De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
remaine in this point, but that euery thing may bee sifted to the bare
bottome.
A Diall pertaining to the
_fifte Section_.
Dogges contained in this last Diall or Table are
{ The wapp or warner,
{ The Turnespet,
{ The dauncer,
called in Latine _Canes Rustici_
A Supplement or Addition, containing
a demonstration of Dogges
names how they had their
Originall.
The names contayned in the generall table, for so much as they signifie
nothing to you being a straunger, and ignoraunt of the Englishe tounge,
except they be interpreted: As we haue giuen a reason before of y^e
latine words so meane we to doe no lesse of the Englishe that euery
thing maye be manyfest vnto your vnderstanding. Wherein I intende to
obserue the same order which I haue followed before.
The names of such Dogges as be contained in the first section.
_Sagax_, in Englishe Hunde, is deriued of our English word (40) hunte.
One letter chaunged in another, namely, T, into D, as Hunt, Hunde, whom
(if you coniecture to be so named of your country worde _Hunde_ which
signifieth the generall name Dogge, because of the similitude and
likenesse of the wordes I will not stand in contradiction (friende
_Gesner_) for so much as we retaine among vs at this day many Dutche
wordes which the _Saxons_ left at such time as they occupyed this
country of Britane. Thus much also vnderstand, that as in your language
_Hunde_ is the common word, so in our naturall tounge dogge is the
vniuersall, but _Hunde_ is perticuler and a speciall, for it signifieth
such a dogge onely as serueth to hunt, and therfore it is called a
hunde.
Of the Gasehounde.
The Gasehounde called in latine _Agasæus_, hath his name of the
sharpenesse and stedfastnesse of his eyesight. By which vertue he
compasseth that which otherwise he cannot by smelling attaine. As we
haue made former relation, for to gase is earnestly to viewe and
beholde, from whence floweth the deriuation of this dogges name.
Of the Grehounde.
The Grehounde called _Leporarius_, hath his name of this word, Gre,
which word soundeth, _Gradus_ in latine, in Englishe degree. Because
among all dogges these are the most principall, occupying the chiefest
place, and being simply and absolutely the best of the gentle kinde of
houndes.
Of the Leuyner or the Lyemmer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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