32 Derivations of Mineral Names. 
Werner, the famous mineralogist of Freiberg, produced the name 
Zirkon for this mineral. In ordinary parlance, the zircon is 
known as jargon in France to-day, so that the accepted scientific 
name is to be regarded as a corruption of the popular one. 
Jargon, in the above acceptation, means counterfeit, wrong pre- 
sentment, but the word is now more particularly used in the sense 
of gibberish. The remote origin of jargon may connect it with Gr. 
yapyapttw, I gargle—make a noise in the throat—and L. garrio, 
chattering (whence Engl. garrulous), gossiping. In It. it has 
changed to gergone and giargone (de Boot, 1636); Sp., jerga, jeri- 
gonza; Fr., jargon ; O. Engl., jergon ; Engl., jargon (der. A.-Sax. 
girran, chattering [?] ). 
“ He was al coltish, ful of ragerie, 
And full of jergon as a flecked pie.” 
— Chaucer, 1340-1400. 
“ Their mystic cabals and jargones.” 
— Butler, 1682. 
In these instances the meaning of jargon is somewhat different from 
that of to-day. 
(To be concluded.) 
ABBREVIATIONS. 
A. D., Anno Domini, in the year | M.H.G., Middle-High German, A. 
of our Lord. D.1150t 0 1500 (Weigand). 
a.m.o., and many others. M.L. Middle Latia gter classi- 
a. 0., and others. cal period toa 
Ar., bic 
A. Sax., Anglo-Saxon. NLG, N ew-Latin, since A. D. 
C., fore Christ. e 
contr., oa aaa of, obs. obso 
D., O.Engl., Old English, prior to about 
der., derived fro . 1550 
e. g., ee r matic: fortnaiisine O. FE, Old French. a 
Engl., Engl O. G., Old German, A. D. 500 to 
Fr., Peoh 
G., German. 0.H.G., Old-High German, A. D. 
Gr., Greek. £0. 1150 (Weigand). 
Heb., Hebrew. Pers., Pers 
H. G., High German. Since A. q.v., quia vide, which see. 
. 1500. Sansk., Sanskri 
Icel., Icelandic. Bp. Spa zai 
Le, id est, that is. Sw., Swedis 
Tt Italian = synonymous with. 
i Latin Talasi). 
