The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-23
'AMERICANISNS0IN SHAKESPEARE
Words ObsOIet to In England in Use I'm
America.


Presslons nave been preserved, and are yet in
common use in America, which have be-
come obsolete in England, or continue to be
used there only in certain localities. Such
obsolete words and expressions, whenever tney
occur in Shakespeare are of course, under
stood at first sight by the American reader;
while, to make them ineligible to the hnglish
reader, they appear to require notes (oiten ior-
thed with learning) by English editors fof
the sake of brevity these may be termed
Shdkespt ares AmericaniSmS even thOugh ne
happened to make use of them lew years
before the FIRST English settlements in America.
OF this class of words d. chare is familiar
and often-quoted example, and it is used twice
by Cleopatra, IT, as is likely, it was pro-
nounced in Shakespeare's time with the third
sound of a, chd,oe, then the change to chore
would easily follow; and in this form the word
is in daily use in farmers families in most OF
the Northern States.
(2.) Thils for the shafts OF wagon; as
tthill-horse," for the shaft or wheel-horse;
also Ills with the same meaning, as:-"An
you draw backward we'll put you i the fills"
-Troii,is and CreSSida, III, 2.
(3.) 81 think thee now some common GUS
toner. ."-AWs Well, V, 3.-Customer pro-
perly means one who buys or trades; but In
American slang we often hear, 'loose custo-
mer, "hard customer" slippery customer"
trough customer" etc.
(4.) "My cake is dough. - Tanning the
iShreu, V, /. And "Our cake is dough on both
sides. flaming the ShreU, /, lone Eng
lish editor remarks-"This is an obsolete pro-
verb and its meaning is not now easily ex-
planned" But among people in this country
who are in the habit of using proverbial ex-
pressons, there is not one more frequent and
familiar; and it is well understood by all classes
to signify "a loss of hope" f" disappointment or
the failure of some plans or expectations.
(5.) "Placket" and ''placket-hole" are yet
avuha Of sad in, for oha nOt
long ago to hear a lady giving some directions
to her maid about "the placket-hole in her
dress" My near relationship permitted me
to ask an explanation. | was told that it was
''the slit or opening in the upper part of the
skirt, when it is made separate from the waist
or body, for convenience in putting Oh -r off,"
Three-quarters OF century ago there was
much discussion among the editors and COM
mentators of Shakespeare about the true and
practical sgnfcatiOn of this so frequently
used word in Shakespeare. But the fact just
stated goes to prove that Stevens (Dr. john
sons friend) was right as l suspect he
pretty generally was, when in earnest in
discussing any mooted Shakespearian ques-
ton.
(6.) "-An envious silver. ."-Hamlet, ",
z. "SLver'd in the moons eclipse. ."-Mdcbeth,
~, /. "-Will silver and disbranch. -
Lear, w, 2. The word "sliver" is yet known
and used in America for small splinter of
wood.
(7.) "Ateard'' for afraid, fearful, or appre-
hensive. This word occurs some thirty times
in Shakespeare's plays (see Mrs. Clarke's
"Concordance''), and is there generally used
by persons of high station. At the present
day in this country it is often heard among
uneducated persons of English descent.
(8.) "FlaO," for puff of wind or sudden
gust, occurs some half-a-dozen times, and is
duly explained each time by one of the best
English editors-Singar; yet no cognate word
is better understood in this country, nor
oftener used, especially by those living near
the seaboard or on our great lakes and rivers.
CO., 81 cannot tell, ~ is phrase in vulgar
use here with old people; and implies puz-
zled feeling, or a state of stupid doubt or per-
plexity. 1t is explained in this sense by the
English editor just named-as, 81 know not
what to think of it."
(lO.) ''Base tyke;" "Bobtail tyke." Tyke
evidently meant a cur dog when Shakespeare
wrote. l distinctly recollect that in my early
years one of our native "help" was wont
to call any one she was angry with 'you ugly
tyke."
(ll.) C. Slyly fnger'd from the lect."-
8 Henry VI, V, IA similar use of the word
''decll'' for pack of playing g-cards is common
at the present day throughout the Western and
Southern States.
(l2.) "Fetchy and wayward was thy in
fancy.h Richard III, ", 4.-This word is
also to be found in two or three other passages
in Shakespeare, and always applied to infancy,
as peevish, fretful, and difficult to please.
We now hear it used not only of children, but
as often applied to grown people.
13.) "Thou crusty batch Of nature. The
word ''crusty' is now more used in England
than here, to mean cross or ill-tempered. The
word 'batch' is borrowed from the baker S
shop, and is still used as popular figure OF
speech in America, generally in derlslve
sense, the same as in Shakespeare's text; and,
when applied to persons, means that all are
equally bad and contemplate.
(l4.) "There is not 9 aotltle IN the unruly
camp"-Timon, V, 2.-I do not know that we
now ever hear pocket-knlfe called whit
tle;" but the practice of whiting is spoken
of as an American characteristic. Hence the
proverbial saying applied to scheming bu
unsuccessful person-"AlWays a-WhitInng
but never making nothing"
(l5.) To quit, in the sense OF to make even
and, also to revenge. This word is so con
stantly used with both these signihcatons
that American readers must wonder httl,
to see it explained by an English editor, anC
we therefore infer that it must be going out o
use there.
d6.) "- When cried, Hol Like boy
unto a musS.'' Antony and Cleopatra, Ill, z
lfuss is a familiar word to Americans, a
meaning slight brawl or disturbance.
170 6 We first survey the plot,
C. Fight for plot whereon the number
-" The word ''plOt' is probably oftene
used with us than any other term t
signify building site, or any small parcel
land.
G8.) moreover, puddings and tlaPjacks'