honourable synonym of Associate, occurs in the play of Othello, with the same contemptuous meaning which we now affix, in its abusive sense, to the word "Fellow "-for Emilia, perceiving that some secret villain had aspersed the character of the virtuous Desdemona, thus indignantly exclaims:

"O, Heaven! that such Companions thou'dst unfold, And put in every honest hand a whip,

To lash the rascal naked through the world!"

SPINSTER.

Formerly it was a maxim that a young woman should never be married till she had spun herself a set of body, table, and bed linen. From this custom all unmarried women were termed spinsters, an appellation they still retain in all deeds and law proceedings.

ROUNDHEAD.

The first origin of this party epithet, well known as being used during the troubles in the reign of Charles I., was introduced by Captain Hyde, drawing his sword amidst the mob of Westminster, on 28th December, 1641, and saying, he would crop the ears of those round-headed dogs that bawled against the bishops. The apprentices wore their hair cut round. From this trifling circumstance originated the distinction of

"Roundheads" and "Cavaliers." Others, however, state, that it originated with the fanatics in the time of Charles I. ignorantly applying the text, "Ye know that it is a shame for men to have long hair," cut theirs very short. It is said, the Queen once seeing Pym, a celebrated patriot, thus cropped, inquired who that round-headed man was; from this incident the distinction became general, and the party were called roundheads.

CUTPURSE.

This term, which we meet with so often in Shakespeare's plays, and indeed in many works of more modern authors, is derived from the circumstance of persons in former days having their purses hanging in front, from their girdles, from whence they were cut by the Pickpurse, or Cutpurse, of former times.

MISER.

The term Miser, which we well know signifies a man who makes his money his god, is derived from Miserii, i.e., Misery, or Miserable.

MYRMIDON.

Myrmidon is derived from Myrmidons, a people of Thessaly, who by miracle, being ants (states the

Heathen Mythology), were turned into men at the request of Æacus, when the most destructive plague had destroyed the old inhabitants. Achilles to the siege of Troy.

They followed Hence the term

Myrmidon has been applied to followers, or hangers

on.

ASS.

The Ass is of Assyrian origin, and from the first syllable also derives its name. Nature foreseeing the cruel usage which this useful servant to man should receive at man's hands, did prudently in furnishing him with a tegument impervious to ordinary stripes. The malice of a child, or a weak hand, can make but feeble impression on him. To a common whip or switch, his hide presents an absolute insensibility. His back offers no mark to a puny foeman. You might as well pretend to scourge a school-boy with a tough pair of leather breeches on. His jerkin is well fortified.

-on him is ne'er engender'd

The hatefull vermine that doth teare the skin."

And, truly, when one thinks on the suit of impenetrable armour with which Nature (like Vulcan to Achilles) has provided him, these subtle enemies to our repose would have shown some dexterity in getting into his quarters. The term Ass, as applied to the disciples of folly, has been of very long

standing, having its origin, no doubt, in their proverbial stupidity. So, to conclude with a pun,-" Ass in præsenti seldom makes a WISE MAN in futuro."

ASSASSIN.

There was, says Hume, a petty prince in Asia, commonly called "The Old Man of the Mountain," who had acquired such an ascendency over his fanatical subjects, that they paid the most implicit deference to his commands; esteemed assassination meritorious, when sanctioned by his mandate; courted danger, and even certain death, in the execution of his orders; and fancied that, when they sacrificed their lives for his sake, the highest joys of paradise were the infallible reward of their devoted obedience. It was the custom of this prince, when he imagined himself injured, to despatch secretly some of his subjects against the aggressor, to charge them with the execution of his revenge, to instruct them in every art of disguising their purpose; and no precaution was sufficient to guard any man, however powerful, against the attempts of those subtle and determined ruffians.

The greatest monarchs stood in awe of this Prince of the Assassins or Hassassinah (for this was the name of his people; whence the word has passed into most European languages), and it was the highest indiscretion in Conrade, Marquis of Montserrat,

to offend and affront him. The inhabitants of Tyre, who were governed by that nobleman, had put to death some of this dangerous people. The prince demanded satisfaction; for, as he piqued himself on never beginning any offence, he had his regular and established formalities in requiring atonement. Conrade treated his messengers with disdain. The prince issued his fatal orders. Two of his subjects who had insinuated themselves in disguise among Conrade's guards, openly, in the streets of Sidon, wounded him mortally ; and when they were seized and put to the most cruel tortures, they triumphed amidst their agonies, and rejoiced that they had been destined by Heaven to suffer in so just and meritorious a cause.

A DUN!

Some erroneously suppose that the word dun comes from the French donner, to give, implying a demand; but the true origin of this word, or epithet, so frequently used, is from one John Dunn, a famous bailiff, or sheriff's officer, of the town of Lincoln; so extremely active and dexterous in the management of his rough business, that it became a proverb, when a man refused, or perhaps could not pay his debts, "Why don't you dunn him?" that is, "Why don't you send Dunn to arrest him?" Hence it became a custom, and a proverb, and is as old as the days of Henry VIII. But