Note 97 — PART III. THE BATTURE AT NEW-ORLEANS. (continued 2)

Etymologies often help us to the true meaning of words; and where they agree in several languages, they shew the common sense of mankind as to the meaning of the word. In French Batture is derived from Battre, to beat, being the margin on which the surges beat. In English Beach, is from the Anglo-Saxon verb Beocian, Beacian, beatian, to beat: pronounced beachian, as christian, fustian, question, are pronounced chrischian, fuschian, queschion, &c.

In Spanish Playa, are from πλαγὰ, πληγεὶς.

Italian Piaggia,

French Plage,

Platin from πλήττειν, percuture. Perhaps from Plat, F. flat.

Greek, αἰγειαλὸς, ἀκτὴ, from ἄγειν, agere. θὶν, θινὸς, à θείνω, ferio, quia littus fluctibus feritur. Clav. Homer. A. 34. Ῥηγμὶν, à ῥήσσω, frango, quia in litore fluctus frangitur. Ib. v. 437.