The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-12

MENTs ARE NAMEp.-There are many words
indicating particular fabrics which have so
passed into familiar language that they no
longer suggest any special significance, ex.
ceptl as a trademark of quality. But the
etymology- of the subject is, nevertheless,
interesting Most persons giving a thought
to the matter at all would Instantly recOg-
niZe the meaning of Mecblin, AlencoD, Brus-
sells, and Cbantily lace, why one shawl
is called Paisley and another aCash-
mere. that p Holland was originally
manufactured by the Dutch, and that
the Fee cap carries with it local signii.
canoe. The materials known in commerce
as Circassian, Cyprus, Coburg, and damask
equally explain themselves and, though in
a totally different manner, such fashions as
those of Wellington and Butcher boots,
Macintosh and Chesterfield coats, and
Spencers. But why is shirt-front popu-
larry called dickey Why are popEns SO
named? Why blankets as the covering of a
bed? Or silk, or shawl, or jerkin, or maud,
or crayat? 1t is when we fall amid these
shadows Of learning that the etymolOgists
enjoy their Walpurgs dance of guesses.
Thus with blanket. There are said to
have been three brothers of that name at
Worcester, who invented the coverlet, so
called ,&;saa, in confirmation, it is pointed out,
not far off from the antique city, is still To-
cality known as the Blauquets. On the other
hand, Bristol claims them among her medic
val citizens, though, for all that, they may
have been Worcestershire men as we'll. The
coarse woollens of their fabricating appear
to have been eagerly adopted by the pea
santry as substitute for hempen cloth.
Then soldiers, sportsmen, and travellers
found them useful. Next they were laid on
the stump bedsteads of the time, and blue
blanket became Masonic banner. This may
confidently be reckoned among things not
quite universally known. AS to poplin, it
was invented in Papal territory, though by
a Huguenot, and hence called papaline, which
account we may as well credit, seeing that no
other is at hand. Silk may be Greek, a Per-
sian, an Avalic, a Tartar, or a Chinese ap-
pellation, since the photographers and
other eruditionists might be quoted in favor
Of each language but concerning shawl
there is only single doubt between trans
lation from Persian word and the town of
Shawl, in BeIoochistan, whence il may pos.
sibly have been derived, and which was
formerly famous for the manufacture. This
must not lie COMPOUNDED with the cele.
Scotch plaid. christened after Scottish
Qdeen, daughter Of Malcolm and wife of
Henry !. Jerkin may be from the Anglo
Saxon cyrtelien, which good authorities aver
to be the diminutive of cyrtel, q coat, n pre-
sumption, at any rate, more rational than
that which traces it to the vulgarism Of Lit
tie Jerry, which is also claimed for jacket.
But now we reach formidable mystery.
Whence came the name Of cravat? Was it
first worn by Croat cavalierf Because
that is almost the sole suggestion of the
learned. Concerning collars, there used to
be sort worn in Germany which were
nicknamed Vatermodern, or father-mur-
derers, from the legend of student who
returned from the university with
such stiff pair that, on embracing his
parent, they cut his throat. There are many
testimonies to suicides-tight-laeing, to wit
caused by vanity in dress, but we think this
is the only case of assassination on record.
In the general glossary cardinals, capuchins,
and mantillas tell their own. story, though
the old.fashioned berthas do not, and the re-
nowned chapeau de paiile, which so harmo.
nized with the beauty OF the Churchllis OF
the last century, would be equally explicit
had il been a straw hat at all.--Bazar. = -