DICTIONARY MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 7 (Supplement)

DICTIONARY MEN.

HOW SOME OF OUR WORDS ORIGINATED.

(By B. M. WHITE.)

AT the present time men and women, boys and girls, are keenly interested in the ItaloAbyssinian war, and particularly at the moment in sanctions. The enforcing of sanctions against Italy really means that certain countries have decided to boycott Italy. Do. you know how the word boycott originated? In the year 18S0, when Ireland was in a state of great unrest, Captain Boycott went to collect rents for a wealthy landlord. The tenants had agreed among themselves not to pay, and Captain Boycott had them turned out of their houses. In order to punish the captain, tradesmen refused to sell him goods and labourers would not work for him. Food had to be brought by steamer to him, but finally he was forced to leave Ireland. And now when a man or country is. shunned by others we say he or it is boycotted!

The word nicotine owes its origin to a French physician, 3ean Nicot. While living in Lisbon as French Ambassador he was attracted by a plant brought from Florida and valued for its medicinal qualities. On returning to France in 1501 he took with him some of the plants which were named Nicotiana in his honour. From this the word "nicotine" was derived.

An architect, Joseph Hansom, born in York in 1813,.was responsible for the vehicle known as a "hansom" cab. His improved one-horse carriage was a square vehicle with two wheels, 7ft dn high. AVith further improvements hansom cabs were in use until the advent of motor cars.

Another man who gave his name to the dictionary was Colonel Charles Lynch, of America. During the American War of Independence there were many desperadoes who took advantage of the troublous times and frightened people into giving them large sums of money. All who refused were treated cruelly. Colonel Lynch formed a band of men to capture these desperadoes. Then, without trial and waste of time, these ruffians were executed on the spot, without delay. This proved effective and for some years this same method was adopted in many parts of the country. Whenever a person was executed by a mob he was said to have been "lynched."

A great gambler, the Earl of Sandwich, a member of the British Parliament, begrudged every moment spent away from the card tables. One day, after playing cards for many hours, he began to feel hungry, but nothing would induce him to stop his game. Eventually he called his servant and told him to bring slices of bread and meat. In order that the meat might not soil his hands he had each slice put between two slices'

of bread, and from that Km. V ' and meat served in this » W been called "sandwiches!" 7 hav » John Macadam, bom * , although a successful merclLVl 50 " a passion for experiment, ■ ' ha * making. Be ttBERSg? g* to gam experience and ff mile 3 authority on roads. %fe« making a road was to cover fl 0d ' ot way with small, hard X es of regular size, making Z Bt , one regular by heavy, Srm V Urface such as rolling. Road s T, PS*** Colonel Martinet was a a., ciplinarian under Lo U ; s yrp disthose who served under ht m &nd his name along as a symbol „* P \ Ssed observance of form « M ° f became the word for a strictdU • lmarian. icc A herald in the Greek A Tm „ , ing the famous Siege of fe dur " named Stentor. He had 7 * as powerful voice, which couW u J My above the din of battle «„^t ieard thus of great serWce in as the orders of the genera" £W* diers. Hi, MmeCtJ!" 01 - bereddown the ages, andSg we hear anyone who BJX en loudly we say he has a ffifcg