17 NOVEMBER 1917, Page 27

rro run Enrrox or THE " Sezervros.")

Sut,—It seems possible to account for the first part of this word, as the various shades of meaning are included in the sense of "coil "—twist, entangle, awry. "I got collied amen the mist" (Hogg). As to the second part. " westy " is a Midland Counties

(also Norfolk) word for "giddy," "confused." The full wor I varies much in the tnding (-wesson, -en, -west, -whit); so that the supposed connexion with the village of Cony Weston is probably ex post facto. The expression is widespread—Lanes. Cheshire, Staffs, Derby, Lincoln, Northampton, Warwick, Salop. Hereford, Herbs, Ireland. Yorks has " connywest "—bewildered. cunning, sly. It is of respectable age; Harrison's Description of England (1587) has—" The mandilion (' mantle ') scorns to Collie weston ward." Other compounds are " collyfogle "—to deceive, cheat, scheme; "eollyfox "—to idle about, humbug, quiz; nod "colfywobble "—uneven ; also, pain in the stomach, small minor