WRONG ASSOCIATION
We have seen how, in the case of some homonyms, confusion arises, and a popular connection is established, between words which are quite unrelated. The same sort of association often springs up between words which, without being homonyms, have some accidental resemblance in form or meaning, or in both. Such association may bring about curious changes in sound and sense. Touchy, which now conveys the idea of sensitiveness to touch, is corrupted from tetchy—
"Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy."
(Richard III., iv. 4.)
The original meaning was something like "infected, tainted," from Old Fr. teche (tache), a spot. The word surround has completely changed its meaning through association with round. It comes from Old Fr. suronder, to overflow, Lat. super-undare, and its meaning and origin were quite clear to the 16th-century lexicographers. Thus Cooper has inundo, "to overflowe, to surround." A French bishop carries a crosse, and an archbishop a croix. These words are of separate origin. From crosse, which does not mean "cross," comes our derivative crosier, carried by both bishops and archbishops. It is etymologically identical, as its shape suggests, with the shepherd's crook, and the bat used in playing lacrosse.
The prophecy of the pessimistic ostler that, owing to motor-cars—
"'Osses soon will all be in the circusses,
And if you want an ostler, try the work'uses."
(E. V. Lucas.)
shows by what association the meaning of ostler, Old Fr. hostelier (hôtelier), has changed. A belfry has nothing to do with bells. Old Fr. berfroi (beffroi) was a tower used in warfare. It comes from two German words represented by modern bergen, to hide, guard, and Friede, peace, so that it means "guard-peace." The triumph of the form belfry is due to association with bell, but the l is originally due to dissimilation, since we find belfroi also in Old French. The same dissimilation is seen in Fr. auberge, inn, Prov. alberga, which comes from Old High Ger. hari, an army, and bergen; cf. our harbour (p. [2]) and harbinger (p. [90]). Scabbard is from Old Fr. escauberc, earlier escalberc, by dissimilation for escarberc, from Old High Ger. scār, a blade (cf. ploughshare), and bergen. Cf. hauberk, guard-neck, from Ger. Hals,[118] neck.