The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-06-08
THE BIRTH OF WORDS
ODD ORIGIN OF SOME OF OUR IA
MILIAR EXPRESSIONS.

There are words all frequently use
whose histories and derivations are
quaint and peculiar. The schooner is
comparatively a modern craft and is
product of Yankee ingenuity. A bluf
old New England skipper, Captain An
drew Robinson, who probably brought
more slaves to the colonies than mo-
lasses and other common importations,
one day came to the conclusion that he
could rig a boat that would be an i'm
provement on the craft then in use for
coastwise shipping. Being supersti-
tious, as most seafaring people are, he
determined to let chance name his new
boat There were many spectators at
the launching, some shaking their
heads obviously, others ridiculing and
then others believing in the invention
of the old captain. AS the boat left the
stays she plunged her nose into the
water, came up again like cork and
skinned over the water like a bird.
A burst Of admiration broke from the
crowd, and one Of the Onlookers ex-
claimed, "See how she schoonsw Cap
tain Robinson, ,reverently taking the
cue, said, ''Then sooner let her be!'
and "scooner'' she has been ever since.
with the exception of the letter 'h,"
which generally manages somehow to
get into words where it is not needed.
Another curious word which has a
significant and historical origin is sill
houette. Although this word is some
what un-English, still it comes under
the general appropriation which the
English speaking people made Of ev-
erything that would serve them. One
Silhouette was minister Of state Of
France in 1869, q critical period with
that country financially, which came
near eliminating IN national bank
ruptcy. Silhouette is represented as
being a very wise and sagacious man,
and in politics he would now be termed
a "reformer."
Silhouette and his doctrines became
the butt Of all the wits Of Paris, and
many a jest was perpetrated on the
minister Of state under the very nose
Of Silhouette. With serious faces, but
laughing inwartlly, persons wore short
coats without sleeves, and many other
extravagances Of a like nature were
committed, among which was one Of
particular note which created a great
deal Of merriment at the time-in fact
SO much 30 that It has been handed
down to us together with the name Of
the great reformer as being the climax
OF tie pranks of the Partisan wits. All
Of the portraits were made in black to
represent a profile Of the face and bust
similar to a shadow cast upon a white
paper by the aid Of strong light.
The youth speaks Of going to his
'haberdasher." This word is among
that class that owe their origin to one
Of the most common Of sources-viz
corruption. The small shOpkeepers OF
Germany had custom in past ages Of
standing in the doors Of their shops
and inviting an inspection Of their
wares. Their common Salutation to ev-
cry passerby who had the appearance
OF being in the least susceptible was.
HABIT ihr das, herr?" (Have you this.
sir?'') which was, one may readily i'm
agine, corrupted into 'haberdasher' by
rapid and constant repetition.
Another word, "excheQuer," has a
peculiar derivation. In the time Of the
old NOrmans there was established a
court Of equity, or claims, before which
were settled the claims Of the king up
on the people. the claims Of the people
upon the king and the claims of the
people upon the people. Before the
Judge or presiding officer of this court
was a table, upon which was a check
cred cloth similar to a chessboard,
which was used as an assistant in
counting, and to observe this court in
session it had the appearance Of
game Of checkers, and so by common
usage it became the court Of ex-
Chequer.
The word quiz" is purely an accl-
dent, or, more properly speaking, the
result Of an Irishman's joke, and IN
reality has no meaning. A wager was
made between some students Of an old
university that one of them could not
invent a new word which in twenty
four hours would be the talk Of all
Dublin. There was much laughter at
the expense Of the would be coiner Of
the new word, but next morning upon
rising the new word was at the ex-
pense Of the scoffers, for the letters |
q u were posted on every wall and |
available space in Dublin, and thus |
the word became the talk Of the town |
and has since remained exactly what I
it was when 1t was invented-a riddle. |
There is a word in our language |
which, correctly speaking, means moth
Ing whatever, although it's relative |
meaning is familiar and dear to all. /
Who is there in whom the word "lulla- |
by" does not stir some Of the tenderest !
and dearest recollections? This word |
lullaby" comes to us in sweet con- |
trast as a myth from the starry plains !
Of Arabia, polished and rounded by |
the roll Of the eternal ages. AS q con-
sequence Of Lilith, Adams consort, |
forming an alliance with the evil spirit, |
and thus falling from grace, in the
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