The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-15

Mr. Hotten's list does not contain the word
,canter" which was primitiyely a slang word for
the ambe of horses OF the pilgrims on their way
to Canterbury. The word has suffered diminu-
ton, as most popular words have done. We
generally op off either the first or the last sylla
BILE Fifty years ago we had Bony Tor bona
parte," as we now have, by omputatOn at the
other end, Bus for "omnibus,' and again, by the
first method, Cab for "cabriolet." The word
"cab" is now recognized English word, under
the sanction of the royal ranger of the parks,
whose boards of directions, however, form good
exercises for studious boys, who, while they take
the air. may try 70 detect the grammatical errors.
"CabrOlet" was overturned into Gao at once.
Canter did not so speedily arrive at beng
accepted as good English. So late writer as
ShaftesbuTy, in his characteristics" uses the
full word. "ThG common amb'e or Canterbury
he says, ''is not more tresOme TO good writer
than The See-saw OF essay writer's is TO an able
reader The word i fUant' itself-if net derived
from singing, whining cantlng-may come from
this same source.
There are slang words which have become ac-
cepted English. There are also good old kng
lish words which have become slang. Mr.. HOJten
should have noticed this when he defined
"GeLt" as "a contraction of gentleman, in moro
senses than one. dressy, shOwy, fDppish
man, with little mind, who yugarizes the pre-
yail'ng fashion," Gent was, however, OnCB
Spenser wrote " He loved, as was his lot, lady
gent" and :" A knight had wrought against
lady gent" he implied compliment the
very reverse of what such words would carry
with them now At another word, Gonnof
applied 10 "a fool, huUgler, an amateur pick
pocket" we find Mr.. Hotten all abroad again
for its derivation. He refers TO Chaucer's
! Country CnOtles, Bob, Dick, and Kick" "
/ but there tie word means simply .knaVes. II
| the editor had applied 70 any one OF the Jew
| "iences," whence some Of the knowledge in
| this book is derived, he would have heard that
gOunOf is Hebrew for a " thief" CuriOusly
| enough too he defines "Jehu" as an cold slang
| term for a coachman, or one fond of driving"
! but does not record the derivation of the term
| from that charioteering KING Of Israel whom the
| WatChman recognized by his furious driving
| Still worse he suggests that "G) to Jericho I" sis
| probably derived from Jehanum." IL might
| rs well have derived "Hey Day.! from
| "Hades." He says of the American "Skedad
| die THE word Is very fair Greek, the root
! being that of Skedannum, to dispcrse, TO retire
| tumuItuously, and il was probably sci aiOat Oy
| some Professor az Harvard" This Is more than
! doubtful. On the Greek origin of Lord as
! applied TO those who are Yulgarly called
"hunchbacks," MIR. Hotten is silent IL 4
from AogdOc bent He has also strangely
omitted what may be termed tile typogrApl
cal slang word "COl0phon," the very curlou
history and application of which we hope TO hnt
in his next edition, Churchmen used, an'
scholars still use, this word. The church, IN
deed, has not been "sack" in introducing can
terms. Miscreant Heather, aud Pagan are o
primeval slang, implying unbelieyer, hedge
dweller, and country. fellow, can my eye an'
Betty Martin" is said u be satrical alusion 8
4 ROmlsh prayer, "Oh mihi beate MARITIME (;
while "Pleasc the Pigsw which Mr.. Hotte
Omits, Is another form OF "Please the PyX!' Nj
/ Ho'ten omts too, "Molher Clry's Chickens" tn
/ sailors slang for snow; the "Mother Cary
being the Mater cara, the virgin mother OF th
| ! LevaLtiu5 sal ors. to whom we also owe the nam
Q OF Petrol, or Petrillo, "litle Peter" because Il
D walks the water like the Apostle LoR80
b | AlhannNLn-