Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/324

 266 NOTES AND QUERIES. p» B. VL OCT. e, MOO. the disinclination to remove was based simply on superstition. The day of the week happened to be Fnday ; and it appears that to change quarters on that particular day constitutes a gross and wanton violation of all the canons governing Highland ' flitting.' On discovering that the perversity mani- fested by the old women was mainly attributable to 'conscientious scruples," the inspector at once agreed to humour them, and the removals were postponed until the following day, when they were accomplished without any opposition or demur." THOMAS BAYNE. "LOBSTER," a NICKNAME FOR SOLDIER. (See 2nd S. viii. 252.)—Your correspondent at the above reference states that "the term appears to be applied to a particular class of soldier." I remember when a boy, some forty years since-^-t.e., about the date when this query was inserted—often hearing privates of the Life Guards (in undress uniform) called "lobsters." W. I. R. V. PROVERBS xxx. 15, 16.—We are familiar with the denunciations against exaction which couple the leech or bloodsucker with the grave, but the verbal analogies used in the original are not generally recognized. 1. Alukah, the sucker, is cognate with our A.-S. liccian, Greek Aci'^w, Skt. lih, to lick ; we call this sucker a leech, but it is mixed up with the healing profession. Now we know that when Lazarus was in trouble " the dogs came and licked his sores": this natural healing process has been developed into science. As to the analogy between licking and sucking, recall the princess of historical romance or modern folk-lore who "sucked poison from her husband's arm." 2. Leaving the leech and her "daughters," we find that " the grave," i.e. death, is exact- ing ; in the original the word is sheol, a near relative of our words hall and hell; A.-S. if l:in, helian, to hide—so the lower or hidden •world. The " sh " in sheol may be counten- anced by the Skt. fala, Fr. salle. Germ. Saal. See also cell, Latin celo, celare, to hide, which countenances the form " pit," sometimes used to translate sheol. A. HALL. Highbury, N. " SHIMMOZZEL."—I have often come across this cant word in certain quarters, but have never caught sight of it in print. Some time ago, I remember Mr. Edward Morton, in the Referee, using " Mozzultov " (good luck) with reference to those sporadic events which will occur in domestic circles. Now "Mozzultov " is excellent Hebrew, "Shimmozzel" is not; it is a base corruption of something very difficult to define. I ain aware that there exists a controversy in the Talmud on the exceedingly nice point whether Israel has a special star or not—one Tannai supporting the theory (not the star) another rejecting it. Thus it is quite easy to imagine that some Hebrew—say, in the fourth century—having got into a scrape, might well have tortured his spirit with the recurrent question as he lay in some noisome den : "Havel any luck?" "Hayeshlemozzul?" a phrase which in course of time might have become crystallized into its present incomprehensible form. We Jews call trouble of a very serious nature "schle- mozzul." " Oh, what a schlemozzul!" is a serio-comic expression often heard in Jewish homes. M. L. R. BRESLAR. PARROT IN ' HUDIBRAS ' :— Could tell what subtlest parrots mean, That think and speak contrary clean ; What member 'tis of whom they talk When they cry " Rope," and " Walk, knave, walk." Part I. canto i. 549-52. The notes fail to point out that Butler's parrot had doubtless been brought ur> and brought over on some pirate ship on board of which unfortunate wretches were con- demned to the " rope " and suspended at the yard-arm, or perhaps beaten with a rope's end, and others bidden to " walk " the plank. It repeated cries with which it was familiar. W. C. B. " VIVA," A NEWLY COINED WORD.—The other day when in Oxford I was waiting in the hall of the Schools in order to speak to a friend •who was one of the public examiners. Enter- ing into conversation with the clerk of the Schools, I heard two young ladies who came_up at the time inquire when their viva was coming on. For a long time I could not imagine what their meaning was, but thought it meant some- thing to eat, as viver is a Scottish term for re- freshment. Afterwards a light dawned upon me, and it occurred to me that the reference was to their coming viva voce examination. JOHN PICKFORD, M.A. Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge. BOOKS ESPECIALLY MEANT FOR SOLDIERS.— The stirring martial age in which we now- live has been the cause of the reproduction in facsimile of some very curious literary rarities connected with our Great Civil War. The first was the Puritans' military vade mecum, 'The Souldiers Catechisme for the Parliaments Army' (Elliot Stock), issued in the beginning of this year • the next was ' The Cavalier Soldier's Vade Mecum' (Blades & Co.), issued about a month ago. They are both of permanent historical interest, which is more than can be said of many of the ephemeral khaki books with which we are