HERMES SCYTHICUS, OR THE RADICAL AFFINITIES OF THE GREEK AND

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I, J, Y.

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U, V

W

Y

FINIS. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

AN

ETYMOLOGICAL

DICTIONARY

OF THE

SCOTTISH LANGUAGE.

AN

ETYMOLOGICAL

DICTIONARY

OF THE

IN WHICH

THE WORDS ARE EXPLAINED IN THEIR DIFFERENT SENSES,
AUTHORISED BY THE NAMES OF THE WRITERS BY WHOM THEY ARE USED,
OR THE TITLES OF THE WORKS IN WHICH THEY OCCUR,

AND

DEDUCED FROM THEIR ORIGINALS.

ABRIDGED FROM THE QUARTO EDITION,

BY THE AUTHOR,

JOHN JAMIESON, D. D.

FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH,
OF THE SOCIETY OF THE ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, AND OF THE
AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY.

EDINBURGH:

PRINTED FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, AND
ALEXANDER JAMESON, EDINBURGH,

By Abernethy & Walker.

1818.

CONTENTS

Preface

An Explanation of the Contractions used in this Work

Rules for Rendering the use of the Dictionary more easy

Transcriber's Notes

PREFACE.

The Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, which was published in the year 1808, has been so favourably received, that although the impression was large, a set is now rarely to be found; and at any rate cannot be purchased at less than double the price paid by Subscribers.

As many, who would wish to possess the original work, cannot now be supplied; while it has still been out of the reach of others, not less interested in our national literature; the Author has been advised to give it to the Public in an abridged form.

He has followed the same plan with that of the abridgment of Dr Johnson's English Dictionary; in giving all the terms contained in the larger work, in their various significations, the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and their derivations. In one instance only has he deviated from the plan of the great English Lexicographer, in placing the etymons after the definitions. This mode is undoubtedly the most simple; as a reader, when looking into a Dictionary for the origin of a word with which he is familiar, or for the signification of one with which he is unacquainted, must be supposed to turn his eye first to the definition, that he may know whether this is the word that he looks for, or whether, in the passage in which it has occurred, it can bear the sense there given, before he thinks of examining its origin, or can form any judgment as to the propriety of the etymon that may be offered.

While this work contains a variety of words which are not to be found in the quarto edition, the Author flatters himself that he does not claim too much in supposing, that during ten years which have elapsed since it was published, he has had it in his power, from many sources formerly unexplored, to make considerable improvements both in the explanatory and in the etymological department. This, he trusts, will be evident to any who will take the trouble to compare the one work with the other.

In most instances, where he has met with new significations of the words explained in the larger work, he has inserted them in this, with their authorities. Such, indeed, is the copiousness of our vernacular language, that he is far from pretending that he has had it in his power to give a complete view of it. From the recent publication of many of our old acts formerly imprinted, from his own researches, and from the liberal communications both of friends and strangers, who have been anxious to render what they are pleased to consider a national work as complete as possible, the Author has been supplied with a great variety of terms which were formerly unknown to him. These he hopes to have it soon in his power to give to the public in an additional volume in quarto, in order to complete the former work. This, as far as he can calculate at present, will be equal in size to any of the preceding volumes.

An Explanation of the Contractions used in this Work.

Rules for rendering the use of this Dictionary more easy.

Y vowel, used by our ancient writers promiscuously with i, being in fact only double i, and printed ij in other northern languages, is to be sought for, not as it stands in the English alphabet, but in the same place with the letter i, throughout the work.

Words not found in SH, to be sought for under SCH.

Those, in like manner, not found in WH, to be sought for under QUH, expressing the sound of the old Gothic guttural.

Words, improperly printed in our old books with Z, to be looked for under Y consonant.

In One Volume 8vo, price 12s.