Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 10.djvu/588

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. x. DEC. 19, 1908.

rather difficult to invent a word that exactly expresses this kind of pseudonym. " Meto- nym " might possibly do, if it were under- stood that the word was changed by being written backwards ; or possibly " opis- thonym," though this sounds a little bar- barous. If ugly words are objected to, a " palintrope " might receive approval; but at any rate, let us have something that tells us what is really meant. If Greek, let it be Greek, though I should prefer English terms. For " pen-name," however, I have a deep- rooted abhorrence. W. F. PRIDEAUX.

THE CABINET|AND THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Le Temps of Sunday, the 13th inst., wrote on our present political situation almost in the words of the Princess de Lieven to the Duchess de Dino, 29 Aug., 1835 :

"Les ministres auront-ils bien le courage de mettre a execution leurs menaces centre les Pairs? Ceux-ci flechirpnt-ils devant ces menaces? J'en doute ; mais voil& la collision, si longtemps differee, qui arrive enfin."

It had then only been " enfin " after three years. We have now seventy-three more years to add. T. C. A.

INITIAL T IN PLACE-NAMES. I observe that Tichborne is mentioned under the head- ing Tyburn (ante, p. 431), to show that Tyburn is an error for Yburn, just as Tichborne is for Ichborne, according to " Mrs. Alec Tweedie's theory." Of course, the theory is utterly baseless, and indeed impossible. What- ever may have happened in Middle English or in provincial dialects, it is out of the question to suppose that the t which forms part of the A.-S. cet, " at," was ever prefixed to any place-name in Anglo-Saxon times.

There never was such a word as Ichborne, for which the A.-S. equivalent would be Icceburne ; whereas the Itchen was Icene or Icenan. And where is the intermediate form Ichenborne to be found ? As for Titchborne, which is totally unconnected with any kind of Itch or Itchen, the A.-S. name was never Icceburne, but invariably Ticceburne. The charter of 908 is marked by Kemble as spurious ; but the name occurs in a genuine charter of 960. I do not certainly know the sense of Ticce-, but it is very like the A.-S. ticcen, " a kid." Titchfield in Hants was once Ticcenesfelda wlc, i.e., " kid' s-field- wick." We find Kidd used as a man's name.

WALTER W. SKEAT.

SCOTTISH -is AND -ES IN PROPER NAMES. In discussing with friends the articles which have appeared in ' The Glamis

Mystery ' (ante, pp. 241, 311, 396) I have been reminded how few people pronounce this name correctly, as one syllable, and how small is the number of those who, knowing the monosyllabic pronunciation, can account for it. It has been suggested to me that I should draw attention here, for the benefit of Southrons and other foreigners, to the rule which governs the correct enunciation of Scottish names ending in -is or -es, which is that the -is is sounded like simple s, whereas -es is sounded like -is.

There are a few old English names in -is or -ys to which the same rule applies. Thus, not only is Glamis pronounced like " Glahms," Inglis like " Ingles," and Cassilis like " Cassels," but Knollys is " Noles," Sandys is "Sands," and Wemyssis"Weems." On the other hand, Forbes and Geddes are dissyllables, as also is Rothes, where the oth rimes with the first syllable of " bother." Similarly, Romanes and Balcarres are each three syllables, the latter riming with " Harris." Of course, many of these names are mispronounced by those unacquainted with the rule. The question whether Forbes should be one syllable or two is often hotly discussed ; and another doubtful name is Pepys, which by the rule should be called " Peeps." JAS. PLATT, Jun.

[The pronunciation of Pepys was discussed at 8 8. iii. 488 ; xi. 187, 269.]

LORD BEACONSFIELD AND THE PRIMROSE. According to Lady Randolph Churchill (see her 'Reminiscences'), it was the late Sir Henry Drummond Wolff who started the Primrose League idea. If the primrose was Lord Beaconsfi eld's favourite flower, as some imagine, it is curious to note that in ' Coningsby ' he rather grossly insulted it. Taking refuge from a thunderstorm at a country inn, Coningsby could secure for lunch " only eggs and bacon " : " ' 'Tis but simple fare,' said Coningsby, as the maiden [the waitress] uncovered the still hissing bacon, and the eggs that looked like tufts of primroses." GEORGE COLOMB.

' THE FLIGHT OF THE KING,' BY ALLAN FEA. Mr. Allan Fea in this interesting book has, I think, made a mistake in the pedigree of Hyde by confusing Sir Nicholas Hyde (son of Laurence Hyde of Hatch and his wife Anne, daughter of Nicholas Sibbells, and widow of Mathew Colthurst) with Nicholas Hyde, one of his eleven nephews, a son of Sir Nicholas Hyde's brother Sir Laurence Hyde and Barbara Castilian, his wife. Nothing seems to be known about this nephew beyond his baptism, which is