The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-03-25
Origin of Some Popular Phrases.

IA II AAA Va SSSA@S $500 . - 49,
Boss.--This term, which Is 50 extern
sively used in the United States and
England to designate the person placed
- overseer Of workmen and working
women, Is an improvement on the
Dutch word 6aas, meaning employer.
Bslly.-This word, which Webster
defines at "a noisy, clustering fellow;
. quarreisome person." has been re-
garded by most philologists as of
doubtful etynology, while some have
attributed its origin to Swift. tits un-
Questionably an old Irish term, mean
ing herd of cattle.
"O2d Hdrry."-The popular attri-
butes of the evil one are human form
with horns, tail and cloven foot. These
are probably derived from the repre-
sensations of the Greek satyrs and the
Roman fauns-the wild gods of the
mountains and groves and it is prob
able that the name Old Hwry was
originally Old Hairy. The sstyrs were
said to have hair like goats; and
"hsyre," or "haire," In old English,
signified a garment made OF goats
hair. On this superstition Old Harry
or Osd Hairy would have some affinity
10 Old Shock q popular English name
given to the demon that was supposed
TO haunt roadsides and wild pathways.
Shock IL head of rough hair, a rough
haired dog. The evil one is sometimes
called "the Lord Harry" a title per-
haps given derisively; or it may allude
b the scripture term, 'the god of this
world" the prince of the powers of
darkness.
Tafv.-This word, which is now
used Is q vulgar synonym Of flattery,
u by no means of cent origin, as
many suppose, but was really coined
200 years ago, and has been in use in
London fully that period.
Cunteen. is, perhaps, the only
word In our language which, origi-
naliy English, passed into a foreign
tongue, and was afterward taken back
In q modified form. AS originally
spoken by the Saxon, it was simply a
tn can but the Gaul, as is his wont,
placing the noun before the adjective,
and pronouncing the letter I as e,
brought it out as cdnteen. Adopting
. thousand other French terms, the
the obtuse Englishman took back his
own original word in a new shape,
without any inquiries on the subject,
and hence we now say canteen in
stead of tin-can.
a delsIsioa, nockery and snare.
The fact that this familiar saying
has about it a certain biblical ring,
has sometimes led to its being quoted
~ from one or other of the Hebrew
prophets; the words are, in fact, an
extract from the judgment of Lord
Denman Of the English house of lords,
on the appeal of Daniel OConnell to
that body from the verdict rendered at
his trial.
Vomose.-A Mexican phrase "a /
adaptation of the Spanish verb vamaos,
meaning, literally, "let us go.'
Red tape.-An English expression,
originated by Carlyle and made popu-
bar by Dickens. 1t was designed to
represent the ceremonious delays and
official formalities characteristic of
the British governmental routine. 1t
Il similarity used in this country to
ridicule the hardness with which
everything is ehcted by the Journalism
Of government officials. The express
sion arises from the fact that govern
ment officers generally tie up their
bundles of papers with red tape.
To the naaor born.-This phrase,
strictly construed, has perhaps mean
ing. 1t is a form of expression that
defines the privilege or position Of an
heir on whom Is entailed some landed
0SL&tS, tAC luddCA VI @ NCdAbly anu
noble family. But has it any authority
10 be used, as we frequently see it, as a
technical or proverbial saying? Prob
ably not. 1t is not a phrase known in
law to define the legal status; and it
Is not question of proverbial signiti-
eance from any of our classic writer's.
for "Borghese," the name OF forger
who Operated" somewhat extensively
across the water about thirty Ave years
ago. He passed false tokens and
counterfeit bills to the amount OF many
thousand dollars, and hence the term
bogus" is applied to whatever is
Mise and fraudulent.