"Parvis, s. m.—Place publique qui est ordinairement devant la principale face des grandes Eglises. Le parvis de Nôtre Dame, de Saint Généviève. On le disoit autrefois de toutes les places qui étoient devant les palais, et grandes maisons. Les auteurs Chrétiens appellent le Parvis des Gentiles, ce que les Juifs appelloient le premier Temple. Il y avoit deux Parvis dans le Temple de Jérusalem; l'un intérieur, qui étoit celui des Prêtres; et l'autre extérieur, qu'on appelloit aussi le Parvis d'Israël, ou le Grand Parvis.—Le Cl.
"Quelques-uns disent que ce mot vient de Paradisus; d'autres de parvisium, qui est un lieu au bas de la nef où l'on tenoit autrefois les petites Ecoles, à docendo parvis pueris. Voyez Menage, qui rapporte plusieurs titres curieux en faveur de l'une et de l'autre opinion. D'autres le dérivent de pervius, disant qu'on appelloit autrefois pervis, une place publique devant un batiment."
T. H. de H.
Humbug (Vol. vii., p. 631.).—Allow me to add the following to the list of explanations as to the origin of this word. There appeared in the Berwick Advertiser the following origin of the word humbug, and it assuredly is a very feasible one. It may be proper to premise, that the name of bogue is commonly pronounced bug in that district of Scotland formerly called the "Mearns."
"It is not generally known that this word, presently so much in vogue, is of Scottish origin. There was in olden time a race called Bogue, or Boag of that ilk, in Berwickshire. A daughter of the family married a son of Hume of Hume. In process of time, by default of male issue, the Bogue estate devolved on one Geordie Hume, who was called popularly 'Hume o' the Bogue,' or rather 'Aum o' the Bug.' This worthy was inclined to the marvellous, and had a vast inclination to exalt himself, his wife, family, brother, and all his ancestors on both sides. His tales however did not pass current; and at last, when any one made an extraordinary statement in the Mearns, the hearer would shrug up his shoulders, and style it just 'a hum o' the bug.' This was shortened into hum-bug, and the word soon spread like wildfire over the whole kingdom."
How far this is, or is not true, cannot be known; but it is certain that the Lands of Bogue, commonly called by country folk "Bug," passed by marriage into the Hume family; and that the male representatives of this ancient family are still in existence. This much may be fairly asserted, that the Berwickshire legend has more apparent probability about it than any of the other ones.
J. Mt.
P. S.—"That ilk," in old Scotch, means "the same:" in other words, Hume of that ilk is just Hume of Hume; and Brodie of that ilk, Brodie of Brodie.
Table-moving (Vol. vii., p. 596.).—I imagine that the great object in table-moving is to produce the desired effect without pressure. During experiments I have often heard the would-be "table-movers" cry "Don't press: it must be done without any pressure."
J. A. T.
Scotch Newspapers (Vol. viii., p. 57.).—In Ruddiman's Life, by G. Chalmers (8vo. Lond. 1794), it is stated that Cromwell was the first who communicated the benefit of a newspaper to Scotland. In 1652, Christopher Higgins, a printer, whom Cromwell had conveyed with his army to Leith, reprinted there what had been already published at London, A Diurnal of some passages and affairs for the information of the English Soldiers. A newspaper of Scottish manufacture appeared at Edinburgh, the same authority relates, on the 31st of December, 1660, under the title of Mercurius Caledonius; comprising the affairs in agitation in Scotland, with a survey of foreign intelligence. It was published once a week, in a small 4to. form of eight pages. Chalmers adds, that—