Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/287

 10"- B. V. MARCH 24, 1906.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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" Pic-Nic," A CARRIAGE (10 th S. v. 170). Is it possible that this was an extraordinary invention called the " Equibus" ? In this a seat was arranged (but apparently only for one) on the hinder part of the horse's neck {on the horse's shoulders, in fact), while the remainder of the accommodation (for two only) extended as far as the rump of the animal. The good points of this vehicle are said to have been that "next to a hearse" no safer mode of transport was possible, while the driver had perfect control over the horse, and could turn in the smallest space. But probably the sudden death of some one

shark." "Vorpal" (sword) is probably " mortal + vampire" (as blood - drinker). "Manxome" has certainly "loathsome" for one element, and I incline to think is triple, with " mighty " and " rank " (or " lank ?) for the other two. *' Tulgey " would seem to be " tall+dusky," with a fanciful change of Jc to g; but he may have had "fulgent" or "fuliginous" in mind, or "umbrageous." I much question whether " chortle " is " chuckle + snort," as suggested ; surely no one could speak of chuckling " O frabjous day ! Cal- looh ! Callay ! " The old gentleman was shouting it, or chanting it loudly. I should

connected with the experiment did not con- 1 think it more likely to be " chant -f warble."

"Frabjous "is almost certainly a portmanteau, but not a clear one; though "famous" is apparently one element, and "gorgeous" may be the other, or possibly it is ." fabulous 4-

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tribute to its triumph ; and its disuse, to judge from an illustration, was doubtless instrumental in saving many lives.

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.

PORTMANTEAU WORDS AND PHRASES (10 th S. v. 110, 170). Were these not invented or popularized by Lewis Carroll? It is many years since I was introduced to Alice, but a poem commencing " 'Twas brillig" sticks fast in my memory.

There is a strong tendency among children and other uneducated persons to form port manteau words unconsciously. Not being PROF. SKEAT, I am unable to say definitely whether the uneducated form "drown-ded " for "drowned" is a survival from the time when we thought more of our terminations, or whether it is merely a portmanteau word for " drowned 4- dead."

" Combinise" (pronounced " combineese ") is a word I heard from a little girl aged two. In a confidential moment she informed me that she was " wearing new combinise." I asked my wife to find out discreetly what manner of garment this might be. She reported later that the word was of the portmanteau tvoe. and

type, and was coined by the

btle girl herself to designate a portion of a I l ies through the village'"; "'at your earliest ladys attire which is a combination of two I r,^;^>'. * A* ;~ O p<^ *,

gorgeous," which I think quite as likely, the sly hit being much in his vein.

FORREST MORGAN.

Hartford, Conn.

Of words of such hybrid formation I can remember only a few at the present moment : French refuser, from Latin recusare and refutare ; the Pomeranian nobligant, a blend of noble and elegant; and the American electrocute, from electro and execute. But phrases and constructions of a similar nature exist in such number that the space of ' N. & Q.' would be unequal to them ; I have collected a great many in a pamphlet ' Die Uebertragung im Sprachlichen Leben,' Dresden und Leipzig, 1900. We often say in German, "Er muss jeden Augenblick kommen," instead of "kann j. A. kommen" ; the muss is taken from the subconscious idea '* Er muss bald kommen." I may mention two or three other examples : " to part with" instead of from, modelled after " to combine, unite with," "q[uel quantieme avons-nous 1 ?" from le quantieme and quel jour ; " the way

garments. The ending " -ise " has something to do with the French for "shirt." ^ " Spurcaustic " for tic" is the best ever heard.

" sarcastic + sour + caus- portmanteau word I have

(blooming)-lutely " is atrocious, but worth recording on account of its ugliness.

" Deerichar " can be found in Swift's Journal to Stella.' It is thought to be " dear + charming." CHAS. A. BERNAU.

Several others of Lewis Carroll's words are portmanteaus, some explained as such by him mainly in the ' Jabberwock.' Of what he does not explain, "snark" is "snake +

convenience ''; "fin da principio," after fino al(la) ; "je crains qu'il ne vienne"; "tu es plus riche que je ne suis " ; " let go of him " ; " those kind of knaves." G. KRUEGER.

Berlin.

Messrs. Allen & Hanbury, the well-known chemists, give an example of a portmanteau word in their " Allenbury's " diet for adults and food for infants. JOHN T. PAGE.

Long Itchington, Warwickshire.

BOWES CASTLE, YORKSHIRE (10 th S. iv. 288 ; . 116, 176). Much interesting information concerning this castle may be found in two modern books : ' Castles and Abbeys of York- shire,' by William Grainge, 1855, pp. 376-82,