_News_ (Vol. ii., p. 81.).--Much wit and ingenuity have been wasted on this
word. It seems {398} clear, however, that its origin is Dutch or German,
and probably Flemish, like the "NEW'S BOOK," so frequently occurring in the
correspondence of the seventeenth century.
Look into that valuable German, French, and Latin dictionary of the
Elzeviers, Amst. 1664, where you will find "NEWE, _F._ une novelle; _Lat._
nova, novorum." Then follow "Etwas newes, quelque chose de nouveau; Aliquid
novi;" and "Was newes, quelles nouvelles;" or, more accurately, "Quid novi;
quoi de nouveau?" The inference is forced upon us that, during the Flemish
wars, in which the Sidneys and a long catalogue of noble English volunteers
distinguished themselves, the thing and the term were imported hither.
Agreeably to so natural a presumption, the Hollandish "Nieuws" occurs, as a
neuter substantive, in the sense of "niewe tijding," or "nouvelles," and,
of course, the English "news," as perfect as can be wished. It is true that
the "Nieuws-Boek" now circulates under the modest name of
"Nieuws-Papieren," or of "Nieuws-Verteller:" but, to convince readers wise
enough not to expect in such matters as these a geometrical demonstration,
what is here humbly stated might suffice.