in the United States of America. 485 
HACK. An abbreviation of hackney-coach. In England Aack signifies “ a Aorse 
much used or Jet out for hire.” Mason’s Sufplem. The English “ instead 
_ of our abbreviation, go call me a hack, say, go call me a coach.” Monthly 
Anthol. vol. vy. p. 660. 
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS. A general term, used in speaking of the 
Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, &c. collectively. “ The temporary 
heads of defrartments were required to prepare and lay before the first 
magistrate such statements,” &c. Marsh. Life of Washing. vol. v. p. 176. 
HEAT or HET, (fret. and fart. of to heat.) This is sometimes heard in con- 
versation ; but (as Mr. Webster observes,*) “ the practice is not respect- 
able.” Mason, in his Supplement to Johnson, gives heat as a participle 
used by old poets for heated,” and cites W. Browne. Ash has it, written 
het, on the authority of Chaucer, and says it is obsoleze. . 
HEFT, ». and To HEFT, v. The noun /c/t is to be found in Bailey’s and En- 
tick’s dictionaries in the ‘sense, in which it is often used in this country, that 
is, to signify « heaviness, or the weight of any thing ;” and in this sense (ac- 
cording to Grose, ) it is frovincial in England. The verb fo heft, which 
here commonly signifies ¢o lift any thing in order to judge of its weight, 
is not in the dictionaries. Both the noun and the verb are used only 
HELP, n. Often used in New England instead of servancs ; and it generally. 
‘means female servants: Ex. My het is very good 5 ‘such « one is very 
good hel. The word domestics is, however, more common. 
HITHER AND YON. Used in some parts of the interior of New England for 
here and there. It is a frrovincial expression in England: “ Hither and 
yon; here and there, backwards and forwards. North.” Grose’s Prov. 
~ Gloss. It is never heard except in the country towns. 
HOLPE or HOLP ; from Ae/p. This form of the verb it seems is still used in 
Virginia, where, Mr. Webster says, “ it is pronounced Aofe > Shall I hope 
you, Sir.” Webst. Dissertations, p. 384. It seems too that in England, as 
late as when bishop Lowth wrote, the ancient irregular form Ao/jie (in the 
hreterite -) was “ still used in conversation.” See his Grammar, gibi ular 
Verbs, sect. 3. I never heard it during my residence in that COUMEEy 
* Philosophical and Practical Grammar, p, 113. 
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