502 PHILOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. 



fin : — E.fcif/g clutch, is a relative o1 fnger^ which belongs 

 to all the Teutonic, and of many others, as AS. fajigan, 

 S.fTu/ga, to catch, captivate — Ir.fang, a raven ; ^.jLUtg, 

 a fpecies of owl : — h. pah, the palm, appears related to 

 paw ; and W. Ihau to claw, which is with variation in the 

 whole Teutonic. Plundering and fighting being the chief 

 bufinefs of the hand in a favage fiate, it well deferved the 

 fame name with the clutches of lions and vultures ; and 

 this charader is recorded in many derivative words and 

 phrafes: — G. M. gara^ hand : C. gurey, S. giora, to ad, 

 do — S. gierning, atlion, fignifies in the law aflault : E.-f 

 gare to wound — D. kaard, a fword : — Pe. daft, hand — S. 

 antujhi, G. betajlen^ to attack : E. put to the tejl is related : 

 — C dorn^ hand, is the root of the tournaments fo famous 

 in ancient chivalry : — Ma. gala^ hand — gallant a general 

 term for courage : — Ir.-f^^^, hand — S. fragd, bravery, 

 active talents : — h^. ellen, power, fortitude ; eUc?i-rof\ 

 mighty, illuftrious ; ellen-laka^ a boxer. 



Ncverthelefs I cannot, find any word that implies praife 

 of abfolute murder ; and the ferocious vScythian languages 

 have fome that reprobate it when committed by treachery 

 or in cold blood. Among thefe is the AS. nithing, with 

 its relatives : its meaning is well preferved in the 12th chap- 

 ter of the Swedifh criminal code, which defines and 

 punidies Hidings vccrk, a general term for feveral bafe kinds 

 of aflault and murder, to wit, fecret ; infidious ; on per- 

 Ibns incapable of defence, as minors ; thofe who are afleep, 

 fwimming or bathing, &c.* Some words of barbarous 

 origin come to fignify true heroifm in a civilized fociety : 

 thus the Swedifh kampe^ figures as a hero in modern mi- 

 litary poems, though he is a brother of the Britifh kam- 

 piur, a boxer, and of all the European champions : the 



Swedifli 



* Nid-Jlang, and riding the Jiang, which in fome parts of Scotland is an 

 infamous chaftifemcnt of men who beat their wives, are mentioned by John 

 Callander, Efq. in his comment on two ancient Scottilh poems : the gaherlu:i- 

 %ie man, &c. 



