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A Few years ago, I delivered a lecture entitled "Fossilised Words," which was well received by the audience. It was printed in the newspapers at the time, without any alteration in the form in which it was delivered. I have now, without materially altering the structure, made a few changes appropriate to matter addressed to readers instead of hearers. I have also made a few corrections where I thought I could render the subject clearer; and in the case of "Lichfield," I have departed from the etymology given by the author then and now quoted. But the great difference between this publication and the original lecture is, that I have more than doubled the number of examples.

I am inclined to hope that, trifling as this short publication is, it will serve to stimulate students of their own language to push their enquiries, a little further back than usual, into the sources of their own everyday speech.