A Brief History of the English Language and Literature Part 8

Lava.

Lazaretto.

Macaroni.

Madonna.

Madrigal.

Malaria.

Manifesto.

Motto.

Moustache.

Niche.

Opera.

Oratorio.

Palette.

Pantaloon.

Parapet.

Pedant.

Pianoforte.

Piazza.

Pistol.

Portico.

Proviso.

Quarto.

Regatta.

Ruffian.

Serenade.

Sonnet.

Soprano.

Stanza.

Stiletto.

Stucco.

Studio.

Tenor.

Terra-cotta.

Tirade.

Torso.

Trombone.

Umbrella.

Vermilion.

Vertu.

Virtuoso.

Vista.

Volcano.

Zany.

5. +Dutch Words.+-- We have had for many centuries commercial dealings with the Dutch; and as they, like ourselves, are a great seafaring people, they have given us a number of words relating to the management of s.h.i.+ps. In the fourteenth century, the southern part of the German Ocean was the most frequented sea in the world; and the chances of plunder were so great that s.h.i.+ps of war had to keep cruising up and down to protect the trading vessels that sailed between England and the Low Countries. The following are the words which we owe to the Netherlands:--

Ballast.

Boom.

Boor.

Burgomaster.

Hoy.

Luff.

Reef.

Schiedam (gin).

Skates.

Skipper.

Sloop.

Smack.

Smuggle.

Stiver.

Taffrail.

Trigger.

Wear (said of a s.h.i.+p).

Yacht.

Yawl.

6. +French Words.+-- Besides the large additions to our language made by the Norman-French, we have from time to time imported direct from France a number of French words, without change in the spelling, and with little change in the p.r.o.nunciation. The French have been for centuries the most polished nation in Europe; from France the changing fas.h.i.+ons in dress spread over all the countries of the Continent; French literature has been much read in England since the time of Charles II.; and for a long time all diplomatic correspondence between foreign countries and England was carried on in French. Words relating to manners and customs are common, such as +soiree+, +etiquette+, +seance+, +elite+; and we have also the names of things which were invented in France, such as +mitrailleuse+, +carte-de-visite+, +coup d'etat+, and others. Some of these words are, in spelling, exactly like English; and advantage of this has been taken in a well-known epigram:--

The French have taste in all they do, Which we are quite without; For Nature, which to them gave gout,[15]

To us gave only gout.

The following is a list of French words which have been imported in comparatively recent times:--

Aide-de-camp.

Belle.

Bivouac.

Blonde.

Bouquet.

Brochure.

Brunette.

Brusque.

Carte-de-visite.

Coup-d'etat.

Debris.

Debut.

Dejeuner.

Depot.

eclat.

Ennui.

Etiquette.

Facade.

Gout.

Nave.

Navete.

Nonchalance.

Outre.

Penchant.

Personnel.

Precis.

Programme.