472 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English language 
friend, to whom I: have. mentioned this. use. of the word, doubts whether it is 
peculiartous; 
CROCK; the black ai @ pot, or.ofa chimney, A. writer inthe Monthly Anthol- 
ogy, (¥. 7. p. 263.) in reviewing Mr. Webster’s dictionary, where this. word 
is found, says—“ Crock is indeed, common. enough in: this section of the 
country, but it isnot. an Znglish word, and,our southern brethren ridicule. 
us for using it.” It is,in fact, only.a.frovincial word in England, and is 
mentioned.as such by. Mason, who cites, Ray’s. South,and East Country. 
Words ;, and inthis latter work both the.nouz,and the veré are marked as 
peculiar to Essex, in England. Grose also has it-as. a frovincial word. It 
is never used here but in conversation. 
CROW-BAR ; an iron crow, or simply,, acrow. Used in New. liad: Crow- 
bar is * a name often frovincially applied to an iron crow.or lever.” Rees’ 
Cyclop. Marshall has: it-among the: “ Provincialisms of : West Devon- 
shire.” See Rural Econ..of West of Engl. voly is > ~ 
To CULTIVATE.  While:these:(in the phrase ofa. Mew: England writer) 
ane.cultivating the ocean.” Kendall's Travels, viiis p. 113; This. appli- 
cation of the epbiomedts I Lapigpeine aaa the writer al- 
ludedto, I it:to-be thus: used: im: Americ 
cusToy ABLE ; “subject to. duties. (Law. of: Siskecascmep Webst. 
This word I presume was never in use. I never heardit among: profes- 
sionad_ men. in Massachusetts, and mercantile friends, to.whom. I: have,men- 
tioned it, do. neh: eee hearing. it used. Rhawted duseiiee some- 
heard.: = eo 
times x ( sxhich ¢ ~ 
D. 
DECEDENT ; “one dead: (Law of WV. Jersey and Pensylvania.)” Webst. 
This word is unknown se Be northern states, eyen as 2 technical 
term. 
DECENT’; tolerable, pretty good: Fx. He is a decent scholar; a decent wri- 
ter; he is nothing more than decent. This has been much used at some 
of our colleges ; ; but never except in conversation. It has been thought ; 
by some to be an Americanism, but others have doubted whether it is- 
DECIDEDLY. “ He was decidedly at the head of the bar.” Marsh. Life ¥ 
dl 
