I quote on the authority of Facciolati, who adds that others derive the word from the letters A.ER.A., "annus erat Augusti." These are not at all satisfactory; and I shall be glad if you will allow me to throw in my derivation as "being worth what it will fetch."
THEOPHYLACT.
Koch says, in note 5 to the Introduction of his Revolution of Europe, that "æra" is derived from the initials of the phrase "Anno erat regnante Augusto;" and was first used among the Spaniards, who dated from the renewal of the second triumvirate even down to the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries.
HD.
Scent of the Blood-hound (Vol. iv., p. 368.).
—C. H. asks whether it be true that hound loses his scent—
"If he fele swetness of þe flouris."
A few years ago a master of fox-hounds in the New Forest excused some bad sport in March thus "The hounds can't hunt for those d—d stinking violets!" rather to the amusement of some of his field.
G. N.