fie 
38 Origin of the Names of Beasts, Birds, and Insects. 
Porcupine, (Ital. porco-spinoso ;) from Lat. porcus, a hog, and — 
spinosus, thorny ; as if the spinous hog. 
So blackbird ; bluebird ; grossbeak, (asif grossbeaked ;) hum- 
minghird ; redbird ; redbreast, (as if redbreasted ;) redstart, (as 
if redtailed ;) redtail, (as if redtailed ;) wryneck, (as if wrynecked.) 
(2.) One part of the compound standing in rection or govern- — 
ment in reference to the other ; the latter part of the composition — 
expressing the principal or leading idea, and the former part some 
modification thereof. 
(a) Where the first term expresses the dative case or the case 
of participation ; as, 
Squirrel, (Gr. oxtovgos, Lat. sciurus, dimin. sciuriolus, = wae 
reutl ;) from Gr. oxé, a shade, and ovgé, a tail; as if having tts tail 
Sor a shade. 
(b) Where the first term expresses the accusative case or the 
relation of the object; as, 
Moldwarp, (Germ. maulwurf, Old Germ. mulwerf ;) from Old 
Germ. mul or Eng. mold, and Old Germ. werfan, to turn; as if 
the mold-turner. 
Ossifrage or ospray, (Lat. ossifraga, F'r. ossifrage or orfraie ;) 
from Lat. os, gen. ossis, a bone, and /frango, to break; as if the 
bone-breaker. 
Oystercatcher, the name of a bird. 
Woodpecker, a bird that pecks holes in trees. 
(c) Where the first term expresses the modal case or the rela- 
tion of the mode or manner; as, = 
Crossbill, as if having a bill like a cross. 
Spoonbill, as if having a bill like a spoon. 
(d) Where the first term expresses the locative case, or the 
relation of the place where or time in which; as 
_.. Grasshopper, which needs no explanation. Comp. Germ. heu- 
schrecke, from heu, grass, and schrecken, to spring, the name of 
the same insect. 
May-bug, as if the bug appearing in May. 
May-fly, as if the fly appearing in May. 
Nightingale, (Germ. nachtigall, Anglo-Sax. nihtegale ;) from 
Germ. nachti or Anglo-Sax. nihte, in the night, and Germ. giillen 
or Anglo-Sax. galan, to sing; as if the night singer. 
Woodcock, as if the cock living in the woods. 
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