_Shrew_.--Is _shrew_, as applied to the shrew-mouse, and as applied to
a scolding woman, the same word? If so, what is its derivation?
The following derivations of the word are cited by Mr. Bell. _Saxon_,
"Schreadan," to cut; "Schrif," to censure; "Scheorfian," to bite;
"Schyrvan," to beguile. _German_, "Schreiven," to clamour; none of
which, it is obvious, come very near to "Schreava," the undoubted
Saxon origin of the word shrew.
Now it was a custom amongst our forefathers to endeavour to provide
a remedy against the baneful influence of the shrew-mouse by plugging
the wretched animal alive in a hole made in the body of an ash tree,
any branch of which was thenceforth held to be possessed of a power to
cure the disease caused by the mouse. It thereupon occurred to me that
just as _brock_, a still existing name for the badger, is clearly from
the Saxon _broc_, persecution, in allusion to the custom of baiting
the animal; so _schreava_ might be from _schræf_, a hollow, in
allusion to the hole in the ash tree; and on that supposition I
considered "shrew," as applied to a woman, to be a different word,
perhaps from the German _schreyen_, to clamour. I have, however, found
mentioned in Bailey's Dictionary a Teutonic word, which may reconcile
both senses of "shrew,"--I mean _beschreyen_, to bewitch. I shall
be obliged to any of your subscribers who will enlighten me upon the
subject.