The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-20
BEAUTIES OF PHILOLOGY.
[Ed. Z. Edwards, Boston TRANSCRIPT. ,


following examples of word derivations,
selected at random, abundantly show. Ii
is with no intent to display our literary
knowledge that we print this article.
our purpose is merely to awaken an in
terest in department of knowledge
which is open to all who will enter it.
We give the following derivations with.
out further preface, assuring our readers
that the information given below may be
depended upon as strictly accurate:
Apothecary. In early times it was the
custom OF dealers in drugs to carry their
simple remedies about them in large
earthen pot. When one of these worthless
appeared in village, it was quite natural
Tor the bystanders to remark ga pot he
carries" From this phrase arose the
word "apothecary."
Parson. In thegpast as in the present
the village preachers duty was to pass
on from house to house of his flock, adj
ministering religious consolation. From
"pass on" to "parson" the transition
was easy and natural.
Army. In the days when the press
gang roamed' about the country seizing
upon the young men, the girls would cry
out, as they saw their lovers borne away,
"Ah, mel" In this heart-cry the word
''army" had its rise. ......
Physician. Unlike the medical fra.
tcrnity of the present day, the doctors of
the middle ages were unnecessarily prompt
in demanding their fees. The phrase
fee seize l on was finally corrupted
into physician"
Auctioneer. At the vendues, a century
or two ago, the salesman was noted for
his extreme sharpness. In was almost
an impossibility for any one to buy with
out getting cheated. 1t one of the coun-
try districts. of old England, where the
people had been shamefully swindled at
one of these sales, they revenged them
selves on the man who had so cruelty
deceived them by posting over his door
the legend, "Hawk, shun here, intimat-
ing that even iiawk, an eminently
shrewd bird, would best shun the premi-
ses if he would not get cheated. By
dropping the "h," custom always
prevalent in England, the pronunciation
of the above phrase was precisely like
that of our present word "auctioneer.
Surgeon. 1t is related that a York
shireman, who had the misfortune to cut
Oft his fingers in a hay cutter, had his
wounds dressed in very skilful manner
by a poor laboring man named John
Smith. In testimony of the nations ap-
probation of his skill, great many peo-
pie having previously suffered greatly in
consequence of their hay-cutting expert
ence, the man was knighted by the king
as Sir John Smith. Hence the title sur
geon, which has ever since been given to
practitioners of the healing art.
Officer. "Oh, fie, SIR" exclaimed the
rustic maidens, when the epauletted
heroes chucked them under the chin.
This expression was afterward changed
into "officer."
Catgut. This name was given to the
| strings of violin from the fact that
when bow was drawn across them even
cat got wild at the sounds emmitted.
Newspaper. A great many years ago,
when criminal was about to be executed,
the moose already about his neck, re-
prieve came from the king at the last
moment and the poor wretchs life was
saved. From this timely intervention
the custom of calling all writings convey
ing intelligence as "noosepapers, which
was gradually corrupted into our modern
word newspaper"
Trousers. Asked William the Con.
queror of a maker of raiment, "My good
man, can you make that which shall
cover my chilled limbs?" And the man
replied, "trow, sir, I can" From this
reply came the word 'Ftrousers.
Editor. In ancient times newspaper
men, unlike their modern representatives,
were given to high living and Jared
sumptuously every day. They were
dubbed by the facetious folks of that day
"eaters," the chief among them being
called "head- d-eater." The national an
tipathy of the English for the aspirate
caused them to pronounce this phrase
ead-eater," which closely approximates
our word "editor."
Many more examples Of word deriva-
tion might be given, but they are not
necessary to our purpose, which was sim.
ply to arouse an interest in the study ol
philology. We feel confident that what
we have written will accomplish our pur.
IL r II Il L.