The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-08-10
AmeHcanisns.

MI. MackaN, IN his new book ahOuN
America, gives the following specimens Of
words that have lost in America their orig
inal English meaning:
To Gr6rrtSt, means to agitate, vex. or
trouble. Thus it is said of senator in
Congress, that he is exercised by the great
question he is about TO bring forward, or
that Mr.. - was much exercised by an at
tack upon him in a newspaper.
Bright means clever" 4 clever man
of talent would in America be called
bright man.
Cerer means "amiable and courteous
\ clever" captain is one who is friendly,
attentive, and polite to his passengers.
Among the recommendations sometimes
advertised in the Mississippi and Ohio
steamboats, is that the captain and clerk
are the "clevereSt" on the line, and for
this reason agreeable to the ladies.
,Amja5le means stupid" 4 member of
the House of Representatives. and a most
worthy man, was highly offended at hear
ing his friend called 'amiable" by an
| Englshman. He thought the phrase i'm
| Piled a reproach, or a sheer, and declared
that the word ''amiable" was synonymous
with what in English slang is called
''spooney." You may call woman am
liable said he. but not a man."
This is in obedience TO the same law Of
| character which has given among us the
meaning of Stiffness TO the words inno-
cent or simple. and has disgraced the
| sense of the word silly itself, which once
meant only blessed and innocent, as there
| are thousands who would still account it
| more reproach to say of a man that he was
| "a blessed innocent" than to call him a
| fool.
Among the pure Americanisms may be
| called the following:
TO honcVig5e, to gloze, fatter, bamboo
zle, or take in.
EIigk faiatia, or rcrlootiH, signifies high,
flown, exaggerated, and bombastic in
speech or writing.
.Ntugt, a display, an outburSt of expen-
diture, such as tocreate sensation among
the bystanders or witnesses.
To raRoSs, to decamp. or vanish.
Pie, fortune.
.S,cI37cr, dandy, or ''SwelI"
Hog, sham, false, pretended.
Ming, news, a fabrication.
BSa86r, spree.
10 90 on The 5cp6sr, to 90 on the spree.
GRIT the real art, tie true art These
words orphrases are used to signify per
son of superior worth, Solidity. and gen
uineness, as distinguished from another
who is inferior, or merely .'chaf." The
miller Is evidently the parent of this ex-
preston.
D6cleasioR. Il have been writing" said
lady, several declensions to dinners
and balls The word is equivalent to re-
fusal, but it seems to mean refusal. for
reasons assigned declnature.
Bogus, false, or sham; said to be deriv-
ed from the name of man notorious for
issuing counterfeit notes. Hence bogus
senator, a bogus convention.
Whole Souled, a very common phrase in
America, to express 4 hearty, enthusiastic
person. In Lloyd's Railway Guide. the
Bradshaw of America, it is stated of one
OF the hotels in principal city, that Col.
=, the proprietor, is a whole-souled
landlord"
4 stampede, rush, multitudinous exit.
Hocdologer, a knock-down blow. There
Is species of tish-hook of this name.
10 Orerslnegh, word apparently deriv-
Ell from the German or old English. like
onslaught, and signifying TO strike over.
Rocks, money! California phrase.
10 sq'erB, to wiggle like worm.
To tote, to carry.
Wdted, withered.
+ FT'=ls, slight quarrel or controversy.