1. _Gnatch._--"The covetous man dares not gnatch" (Hammond's
_Catechism_). From this, and the examples in Halliwell's _Dictionary_,
the sense seems to be "to move." Is it related to "gnake?"
2. _Pert._--I lately met with an instance of the use of this word in the
etymological sense _peritus_: "I beant peart at making button-holes,"
said a needlewoman.
3. _Rococo._--A far-fetched etymology suggests itself. A wealthy noble
from the north might express his admiration for the luxuries of Paris by
the Russian word [Cyrillic: roskosha], or Polish _roskosz_. A Frenchman,
catching the sound, might apply it to anything extravagant enough to
astonish a barbarian.
4. _Cad._--The letters from Scotland ascribed to a Captain Burtt,
employed in surveying the forfeited estates, give an account of the
"cawdies," or errand boys, of Edinburgh.
5. _Fun_, perhaps Irish, _fonamhad_, jeering, mockery (Lhuyd,
_Archæologia Britannica_).
6. _Bumbailiff._--The French have _pousse-cul_, for the follower or
assistant to the sergeant.
7. Epergne, perhaps _épargne_, a save-all or hold-all. Here seems no
more difficulty in the transfer of the name than in that of chiffonier,
from a rag-basket to a piece of ornamental furniture.