Note 35 — Chapter I · OF THE ORIGIN AND NAME OF CARDS

"Cayer. A quire of written paper; a piece of a written book, divided into equal parts."—Cotgrave. The cayer appears to have been synonymous with the pecia of monkish writers. It may be observed that from chartar, a Persian word literally signifying 'four-strings,' the Rev. Stephen Weston has traced the descent of κιθαρα; cithara; chitarra; and guitar. To these derivates the old English gittern may be added."—Specimens of the Conformity of the European Languages, especially the English, with the Oriental languages, especially the Persian. By Stephen Weston, B. D. 12mo, 1802.