154 ON THE ETYMOLOGY, kc. 



called Bossa. And Dr. Forstcr informs us, that " at this present 

 " ime they have in Russia an inebriating liquor, prepared 

 " from millet, which is called Busa, and is very heady."* 



3. To Tope, to drink hard ; to drink to excess. Toper, a 

 drunkard. " Top/f, German, an earthen pot; Toppen, Dutch, 

 to be mad. Skinner prefers the latter etymology." Johnson. 

 I am far from being satislied with this, and 1 think something 

 more satisfactory may be offered. In the language of the 

 Gipsies, Tepaoo is to drink. You are not ignorant that the 

 language of these vagrants has a most evident and intimate 

 affinity with that of the nations of Hindustan. 



4. To butcher ; to kill. The Mandshuri, or Manshour — 

 Tartars, call death Bootschere, or Butcher e. It may not be amiss 

 to observe, in this place, that Mart is death in the language of 

 the people of Bengal. How nearly similar is this to the Celtic 

 words, Mar, Mor, Mart; the Latin Mors; the Italian Morte ; 

 the French, Mor, &c. ! ! 



5. To Ram, to drive with violence, as with a battering ram. 

 I find nothing satisfactory relative to the etymology of this 

 word, in our English dictionaries. After attending to the fol- 

 lowing, I hope you will not think I am forcing the subject. 

 In the language of the Tchiokonski, Ramo, and in that of 

 the Esthonians (both of whom I have often mentioned) Ramm 

 and Ram/no are the words for our English force and strength 

 (Vis, Robur). Rainmo is also the Esthoninn word for power 

 (Potentia). 



As I know not what value you may attach to the preceding 

 mite to extend our knowledge of the original of English words, 

 I shall not, at present, trouble you with any more of a similar 

 kind. Permit me, however, to make a few observations, which 

 seem to arise naturally enough out of this investigation. 



Many English words do, unquestionably, exist among certain 

 Asiatic nations, and even among the Indian nations of Ame- 

 rica. As it is difficult, at first sight, to give a very satisfactory 



* History of the Voyages and Discoveries made in the North, &c. p. 172, 173. Dublin Edi- 

 tion, ^786. Busa is also mentioned by Professor Pallas. He says, the inhabitants of Cnm — 

 Tanary brew this " intoxicating," " ill tasted and vei y strong beer from" Millei, or Tori. See 

 Travels through the Southern Provinces of the Russian Emp.re, in the years 1793, and 1794. 

 "Vol.- 11. p. 3(30, 388, Sic. English translation. London: 18U3. 



