for John. Dr. Kennedy, in his recent interesting
disquisition on pet-names (No. 16. p. 242.), supposes that Jaques was
(by confusion) transmuted into "Jack;" a "metamorphosis," almost as
violent as the celebrated one effected, some two centuries ago, by Sir
John Harrington. "Poor John," from being so long "Jack among his
familiars," has been most scurvily treated, being employed to form
sundry very derogatory compounds, such as, Jackass, Jackpudding,
Jack-a-dandy, Jackanapes, Jack-a-lent, Jack o' oaks (knave of clubs),
Jack-o' th' Lantern, &c. &c. Might not "Jack" have been derived from
John, somewhat after the following fashion:--Johan--Joan--Jan--Janchen
or Jankin.

"Ho! jolly Jenkin,
I spy a knave in drinkin."

Jankin = little John. Jank--Jak. This etymology has, I confess, a very
great resemblance to the Millerian mode of educing Cucumber from
Jeremiah King; but it is the most plausible which occurs at present to

L. Kennaquhair.

_John--Pisan._--I will thank you to inform your correspondent "C." (No.
15 p. 234.), that we must look to the East for the "original word" of
John. In the Waldensian MSS. of the Gospels of the 12th Century, we find
Ioanes, showing its derivation from the Greek _Iohannaes_. The word
Pisan occurs in the 33rd vol. of the _Archaeologia_, p. 131.

I have considered it was a contraction for _pavoisine_, a small shield;
and I believe this was the late Dr. Meyrick's opinion.

B.W.
Feb. 25.

Sir,--If the signature to the article in No. 16., "on Pet Names," had
not been Scottish, I should have been less surprised at the author's
passing over the name of _Jock_, universally used in Scotland for
_John_. The termination _ick_ or _ck_ is often employed, as marking a
diminutive object, or object of endearment. May not the English term
_Jack_, if not directly borrowed from the Scottish _Jock_, have been
formed _through_ the primary _Jock_--John--Jock--Jack?

EMDEE.

_Origin of the Change of "Mary" into "Polly"_ (No. 14. p. 215.).--This
change, like many others in diminutives, is progressive. By a natural
affinity between the liquids _r_ and _l_, _Mary_ becomes _Molly_, as
_Sarah_, _Sally_, _Dorothea_, _Dora_, _Dolly_, &c. It is not so easy to
trace the affinity between the _initials_ M. and P., though the case is
not singular; thus, _Margaret_, Madge, Meggy, Meg, _Peggy_,
_Peg_--_Martha_, Matty, _Patty_--and _Mary_, Molly, _Polly_ and _Poll_;
in which last abbreviation not one sing