ei
e, German hexe, "witche," and hence the Nightmare (see p. [332]) which was ascribed to witches; we still say Hag-ridden. Calcar and Sporn (spurs?) may be the same, from the idea of riding: the French call the Nightmare, Cauchemare, from Caucher, calcare. Kit-wi-the-Canstick is Jack-with-the-Lanthorn. The Man in the Oak is probably Puck, "Turn your cloakes, quoth hee, for Pucke is busy in these oakes."—Iter Boreale. The Hell-wain is perhaps the Death-coach, connected with Northern and German superstitions, and the Fire-drake an Ignis Fatuus. Boneless may have been some impalpable spectre; the other terms seem to be mere appellations of Puck.
[335] Anat. of Mel. p. 47.
[336] Chap. xx. p. 134. Lond. 1604.
[337] This is, we apprehend, an egg at Easter or on Good Friday. Housle is the Anglo-Saxon hu
el; Goth. hunsl, sacrifice or offering, and thence the Eucharist.
[338] Terrors of the Night, 1594.