_Beócera-gent_ (Vol. v., p. 201.).--As I asked a question relating to
the Irish, perhaps I may be allowed the so-called Irish mode of
answering it myself.
_Beócherie_ is evidently derived from _Beóceraige_, the islet of
bee-hives, or bee-keepers (who were regularly appointed officers in
Saxon England); but as I was utterly at a loss for the word _gent_, I
requested the opinion of Dr. Lèo, from whom I have received the
following satisfactory reply:--
"The word _gent_ seems to be the same word as our German _gante_,
and the Scottish _gauntree_; i.e. a _tree_ which forms a stand for
barrels, hives, &c. In several parts of Germany, where the culture
of bees has, from distant periods, been carried on extensively,
the hives are transported from one place to another according to
the seasons: now in the forests, when the pine-trees are in
flower; now in the fields, when the rape blossoms; then again in
the woods, when the heather blossoms; and at last, when winter
approaches, in the barn. A tree forms the stand for the bee-hive,
and thatch protects it from the rain. Such a tree seems to be the
_beócera-gent_.
"In an old Glossary, the old high-German word, _gantmari_, is
interpreted as _tignarius_ (i.e. _faber tignarius_, a carpenter).
This word presupposes another word _gant_, a beam or a rafter,
probably equivalent to your Ang.-Sax. _gent_; and thus
_beócera-gent_ would be a beam upon which to stand bee-hives."
The question still remains, Why was the islet in question called Parva
Hibernia?