Poison (Vol. v., p. 394.).
—Junius, Bailey, and Johnson seem all to agree that our word poison comes from the French poison. I am inclined to think, with the two first-mentioned lexicographers, that the etymon is πόσις, or potio. Junius adds, that "Ita Belgis venenum dicitur gift, donum;" and it is curious that in Icelandic eitr means both poison and gift. In the Antiquitates Celto-Scandicæ (p. 13.), I find the following expressions:—"Sva er sagt, at Froda væri gefinn banadryckr." "Mixta portioni veneno sublatum e vivis tradunt Frotonem." Should it not be potioni, inasmuch as "bana," in Icelandic, signifies to kill, if I do not err, and "dryckr" is drink? Certainly, in Anglo-Saxon, "bana" (whence our bane) and "drycian" have similar significations.
C. I. R.
Is there any possible doubt that poison is potion? Menage quotes Suetonius, that Caligula was potionatus by his wife. It is a French word undoubtedly.
C. B.
Vikingr Skotar (Vol. v., p. 394.).
—In the Antiquitates Celto-Scandicæ it is stated (p. 5.), that after the death of Guthormr, and subsequently to the departure of Harald (Harfagr) from the Hebrides, "Sidan settug i löndin vikingar margir Danir oc Nordmenn. Posthac sedes ibi occupant piratæ plurimi, Dani æqua ac Normanni." The word vikingar, the true Icelandic word for pirate, often occurs in the same saga, but not combined with skotar, though this latter term is repeated, signifying "the Scotch," and also in composition with konungr, &c.
Rhymes on Places (Vol. v., pp. 293. 374.).
—A complete collection of local rhymes would certainly be both curious and interesting. Those cited by Chambers in his amusing work are exclusively Scotch; for a collection relating to English towns, I would refer your Querist MR. FRASER to Grose's Provincial Glossary, where, interspersed among the "Local Proverbs," he will find an extensive gathering of characteristic rhymes. I conclude with appending a few not to be found in either of these works: