Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 229

NOVEMBER, 1922)
MISCELLANEA
221
subsequently known as Bhrigukachha was included in Sarpåraka. A part of Anûpadesa therefcre appears to have been included in Sürpâraka and only a small kingdom on the west coast known as Andpa survived in the times of the Pandavas.
All these facts leave no doabt in my mind that the wrath of Râma was not only carried to the extent of destroying Karta virya's capital but even of obliterating its very existence by including it in Sûrparaka ; and that it was at some place near Brcach.
MISCELLANEA.
MULTIPLE ORIGIN OF TECHNICAL AND vertisement in the Postboy, Jan. 2-4, 1711: "Peter COMMERCIAL TERMS.
Duncombe and Saunders Dancer, who lived at The question of the origin of Anglo-Indian terms the Naked Boy in Great Russell-street, Coventhas frequently been raised in this Journal and in garden (London) removed to the Naked Boy and discussing those used in the days of the Scatter. Mitre near Somerset House, Strand (London)." goods, Vol. L, Supplement, pp. 7, 11, it was Such incongruous double names became comshown that such words as "dimity," "taffeta," mon and familiar, and led to interesting instances and the hike had at least a double and sometimes of folk-etymology. Boulogne Mouth, 1.6., Boua multiple origin. That is to say, the Oriental logne Harbour in France, was a very familiar name term dimyati was applied to a certain fabrio of in England in the eighteenth century and became European origin, which was known in Europe . common Inn sign as the Bull and Mouth. Here as "dimity," though dimyati really meant a fabric we can see the effect of commercial custom on exported to the East through Dimyat (Damietta folke-etymology very clearly. Quite as good an in Egypt) and had no etymological connection example is the turning of Catherine Wheel into with "dimity." Later on English merchants Cat and Wheel (Cat being a familiar shortening in India bought and sent to England a fabric, of Catherine). And so Goat and Compasses arose called dimyati, or "dimity," because of its general out of God encompasseth [us), a familiar expresresemblance to the familiar "dimity" of Europe. sion of the English Piritan times. Bago Nails "Dimity" as a term has thus come to have a out of Bacchanals is due to the same influence.
puble origin, European and Asiatic. The history But perhaps the best of all is Pig and Whistle out of "taffeta "as & commercial and technical term i of Piga Wassail, Anglo-Saxon for Virgin, Hail" is much the same, as it came to be used for fabrics an ancient pious ejaculation, which may however of both European (taffeta) and Asiatic tafta) origin. he rendered more humanly by "a lase and a glass !"
The object of the present note is to show that i We are here, however, in the presence of a general the origin of technical commercial terms generally tendency of the human mind in commerce, which may have a twofold source in folk-etymology urges it to maintain the continuity of familiar and commercial custom respectively. This by things during a change of circumstances. Thus, way of warning to the searcher.
the early Muslim Pathån Kings in India found In former days an Inn in England was known it necessary to preserve the appearance of the solely by its sign, saya bult, a gate, a goose, a grid coins of their Hindu predecessors in their own, iron, a rose, 'crown, a shoulder of mutton, a cucum. and to use Devanagiri characters ber, and so on. The name of the sign was commer- instead of Arabie in describing their titles and cially far more important than that of the pro- names. Just as the Kushåns had had to use Greek prietor of the Inn. Travellers went to stay at characters on theirs before them, and after them the Bull, or the Gato, or the Goose, or the Grid: the East India Company the form and Persian iron, or the Elephant, or the Castle, without trou- characters of Shah Alam of Delhi on theirs. bling to know who the owner was. When, however, A minute difference between the Australian and it became necessary or convenient to a proprietor English sovereign long acted to the detriment to transfer his premises to, say, the Bull from the of the former, though the intrinsic value of the Gate, or to the Goose from the Gridiron, he sought i two sovereigns was identical, and the Maria Theto entico both his old customers and those of the resa dollar was the only coin recognised in parts former proprietor of his new premises to the new of Africa very long after that Austria monarch's combined Inn, which he therefore named the Bull death, who, indeed, never reigned there. Many and Gate, the Goose and Gridiron, the Elephant other instances could be given. and Castle, without reference to the incongruity: A very familiar example of the same tendency of the names they coupled. Messrs. Larwood is in the names of commercial firme: Messrs. Smith, and Hotten, History of Signboards, quoto an ad. Jones and Robinson will remain an important