The Jeweller's Window

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 19

The Jeweller's Window

(Specially written jor “The Press” by ARNOLD WALL.

The beheading’ of words became popular in the 19th century but occured sparingly in the 16th and 17th.

I say “beheading” though “betailing” occurs in e.g. “bus” for “omnibus,” “varsal” and “varsity” for “universal” and “university,” “cello” for “violincello” and “phone” for “telephone” “soccer” for ‘association’ is a result of eviscerion and multilation. The list which follows is not, of course, intended to be complete, but it gives a sort of birdseye view of the field. The words are presented in the order of their reported occurrence in time.

The only 16th century example I know of is “gent” for gentleman, 1564. In the 17th century: “cit” for citizen, 1644, “phiz” for physiognomy, 1688. “mob” for mobile, 1688, “varsal” for universal, 1696. In the 18th century I can record only “spec” for speculation, 1794, and this is from the United States.

During the 19th century the butchers were very busy: “piano” for pianoforte, 1803, “bus” for omnibus, 1832, “navvy” for navigator, (canal digger) also 1832, “varsity” for university, 1846, “zoo” for Zoological, 1847, “vet” for veterinary, 1862, “pub” for public (house), 1865, “hippo” for hippopotamus, 1872, “maths” for mathematics, 1875, “exam” for examination, 1877, “cello” for violincello, 1881, “Brum” for Birmingham, also 1881, “rhino” for rhinoceros, 1884, “pram” for perambulator, 1884, “phone” for telephone, also 1884, “civvy” for civilian, 1889, "plane” for aeroplane, 1891, "lab” for laboratory, 1910, “mike” for microphone, 1927, “polio” for poliomyelitis, 1931, “quin” for quintuplet, 1935.

"Nob” for nobleman is now discredited; it is a variant form of “knabb” of obscure origin. It would appear our ancestors treated the English language with more respect i than we do.