rjna, a shoot, twig. Gk. K\a.tw t to
break off, prune (Brugm. ii. 66 ij.
Clement. (F.-L.) F. clement. I*
dement em, ace. <*l element, mild.
Clench ; see Clinch.
Clerestory, an upper story in a church,
furnished with windows. (F. L.) Old
spelling of clear-story. The tnforium
below is sometimes called the blind-story.
See Story (2).
Clerk. (F. - L. - Gk.) A. S. and O. F.
clerc. L. c lenc^^s. Gk. Ai//w#os, one of
the clergy. Gk. K\fjpos, a lot ; in late Gk.,
the clergy, whose portion is the Lord,
Deut. xvm. 2, i Pet. v. 3 ; cf. Acts i. 17,
(^St. Jerome.)
Clergy. (F. L.) M. E. clergie^ often
also (2) learning.' (i) O. F. dergte, as if
from L. *cltricia\ (2) mod. F. dcrge,
from Late L. dericatus, clerkship. Late
L. dericus, a clerk (above).
Clever. (E.) Cleverly is in Butler's
Hudibras, i. J. 398 (1663). For M. E.
diver^ adj., meaning ready to seize, allied
to M. E. chver, a claw, and to Cleave (2).
So also E. Fries. klufer y clever, Dan.
dial. Mover, klever (Molbech). ^f It took
93
CLEW, CLUE
the place of M. E. deliver, quick, nimble,
Ch. prol. 84, O. F. delivre, free, prompt,
alert ; compounded of L. de, prefix, and
liber, free ; see Deliver.
Clew, Clue, a ball of thread. (E.)
M. E. clewe. A. S. cllwen, a clew ; also
cleowe (Epinal gl. cleouuae] -fDu. kluiven,
whence kltiwenen, to wind on clews (E.
clew up a sail) ; M. Low G. kluwen and
cf. G. knaiiel (for *klatiel}, a clew. Per-
haps allied to L. gluere, to draw together.
Cf. Claw.
Click. (E.) An imitative word, ex-
pressing a lighter and thinner sound than
Clack. E. Fries, klikken. Cf. Du. klik-
klakken, to clash.
Client. (F.-L.) F. client, a suitor. -
L. client em, ace. of diem duetts, orig. a
hearer, one who listens to advice ; pres. pt.
of clitere, to hcai . (y'KLEU.)
Cliff, a steep rock, headland. (E.)
A.S. ctif, a rock, cliff. + Du. and Icel.
khf\ O. II. G. klep. Cf. G. and Dan.
klippe, Swed. klippa, a crag ; and Icel.
kleif, a ridge of cliffs.
Climate. (F.-L.-Gk.) M.E. climat.
F. climat. Late L. chmat-, stern of
c lima. Gk. K\t/xar-, stem of /rAt'/ua, a
slope, zone, region of the earth, climate.
Gk. Kbivtiv, to lean, slope ; see Lean.
climacter, a critical time of life. (F.
Gk.) M.Y.climacterc, adj ; whence I'an
chmactere, ' the climatencall (su} year ,
eveiy 7th, or plh, or the 63 yeare of a
man's life, all very dangerous, but the last,
most;' Cot. Gk. K\tfj.aKTT)p, a step of a
ladder, a dangerous period of life. Gk.
K\Tnatc~, stem of K\t(j,n, a ladder, climax,
with suffix -rrip of the agent ; see below.
Climax, the highest degree. (Gk.)
Gk. K\ipa t a ladder, staircase, highest
pitch of expression (in rhetoiic). Gk.
K\ivciv, to slope. Der. anti-climax.
Clime. (L.-Gk.) L. cluna, a climate.
Gk. K\ipa ; see Climate.
Climb. (E.) M. E. chmbcn, pt. t. clomb.
A.S. dimban, pt. t. clamb, pi. dumbon.+
Du. kttmmen, M.H.G. khmmen. Teut.
type *klimban~. The m was orig. in-
serted in the present stem, and did not
belong to the root ; as is shewn by Icel.
klifa, to climb. Hence it is allied to
Cleave (2).
Clime ; see Climate.
Clinch, Clench, to rivet. (E.) M.E.
denchen, klenken, to strike smartly, to
make to clink ; causal of klinken, to clink.
CLOG
Cf. Du. klink, a latch, rivet ; also, a blow ;
and O. H. G. klenkan, to knot or bind
together.
Cling. (E.) M. E. clingen, to become
stiff, be matted together. A.S. clingan
(pt. t. dang, pp. clungen\ to dry up,
shrivel up. -f 1 Dan. klynge, to cluster. Allied
to Swed. klanga, to climb; O H. G.
dunga, a clew.
Clinical. (F. - L. - Gk .) F. diniqne,
'one that is bedrid;' Cot. L. clinicus,
the same. Gk. K\IVIKOS, belonging to a
bed, a physician ; ^ K^IVIKT), his art. Gk,
K\ivrj } a bed. Gk. K\iv(iVj to lean; see
Lean (i).
Clink. (E.) E. Fries, klinken. Nasa-
lised form of Click. -f-I^"' klinken t to
bound, pt. t. klonk, pp. geklonken ; Swed.
khnka, to jingle. Cf. Clank.
Clinker, a hard cinder. (Du.) Du.
khnker, a clinker, named from the tinkling
sound which they make when they strike
each other. Du. khnken^ to clink ; cog-
nate with E. dink.
Clinquant, glittering. (F. -DiO In
Shak. Lit. ' tinkling/ F. clinquant, pres.
pt. of O. F. dinqucr, to clink. Du.
khnkcn (above).
Clip, to cut. (Scand ) M. E. klippen.
Icel. khppa, Swed. khppa, Dan. khppe, to
clip, shear hair. Cf. Snip.
Clip *, to embrace. (E ) A.S. ctyppan.
Clique, a gang. ( F. Du.) F. clique, a
gang, noisy set. O. F. diquer, to click,
make a noise. Du. klikken, to click,
clash ; also to inform, tell ; cf. Du. klikker,
a tell-tale. See Click.
Cloak, Cloke. (K.-C.) M E clokc.-
O. Noith F chque, O. F. r/^<?. Late L.
cloia, a bell ; alho a horseman's cape, which
resembled a bell in shape . see below.
Clock. (C.) The orig sense was ' bell ' ;
bells preceded clocks for notifying times.
Either from M Du. clocke (Du. klok}, a
bell ; 01 from O. North F. cloque, a bell.
Late L. dot (c]a, a bell ; of Celtic origin.
lush i log, a bell, clock ; clogaim^ I ring
or sound as a bell ; O. Irish doc, a bell.
Cf. W. dock,* bell, &c The G. glocke is
a borrowed word ; so also Du. kick, &c.
Clod. (E.) M.E. clod, doddc. A.S.
clod (in compounds), a lump of earth.
Teut. type *klu-ifo*-, from the weak grade
of Teut. root *k!cu-, to stick together. See
Clew, Cloud. Cf. Clot.
Clog, a hindrance; a wooden sole of
a shoe; wooden shoe. (E.) M.E. clog,
94
CLOISTER
a log, clump. Not found in A. S. A late
word ; cf. Norw. klugu, a hard log.
Cloister. (F.-L.) M.E. c faster*-
Q.Y.doistre (. clottre}. L. dauslrum,
lit. enclosure. L. clans- us, pp. of clan-
dere, to shut. See Clause.
close (i\ to shut in. (F.-L.) M. E
closen. O. F. dos, i pr. s. of O. F. do re,
to shut in. L. clattdcre (above \ Der.
close, a field; dis-dosc, en-dose, in-close.
Close (2), shut up. (F.-L.) M.E
dos, cloos. Q. F. clos, pp. of clore (above)
closet. (F. L.) O. F. closet, dimin.
of clos, an enclosed space. -O. F. dos,
pp. ; see close (2).
Clot. (E.) M.E. dot, dotle, a ball,
esp. of earth. A. S dolt, dot, a lump.-f
G. klotz, a lump. Tent, type *klut~to-,
from the weak grade of Tcut. base *kleitt ,
see Cleat, Clout. Cluster.
Cloth. (E ) M. E. doth, cloth. A. S
cld6 +l)\\ klccd, G. kleid, a dress. Der.
clothes, A. S. clad as, pi. of clad.
Clothe, to cover with a cloth. (E i
M.E. dot hen, dathen, pt. t. clothcde (or
cladde], pp clothed (or <.lad}. Formed
fiom A. S. */<?<) -f-Dn klceden, from Meed \
so also G. kkidcn, from //</. *(| But the
pt. t. and pp. r/<ar/ are of Scand. origin :
cf. led. kkedd-r, pp of kltrda, to clothe ;
Swed kladd, pp. of klada
Cloud. (E.) M.E. ilouJ, orig. a mass
of vapours ; the same woid as M. E. dud,
a mass of rock. A. S. dud, a round mass,
mass of rock, hill. Fiom Teut. root *kleu,
to stick together ; see Clew, Clod.
ClOUgh, a hollow in a hill-side. (E.)
M. E. dough, do$e. Answering to A. S.
*cloh, not found ; connate with O. H. G.
klah. The A. S. *doh (-O.II. G. klah,
as in Klah-uelde, Forstemann) represents
a Teut. type *klan\o-, fr m *klanx, 2nd
grade of *klitix\ cf. G. klinge, O H. G.
chlinga, a clough (Acad., Aug and Sept
1889),
Clout, a patch. (E.) M.Kdout. A.S.
dut, a patch ; whence W. clwt, Corn, clut,
a patch, clout j Ir. and Gael, clud^ the
same. Orig. sense * mass, piece of stuff' ;
orig. Teut. type *klut-oz, from Teut. root
*/;?/-, *kteut-, as seen in Clot. Closely
allied to Cleat (which is from the 2nd
grade of the same root).
Clove (0, a k" 3 ^ f s pi ce - (F. L.)
M. E. clow ; the change to clove > in the
XVIth cent., was due to the influence
Of Ital. chiwo. - F. clou, a nail; clou
CLUMSY
de girofle, { a clove,' Cot, ; from th$
semblanoe to a nail. Cf. Span, clavo^ a
nail, also a clove. *-L. clatntm^ ace. of
clauus, a nail -f O. Irish do, a nail.
Clove (2), a bulb, or spherical shell of
a bulb of garlic, &c. (E.) A.S. clufu, f. ;
cf. ch<f-ivyrt, a buttercup (lit clove-wort).
Named fiom its cleavage into shells.
A.S. duf-, weak giade otcleofan, to split;
see Cleave (i). Cf. Icel. klofi, a cleft.
Clove (3)1 a weight. (F.-L.) A. F.
clou ; the same word as Clove (i). Late
L. claims, a weight (for wool).
Clover. (E.) M. E. claver. A. S,
clafre, ch'efre, trefoil. -f Du. klaver, whence
Swcd. klofver, Dan. kk>ver\ Low G.
k I ever ; cf. G. Mce. fl[ The supposed
connexion with cleave (i) is impossible.
Clown. (Scand.) Icel. klunni, a clumsy,
boorish fellow : Swed. dial, klunn, a log,
kluns, a clownish fellow ; Dan. klitnt, a
log ; cf. Dan. klnntet, clumsy. Allied to
Clump. Orig. sense * log * or f clod.'
Cloy. (F. L.) Ong. to stop up, hence,
to sate. M.F <r/<y '<?/%' to cloy, stop up,' Cot.;
a by- form of F. clover (O. F. doer}, to nail,
fasten up. [A hoise pricked with a nail,
in shoeing, was said to be cloyed. ~] O. F.
do, F. clou, a nail ; see Clove (i). ^f Cloy
(in E.) is usually short for ac-doy or a-doy,
where the prefix a- represents F. en- ; see
F. eudouer, eruloyer in Cotgrav*,.
Club (i), a heavy stick. '.Scand.; M.E.
cliibbe. Icel. khibba, khtmba, a club;
Swed. ktubb, a club, log, lump ; Dan. klnb,
club, klump, lump. A mere variant of
Clump below. See Golf.
club (2), an association. (Scand.)
XVII cent. Lit. 'a clump of people.'
Cf. Swed. dial, klubb, a clump, lump, also
a knot of people (Rietz). See above.
Cluck. (E.) M.E. dokkcn, to cluck
as a hen ; a mere variant of Clack. 4"
Du. klokkcn, Dan. klukke, G. ghtcken\
L. glocire. An imitative word,
Clue; see Clew.
Clump, a mass, block. (E.) XvT
cent. Not in A.S., except as in dy nip-re,
a clump. Cf. Dan. Mump, Swed. khtmp\
Du. klomp, Low G. Mump, a clump,
lump, log ; (Icel. k/umba, a club, with b
for p}. From klump-, weak grade of
Teut. *klcmp~, as in M.II. G. klimpfen^ to
press tightly together. Cf. Clamp.
Clumsy. (Scand.) Cf. M. E. dumstd,
clomsed, benumbed ; benumbed fingers are
clumsy. This is the pp. of domsen, to
95
CLUSTER
benumb, or to feel benumbed. Cf. Swed.
dial, klummsen, benumbed (Rietz) ; Icel.
klumsa, lock-jawed. Cf. Du. klemmen, to
pinch; kleumen, to be benumbed, kleitmsch,
numb with cold ; also A. S. clom, claw, a
bond, clasp. See Clammy.
Cluster, a bunch, (E.) A. S. cluster,
clyster^ a bunch, -f* Low G. kluster. Suggests
a Teut. type *klut~tro-, a cluster ; formed
with suffix -tro from *klut- > weak grade of
Teut root *kteut-, to mass together; for
which see Clot, Cleat, Clout.
Clutch., to seize. (E.) M. E. clucchen,
chcchcn. A. S. clyccan (whence pp. ge~
cliht, Somner). We find also M. E. cloke,
a claw; which was superseded by the
verbal form.
Clutter, a clotted mass ; also clutter,
vb., to clot. (E.) Clutter , vb., is a variant
of clotter, to i un into clots ; see Clot, and
cf. E. Fries, klutern, to become clotted.
Clutter also meant confusion, a confused
heap, turmoil, din ; by association with
Clatter. Cf. E. Fries, kloter, a rattle.
Clyster. (L.-Gk.) L clyster, an
injection into the bowels. Gk. K^vffrrjp, a
clyster, syringe. Gk. *\vfti/ f to wash.-f-
L. clnere, to wash. (-/KLEU.)
Co-, prefix. (L.) L. co-, together ;
used for con- (~cum\ together, before a
vowel. Hence, co-efficient, co-equal, co-
operate, co-ordinate. See otherb below ;
and see Con-.
Coach. (F. - Hung.) F. coche, ' a
coach ; ' Cot. Etym. disputed. Said, as
early as A. D 1553, to be a Hungarian
word ; from Hung, kotsi, a coach, so called
because first made at a Hung, village called
Kocsi or A'ocs, near Kaab ; see Littre, and
Beckmann, Hist of Inventions.
Coadjutor. (F.-L) XV cent. A.F.
coadjutour. L co-, for con- cum, together;
and adiutor, an assistant, fiom vb. adiu-
uare, to assist. L. ad-, to ; luudre, to
help.
Coagulate, to curdle. (L.) L. coagu-
latus, pp. of codguldre, to cuidle. L.
coagulum, rennet, which causes milk to
run together. - L. co- (cum), together ;
ag-ere, to drive.
Coal. (E.) M. E col. A.S. coL +
Du. kool, Icel. Swed. kol> Dan. kttl, G.
kohle. Cf. Skt. jval, to blaze.
Coalesce, to grow together. (L.) L.
coatescere. L co-, for con- - cum, together;
and alesccre, to grow, inceptive of alere, to
nourish.
96
COCHINEAL
Coarse, rough. (F.-L.) Formerly
course, an adj. which arose from the phrase
in course to denote anything of an ordinary
character; cf. mod. E. of course. See
Course.
Coast. (F. - L.) M. E. coste. - O. F.
coste (F. cdte), a rib, slope of a hill, shore.
L. costa, a rib.
Coat. (F.-G.) M.E. cote. - O. F.
cote (F. cotte] ; Low L. cota, cotta, a coat.
M. H. G. kotte, kittle, a coarse mantle;
O. Sax. cot, the same.
Coax, (E. ?) Formerly cokes, vb., from
cokes, sb., a simpleton, dupe. Perhaps
allied to Cocker or to Cockney.
Cob (i), a round lump, knob. (E.) As
applied to a pony, it means short and
stout. M. E. cob, a great person
(Hoccleve). In some senses, it seems to
be allied to A. S. copj>, a top, summit.
cobble (i), a small round lump. (E.)
M. E. cobylstone, a cobble-stone. Dinnn.
of coif (above).
Cob (2), to beat. (E.) Cf. W. cobio, to
thump ; cob, a bunch ; prov. E. cop, to
strike, esp. on the cop or head. See Cob
(0.
Cobalt, a mineial. (G.) G. kobalt,
cobalt ; a nickname given by the miners,
because considered poisonous ; better
spelt koboldj meaning (i) a demon, (2)
cobalt. Of G. origin (Kluge).
Cobble (0; see Cob (i).
Cobble (2), to patch up. (E.) Origin
unknown; cf. Cob (2), of wnich it seems
to be the frequentative.
Cobra, a hooded snake. (Port. L.)
Port, cobra, also cobra de capelto, i. e. snake
with a hood. L. cohtbra, snake ; de, of;
capellum, ace. of capelhis, hat, hood,
:hmin. of capa, a cape. See Notes and
Queries, 7 S. ii. 205.
Cobweb. (E.) M. E. copiveb, coppe-
web ; from M. E. coppe, a spider, and web.
Cf. M. Du. kop, koppe, *a spider, or a cob/
Hexham. From A. S. coppa, as in attor-
coppa, a spider; lit. poison-bunch; fiom
A. S at tor, dtor, poison, and cop, a head.
Coca, a Peruvian plant. (Span. Peruv.)
pan.riftz. Peruv. cuca\ Garcilasso,Peru,
bk 8. c. 15. Distinct both from cocoa (or
coco) and cacao. Der. coca-ine.
Cochineal. (F. - Span. - L. - Gk.)
F. cochenille. Span, cochinilla, cochineal
(.made from insects which look like berries).
L. coccinus, of a scarlet colour; see
Isaiah i. 18 (Vulgate). L. coccum, a berry;
COCK
also kermes, supposed to be a berry. Gk.
KOKKOS, a berry, cochineal.
Cock (i), a male bird. (E.) M. E. cok.
A. S. cocc ; from the bird s cry. * Cryde
anon cok ! cok I ' Ch. C. T. Nun's Priest's
Tale, 457. Cf. Skt. kukkuta, a cock;
Malay kukuk, crowing of cocks. And
cf. Cuckoo.
COCk v the stop-cock of a barrel, is the
same word. So also G. hafin, (i) a cock,
(2) a stop-cock.
COCk f part of the lock of a gun. From
its original shape ; cf. G. den JIahn span-
nen, to cock a gun.
COCkade f a knot of ribbon on a hat.
(F.) F. coquarde, fern, of coquard, saucy ;
also coquarde, bonnet & la toqitarde, ' any
bonnet or cap worn proudly ;' Cot. Formed
with suffix -ard from F. coq, a cock (from
the bird's cry).
Cockerel, a young cock. (E ) Double
dimin. of Cock (i). Cf.ptk-erel.
COCkloft, upper loft. (E. and Scand.)
From cock and loft. So also G. ha/mbalken,
a roost, cockloft ; Dan. loftkammcr, a loft-
chamber, room up in the rafters.
Cock (2), a pile of hay. (Scand.) Dan.
kok, a heap ; prov. Dan. kok, a hay-cock,
at kokke hoet, to cock hay ; Icel. kokkr,
lump, ball ; Swed. koka, clod of earth.
Cock (3), to stick up abruptly. (E )
Apparently with reference to the posture
of a Lock's head when cro\\ ing ; or to that
of his crest or tail. Cf. Gael, coc, to cock;
as in coc do bhoineid, cock your bonnet ;
coc-shronach, cock-nosed. And see Cock-
ade.
Cock (4\ Cockboat, a small boat.
(F.-L. Gk.) O. F. coque, a kind of
boat, orig. a shell. Cf. Span, coca, Ital.
cocca, a small ship. Derived (by Diez)
from L. concha, a shell ; from Gk. Kvyicr),
a cockle ; see Cockle (i).
Cockade; see Cock (i).
Cockatoo, a kind of parrot. (Malay.)
Malay kakatua ; from the bud's cry. Cf
Malay kuknk, crowing of cocks. Skt.
kitkkitia, a cock. See Cock (i).
Cockatrice. (F.-LateL.-L.) By
confusion with cock, it was said to be a
monster hatched fiom a cock's egg. O.F.
cocatricc. Late L. cocdtrtcem, ace. of
cdcatrtx, caucatrix, answering to a Latin
type *calcatrix, i. e. * the treader or tracker/
used to render the Gk. IXVCVIMW, and
afterwards transferred to mean * crocodile '
(see account in N. E. D.). L. cafcd-re, to
COD
tread; with fern, suffix -trix, of the
agent.
Cocker, to pamper. (E. ?) M. E.
cokeren (whence W. tocri, to fondle, in-
dulge) Cf. M. Du. kokelcn, ketikelen,
' to cocker, to foster,' Hexrmm ; M. F.
coquetiner, ' to dandle, cocker, pamper
(a child) ;' Cot. Norw. kokra, to call as
a cock ; also, to cocker.
Cockerel; see Cock (I N ,.
Cockle (i), a sort of bivalve. (F. L.
-Gk.) M. E. cokei. [Cf. cock, a cockle
(P. Plowman, C. x. 95); A. S. Sct-cocca;
(where sie -- sea) ] F. coqitille, a cockle-
shell; cf.Ital. cochiglia.*-lLsit. type * cocky-
/turn, for conchy hunt, a cockle, shell-fish.
Gk. Koyx^ lov ) a cockle, dimin. of #07-
KV\IJ, from KoyKTj, a cockle or mussel.
Cockle (2), a weed among corn. (E.)
A. S. coccei, tares ; whence Gael, cogall,
tares, husks, cockle; cogull, corn-cockle;
Irish cogall, corn-cockle.
Cockle (3), to be uneven, pucker up.
(Scand.) Of Scand. origin; cf. Norw.
koklutt, lumpy, uneven, ' cockled up ; '
from Norw. kokle* a lijttle lump, dimin. of
kok, a lump; see Cock (2). Cf. Swed.
kokkel, dimin. of koka, a clod.
Cockloft; see Cock (i).
Cockney, ong. an effeminate person.
(E.) Flono has: ' Caaherclli^ cackhngs
of hens ; also egs, as we say cockanegs*
From M. E. cokenay, a foolish person, Ch.
C. T. 4208. Lit * cocks' egg ; ' i e. yolk-
less egg. From M. E. coken, gen. pi. of
cok, a cock ; and ay, ey, A. S ag, egg.
See C. S. Burne, Shropshire Folk-loie,
p. 22Q.
Cockroach. (Span.) From Span.
cmaracha, a wood-louse, cockroach ; from
cuca (also citco], a kind of caterpillar.
Origin uncertain.
Cocoa (0, COCO, the cocoa-nut palm.
(Port.) Port, and Span, coco, a bugbear,
an ugly mask to fi ighten children ; hence
applied to the cocoa-nut on account of
the monkey-like face at the base of the
nut. Cf. Span, cocar, to make grimaces.
Cocoa (2), a corrupt form of Cacao.
Cocoon, case of a chr>salis. (. L.
Gk.) F. cocon, a cocoon ; from coqite t a
shell. See Cock (4).
Cod (i), a fish. (E. ?) Spelt codde in
Palsgrave. Perhaps named from its round-
ed shape ; cf. M. Du. kodde* a club (Hex-
ham) ; and see below. Der. cod- ling, a
young cod ; M. E. codtyng.
97
COD
Cod (2), a husk, bag, bolster. (E.)
Hence, peas-cod, husk of a pea. A. S. codd,
a bag.+Icel. koddi, pillow, kotiri, scrotum;
Swed. kudde, a cushion.
Coddle, to pamper, lender effeminate.
<F. - L. ?) Perhaps foi caudle, vb. (in
Shak.), to treat with candle ; see Caudle
Cf. prov. E. coddle, to paiboil, stew.
Code, a digest of laws (K. L.) F.
code. L. codiccm, ace. of codex, a tablet, i cognosce re (above).
book ; older form caudex, a trunk of a cognomen, a surname. (L.) L. co~
tiee. IgnoMi'tt, a surname, L. co- ( c uni\ with ;
COISTREL
Cognisance, knowledge, a badge. (F
L ) Formerly conisaunce. O. F. con~
noissance^ knowledge ; M. F. cognoissance.
O. F. conoissant, pres. pt. of O. F.
conoistre, to know. L. cognosiere, to
know. L. co- (cum}, together, fully;
gnosccrc, to know ; see Know.
cognition, perception. (L.) From
ace. of L. cognitio. \j. cognitits, pp. of
codicil. (L ) L codicillus, a codicil
to a will ; ditnm. of codex (stem codic-}.
Codling (1), Codlin, a kind of apple.
(C. ?) Eat her spellings querdling, quad-
ling, quodhng. Apparently formed, with
E suffix -ling, fi om Irish cueirt, an apple-
tree.
Codling (2^; see Cod (i).
Coerce. (L.) L. cocnere, to compel.
L. co-(cnni^< together; arc ere, to en-
close, confine, allied to ana, a chest ; see
Ark.
Coffee. (Turk. -Arab.) Turk, qah-
vch Arab, qahwah, coffee.
Coffer. (F -L -Gk.) M E. cofre.
OF tofre, also cqfin, a chest. L ace.
cophimtm. Gk Kixpivos, a basket.
COffin. (F.-L.-Gk) Ong. a case,
chest. O. F. cofui, as> above. ^Doublet
of coffer}
Cog (i), a tooth on a wheel-rim
(Scand.) M E. cogge [whence Gael,
and Irish cog, a mill-cog ; W. cocos, cocs,
cogs of a wheel]. Not in A. S. M. Dan.
kogge, a cog, kogge-hjul, a cog-wheel
(Kalkar) ; Swed. kngge, a cog ; M. Swed.
kugg (Ihre).
Cog (2), to trick. (Scand.) Prob.
to catch as with a cog; to cog a die, to
check it so as to make it fall as desired.
Cf. Swed. dial, kugg, Norw. kogga, to
dupe; Swed. kngga, 'to cheat, to cog;'
Oman.
Cogent. (L.) L. cogent-, stem of
pres. part, of edge re, to compel ; for
co*agere ( = con-agere) , lit. to drive to-
gether. Brugm. i. 968.
Cogitate. (L.) L. cogitatus, pp of
cogitare, to think; for co-agitarc, from
iO- 9 con-, together, and agitare, to agitate,
frequent, olagere, to drive.
Cognate. (L) L. co-gnatu$, allied
by birth. L. co- (for cui)i) y together;
gndtus, born, old form of ndtus,
nasci, to be born ; see Natal.
pp. of
nonien, a name, altered to gnomen by con-
fusion with gnoscere, nosccre, to know.
See Noun, Name.
Cohabit. (L.) L. co-habitare, to
d\vell together with. L. co- (cum-}, to-
gether; habitare, to dwell. See Habi-
L. co-h^rere, to slick
. L. co-, together ;
Der. cokes-ion, cohes-
tation.
Cohere. (L.)
together (pp.
harere, to stick.
i7>e, from the pp
Cohort, a band of soldiers. (F. L)
F. cohortc L. ace. cohor*em, from cohors,
a court, also a band of soldiers. See
Court, of which it is a doublet.
Coif, Qnoif, a cap. (F.-G.-L.)
C). F. coijfc, ioiffe', Low L. cofea, a cap.
M H. G. kuffe, kupfe, a cap worn under
the helmet ; O. II. G. chuppha ; stem
*kupp-jdn-, O. II G. clntph (G. kopf}, a
cup ; also, the head. L. cuppa ; see Cup.
Coign ; see Coin.
Coil (i \ to gather together. (F. L.)
' Coiled up in a cable ; ' Beaumont and
Fletcher. - O. F. coi/hr, to collect. - L.
<.olligere see Collect.
Coil (2\ a noise, bustle. (F. - L.*)
Ong. a colloquial or slang expression ;
prob. from Coil(i). We find 'a coil of
hay,' a heap ; nnd coil, to twist.
Coin. (F.-L.) M. E. coin - O. F.
coin, a wedge, stamp on a coin, a com
(stamped by means of a wedge). L.
cuneum, ace. of cuneus, a wedge. *{[ Not
allied to Cone.
coign. (F. L.) F. coing, coin, a
corner ; lit. a wedge (as above).
Coincide, to agree with. (L.) L. co-
(for con- ** cum, with) ; and incidere, to
fall upon, from in, upon, and cadere, to
fall.
Coiatrel,
a mean fellow. (F. L.)
For coustrel, the older form (Palsgrave).
An E. adaptation of M. F. coustilh'er,
an armour-bearer, lackey; lit. 'one who
98
C01T
carries a poinard.' M. F. coustille, a
poniard variant of O. F. constel, better
coutel, a knife. L. cultellttm, ace. of cul-
tellus, a knife ; dimin. of cutter. See
Coulter.
Coit ; see Quoit.
Coke, charred coal. (E. V) < Coke,
pit-coal or sea-coal charred;' Ray, 1674.
Etyrn. unknown ; cf. M. E. colk, the core
(of an apple).
Colander, Cullender, a strainer.
(Prov.-L.) M. E colyndorc.-Q. Prov.
*colador, oiig. form of Prov. couladou, a
strainer. Late L. *coldtdrcm> ace. ; for L
colatorium, a btramer L. cdlare, to stiain.
L. col tint, a sieve. Cf. Span, colador, a
Strainer from L. colare}.
Cold. (E.) M. E cold, kaM, adj. :
O. Merc, cald, A. S. ceald, adj. -f- Icel.
kaldr, Swed. kail, Dan. kold, Du. koud,
Goth. &7/<fr, G kalt. Teut. *kal-doz
cold ; from Tent *&<?/, to be cold (as in
Icel. #/#, to freeze), with suffix -flfo Gk.
-TO?. Cf. Lat. gd-idus, cold; see Con-
geal, Chill, Cool.
Cole, Colewort, cabbage. (L.) For
wort, see "Wort. M. E col, cauL A. S.
caul, cawcl (01 Icel. kdl}. L. caulis, a
stalk, cabbage. + Gk. iravXoy, a stalk
Cole opt era, sheath - \\ mgcd insects.
(GkO Gk tfoAeo-s, a sheath; irrtp-ov, a
wing 1 .
Colic. (F. I,. Gk.) Short for colic
/<7?";?. F. colique, adj. L. cdhcus. Gk.
KcuXtKus, for KoXitcos, suffering m the colon.
Gk. KO\OV. See Colon (2).
Coliseum. (Med. L. Gk ) The same
as colosseum,i\. large amphitheatre at Rome,
so named from its magnitude (Gibbon).
The Ital. word is coliseo. See Colossus.
Collapse, to shrink together, fall in.
(L.") tirst used in the pp. collapsed
Englished from L. col lapsus, pp of collnln,
to fall together. L. col- (for con-<\. e. cum\
togethei ; lain, to slip. See Lapse.
Collar. (F. - L.) M. E. and A. F.
colcr. O. F. colter, a collar. L. collare, a
band for the neck. L collum, the neck.-f
A. S. heals, G. hats, the neck.
Collet, the pait of the ring in which
the stone is set. (F. L.) F, collet, a
collar. F. col, neck. L; collum, neck.
Collateral. (L ) Late L. co Hater alls,
side by side. L. col" (for com-**cu
with; later alls, lateral, from later-, foi
* lates-, stem of lotus ^ side.
Collation, a comparison: formerly, a
COLLOP
conference. (F. L.) 0. F. collation, a
conference. L. ace. collationem, a bring*
ing together, a conferring. L. colldtum,
supine in use with the verb conferre, to
bring together (but from a different root).
L.col- (forw- ;//), together; latutn,
supine of totlere, to take, bear. See
Tolerate.
Colleague (0, a partner. (F.-L.)
M. F. collegtie. L. collega, a partner m
office. F. col- (for con-, cum}, with;
legere, to choose ; see Legend.
Colleague (2), to join in an alliance.
(V. L.) O. F. colliguer, colkguer, to
colleague with. L. colligare, to bind
together. L. col- (for con-, cum}, to-
gether ; fig-are t to bind. See League (i).
Collect, vb. (F.-L.) O Y. collector,
to collect money ( Roquefort \ Late L.
co Hectare (the same), from colkcla, a col-
lection, orig. fern, of pp. of colligere* to
collect L. col- (for con-, cum), with;
legere, to gather ; see Legend.
Collect, sb. (L.) Late L. collccta, a
collection in money, an assembly for
prayer, hence a short prayer ; see above.
Colleen, a- gnl (Ins>h.) Irish cailin,
a gir! ; dimin. of <.aile, a country-woman.
Gael, cailin, dimin. of taile.
College, an abscmbly, seminar}'. (F.
L.) O Y.cotfege. L collegium, society of
colleagues or companions. L. collega, a
colleague ; see Colleague (i).
Collet ; see Collar.
Collide. (l< ) L. colliders, to dash to-
gether. L. col- (for con-, cnm^, together;
^Lzdere, to strike, hurt. Der. collis-ion
(from pp. collis-us\*
Collie, Colly, a kind of shepherd's
dog. (E.) Formerly, coally, colcy ; prob.
the same as coal-y, coal-coloured, black.
Cf. obs colly, adj., coal-black; collied in
Shak. M. N. 1> i. I. 14?
Collier. (E.) M.E.<0/*Vr; fromM.E.
col, coal. Cf. boiv-yer, saw-yer.
Collocate, to place together. (L.)
From pp ot L. col-locarc, to place together.
L. col- (for con-, atrn^ together ; loalrc,
to place, from locus, a place.
Collodion, a solution of gun-cotton.
(Gk.) From Gk. tcoM&b'-rjs, glue-like.
Gk. fco\\-a, glue; -%y, like, Wos.
appearance.
Collop, a slice of meat. (E. ?) M. E.
coloppe, col-hoppe \ pi. col-hoppts (P. Plow-
man\ whence M. Swed. kollops, Swed.
kalofs. Here col- = coal (see Coal) ; cL
99
COLLOQUY
Swed. dial. glo(d}hoppa, a cake baked over
gledes or hot coals. (K. Bjorkman).
Colloquy. (L.) Fiom L. colloquium,
conversation. L. col-loqui, to converse
with, lit. to speak together. L. col- (for
con-, cum}, together ; loqui, to speak.
Collude, to act with others in a fraud.
(L.) L. collude re (pp. collusus}, to play
with, act in collusion with. L. col-
(for con-, cum}, with; ludere, to play.
Der. collus-ion, from the pp.
Colocynth, Coloquintida, pith of
the fruit of a kind ot cucumber. (Gk.)
From the nom. and ace. cases of Gk.
KoXovvvOis (ace. tcoXoKwOiSa), a kind of
round gourd or pumpkin.
Colon (0, a mark (:) in writing and
printing. (Gk.) Gk. KW\OV, a limb,
clause ; hence, a stop marking off a clause.
Colon (2), part of the intestines. (Gk.)
Gk. KoAoi/, the same.
Colonel. (F. Ital. L.) Sometimes
coronet, which is the Span, spelling;
whence the pronunciation as kurnel. .
colonel, colonnel. Ital. colonello, a colonel ;
lit. a little column, as being * the upholder
of the regiment ; ' Torriano. The colonel
was he who led the company at the head
of the regiment. Dimin. of Ital. colonna,
a column. L. colunma, a column. See
Column.
colonnade. (F. - Ital. - L.) F.
colonnade. Ital. colonnata, a range of
columns. Ital. colonna, a column (above X
Colony. (F. L.) F. colome. L.
colonia, a colony, band of husbandmen.
L. coldnus, a husbandman L. colere,
to till. Colere is for *quelere ; cf. L.
inquilmus, a sojotirner. Brugm. i. 121.
Colophon^ an inscription at the end of
a book, with title, and (sometimes) name
and date. (Gk.) Late L. colophon. -Gk.
KoXotywv, a summit ; hence, a finishing-
stroke. Allied to Column.
Coloquintida ; see Colo oy nth.
Colossus. (L. Gk.) L. colossus
Gk. Ko\off<r6s, a large statue. Der. coloss-
al, i.e. large; coliseum, q.v.
Colour. (F.-L.) M. E. colour -O F.
colour (F. couleur}. ^. ace. coldrem, from
color, a tint.
Colporteur, a hawker of wares. (F.
L.) Lit. ' one who carries wares on his
neck ; ' F. colporteur. F. colporter, to
carry on the neck. F. col, neck ; porter,
to carry. L. eolluni, neck; portfire, to
carry.
COMBUSTION
Colt. (E.) A. S. colt, a young camel,
young ass, &c.4-Swed. dial, kullt, a boy ;
Swed. kull, Dan kuld, a brood ; cf. Dan.
dial, koltring, a lad.
Columbine, a plant. (F. L.) M. F.
colom bin. Late L. columblna, a colum-
bine ; L. columlnnus, dove-like ; from a
supposed resemblance. L. columba, a
dove. See Culver.
Column, a pillar, body of troops.
(F. L.) L. columna, a pillar; cf.
columen, culmen, a summit, collis, a hill,
Gk. KoAoWy, a hill. Sec Hill. (VQEL.)
Colure, one of two great circles on the
celestial sphere, at right angles to the
equator. (L. Gk.) So called because
a part of them is always beneath the
horizon. The word means docked, clip-
ped. L. colurus, curtailed; a colure.
Gk. KoXovpos, dock-tailed, truncated; a
colure. Gk. o\-oy, docked, clipped ; and
ovpd, a tail.
Colza oil, a lamp-oil made from the
seeds of a variety of cabbage. (F. - L. and
Du ) F. colza, better colzat. I)u. koohaad,
rape-seed, cabbage-seed. Du. kool (bor-
rowed from L. cauhs], cole, cabbage ; and
Du. zaad'E,. seed.
Com-, prefix. (L.) For L. cum, with,
together; when followed by />, /, ;//,
/. See Con-.
Coma. (Gk ) Gk. Kwpa, a deep sleep.
Comb. (K.) A. S. camb, a comb, crest,
ridge. -f-Du. kam, Icel kambr, Dan. Swed.
kam ; G. kamm. Teut. type *kamboz ;
Idg. type *gombhos ; cf. Gk. yojjupos, a
pin, peg; Skt. jambha~s t a tooth.
Comb, Coomb, a dry measure. (E.)
A. S ciimb, a cup.+Du. kom, a bowl ; G,
kumpf, kumme, a bowl.
Combat. (FL) Orig. a verb. - F.
combattre, C). F. combatre, to fight with.
F. coin- (for L. cum}, with ; and F. battre,
O. F. batre, to fight, from *battere, for
L. battuere, to beat. Der. combat-ant,
from the F. pres. pt.
Combe, a hollow in a hill-side. (C.)
W. cwm, Corn, cum, a hollow, dale ;
Celtic type *kumba, a valley ; cf. Irish
cumar, a valley.
Combine. (L.) L. comlnnare, to unite,
join two things together. L. com- (cum},
together ; and btnus, twofold. See Binary.
Combustion. (F.-L.) F. combus-
tion. L. ace. combusfjonem, a burning up.
L. combttst-us t pp. of com-biirere^ to burn
up. L, com- (for cujn}, together; and
COME
(perhaps) iirere, to burn, with b inserted
by association with amb-iirere.
Come. (E.) A. S. cuman, pt. t. c(u)dm,
pp. cuMen. + Du. komen, Icel. koma, Dan.
komme, Sw. komma, Goth, kwiman, G.
kommen ; L. uen-ire, (*guen-trc\ Gk.
fiaiveiv, Skt. H/, to go. (^GwEM.)
Comedy. \F . L. Gk.) O. F. comedie,
*a play;' Cot. L. comccdia.** Gk. KOJ^W-
5ta, a comedy. Gk. /fcufio>5os, a comic
actor. Gk. fffyto-s, a banquet, revel,
festal procession ; dot5<>s, a singer, from
dcfcctp, to sing. A comedy was a festive
spectacle, with singing, &c. See Ode.
COmic. (L. Gk .) L. comicus. - Gk.
KoiyiLKQs, belonging to a /i>/ios, as above.
Comely. (E.) M. E. ^w//*, kumh.
A. S. cymlic, earlier form cymli- , beautiful,
fair. The A. S. cyme, exquisite, is closely
allied to O. H G. ciimig, weak, tender,
and to O. H. G. hum, with difficulty (G.
kaum). The A. S y was shoitened before
////, and the M. E. comli was associated
with M.E. comen, to come, and so gained
the sense of * becoming,' pleasing, decorous.
Cf. M. E. kime, a weak person.
Comet. (L. Gk.) Late A. S. cometa.
L. coweta. Gk. Kofj.rjrr)s, long-haired;
a tailed star, comet. Gk. tconrj, hair.+L.
coma, hair. <fi Also O. F. comete.
Comfit, sb, a sweatmeat. (F. L.)
Formerly confit, confit e. O. F. confit, lit.
confected, prepared ; pp. of confire. L.
confectum, pp. of conficete, to prepare, put
together. -L. con- (/;;/), together ; facere.
to make. See Confect.
Comfort, vb. (F. - L.) M. E. con-
forfeit, later comfort en O. F. conforter,
to comfort. Late L. con-fortare, to
strengthen. L. con- (cum}, together;
and fort-is, stiong; see Force (i).
Comfrey, a plant. (F. - L.) O. F.
conjire) cumjirie', Late L. ciimfiria ; pro-
bably for I,at. tonfenta (Pliny), comfrey,
a name given to the plant from its sup-
posed healing powers. L. conferucrc, to
grow together, heal up (Celsus).-L. con-
(cuni] , together ; ferucre, (orig.) to boil .
% It wab also called confinna (from L.
fir marc, to make firm), and con soli da
(from L. soliitare, to make solid).
Comic ; see Comedy.
Comity, urbanity. (L.) L. comitatem,
ace. of tomitas, urbanity. L. comis,
friendly, courteous.
Comma. (L. Gk.) L. comma. Gk.
, that which is struck, a stamp, a
COMMISSARY
clause of a sentence, a comma (that marks
the clause). -Gk. J^TT-TCH/, to hew, strike.
Command. (F. - L.) O. F. com-
wander, comander. L. commendare, to
entrust to; confused with Late L. com-
mandarc, as if an intensive form of man-
dare, to command. Both forms are fiom
L. com- (cum), together ; and manddre, to
put into the hands of, entrust to, command. '
See Mandate.
Commemorate. (L ) From the pp.
of L. commemorate^ to call to mind. L.
com- (for cum), together; memorate, to
mention, from memor, mindful.
Commence. (F.-L.) f.commenccr;
O. F. comencer (with one m ; cf. Ital.
cominciare). L. com- (cum), together;
initiare, to begin ; see Initiate.
Commend. (L.) L commendclre, to
entrust or commit to ; see Command.
Commensurate. (L.) From L.
commensm atits, as if from *commensur5re t
to measure in comparison with ; a coined
word. L. com- (cum), with; wensftra, a
measure ; see Measure.
Comment, vb. (F. L.) F comment 'er.
Late L. commcntare, for L. commentart,
to consider, make a note on. L. com-
ment us, pp. of comjnitnsci, to devise. L.
com- (cum), with ; -min- for *tnen, to
think, as in me-min-l (^*me-men-i ,, I
remember, and mcn-s, mind. 1'ee Mental.
Commerce, traffic. (F.~ L.) F. com-
merce. "L. commeraum, trade. L. com-
( cum), with, men-, stem of merx,
merchandise, with suffix -*-**;//.
Commination, a threatening, de-
nouncing. (F. L") F. commination.
L. ace comminatidnem, a thieatening.
1^. commindtus, pp. of com-mindri, to
threaten. L. com- (cum), intensive prefix;
and minarT, to threaten. See Menace.
Commingle. (L. ami E) From
Com- and Mingle.
Comminution, a reduction to small
fragments. (L.) Formed from L. com-
minut-u$) pp. of com-minuere, to break
into small pieces; see Minute.
Commiseration. (F. - L.) M . F.
commiseration. L. ace. lomrniserdtioncm,
part of an oration intended to excite pity.
L. commiserdrT, to excite pity (pp. -dt-
us). L. com- (cum^, with; miserdtt,
to pity, from L miser, wi etched, pitiable.
Commissary, an officer to whom
something is entrusted. (L.) Med. L.
tommissarius, a commissary. L. com-
COMMIT
missus, pp. of cornmittere, to commit ; see
below.
commit, to entrust to. (L ) L. com-
mittere, to send out, begin, entrust,
consign; pp. commissns. L. torn- (cum},
with; mtttere, to send, put forth. Der
commiss-ion, F. commission, from L. ace.
conimissionem , perpeti ati on .
Commodious. (F -L.) O. F com-
modicux ; Mcd. L inmihodwsus, useful.
L. eommodus, fit, suitable. L. com-
(cum), with; modus, measure.
Commodore, the commander of a
squadron (lh\. F. L.) Formerly
spelt commandore (1695) ; also comman-
deur, as in Dutch; Hexham has: ' den
Conimandeur van ecn Stadt, The Com-
mandeur of a Towne.' F commands ur,
a commander. L. ace. type *comman-
datdrem, from Late L. lommandare ;
see Command
Common. (F. L) M. E. commnn,
comoun. O. F. comnn. L. communis,
common, geneial. L com- (c um), together
with ; and mums, icady to serve (Plautus) ;
cf. munus, service. (As if helping each
other.') Cf. Lith. mamas, Russ. micna,
barter. Brugm i 208. Der. commun-
ion > community.
COmmune, verb. (F. L ) M. E.
comuneN. O.Y. tommuner, to commune
with; Late L. communare. \*.t,ommuniS)
common (above).
Communicate. (L.) L. commit ni-
catus, pp. of commumcare. L. communis,
common. Der. excommnnnate.
Commotion . ( F . L . ) F . co m rn otion .
L. commotioitem, ace. of com mot 10 L
cotnmot-us, pp of commonere^ to disturb.
-'L,. com- (cum}, intensive; and mouere,
to move. See Move.
Commute, to exchange (L.) L com-
mutdre, to exchange with. L. com- (*/// \
with ; mutarc, to change.
Compact (1), adj , fastened together,
fitted, close, firm. (F. L.) M. F. com-
pacte. \^. compact us, fitted together, pp.
of comfingcre. L. com" (cum), together;
pangerC) to fasten. See Pact
Compact (2), sb., a bargain, agree-
ment. (L ) L. cowpactum, sb. L. com-
pactus, pp. of compacisci , to agiee with.
L. com- (ciiut\, with; paciut, to make a
bargain, inceptive form of O. Lat. pacere,
to agree. See Pact.
Company. (F. L) M E. companye.
O F. companie. [Cf. also O. F. compain^
COMPENSATE
a companion, O. F. companion (F. coin-
pagnoii}, a companion.] Med. L. com*
pdniem, ace. of companies, a taking of
meals together -L. com- (cum), together;
and pants, bread ; see Pantry. Der.
companion, from O. F. companion. Also
accompany, O. F. accompatgnier, from F. a
(for L. ad) and O. F. compaignicr, to asso-
ciate with, from compaigme, company.
Compare, to set together, so as to
examine likeness or chffeience. (F. L.)
F. comparer. I.,, comparare, to adjust, set
together. L. compar, co-equal. L. com-
(CUM}, together ; par, equal.
Compartment. (F.-Ital.-L.) F.
lompartimeut, 'a partition;' Cot. Ital.
<,ompartimento* \\s\. compartire\ Late L.
lomparttre, to share. L. com- (CUM),
together; partire, to share, to part, fiom
paiti-, decl stem of pats, a part.
Compass. (F. L.) F. compas, a
circuit, circle, limit ; also, a pair of com-
passes. Late L. compass us, a circuit. L.
com- (cttw), \\itli ; passus, a pace, step,
passage, ti ack ; so that compassus a track
that joins together, circuit. See Pace.
Der. compass, verb ; compasses, s. pi., an
instrument for drawing ciicle^.
Compassion. (F. - L.) F. com-
passion. L. compassioncm, ace. of com-
passto, sympathy. L. com- (cum}, with;
passw, suffering, from pail, to endure.
compatible. (F.-L.) F. compati-
ble, 'compatible, concuirable; ' Cot.
Late L. compatibihi, adj., used of a bene-
fice which could be held together with
another. L. compati, to eiidmc togethei
with. L. com- (cum), with; pati, to
endure.
Compeer, an associate. (F. L.)
M. E. comper. Y. com-, together; O. F.
per, a peer, equal. L. com- (cum), to-
gether; parcm, ace. of par, equal; see
Peer.
Compel. (L.) L. com-pdlere, to com-
pel, lit. to drive together. L. com- (rww\
together ; pellere, to diive. Der. compuls-
ion, from pp. comfuls-us.
Compendious, brief. (F. L.) F\
compendteux. \j* compcndiosus, adj., from
compendium, an abridgment, lit. a saving,
sparing of expense. L. compendcre, to
weigh together. L. com- (cum), with ;
pendere, to weigh.
compensate. (L.) Fiompp. ofL.
compensdre, to weigh one thing against
another. L. com- (cum), together; pen-
COMPETE
sare, to weigh, frequent, of pendere, to
weigh (pp./*;ttftf).
Compete. (L.) L. competere* L.
com- (cum), together; petere, to strive
after.
competent. (F. L.) M. F. com-
petent ; orig. pres. part, of competer, to be
sufficient for. L. compeiere, to be sufficient
for, L. com- (cum), with ; petere, to seek.
Competitor. (L.) L. competitor, a
rival candidate. L. com- (cum), with ;
pet i lor, a seeker, bompetitus, pp. of petere ,
to seek.
Compile. (F.-L.) O. F. compiler. -
L. compilare, lit. to press together. L.
com- (foi cum\ together; and pll&re, to
press down, from pilitm, a pestle. Cf. L
pinsere, to pound. See Pile (3).
Complacent. (L.) From stem of
pres. pt. of complacere, to please. L.
r^fw- (CUM}, intensive ; placere, to please.
complaisant. (X. - L.) F. r<?/;/-
platsant, obsequious, pres. part, of coin-
plaire, to please. L. cowplaccre, to please
(above).
Complain. (F. - L.) O. F. com-
plaign-, astern of complaindre.~\A\s L.
complangere, to bewail. L. com- (cum),
with; plangere, to bewail, lit. to stiike,
beat the bieast.
Complement. (L.) L. completnentum*
that which completes. L. complere
(below). Doublet, compliment.
complete, perfect. (L.) L. eowpletus,
pp. of complere. to fulfil. L. com- (cuni),
together ; plere, to fill. Allied \jople-nus,
full. See Plenary.
Complex. (L.) L. comphxus, en-
twined round ; hence, intricate ; pp. of
complect!, to embrace. L. com- (cum),
together; and plcctere, to plait, allied to
plic-are, to twine. See Pleach.
complexion. (F. ~ L.) F. jom-
plc *\ion, appearance. L. complexionem,
ace. of complexio, a comprehending, com-
pass, habit of body, complexion. L. com-
plexus, pp. of complectT^ to surround,
entwine. L. com- (<urtt), together; plcc-
tere, to plait.
complicate. (L.) From pp. of L.
complicare, to fold together. L. com-
(czirn), togcthei ; plicaie, to fold.
Complicity. (F. L.) , complniti\
f a bad confederacy ; ' Cot. F. complice, a
confedeiate. L. complicem t aco. of com-
plex, interwoven, confederate with ; see
Complex.
COMPREHEND
Compliance, Compliant ; formed
with F. suffixes -ance, -ant^ from the verb
to comply ', which, however, is not of F
origin ; see Comply.
Compliment. (F. - Ital. - L.) F.
compliment. Ital. complimentOj compli-
ment, civility. Ital. compltre, to fill up,,
to suit. L. complere-,^ fill up; see Com-
plete. Doublet, complement,
Compline. (F. L.) M.E.comphn r
the last church-service of the day ; it was
orig. an adj. (Mke gvM-en fiom gold\^ and
stands for complin song ; the sb. is compile
(Ancren Riwle). O. F. complie (mod. F.
complies > which is pi.), compline. Late
L. completa (sc. hora), fern, of completus,.
complete; because it completed the 'hours'
of the day's service ; see Complete.
Comply, to yield, accord with. (Ital.
L.) It has no doubt been supposed to
be allied to ply (whence compliant, by
analogy with pliant^, but is quite distinct,
and of Ital. origin. Jtal. cotnpltte, to fill
up, fulfil, to suit, ' also to use compli-
ments, ceremonies, or kind offices and
offers;' Torriano. Cf. Span, complir, to
fulfil, satisfy. L. complere, to fill up; see
Complete. Cf. supply.
Complot, a conspiracy; sec Plot (i).
Component, composing. (L.) L.
component- , stem of pres. pt. of eontponert,
to compose. L. com- (ctttr^, together;
ponete, to put. See Compound.
Comport, to behave, suit. (F. - L.) F.
sc comportcr, f o behave. L. comportare,
to carry together. L. com- (cttm^, to-
gether ; portai e, to carry.
Compose. (,F. - L. and Gk.) F.
composer, to compound, make; Cot.
F. com- (L. cum}, together; and F. poser,
to put, of Gk. origin, as shewn under
Pose, q.v. *[f Distinct from compound*
Composition. (F.-L.) F. composi-
tion. L. ace. compontwnctn, ace. of com-
positio, a putting together. L. composites ,
pp. of L. component , see compound.
compost, a mi \ture. (F. L.) O. F
compost, a mixture. L. compositiim,^^\\i
of compositus, pp. of compvnej e (below).
Compound. (F. L.) The d is ex-
crescent; M. E. compouncn. Q. F. com
ponre (Hartsch). L. componere, to com
pound, put together. - L. com- (cum)
together ; pone) c, to put. See Component
Comprehend. (L.) L. lom-prehendere
to grasp. L. com- (cum), together, anc
prehendere, to seize ; see Prehensile.
103
COMPRESS
Compress. (L.) L. compressarc, to
oppress. L. com- (cum}, together ; pres-
sare, frequent, of premerc, to press.
Comprise. (F.L.) From O. F.
compris, comprised, comprehended ; pp.
of comprendre, to comprehend. L. com-
prehenderc ; see Comprehend.
Compromise, a. settlement by con-
cessions. (F. L.) F. compromis, * a
compromise, mutual promise;' Cot. Orig.
pp. of F. compromettre, ' to put unto com-
promise ; ' Cot. L. compromittere, to
make a mutual promise. L. com- (cunt),
mutually ; pro mitt ere, to promise ; see
Promise.
Comptroller, another spelling of con-
troller ; see Control.
Compulsion. (F. L.) See Compel.
Compunction, remorse. (F. L.)
O. F. computation. Late L. ace. com-
punctioncm. L. c omp unctus, pp. of com-
pungl, to feel remorse, pass, of compungcre*
to prick. L. com- (cum}', pungerc, to
prick.
Compute, (L) L. computare, to
reckon. L. com- (cum}, together; putarc,
to clear up, reckon. Doublet, count (2).
Comrade. (F. Span. L.) F. < amar-
ade. Span, camarada, a company; also
an associate, comrade Span, camara, a
chamber, cabin. L camera, a chamber.
Con (i), to study, peruse, scan. (E.)
M. E. cunnen ; A. S. cunnian, to test.
Allied to A. S. citnnan, to know ; see
Can (i). Der. ale-conner, i. e. ale- tester.
Con C 2 )> short for contra, against. (L.)
In the phrase * pro and con?
Con-, prefix. (L. 1 ) For com- (cum},
with, when the following lettei is c, d, g,
j, n, i], s, /, or v. Before b, m, p, it is
com- ; before /, col- ; before r, cor- ; before
f t com- or con-.
Concatenate. (L.) L. concatenate,
pp. of concatcndre , to link together. L.
con- (cum}, together; catena, a chain.
Concave. (F.L.) F. comave. \,
concauus, hollow. L. con- (cum}, with,
together; cauus, hollow.
Conceal. (F.-L.) O. F. concekr.
L. conceldre, to hide. L. con- (cum},
completely ; ce/dre, to hide. See Helm (2 ,.
Concede. (L.) L. concedere, to retire,
yield. - L. con- (cum\ together; cedere,
to yield. Der. concess-ion (from pp. con-
cessus}.
Conceit. fF.-L.) M. E. conceit, con-
ceite. Formed as if from the pp. of O. F.
CONCLAVE
concevoir, to conceive, though the real
pp. was conceit (F. con^ii)', by analogy
with deceit, q.v. See below.
conceive. (F. L.) M. E. conccven,
conceiven. A. F. conceiv-, a stem of O. F.
concever, conccvoir, to conceive. L. con-
cipere, to conceive. L. con- (cum}, alto-
gether ; capere, to take.
Conception. (F. IO F. conception.
L. concepttonem.'\,. concept-us, pp. of
concipere, to conceive (above).
Concentre, to draw to a centre. (F.
L. attdGk.) F. concent 'rer. L. con- (cum},
together ; and centr-um, a centre, from Gk.
Ktvrpov; see Centre. Der. concentric,
conccntr-ate (modern).
Concern, vb. (F. L.) F. concenter.
^L. concernerc, to mix; in Late Lat., to
refer to, iegard. L. con'- (cum}, with;
and cerncre, to separate, decree, observe.
4. Gk. Kpivtiv, to separate, decide ; Lith.
skir-ti, to separate, distinguish. 13rngm.
li. 612. (-/SKLR.)
Concert. (F.-Ital.-L.) Often con-
fused with consort in old writers. F. con-
eerier, * to consort, or agree together ; *
Cot. Ital. conccrtare, 'to agree or tune
together, sing in consort,' Florio ; cf. con-
certo, sb., agreement. The Ital. forms
shew that it was derived from L. concertare,
to contend, struggle together ; indeed, we
find also Span concertar, to settle or adjust,
covenant, bargain ; which also points to
the same origin. [It would seem that the
L. vb. took up the sense of to settle by
debate, and so, to agree.] L. con- (ctim},
together ; cert are, to contend, vie with ;
orig. ' to decide by contest ; ' frequent, of
c erne re, to decide. See Concern. Der.
concert, sb. , i oncert-ina.
Concession. (F. L.) F. concession.
L ace. concessionem. L. concensus, pp.
otconccdere, to concede ; see Concede.
Concn, a marine shell. (L. Gk.) L.
concha. - Gk. Koyx*] C also ^7X OS )> a cockle-
bhell.-f-Skt. fahkha, a conch. Der. con-
chology (from ^7x0-5).
Conciliate. (L.) From the pp. of L.
conciliare^ to bring together, conciliate.
L concilium, a council ; sec Council.
Concise. (F. L ; or L.) F. concis.
L. conctsus, brief, cut short ; pp. of con-
cidere. \s. con- (cum}, intensive; carder e 9
to cut. Der. concis-ion.
Conclave. (F. L.) F. conclave, a
small room (to meet in). L. concldue,
a room ; later, a place of assembly of
104
CONCLUDE
cardinals, assembly. Orig. a locked Tip
place. L. con- (cum), together; clduis,
a key.
Conclude. (L.) L. condildere, to
shut up, close, end. L. con- (cum),
together ; and -diidere = daudere, to shut.
Der. condus-ion. Similarly ex-chide, in-
dude, prc-chidc, se-dude\ whence in-elus-
ive, prc-dus-ion , sc-dus-ion (from pp.
-clilsus = dausus}.
CoxiCOCt, (L ) From L. concoct us > pp.
of concoquere, to cook together, digest.
L. con- (cum^s ; coquere, to cook.
Concomitant, accompanying. (L.)
From I,, ton- (cttm), together; and
comitant-em, ace. of pres. pt. of comitdri,
to accompany, from comit-, stem of comes ,
a companion j see Count (i\
CoXXCOrd. (F. L) F. comorde. L*
concordia, agreement. L. concord- , stem
of con-cors, agreeing. L. con (cum) ; cor
(stem coni-), the heait.
Concordant. (F. L.) F. concoid-
ctnt, prcb. pt. of concorder, to agree. L.
concorddre, to agree L. toncoi d- (above).
Concordat. (K L.) F. concordat ',
an agreement. Late L concorddtum, a
convention, thing agreed on, esp. between
the pope and F. kings; pp. of concorddre,
to agree (above).
Concourse. (F. L) F. concottrs
L. ace. concursuui) a running together.
L. concttrsus, pp. of con-currere y to run
together. L. con- (cttm), together; and
currere, to run. See Concur.
Concrete, formed into one mass. (L.)
L. ioncret-n*, pp. of concrescerc, to grow
together. L. con- (cum), together; cta>-
cere, to grow.
Concubine. (F. L.) Q.Y.concttluttc,
L. concnlrina. \j. con- (cum), together;
culnite, to lie.
Concupiscence. (F.-L) T.concu-
fhccnce L. concupiscentia, desire. L.
concttpiscerc, to desire ; inceptive form of
concnpcre. 'L. con- (cuni) t intensive; and
ctipcre, to long for.
Concur. (L.) L. concurrerc> to run
together, agree. L con- (cum), together;
cttrrere, to lun. Der. concourse.
Concussion. (F. L.) F. concussion.
L. concussionem, ace. of concussio, a
violent shaking. L. concnssiis, pp. of
concuterc, to shake together. L. con-
(cum) ? together ; quatere, to shake.
Condemn. (F. L.) Q.Y.condemner.
L, condemndre, to condemn wholly, pro-
CONFEDERATE
nounce to be guilty. I,, con* (ct/m),
wholly ; damndrc, to condemn.
Condense. ( F . L ) F . condenser.
L. condcnsare. \;. condemns, very thick.
-L. con- (cum),very ; dcnsus, thick, dense.
Condescend. (F. L.) F. conde-
scendre. Late L. condescendcre, to grant
(lit. to descend with). L. con- (cum) ,with ;
descenders, to descend ; see Descend.
Der. condescens-ion, from the pp.
Condign, well merited. (F. L.) O.K.
condigne. L. condignus, very worthy.
L. con- (cum), very ; digmts, worthy.
Condiment. (L ) L. condimentum,
seasoning, sauce. L. condire, to season,
spice, preserve (as fruit).
Condition. (F.-L) F condition.
L. conditionem, ace. of conditio, a late
spelling of condicio* a covenant, condition,
L. condJccre, to talk over together, agree
upon. L. con- (cuni\, together; dicere^ to
speak.
Condole. (L ) L. condolei e, to grieve
with. L. con- (cum), with ; dolere, to
grieve.
Condone. (L.) L. condona* e, to remit,
pardon. L. con- (cum), wholly; dondre,
to give ; see Donation.
Condor, a large bird. (Span. Peru-
vian ) Span, condor. Peruv. ciintur^ a
condor.
Conduce. (L.) L condfuerc, to draw
together to wards, lead to. L con- (cum),
together; diicerc, to lead.
Conduct, bb. (L.) Late L. conductus,
defence, protection, guard, escort'. L. con-
duclus, pp. of con-ducere (above).
conduit. (F. L) M. E. conduit. ~
O. F. conduit, a conduit. Late L con-
ditctus, a defence, escort ; also, a canal,
tube ; see above.
Cone. (F.-L.-Gk) M.F.^wtf-L.
conus. Gk. K&i'os, a cone, peak, peg. -f-
bkt. ^dna s, a whetstone ; cf. L. cos, the
same. See Hone. Biugm. i. 401.
Coney; see Cony.
Confabulate. (L.) From pp. of L.
coiijdbuldrt, to talk togethei. L. con-
\curn), \f\tii\fdbttlari, to converse, from
fabula, a discourse ; see Fable.
Confect, to make up into sweetmeats.
(L.) L. confectus, pp. of conjicere, to put
together, make up. L. ton- (cum), io-
gether ; facet e, to put. Der. confcct-ion,
confection-cr. See Cornfit.
Confederate. (L.) L. confaderatus,
united by a covenant, pp. of confxderdre*
105
CONFER
L. con- (cuni] , together ; feeder-, for
*fades-, stem of fccchis, a treaty. See
Federal.
Confer. (L,) From L conferrc, to
bring together, collect, bestow. L. ton-
(r/w\ together; fcrrc, to bring, bear.
[f Not from F.
Confess. _ (F. - 1 ,.) O. F. eonfesw -
Late L. confess arc. L. confess us, pp of
conjitcn, to confess L. con- (ium], fully,
faten, to acknowledge, allied to /<?>/", to
speak. Cf. Gk. (parts, a speech. Brugm.
i- T95
Confide. (L ) I, confidcre, to trust
fully. L. con- <r/////j, fully ; fld<,re, to
trust, allied to fides ^ fnith ; see Faith.
Configuration. (F. - L.) F. w-
figuration L. configurationem, a con-
formation L confguratus, pp of r0tt-
figurate, to put togethci. L. <0- (^ //w ;
fgilrdrc, to fashion, tivrnflgnra, a figiue.
See Figure.
Confine, to limit. (F.-L.) F. r<?-
jiner, to keep within limits M. F.
confin* near ; (_ot. L (onjinis, boulering
on L. <-<?;/- (rww), with ; finh, boundary.
See Final. ^[ Mud. F. has only confine,
sb. pi , confines; representing (). F. con*
find, L confima, pi ; whence E. confini^
pi.
Confirm. ' V F. L.) M E. confcrmcn
(). F. 1 011 for we }~. lv. tonfirmare, to
make firm, strengthen. L. <wz- (mvt} }
{\>\\\y ,jfir mare, to strengthen, iiomjirnius,
firm.
Confiscate, to adjudge to be foifeit
(L ) L. cotifscdtus, pp. of confitiaie, to
lay by in a coffer, to confiscate, tiansfer to
the treasury. L. w/- (cum) , Jiscus, a
purse.
Conflagration. (F. L.) F. con-
jlagratton L. ace. conflagrationem, a
great burning. L. ton- (rw), together;
flagrare, to burn. See Flagrant.
Conflict, an encounter. (L.) L. <<?
Jlictus, a btukmg together; from the pp.
of conjtigere, to strike together. L. con-
\cum\ together ; JKget e, to strike.
Confluent. (L.) From btem. of pres
pt. of con-fluere t to flow together ; see
Fluent. So also conflux t sb., from the
pp. confiuxus.
Conform. (F. L.) F. confer mer.
L. conformiire, to fashion like. L. con~,
together ; formare, to form, from forma,
form.
Confound. (F. L.) F. confondre.
CONGLOMERATE
L. confunderc, to pour together, confound.
L. ton- (cum\ together ; fundere, to
pour. See Fuse (i).
Confraternity. ( F. - L.) From L.
rtw- (/w), with ; and Fraternity, (j v.
Confront. (F. L) F confrontcr, to
bring face to face. Med. L confrontarT,
to be near to. L. r0- (cum\ together;
front-, stem oifrons, forehead, front.
Confuse. (L.) M. E. confus^ used as
a pp. in Chaucer. L. tonfusus, pp. of
coiijnndere, to confound ; see Confound.
Confute. (F.-L.) F conf liter. - L.
confiitare, to repress, also to confute.
L. rt?;/- (CUHI\ together; "fit fare, to
repress, beat back; probably fiom the
same root as A. S. beatan, to beat
(Walde). If so, it is not allied to L.
ffttilis.
Congeal. (F.-L.) F. ^//^;.-T
congchve, to cause to fieeze together. L.
i <?/*-, togLlhei ; gelare, to freeze, from ^t7,
frost. See Gelid.
Congee, Conge", leave to depart. (F.
L } J". conge, ' lca\e, lismission ; ' Cot.
O. F. eongic, tnngc, tongtet 'F>urguy) ; the
same as Piov. comjat l^ate L. tonneitus,
leave, permission ^ VIII cent ) ; the same
ib L comnu'atus, a travelling together,
also leave of absence I,/, com- (en HI),
together; meatns t a couise, from ]>p. of
meare, to go.
Congenial, kindicd fL.) Coined
fiom L. ton- (cunt], with; and Denial,
adj. fiom L genius; see Genial.
Congenital. (L.) Coined by adding
-al to the obs. word tongenite (XVII
cent ). L. congenititS) born with. ] . con-
>t//;//\ with; gcnitn, born, pp. of gignere^
to produce. See Genital.
Conger, a sea-eel. (F. L. Gk )
M . .L i otig> e O. F. congre. * L congrum,
ace. of con^rtfi, by-form of conger, a sea-
eel. Gk. yuyypos, the same.
Congeries, a mass of particles. (L.)
L. congeries, a heap. 1 congooe, to
bring together. L. ow- (/v/w), together;
geiere, to cany.
congestion, accumulation. (L.) From
L. ace. congestion cm L. congest us t pp. of
conger ere (above).
Conglobe, to form into a globe. (L.)
L. con-globarc.v+'b. con- (cum), together J
globus, a globe.
Conglomerate. (L.) From pa of
conglomerdre, to wind into a ball, neap
together. L. con- (cum\ together; and
106
CONGLUTINATE
glotner-, for *glomes-) stem of glomus,
a ball, clew of yarn.
Conglutinate. (L.) From pp. of
L. conglutindre, to glue together. L.
con- (cttm}, together; ghltindre, to glue,
from glu tin-, stem si gluten, glue.
" i, a kind of tea. (Chinese.)
In
the Amoy dialect, called kang-hu te, where
kang-hu is lit. * work, labour ; ' i. e. tea on
which labour has been expended (Douglas).
The true Chinese is kung-fu ch'a, with
the same sense.
Congratulate. (L)
Fiom pp. ofL.
congrdtuldn, to wish much joy. L. ton-
(cum}, fully , gt dtuldri , to wish joy, from
adj. grdtus, pleasing See Grace.
Congregate.
(ongrcgare, to
(L ) From
collect into a
pp. o
ilock
of L.
1 ,
con- (cum}, together; gregdrc, to assem-
ble a flock, fiom greg-, stem of grejc t a
flock.
Congress, a meeting together. (L.)
L congresses. L. congressus, pp. of con-
gredi, to meet together. L. con-, together;
gradi, to advance, walk.
Congrue, to agree, suit. (L.) L. con-
gruere, to suit. (Root uncertain.) Der.
longru-ous, from L. congruus, suitable ;
congru-ity
Conjecture.
L comcctnia,
(F.-10
a castini:
F. conjecture.
CONSIDER
Connive. (F . - L.) F. tonniwr. - L.
conniuere^ to close the eyes at, overlook.
L, con- (cum), together; and *ntguere t
to wink ; cf. nic-tare, to wink. + Goth.
h net wan, to bow ; Brugm. i 664.
Connoisseur, a critical judge. (F.
L.) F. connaisseur, formerly connoisseur,
a knowing one. O. F. connotss-ctnt, pres.
pt. of O. F. conoistre ; see Cognisance.
Connubial. (L.) L. conmlbmlts, re-
lating to marriage. L. co(n}nulmim, mar-
riage. L. con- (cum] , with ; mlbere t to
marry. See Nuptial.
Conquer. (F. 1 M. E. conquei en.
O. P . conqnerre. L. conquirere, to seek
after, go in quest of; in Late L, to con-
quei. L con- (turn}, with; qucerere, to
seek. Der. conquest, M. E conqucste,
from Late L. conquesta, L. conqulsita,
fern, of conqulsltus, pp. oi(onqmrere.
Consanguineous. (L ) From L.
consanguine-it* > related by blood, with
suffix -ou<> L. con- (cum), together;
saiiguin-, stem of sanguis, blood.
Conscience. (F. L) F. conscience.
\^.conscicntia, consciousness. L conscient-,
stem of pies. pt. of consctie, to know along
\\ith. L. con- (cum}, with; scire, to
know. See Science. Der. conscionable,
an ill-contnved word, used as a contiac-
guess. L. comecfus, pr
throw or put together. L. con- (cuni\ to-
gethei ; iaccre, to throw.
Conjoin. (F. L) O. F. conjoindie.
L. comungeie (pp. comunJu^], to join
together. L. con- (cum}, together; tun-
gere, to join. See Join. Der. conjunct-
ion, conjunct-ive, from the pp.
Conjugal, relating to marriage. (F.
L.) F. conjugal. L. comugalis, adj.
L. coniugem, ace. of contux, a spouse.
L. con-, together ; iug-, allied to tuttgere,
to join, tngitm, a yoke ; see Join.
Conjugation. (L.) Fiom L comu-
gdtio, a conjugation (Piisciau) ; lit a
yoking together. L. coniugdtus, pp. of
coniugdre, to yoke together. L. con-
(cum}, together ; iug-um, a yoke.
Conjure. (F. L) M.E. coniurtn.
F. conjurer. L. coniutdre, to swear to-
gether, combine by oath. L. con-, to-
gether ; ifirdt e, to swear ; see Jury.
Connect. (L.) 1^. connectcre, to tie
together L. con- (cunt), together; and
nectere, to bind (pp. nexus}. Der. con-
nex-ion [not connection], from the pp.
together, a tion of conscience} -able.
of comcere, to | conscious. (L.) P'rom i^. consci-its,
awaie, with sufhx -ous. L. consare, to be
aware of (above).
Conscript. (L.^ L. conscnpttts, en-
rolled, pp. of cojncribere, to \\nte down
together. L. con- (cum}, together; sen*
berc, to write.
Consecrate. (L.) From pp. of L.
consecrate, to render sacred. L. con-
(cuni)) with, vholl) ; sacrdre, to conse-
crate ; sec Sacred.
Consecutive. (F. L.) KLY.consecu-
tif, Cot. Formed with suffix -if (I . -tuns)
from L. conseciit-us, pp. of conseqtri, to
follow together. L. con- (cum}, together ;
scqui, to follow. See Sequence.
Consequent. (L ) L. consequent-,
stem of pres pt. of consequT (abo\e .
Consent, vb. (F.L.) Y.consentit\
L. consent! re, to agree to. L. con-
(cum}, with ; sent ire, to feel. See Sense.
Conserve, vb. (F. L.) Y.conserver*
L. conserudre, to preserve. L. con-
(cum}, fully ; serudre, to keep. Der. con-
serve, vb ; conserv-cttory. See Serve.
Consider. (F. L.) O. F. consider.
107
CONSIGN
L. considerate , to consider, orig. to con-
template the stars (Festns). L. con- (cum},
together; slder-, for * sides-, stem of sidus,
a star.
Consign. (F.-L.) F. consigner.-
L. consignare, to attest, register, recoid.
L. con- (cum), together; signtire, to
mark ; see Sign.
Consist. (F L) F. consisfer, to
consist, rest, abide, &c. L. consist ere, to
stand together, consist. L. con- </w\
together; sistere, causal form fiom stare,
to stand ; see State. Der. consistory.
Console. (F. IO F. comoler. \^
consolarl, to comfort L con- (cum), with ;
solan, to comfort ; see Solace.
Consolidate. (L.) Fiom pp. of I,.
consolidare, to render solid. L con-
(cum), togethei ; solidare, to make solid,
from solidus, solid. Dar. consols, a
familiar abbreviation for consolidated an-
nuities.
Consonant, agreeing with. (F. IO
F. consonant, accordant; Cot L. conso-
nant-, stem of pres. pt. of comonare, to
sound together L. con- (cum i, together ;
sondre, to sound ; see Sound (3).
Consort, sb. ( F. L ) F. consort.
L. consort-, stem of consors, one who shares
property with another, a partner. L con-
(cum), together ; sort-, stem of sors, a lot,
share. See Sort.
Conspicuous. (L) L. compicu-us,
visible, with suffix -0//j. L con^picere, to
see thoroughly. L con-, fully ; spec ere, to
see. See Species.
Conspire. (F. L.) F. conspirer.
L. conspirare, to breathe together, com-
bine, plot. L. ton- (cum), together;
spirare* to breathe.
Constable, a peace-officer (F. - L )
O F. cones table (F. connttablc).^. comes
Stabull, lit ' count of the stable,' the title of
a dignitary of the Roman empire and after-
wards* in use among the Franks. See
Count (i) and Stable.
Constant, firm. (F.-L."} F. con-
stant. L. constant-, stem of cons tans,
firm ; orig. pres. pt. of constare, to stand
together. L. con- 'cum), together ; stare,
to stand; sec State.
Constellation. F. - L.) F. constel-
lation. \,. ace. constcllationcm, cluster of
stars. L. con- Uum\, together; stellilt-us,
pp. of stellare, to set with stars, from
stella, a star. See Star.
Consternation, v F. - L.) F. con-
CONTAIN
sternation. L. ace. consternationcm^
fright. L. consternatus, pp. of conster-
ndrc, to frighten. L. con- (for cuni) 9 to-
gether; and *stemate t prob. allied to
Gk. vrvptiv, to fiighten (Walde). See
Brugmann, i. 499.
Constipate. (L.) From pp. of L.
constipdrc, to join closely, press together.
L. con- (cum], together; stlpare, to
press, cram.
Constitute. (L.) I,, comtitrttw, pp.
of conslituere, to cause to stand together,
establish. L. con- (cuni], togethei , sta-
tuerc, to set up, denom. vb. from status,
a position ; see Statute.
Constrain, to compel. (F. - L.) O. F.
constraign-, a stem of constratndre , later
contraindre. L. constnngere, to bind
together, fetter. L. con- (cum), together;
stringer e> to draw tight.
Construct. (L.) Fiom L. const ruc-
tus, pp. of const mere (below).
Construe. (L.) L. constrnere, to
heap together, build, construct ; in Late L ,
to construe a passage. L. con- (cum), to-
gether; struere, to pile, build. Der.
mis-construe*
Consul. (L.) L. consul, a consul,
Etym. doubtful ; but allied to consulere,
to consult , see below.
Consult. ( F. L. ) F. consumer. L.
consultare, to consult ; frequent, form of
con-sulere, to consult. Root uncertain ;
prob. allied to scdere, to sit ; cf, solntm t
a seat.
Consume. (L.) L. consilmere, lit. to
take up wholly. L. con- (dirti), together,
wholly ; siimere, to take up, from ^sitps-^
allied to sub, under, up, and emeje,\.o take,
buy. Brugm. i. 240. Der. consumption^
from the pp.
Consummate. (L.) Fiompp. ofL.
consttmmare* to bung into one sum, to
peifect. L. con- (cum), together; sum-
mare, to sum, from summa, a sum ; see
Sum.
Consumption ; see Consume.
Contact, sb. (L.) L. contactus, a
touching. L. contactus, pp. of contingere^
to touch closely ; see Contingent.
Contagion. (F.-L.) F. contagion.
L. contagionem, ace. of contagio, a
touching, hence contagion. L. con- (fui) f
with ; tag--, 2nd grade of tag*, as in *tag-
tus (>tac-tus)i pp, of tangerc, to touch.
Contain. (F. L.) From a tonic stem
of O. F. contenir. L. continerc^ to hold
108
CONTAMINATE
together, contain; pp. contentus. l^. con-
(cum), together; tenere, to hold.
Contaminate. (L.) Prompp. ofL.
contaminare, to defile. L. contdmin-,
stem bicontHmen, contagion ; which stands
for *contagmen. L. con- (cum} ; tag-,
as in tact us, for * tag-tits, pp. of tangete, to
touch Brugm. i. 768.
Contemn. (F. L.) N.Y.contemner.
L contemncre, to despise L. con-
(cum), with, wholly; temnere, to de-
spise,
Contempt. (F. L.) M F contempt-,
Cot. L. tontemptus, scorn. L. r0-
tcmptus, pp. of contemnere (above).
Contemplate. (L.) From pp. of
contemplan, to ohseive, consider; used at
first of augurs. L. con- (cum ) ; templum,
an open space for observation (by augurs) ;
see Temple.
Contemporaneous. (L.) L. con-
temporane-tis, adj , at the same time ; with
suffix -ous. L. con- (cum], with ; tetnpor-,
for '"'tempos-, stem of tewpus, time.
contemporary. (L.) L. ?-, with ;
and L. Umpordrius, tempoiaiy, adj , from
temper- (above).
Contend. (F. L ) O. F. contendre.
L. contenders, to stretch out, exert, fight.
I,, (on- (cum*), hilly; tender e, to strive.
Der. content-ion (from the pp. contentus).
Content, adj. (F.-L.) F. content,
satisfied, JL contentus, content; pp. of
tontinere; see Contain. Der. dis-ion-
tent.
Contest, ^ b. (F.L.) F. contester.
L. contestari, to call to witness, to bring
an action. L. con- (mm), together; tcs-
tdri, to witness, from tcstis, a witness.
Der. contest, sb.
Context. (L) L. contexttts, a joining
together, order (hence, context of a book).
L. contextus, pp. of contcxere, to weave
together. L. con- (CUM), together ;
texerc, to weave.
Contiguous. (L ) L. contigii-us^ that
may be touched, neai ; with suffix -ous.*~
L. con" (cum), with ; and tat*-, a^ in
tac-tus (for * tag- Jus) , pp. of tangere, to
touch ; see Contingent.
Continent. (F. L/) F. continent,
adj , moderate. L. continent-, stem of
pres. pt. of contmcre ; see Contain.
Contingent, dependent on. (L.)
From stem of pres. pt. of contingcrc, to
touch, relate to. L. con- (cum) ; tangerc,
to touch. See Tangent.
CONTRIBUTE
Continue. (F.L.) F. continue?.
L. continuarey to continue. L. continues
(below) Der. dis-contimie.
continuous. (L) L. continu-us,
lit. holding together ; with suffix -ous.
L. continere, to hold together, contain. See
Contain.
Contort. (L.) L. contortus, pp. of
contorquere> to twist togethci. L. con-
(curti), together; torquere, to twist.
Contour, an outline. (F. Ital. L.)
F. contour, esp. in an aitistic sense. Ital.
contorno, a circuit; icntornare, 'to en-
circle ; ' t lono. L. con- (cum) , together ;
tornare, to round off, to turn ; see Turn.
Contra-, prefix. (L.) L. contra,
against ; orig. the abl. fern, of an obs. adj.
*con-t(e)r-us, a comparative form from con- t
prep, together ; cf. extra from extents.
Contraband. (Span. Ital. L. and
Teut.) Span, contrabando, prohibited goods.
Ital. contrabbando* prohibited goods.
Ital. contia (~L. <.ontid\ against; bando,
a ban, from Late L. bannum, a \\ord of
Teut. origin, viz. from O. H. G. ban, a
command. See Ban.
Contract (i), to draw together. (L.)
L. lontiactus. pp. of contrahere, to diaw
together. L. con- (cum), together; tra-
here, to draw.
Contract (2\ a bargain. (F.-L.)
M. F. contract; Cot L. contractual,
ace. of con tract us, sb., a drawing together,
a bargain. L. conttaJus^ pp. (above).
Contradict. (L.) L. contradictus ,
pp oi contraduerC) to speak against. L.
contra, against, d'cere, to speak.
Contralto. (Ital. L.) Ital. contr-
alto* counter-tenor. Ital. contia, oppo-
site to, and altO) high. L. contra, against ;
alt its, high.
Contrary. (F. L) \.Y.contraric;
F. contiaire. L. contra nm, contrary;
from contra, against ; see Contra-.
Contrast, vb. (F. L.^ F. contraster,
to strive, contend against (hence to be in
opposition to, &c.). Late L. contrdstdre,
to stand against. L. contra, against ;
stare, to stand.
Contravene, to hinder. (F.L.) F.
(ontrcvenir, ' to thwart; ' Cot. Late L.
tontrduciiire, to oppose ; to break a law,
L. tontra, against ; uentre, to come.
Contribute. (L.) From pp. of L.
conttibitcre, to contribute, lit. pay to-,
gether. L. con- (cunt), together; tri-
buere, to bestow ; see Tribute.
109
CONTRITE
Contrite. (F.L.) F, contrit. l^,
contnttis, thoroughly bruised, hence, peni-
tent ; pp. of L. contcrere, to rub together,
bruise. L. con- (cum), together; tererc,
to nib. See Trite.
Contrive. (F. - L. and Gk.)
An
O. F. r0w- (L. r<w-, for
to find; see Trover.
altered spelling ; M. E. controuen, con-
treuen (= controven, contrcven). O. F.
controver, to find, find out (Bartsch).
w) ; O. F. trover,
*{[ Contrive (cf.
retrieve) is from M. li. contrevc^ answering
to O. F. contrtuv-, stressed stem of con-
trover.
Control, sb (F.-L.) Control is short
for eontrc-roll, old form of counter-roll.
O. F. contre-rol(l)e,^. duplicate register, used
to verify the official or first-made roll.
O. F. contre, over against ; rol(l)c, a roll.
L. contra, against ; rolulum, ace. of ro-
tuhts, a roll ; see Eoll.
Controversy. (F.-L) A. F con-
trover sie (i$Q t ]). *L.con/Muersia, a quar-
rel. L. controller sus, opposed. L.
contra-, masc. or neut. form coi responding
to fern, contra, against ; iiersus, pp. of
uertere, to turn. See Contra-.
Contumacy. iF.-L.) A. F. contu-
macie^i 303). L. contuniacia, obstinacy.
stem of continual, stub-
; and *titm-ax,
L. contnmaci
born. L. con-
prob. from tnm-ere, to swell with pride ;
see Tumid.
Contumely. < V F.-L.) M. F contu-
mclie. L. tontiimelia, insult, rcpioach;
prob. allied to contntnacia ; see Con-
tumacy.
Contuse, to buuse severely. (L.) L.
contusus, pp. of contundcre, to bruise
severely. L. con- ^7//w),\vith, much ; and
tundere, to strike. -f-^kt. tuJ, to strike ;
Goth, stautan, to strike. ^y^STEUD.)
Brugm. i. 818.
Conundrum. (Unknown.) formerly
used in the sense of whim, crotchet, or
hoax. Also quonwndrum ; ong m uriiv.
slang ; prob. of L. origin.
CONY, CONEY
orig. pies. pt. of comienire, to come to-
gether, suit (above).
convent. (L.) L. cenuentus, an as-
sembly L. conuentus, pp. of con-iiemre.
convention. (F. L.) F. conven-
tion, * a compact ; ' Cot. L. ace. con-
uentionem, a meeting, compact. L. con-
ucntus, pp. of con-uenlre, to meet.
Converge. (L.) Late L. conuergere,
to incline together (Isidore). L. con*
(cunt), together; uergere, to bend, in-
cline.
Converse, vb. (F. L.) F. convener,
to associate with ; Cot L. connersdri, to
live with. L. con* (cum), with; ucrsdri,
to dwell (lit. turn oneself about), orig.
pass, of the frequent, of tiertere, to turn.
convert, vb. (F.-L.) O. F. ion-
vertir. Folk-L. *convet tire, for L. con-
ncrtere, to turn wholly, change L. con-
(<///;/), wholly ; uertere, to turn.
Convex. (L.) L conuexus, arched,
\aulted.-L. con- (cnm), together; and
lo bend, as in ucic-itlare t \.o reel, go crook-
edly. See Vacillate. Cf. A S.woh, crooked.
Convey, Convoy, vb. (F. - L.)
M. E. iomteien, connoicn (convcten, con-
voten^* to convey, also to convoy A. K.
convcier, O. F. convoicr, to convey, convoy,
accompany on the \\ay Late L. couuiare,
to accompany. L <on- l citni}, with; ma,
way. ^f Convey is the A. 1' . or Norman
foim ; tonvoy is Pansian.
Convince. iL.) L. tonnimcrc, to
o\eicome by proof. L. ion- (CUM),
wholly; unuerc, to conquer. Der. ton-
vitt, veib and sb., from A. F. <.on
i, pp. of conuinccre.
Convivial. iL.) Coined as adj from
L. conttiui-ttfti, a feast. L. ion- (cum\
together ; ulucrc, to live (hence, eat).
Convoke. (F. L.) F. ionvo t ]iier.~
L. cornier are, to call together. L. con~,
together; nocfiie* to call.
Convolve. < L.) L. conuoluere, to i oil
together, wnthe about. L. <0-
_
Convalesce. iL.) L. conttalesccre, to i together; uolucre, to loll. Der. (.onvolnt-
begin to grow well ; an inceptive form. | ion, from pp. comtolutns ; convolv-ul-tt$,
L. r0#- ( = f/w), fully; ualerc, to be L conuoluulus, a twining plant.
strong.
Convene, I o assemble. (F. L)
F.
Convoy ; see Convey.
Convulse, to agitate violently. (L.)
convenir, to assemble. L conucnfre, to ' L. comiulsus, pp. of comic Here, to pluck
up, convulse. L. con- (cum), with,
seveiely; udlere, to pluck.
Cony, Coney, a rabbit. (F. L.)
come together. L. con- (CUM), together;
itenire, to come.
^ convenient, suitable. ( F. - L. )
From stem of L. conueniens, suitable;
M. E. coni\ also conyng. Anglo-F. conil,
coo
conin ; O. F. connil, L. cuniculus, a
rabbit ; a word of uncertain origin.
Coo. (E.) A purely imitative word ;
also spelt croo. Cf. cuckoo, cock.
Cook. (L.) M. K. cokcn, to cook ;
A.S. coc, a cook. L. coquus, a cook; co-
quere, to cook.-fGk. iriavuv ; Skt.
lo cook ; Russ. peJi(e], to bake.
whence Lat. *peqncre, becoming *queqitcre
by assimilation, and then coquere; Ok.
*ir^-i^, whence W(T<rcii>.) Brugm. i.
66 1 , A.S <w Late L. <wf/j, for coquus.
Cookie, a cake ; see Cake.
Cool. (E.) A. S col, cool +Du. kocl ;
Tent, type *kol-uz; also, \vith mutation,
Dan. kol, G. /('/////; from &?/-, 2ndgiade
of kal', as in A. S catan, Icel. &?/#, to
freeze (j>t. t /-J/) ; see Cold.
Coolie, Coqly, an East Indian porter.
(Hind, or Tamil.) Hmd. kiill, a labourer,
porter, cooley (Forbes) ; prob. from Koll,
a tribal name (Yule). Or from Tamil killi,
daily hire or wages; hence, a day-
labourer (Wilson).
Coomb ; see Comb.
Coop. (L.) M K. cupe, a basket ;
answering to A S. *c upc, not found, though
cype (with z-mutation ) occurs as a gloss
to doliuni.< L. cupa, a tub, whence also
Du. kiup, Icel. kilpa, a bowl ; also LateL.
copa, whence G. huff, tub, vat, coop ;
O. Sax. copa* a tub. Cf. Skt. kfipa, a pit,
hollow. Der. coop-er, tub-maker.
Co-operate. (L.) From pi of L.
(0-operarl, to work with; from (0- (tttnij,
with; and operdri, to work; see Operate.
Co-ordinate. (L.) From L. co- (cum},
with ; and the pp. of ordtndre, to order.
See Ordinate.
Coot. (E ) M. E. cote, coote, a water-
fowl. +Du. koet, a coot. Origin unknown.
Copal. (Span. Mexican.) Span, copal.
Mex. copalh, resin.
Co-parcener, a co-partner. ( F. -L.")
Parcener is the true old spelling ut partner ;
see Partner.
Cope (i >, orig. a cape (Late L.) M.E.
cope* earlier cape] A.S. *iapa, not found ;
but Icel. kapa occius. Late L. cdpa y a
cape; see Cape (i\ [Cf. pope, from
A. S. papa.~\ Der. coping-stone.
Cope (2), to vie with. (F. L.-Gk. )
M. E. copen, con pen, to fight. O. F. toper,
couper, colper, to btuke (K. coupe r t to cut).
O. F. cop, coup, colp, a blow. Late L.
colpus, L. colaphits, a blow. Gk. KU\CL<}>O$,
a blow on the ear. See Coupon.
CORACLE
Copeck, a small Russian coin, worth
less than \d. ; a hundredth part of a rouble.
(Russ.) Russ. kopieika, a copeck ; dimiiu
of Russ. kopec 1 , a lance. So called from the
figure of Ivan IV, holding a lance (1535).
See Rouble.
Copious, ample. (F.-L.) O. F. co*
ieitjc. lL. copiosus^ plentiful. L. copia,
plenty; for *co~opta. \s. co- (for aim),
together ; op-, base of op-es, wealth. Cf.
in-opia, want.
Copper, a metal. (Cyprus.) M.E coper.
A. S. copor. Late L. cupcr, L. t uprum, a
contraction for C^lpr^^^1n trs, Cyprian brass.
Gk. KfcV/wos, Cyprian ; Kvtrpos, Cypius,
whence the Romans got copper.
Copperas, sulphate of iron. (F. L.)
M. E. coperosc. O.F. coperosc (couperose] ;
cf. Ital. copparosa. According to Diez,
from L. c upri rosa, rose of copper, a trans-
lation of Gk. xaA.tf-av0os, brass - flower,
copperas. But this is prob. only a popular
etymology ; and the Late L. cuprosa seems
to be merely an adj. form from cuprum.
See N.E.D.
Coppice, Coppy, Copse, a small
wood. (F. L. Gk.) Coppy is short for
coppice, and copse is contracted. O. F.
ropeiz [Low L. copccia}, underwood fre-
quently cut, brushwood. O F. coper (F.
couper), to cut. O.F. cop (F. coup), a
stroke, Low L. colpus, L. colafhus, stroke,
blow. Gk. Ko\a<f>os, a blow, ^ff O. F.
copeiz answers to a Late L. type *colpati-
cium, homcotyarffy to strike. Coppy arose
from coppice being taken as coppies, pi. ;
and copse (cops) from reducing a supposed
pi. *coppis to cops.
Coprolite. (Gk.) Lit. ' dung-stone '
Made from Gk. ttowpo-s, dung ; and Ai'0-os,
a stone, t or -lite, cf. Aerolite.
Copulate. (L.) From pp. of L coptt-
liire, to join. L. copula, a band; see
Couple .
Copy. (F. L.) M.E. copy, abun-
dance; the mod. sense is due to the mul-
tiplication of an oiiginal by means of topics.
O. F. copie, abundance; also a copy.
L. copia^ plenty ; see Copious.
Coquette. (F.) Y. coquette, 'apratling
or proud gossip/ Cot. ; fem. of coquet, a
little cock, dunin. of coy, a cock. Cf. prov-
E coi ky> i e strutting as a cock.
Coracle, a light wickei boat. (\V.) W.
convgl, twrwgl, coracle; dimin. of convg,
a carcase, civrivg, a boat, fiame. So Gael.
cufachan, coracle, from curaih, boat of
CORAL
wicker-work ; cf. Ir. corrach, O. Ir. curach,
a boat.
Coral. (F.-L.-Gk.) O.F. coral.-
L. corallum, coratium. Gk. KopaKKiov,
coral. See Schade, p. 1374.
Corban, a gift. (Heb.) Ileb. qorbdn,
an offering to God, in fulfilment of a vow ;
from qarab, to draw near. Cf. Arab, q ur-
ban, a sacrifice.
Corbel. (F. I, ) O. F. corbel, a raven,
a corbel (in architecture), from the notion
of a projecting beak. Folk- L. corbellum,
for corvellum, ace. of corvellus, dimin.
of L. coruus, a raven, ^f Distinct from
corbeil, a basket full of eaith (tf.corbeillc,
L. corbictita, dimin. of corbis* a basket).
Cord. ( K. - L. - Gk ) M. E. corde. -
F. cordc. Late L. corda, a thin rope ; the
same as L. chorda. Gk. x o P$*l> the string
of a musical instrument. Der. cord-age
(F. cordage] ; cord-on (F. cordon} ; <rm/-
-//>r (K. cordelier, a twist of rope, also
a Gray Friar, who used such a twist ; from
cordelcr, to twist ropes). See Chord.
Cordial. (F. L.) F. cordial, hearty
L. r<W/-, decl. stem of tor, heart; with
suffix -alis ; see Heart.
Corduroy, a thick-ribbed or corded
stuff. (F. L.) F. corde du roi, a trade-
name, invented in England ; lit. ' king's
cord.' See Cord and Royal.
Cordwainer, shoemaker. 'F.-Span.)
M. E. cordewaner, a worker in cordcivanc,
i.e. leather of Cordova. O. F. cordouan,
Cordovan leather. Late L. Cordoa, Cor-
dova in Spain (L. Corduba].
Core, hard centre in fruit, &c. (F. - L.?)
Etym. doubtful. Perhaps from F. cor, a
horn, also, a corn on the foot, ciHosity.
L. cornu, a horn, a horny excrescence.
Coriander. (F. ~L.-Gk.) F. cori-
andre. L. coriandrum (whence A. S. cel-
hndre}.~*(jfc. fcopiavvov, Kuptov, coriander.
Cork. (Span. L.) Apparently from
O. Span, alcorqne, a cork shoe, which
seems to be an Arab, form allied to Span.
al-cornoque, the cork-tree, where al is the
Arab. def. art., and corn-oque \* formed
from L. quern-us (for *qucrcnu$\ oaken,
adj. from L. quercus, an oak. l[f But the
bark of the tree was called, in Span., core he,
corcho. ^. corticem, ace. of cortex, bark.
Hence cork is often derived from Span.
corcho, though k for ch seems improb-
able.
Cormorant, a bird. rF.-L.) The t
is excrescent. F. cormoran ; O. F. corma-
CORNET
rant, cormaran (Littre). O. F. corp, a
crow ; and O. F. *marenc, belonging to
the sea, deriv. of L. mare, sea, with G.
suffix -ing\ cf. Tf.Jlamant, flamingo. L.
torttttm, ace. of coruus, a crow; &c.
Cf. Port, corvomarinho, a cormorant ; lit.
1 marine crow ; ' from L. coruus marinus.
But probably -moran was due to, or con-
fused with, Bret, morvran, a cormorant
(from mor, sea, and bran, a crow).
Com ( i ), grain. (E.) A. S. corn.+ Du.
korcn, Icel. Dan. Svved. G. korn, (ioth.
kaurn, Tetit. type *knnwm, Idg. type
*g9rnom, corn ; whence O. Slav, zrtfno,
Kuss. zerno, coin. Cf. Lat. gramim*
grain ; Skt. jlrna-, worn down, pp. ofjrf.
Doublet, grain. See Grain. Brngm. i.
628. 0/GER.)
Corn (2\ a hard excrescence on the
foot. (F. L.) O. F. corn (F. cor}, a horn,
horny swelling. L. cornil, a horn ; see
Horn.
cornea, horny membrane in the eye.
(L ) L. cornea, fern, of foment, horny.
L. co) nil, a horn.
Cornel, a shrub. (Du. - L ) M. Du.
koruclle, 4 the fruit of the cornelle-tree/
Hexham ; cf. M. H. G. cornclbaum, cornel-
tree ; Weigand. [Cf M F. cornille, a cor-
nel-berry; cornillicr, cornel-tree.] Late L.
cornolmm, cornel- tree. L. cornw, a cor-
nel-tree ; from the hard, horny nature of
the wood. L. cornu, a horn.
cornelian, a kind of chalcedony.
( F. L.) Formerly cornaline. F. corna-
line, 'the cornix or cornaline, a flesh-
coloured stone;' Cot. Cf. Port, corne-
hna ; also Ital cornwla, (i) a cornel-tree,
(2) a cornelian, prob. so named because
its colour resembles that of the fruit of the
cornel-tree (Schade). Late L. corniola*
cornel-berry; cornoliuni, cornel. L. cor-
neus, adj. of cornus, a cornel, fl" Altered
to carncolns in Late L. (Schade, p. i$79\
carnehan in E., and carneol in G., from
a popular etymology which connected it
\\ith L earn-, stem of caro, flesh. Cf.
onyx = Gk. wv, finger-nail.
Corner. (F.-L) h.V.cornerc\ O.F.
corniere. Med. L. cornena, corner, angle.
Med.L. coma, angle. L. rornua, pi. of
corn fi y horn, projection ; taken as a fern,
sing.
cornet. (F.-L.) M.E.^r;^/,ahorn;
later, a troop of horse (who earned a cor-
net te or standard) ; also an officer of such
a troop. F. cornet, cornette^ dimin. of F.
JI2
CORNICE
eorne, a horn. Med, L. conia, a horn
(above).
Cornice. (F.-Ital.) M. F. and Picard
cornice ; F. corniche. Ital. cornice, a
ledge for hanging tapestry (Florio) ;
usually, a crow (from L. ace. cormcem, a
crow). Origin uncertain ; by some identi-
fied with coronix, a square frame. Gk.
/ropo'i/is, curved ; as sb., a wreath.
Corolla. (L.) L. corolla, dimin. of co-
rona, a crown. See Crown.
Corollary. (I*) L. corolla rium, a pre-
sent of a garland, a gratuity; also, an
additional inference. L. corolla (above).
Coronal, a crown. (F. L.) Properly
an adj. F. coronal, adj. L. corondlis,
belonging to a crown. L. corona, a crown.
Coronation. (L.) LateL. ace. corond-
tidnem, fiom pp. of corona re, to crown.
L. corona, a crown.
Coroner. (F. L.) Also crowmr\
both forms represent A. F. coruner, coroner,
Latinised as corondnus, a crown- officer, a
coroner (afterwards Latinised as coro-
ndtor). O. F. corone, a crown. L. corona,
a crown.
Coronet. (F. -L.) Dimin. of O. F.
corone, a crown. L. corona, a crown.
Coronach, a dirge. (Gael.) Gael, cor-
ranach, a dirge, lit. * a howling together.'
Gael, comh- ( ** L. cum), together ; ranaich,
a howling, from the verb ran, to howl,
cry, roar, which is from ran, sb., an outcry.
So also Irish coranach, a dirge.
Corporal (1), a subordinate officer.
(F.-L.) O. F. corporal -Late L. cor-
pora Us, a captain ; a leader of a body of
troops. L. corpor-, for. *corpos~, stem
of corpus, body, ^f F. has now the form
caporal, from Ital. caporale, a chief of a
band ; as if from Ital. capo, head (L.
caput) ; but this does not explain the -or-.
Corporal (2), belonging to the body.
(F.-L. 1 ) O. F. corporal, corporcl.-\..
corporalis, bodily. L. corpor-, for *cor
pos-, stem of corpus, the body. Der.
(from L. corpor-} corpor-ate, corpor ~e-al
(L. corpor e-us}, &c. Brugm. i. 555.
corps, corpse, corse, a body
(F. L.) [Here corps is F. ; corse is frtfm
theO. F. cors.~\ M. E. cors, corps. O. F.
cot s, M. F. corps, the body. L. corpus, body.
Corpulent. (F.L.) F. corpulent.
L. corpiilcntus, fat. L. corpus , body.
corpuscle. (L.) L. corpus~cu-lum,
double dimin. of corpus, body.
Corral, an enclosure for animals, pen.
CORSE
(Span. L.) Span, corral, a court, yard,
enclosure. Span, corro, a circle, a ring of
people met to see a show. From the
phrase correr toros, to hold a bull-fight,
lit. to run bulls. L. cut rcrc, to run (Diez).
See Kraal.
Correct, adj. (L.) L. correct us, pp.
of corngere, to conect. L. cor- (for
con- = cum), together j rcgere, to rule.
COrregldor, a Spanish magistrate.
(Span. L.) Span, corregidor, lit. ' cor-
rector.* Span, corregir, to correct. L.
corrigere (above).
Correlate, to relate or refer mutually.
(L.) Coined from L. cor- (^cttm), to-
gether ; and Relate, q. v.
Correspond. (F. - L.) F. correspon-
dre. L. cor- (for con-, cum), together ;
and Respond, q. v.
Corridor. (F.-Ital.-L.) F. corridor.
Ital. corridore, a swift horse ; a ho, a
long (running along) gallery. Ital. cor-
rere, to run. L currere, to run.
Corrie. (Gael.) Gael, coire, a circular
hollow surrounded with hills, a mountain
dell ; also, a cauldron. [Cf. G. hesse/, a
kettle, a ravine.] + O. Irish coire, core, a
kettle ; W. pair, A. S. hiver, a cauldron.
Brugm. i. 123.
Corroborate. (L.) From pp. ofL.
corrdborare, to strengthen. L. cor- (for
con-** cum), wholly ; robor-, stem ofrdbur,
strength.
Corrode. (F. - L ) F. corroder. - L.
cotrodere, to gnaw to pieces. L. cor- (for
con- = cttm), wholly ; rodere, to gnaw.
Der. corrosive, from pp. corros-us.
Corrody, Corody, allowance, pen-
sion. (Low Lat. Tcut.) A.F. corodie.*-
Low L. corrodium, eailier corredium^ L.
form of A. F. conrei, preparation, pro-
vision, allowance. See Curry (i).
Corrugate. (L.) From pp. of L.
corrilgare, to wrinkle. I* cor- (cunt},
wholly ; and riigare, to wrinkle, from
ruga, a wrinkle.
Corrupt, adj. (F. - L.) A.F. corupt.
L. corruptus, pp. vicorrumpere, to break
wholly, corrupt. L. cor- (for con- = cum),
wholly ; rumpere, to break.
Corsair. (F, Ital. L.) 'F.corsaire
(Prov. corsari, one who makes the course,
corsa). Ital. corsare, earlier corsaro, a
pirate. Med. L. cursarius, a pirate.
L. cursus, a course. See Course.
Corse, a body. (F.L.) M.E, cors.
O. F. cors. L. corpus, a body.
CORSET
OOrset. (F.-L.) F. CO) set, a pair of
stays; dinain. of O. F. cots, body.
COrslet. (F. -L.) F. corselet, ' a little
body,' Cot.; hence, body-armour. Double
dimin. of O. F. cars, body (above) .
Cortege. (F.-Ital.-L.) F. cortege,*
train, retinue. Ital. corteggio, a retinue.
Ital. carte, a court. L. corf em, co-
hortetn, ace. of cohors, a court ; sec Court
(0-
COrtes, the Span, national assembly.
(Span. L.) Span, cortes, pi. of carte, a
court. L. corf em- (above).
Cortex, bark. ^L.) L. cortex (gen.
cor t ids}, bark. Der, cortical.
Coruscate. (L.) Fiom pp. of L.
cor use are, to glitter.
Corvette, a small frigate. (F. -Toit. -
L.) F. corvette. Port, corvefa ; Span.
corbeta, a corvette. L. cortnta, a slow-
sailing ship of burden. L. corbis, a basket.
Cosmic, relating to the world. (Gk.)
Gk. Koafwcus, adj , from KOO>IOS, order, aUo
the world, universe. Der. coswo-gony,
cosmo-graphy, cos mo - logy, cosmo- polite
(citizen of the world, Gk. vo\trr)s, a
citizen).
COSmetic, that which beautifies. (Gk.)
Gk. KOffftrjTiKos, skilled in adorning ;
whence also F. costnttiquc. Gk. /fotr/xeo;,
I adorn. Gk. />0>toy, order, ornament.
COSSack, a light-armed S. Russian
soldier. (Russ. Tatar ) Russ. kozak\
kazak" ; of Tatar (Tartar) origin. Turk!
quzzciq, a vagabond ; a predatory horse-
man (Yule).
Cosset, to pet. (E.) From i6th cent.
cosset, a pet-lamb, a pet. Prob. the same as
A. F. coscet, cozet, a cottar ; A. S. cot-s&ta,
a dweller in a cot, ' cot-sitter.' From
A. S. cot, cot ; s&ta, dweller, from sittan,
to sit. Cf. prov. G. kossat, a cottager.
[So Ital. casiccio, pet lamb (Flono) ; from
casa, a cottage.]
Cost, vb. (F. - L.) M. E. costen - O. F.
coster (F. 
