THE LARRIKIN.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10265, 7 February 1899, Page 6

THE LARRIKIN.

TO THC EDITOR OF T__ PRESS.

Sir, —In your notes of January 28th on the "Topics of the Day," reference is made to the word Larrikin, and also to its most probable origin. I note that reference is also made to the word Larrikin having been found in a glossary of the Cornish dialect, published by Dr. F. W. P. Jago in 1882. It is true that the word Larrikin, with the quotation from the "Cornishman, is to be found in the above named work on page 205, but you will please note that the word Larrikin is not given as in the old Cornish dialect in the above edition. But I beg to refer you to a later and by far a more extensive edition of Dr. F. W. P. Jago's work on the "English Cornish Dictionary," published in 1887 by Simpkius, Marshal! und Co., London. I have gone carefully through this work, and I cannot find any trace or reference to the word Larrikin, either in the English or tbe old Cornish dialect. Had the word Larrikin been of Corn—di origin it would, no doubt, have been referred to in this later publication of 1887. I never heard of the word Larrikin havui" beuu us_d in Cornwall, nor until my arrival in the colony in 1874. Therefore. I do not think that "the word can be traced to the Cornish dialect, or that the word ever originated in or from Cornwall.—Yours, _<.*.,

HENRY THOMAS, Timaru, February 6th, 1899.