18 JULY 1987, Page 26

Suffolk spade

Sir: Like Jeremy Lewis (Books, 6 June), I had also speculated on the origins of the Pattle surname. Since so many of that family served with distinction in India, the possibility of a Patel connection was intri- guing.

The most likely derivation, however, is more prosaic, coming from the Suffolk word for a long-handled spade. In an interesting process of linguistic re-cycling James Pattle's surname passed back into the language, to mean the last brandy before retiring to bed. Given the hard- drinking times in which he lived, this was clearly some achievement!

J. J. Macnamara

14 Jedburgh Street, London SW11