PROCEEDINGS. 



from Ireland or the west of England. In consequence the present 

 generation very generally speak with an Irish accent, and some words or 

 phrases will be found in use of Irish origin. Their coasts too, having 

 been from a very early period frequented by fishermen of all nations, and 

 their trade bringing them in contact with people of other tongues, we 

 might expect foreign words to be introduced into their speech. The 

 accessions to their vocabulary from these sources, however, are few, and 

 their language remains almost entirely English. Even the peculiarities 

 which strike a stranger, are often survivals of old forms which are 

 wholly or partially obsolete elsewhere.* 



I. I notice words which are genuinely English, but are now obsolete 

 elsewhere or are only locally used : 



An atomy or a natomy. a skeleton, applied to a person or creature 

 extremely emaciated. " Poor John is reduced to an atomy" This is 

 a contraction of the word anatomy, probably from a mistake of persons 

 supposing the a or an to be the article. This use agrees with the 

 original meaning of the word, which was not the act of dissecting, but 

 the object or body to be dissected, and hence as the flesh was removed, 

 the skeleton, a word which then denoted a dried body or mummy. 



(Greek, skeUo, to dry.) 



Oh tell me, friar, tell me 

 In what part of this vile anatomy 

 Doth my name lodge ? Tell me that I may sack 

 The hateful mansion. 



Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, III, 3. 



Hence it came to denote a person extremely emaciated. 



They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain, 



A mere anatomy, 



A living dead man. Comedy of Errors, V, 1. 



Shakspeare also used the abridged form atomy in the same sense, 

 which is exactly the Newfoundland meaning of the word. 



" Thou starved bloodhound . . . thou atomy, thou." 



2 Henry IV, V, 4. 



The same is given by Jamiesonf as in use in Lowland Scotch. 



* In these investigations I must especially acknowledge the assistance received, 

 from Judge Bennett of Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, who has not only furnished me 

 with a number of words, but has carefully examined the whole list. I have .also to 

 acknowledge my obligations to an article by the Rev. Dr. Pilot of St. Johns, published 

 in Christmas Bells, a paper issued in that city at Christmas. A few additional facts 

 have been received from Mr. W. C. Earl, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, 

 and others. For most of the quotations I am indebted to the Encyclopedic Dictionary. 



t Scottish Dictionary. 



