E. A. M.
Nick Nack (Vol. iii., p. 179.).
—A rude species of music very common amongst the boys in Sheffield, called by them nick-a-nacks. It is made by two pieces of bone, sometimes two pieces of wood, placed between the fingers, and beaten in time by a rapid motion of the hand and fingers. It is one of the periodical amusements of the boys going along the streets.
"And with his right drew forth a truncheon of a white ox rib, and two pieces of wood of a like form; one of black Eben, and the other of incarnation Brazile; and put them betwixt the fingers of that hand, in good symmetry. Then knocking them together, made such a noise, as the lepers of Britany use to do with their clappering clickets; yet better resounding, and far more harmonious."—Rabelais, book ii. c. 19.
H. J.
Meaning of Carfax (Vol. iii., p. 508.).
—E. J. S. says "Carfoix reminds me of Carfax in Oxford. Are the names akin to each other?" When at Oxford I used to hear that Carfax was properly Quarfax, a contraction for quatuor facies, four faces. The church, it will be remembered, looks one way to High Street, another to Queen Street, a third to the Cornmarket, and the fourth to St. Aldates's.
H. T. G.
Hand giving the Benediction (Vol. iii., p. 477.).
—Rabbi Bechai tells us of the solemn blessing in Numbers vi. 25, 26, 27., in which the name Jehovah is thrice repeated, that, when the high priest pronounced it on the people, "elevatione manuum sic digitos composuit ut TRIADA exprimerent."