THE WORD "RAID."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Si.,—The word " raid " is used not only in Italy but also in France, Germany, and Spain, and first became common after the Jameson Raid. Originally it was applied to military long-distance rides, foreigners believing that the word " raid " referred to the equestrian performance of Jameson's men. Apparently its scope has since been enlarged. I do not believe that, as used abroad, it is an attempt to write the word "ride" as a foreigner would write it if he knew what the correct pronunciation were, but rather that the written word " raid " has been transplanted to the Continent and is pronounced in what appears to a foreigner the obvious way. It is more usual, in modern times at any rate, for a word to change its pronunciation than its spelling when transferred from one tongue to another. We all know how "high life" is
pronounced in French.—I am, Sir, &c., T. S. H. W.
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