Notes and Queries, Number 21, March 23, 1850 by Various
page 56 of 69 (81%)
page 56 of 69 (81%)
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Braybrooke, whose flesh, like that of the capon, may afford a
convenient variety among the delicacies of the season, if well cooked according to the recondite mysteries of the gastronomic art. Hypomagirus. Trinity College, Oxford, Feb 14. N.B. "Heifer" has already been explained as "heif-ker, half-cre," A.-S., "anner," Br. _Haviour, Haver, Hyfr_ (No. 15. p. 230, and No. 17. p. 269.).--If I may throw out a question where I cannot give an explanation, I would ask, are we not approaching very near to the word "heifer" (from the Saxon) in these, but especially in the last of the above terms? They seem to me to be identical. The introduction of the sound of _y_ between the sounds of _v_ and _ur_, is not uncommon in the vernacular or corrupted pronunciation of many words; nay, it is sanctioned by general usage, in "behaviour" from "behave," "Saviour" from "save," &c. If the words are identical, still the history of the appropriation of the one to male animals of the class described, and of the other to females, must be curious and worth investigating. May not the _aver_ and _averium_, like _irreplegibilia_ and other barbarous law terms, be framed (rather than derived) from one of our English terms, as well as from the French _avoir_? G.W. |
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