Origin of the Names of Beasts, Birds, and Insects. 35 



Bayard, from Eng. bay ; as if the great bay one. 



Buzzai'd, (Germ, busshard, Fr. busard ;) from Fr. buse, losing 

 its ampliative signification. 



(2.) By means of the suffix el, forming diminutives ; as, 



Cockerel, from Eng. cock ; as if the young cock. 



Hoggerel, from Eng. hog ; as if the young hog, but applied 

 only to a young sheep. 



Spaniel, (Fr. epagneul, comp. Espagnol, Spanish;) from Fr. 

 Espagne and Eng. Spain, losing its diminutive signification ; as 

 if the Spanish dog. 



(3.) By means of the suffix en, forming diminutives ; as, 



Chicken, (Anglo-Sax. cicen, Dutch kieken or kuiken. Germ. 

 kucJdein ;) from Anglo-Sax. cocc and Eng. cock; as if tlie young 

 cock. 



Kitten, (Fr. chaton. Germ, k'dtzchen ;) from Fr. chat. Germ. 

 katze, and Eng. cat ; as if the young cat. 



(4. ) By means of the suffix er, denoting the personal subject ; as, 



Beaver, (Lat. fiber, Fr. bievre. Germ, biber ;) from the root of 

 Germ, baiieti, to build ; as if the builder. 



Chafer, (Anglo-Sax. ceafor ;) from the root of Anglo-Sax. ceo- 

 wan and Eng. to chew or chaw ; as if the chewer or chawer. 



Plover, (Ft. pluvier ;) from the voot o{ hsit. pluvia, rain; as if 

 the rainbird. 



Skimmer, from Eng. to skim. 



Spinner, a spider, (Germ, spinne ;) from the root of Germ, spin- 

 nen and Eng. to spin. 



(5.) By means of the suffix ster, denoting the subject, whether 

 male or female ; as, 



Hamster, a species of rat, (Germ, hamster ;) from Old Germ, 

 v/ ham, to hide ; as if the hider. 



Lobster, (Anglo-Sax. loppestre ;) from the root of Anglo-Sax. 

 hleapan and Eng. to leap ; as if the leaper. 



(6.) By means of the suffix ling, denoting the subject ; as, 



Sanderling, from Eng. sajid ; as if the sand bird. 



Starling, from Eng. sta7'e, losing its peculiar significancy. 



(7.) By means of the suffix th, forming abstract nouns; as. 



Sloth, from Eng. slow ; as if by metonymy, the sloio one. 



(8.) By means of the suffix an or ant, (Lat. anus, Provencal a, 

 fem. ana, Ital. and Span, ano, Portug. ano and do, Fr. an, aifi, 

 len, Walach. m, an,) forming gentile nouns ; as. 



