Notes & Queries Archive
REPLY1850

Haviour, Haver, Hyfr

By G. W.

(No. 15. p. 230, and No. 17. p. 269.).—If I may throw out a question where I cannot give an explanation, I would ask, are we not approaching very near to the word "heifer" (from the Saxon) in these, but especially in the last of the above terms? They seem to me to be identical. The introduction of the sound of *y* between the sounds of *v* and *ur*, is not uncommon in the vernacular or corrupted pronunciation of many words; nay, it is sanctioned by general usage, in "behaviour" from "behave," "Saviour" from "save," &c. If the words are identical, still the history of the appropriation of the o…

Topics: Linguistics, Etymology, Historical Language Usage