The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-08-12
ORIGIN OF WORDS AND pHR Asses.

We have selected from the amusing pa
ger Of Aryiue's C,clcpedia, the following
plausible examples under this title:
WINDgALL.--The original Of this term
is said 10 be the following:
Some Of the nobility vi England, by The
tenure Of their estates, were forbidden
telling any of the trees aeon them, the
timber being reserved for the use Of the
royal navy. Snch trees as teii withou;
cutting we're the property OF the occupant.
a tornado, therefore, O. q perfect god
send in every sense us the term. to those
who had occupancy Of extensive forests
and the ariadjail was sometimes Of very
great value.
BANKRUpr.-Few words have SO remsr.
kable history - the familiar word bank
rupt. The money changers OF Italy had, !,
- saia. benches or stalls, ia the house or eX.
change. in Former times, aud a, these they
conducted their ordinary business. Wbet
any Of them fell back IN the world. and be
came lnsolvent his bench was broken, snc
the name OF broken bench or g0aco ro.o
was given to him. When the word wa:
adopted into English, il was nearer the
Italian than il now is, being .bankerout,'
instead ofbankrupt.
flIk. Betty MARTlN--Many Of ou'
most popular vulgarism have their origin
in some whimsical persersion 81 language
or Of fact. ST. Martin Is one Of the worth
les Of the Roman calender, and form Of
PRAYER commences with the words. 20 mn
HI beatc MARITIME; !" which was corrupted I,
"Mv eye and Betty Martini" and then
still further TO "Iie! Betty Martin"
RoRRING PETER TO FAY PAuL.-ln the
time of Edward W.. much Of the lands Of
ST. Peter, at Wes,minsie, were seized by
his majesty's minister and courtiers, but
in order TO reconcile the people to that rob
berry, they allowed portion OF the lands
to be appropriated towards the repairs OF
ST. Paul's church: hence the phrase "rob-
bing Peter to pay Psul.a
HIS CAusHr TARTAR--ln some
battle between the Rus.ians and the Tar.
tars. who are wild sort OF people, IN the
north Of Asia, private soldier called out,
1Captsin, halloo there. I've caught Tar,
tar"
.Fetch him along. ,henm said the cap
tain.
"Av. but he won, LET me" said the man
and the fact was, the Tsriar had caught,
him. So when msn thinks to lake an
other 10. and gets III, himself. they say,
"iIe's caught a Tartar"
RnLaND FOR Az OLIVER Although no
phrose is in more common use. vet few are
neqnain'ed with ifs origin. The express
lou signifies the giving Of so eqgivaleni.--
Roland and Oliver were two knights f.
nous In romance. The wonderful schieve.
ments Of the enc c.n only be eqaalled BY
those Of the o,her--hence the phrase
"Rol,nd for en- Oliver"
MISD yorR P's AND Q's--The origin Of
this phrase is said 10 be call ofa,ten,ian.
in ihe old English ale houses to The piafs
and quarts being scored down to the uncon.
scious or reckless beer-hibher.
HcBsos's CuoIcE-The expression.
Hobson's Choice is proverbiai both in Eu
rope and America. The story ofits origin
is as follows:
Thomas Hobson was celebrated farriel
nj Cambridge. England, who. 10 his EN-
ploymen, 10 that capacity. added the pro
fession ofsnpplying the students with nor
ses. In doing this. he m,de il an unalter
able rule that every horse should have al
equal portion OF time in which 10 rest. Al
well as labor; and he ALWAYS refused 10 le
a horse on, Of his turn. Hence the saying