Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/387

 10 s. VIL APRIL 20, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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that of "point," which in English represents two French and Romanic words, never confused in those languages, about eighty-eight senses in which the word is used as a substantive are given, as if, Dr. Murray jocosely remarks, to satirize the Euclidean definition "a point is that which hath no parts." The history of the sense-development of words offers, in many cases, extraordinary diffi- culties ; the general words in the section appear to be remarkably varied, and illustrate abundantly, as is pointed out, the early history, folk - lore, science, and legal antiquities contained in the section.

The most important word appears to be play, which as substantive and verb occupies seventeen columns. In the opening words, derivatives of "pipe," we would fain see, under "piping," Blake's "Piping down the valleys wild," as per- haps the best example of literary use. Harriet Martineau speaks of the piping of the bullfinch as xhritf, which according to our observation it is not, but is exquisitely sweet. " Pique " in cards (as at piquet) is described as of uncertain origin. Under "piracy," "pirate," we find given from Defoe an instance of "Gentlemen Booksellers, that threatned to Pyrate it, as they call it, viz., Reprint it, and Sell it for half a Crown." Many words in pir, as "pirl," "pirn," &c., are of uncertain and suo^estedly onomatopoeic origin. " Pishogue," sorcery, is of Irish origin. "Pismire" is derived from the urinous smell of an anthill. Much curious information in various languages is supplied under "pistole," "pistolet," &c. Of the different meanings of "pitch, sb. andvb., many are obscure, both in origin and history. "Pitfold," it is sug- gested, was probably altered by popular etymo- kWfrom "pitfall." An interesting derivation of "pittance" is from the same root as pietanza, pity : "A pittance was often provided by a charitable bequest to a convent," An obscure origin is assigned to "pivot. " ' ' Pixy," a name for a supposed supernatural being akin to a fairy, also of obscure origin is met with in connexion with Devonshire about 'the middle of the seventeenth century. A new and curious history is found under "placard, a formal document. Very curious and difficult to arrange were the early senses of the word "place, an open space in a city possessing some ot the qualities, positive and negative, of a square, and used in innumerable other senses. ' Placket, an apron or petticoat, is another word of obscure origin. Quotations from Shakespeare and from Fletcher for the opening at the top of a skirt are said to be doubtful. We accept this statement with respect, though with some wonderment. "Plagiary" in its modern sense "plagiarist, is first used by Ben Jonson in 1601. A full account is given of '"plaid," the ulterior etymology of which is said to be uncertain. It is doubtful whether the name originated in Gaelic or Lowland Scotch. "Plain" and its derivatives and com- binations are very interesting. Especially so is the resemblance between "plainness and "plane- ness" resembling that between "fineness" and " finesse " In words such as pleached we should be glad of more frequent quotation from Ruskin " Desolate in pleached walk and planted bower" (we quote from memory). Under "poem,;; "poet," "poesy," "police/' "policy" "poll, - "poltroon," and scores of other words the section contains a wonderful amount of edification and delight.

Dante. By Marie Louise Egerton Castle. (Bell &

Sons.)

THIS is a favoiirable example of Messrs. Bell's "Miniature Series of Great Writers." All that can be hoped is conveyed in the compass of 103 pages. We find also a ' Chronological Table,' and a brief 'Bibliography' which is useful. We are glad to see that no credence is given to the absurd idea that Beatrice is a philosophical abstraction, and was never a real thing of flesh and blood. There are five portraits of Dante included, and criticism is wisely subordinated to description of his main works. The translations of passages are by the author, who, we think, on p. 15 should have put "Cicero" instead of "Tullio," in a reference to that writer's 'De Amicitia.'

Rural Life in England. By Washington Irving.

Illustrated by Alan Wright and Vernon Stokes..

(Routledge & Sons.)

WITH half a dozen coloured illustrations and a number of designs in the text we have here one of the pleasantest of Washington Irvine's reproduc- tions of early Victorian studies. The volume forms a noteworthy addition to the "Photogravure and Colour Series " of Messrs. Routledge.

BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUES.

MR. RICHARD CAMERON, of Edinburgh, has in Catalogue 215 Kay's 'Portraits,' 2 vols., 4to, 1837, 9/. 10s. ; Disruption Cartoons, being a set of cari- cature plates in connexion with the controversy in the Church of Scotland which ended in the "Dis- ruption," 16 large plates, 1838-43, 31. 10s.; a set of The Spy, to which James Hogg was a frequent contributor, Sept. 1st, 1810, to Aug. 24th, 1811 (all issued), 1. 5-s'.; Drummond's ' Old Edinburgh Houses and Closes,' 21. 5s. ; Hosack's ' Mary, Queen of Scots,' best edition, 2 vols., 1869, H. 12s.; first edition of Sheridan's 'Critic,' 1781, II. 5-s. ; and Stevenson's ' Edinburgh in the Olden Time,' large folio, 18s. 6(7. Mr. Cameron has also a pair of paintings in oil by Walter Geikie, representing Newhaven fishwives, in gilt frames, 6/. 6s. ; and a water-colour of Cardinal Beaton's house, by Drum- mond, in frame, II. 5*.

Mr. William Downing sends from Birmingham his Catalogue 461, which contains ' Rubens,' by Max Rooses, translated by Harold Child, 21. 10*.'; a collection of a hundred old almanacs, 1768-1870, II. 10s. ; Blair's ' Grave,' with Blake's illustrations, 1813, 21. 2s.; the large-paper edition of Byron edited by Coleridge and Prothero, 8^. 10s.; second edition of Carlyle's 'Cromwell,' II. 5s.; the "Gadshill Dickens," 36 vols., If. 7*.; the Doves Press Bible, IQL 10s.; Froissart's 'Chronicles,' 2 vol., with the extra series of 72 illuminated illustrations, very scarce, 1868, 6^. 6s. ; Rogers's 'Italy' and 'Poems,' early editions, 1836-42, 51. 5s.; Ruskin's 'Modern Painters,' 6 vols., imperial 8vo, 1888, 6/. 6s.; Scott's Novels, 48 vols., 1859-60, 121. 12s.; and Walpole's 'Letters,' edited by Cunningham, 9 vols., calf, 71. 7-s-.

Messrs. S. Drayton & Sons, of Exeter, send us two lists, 184 and 185. The former contains under America Triibner's classed list of books published in the United States during the forty yeai^s pre- vious to 1859. To this work Mr. Triibner devoted much labour. Published at 18s., it is now to be had for the small sum of 5s. There are lists under Art,.