Ahoy mates (new rule:  you can use "Ahoy" if followed by "mates").  My first post about the actual book - if you can call "Etymology" part of the book (and I know you do).  It has its moments though.  Here's one:
“The sovereignest thing on earth is parmacetti for an inward bruise”
Shakespeare, of course (take that, Eli) - not that I knew that, but it's attributed to King Henry, and is in fact the IV, Part I.  So it's been a while, and I had to look up "parmacetti".  I tried my pasta dictionary first, but it wasn't there.  It turns out to be " the pearly white, waxy, translucent solid, obtained from the oil in the head of the sperm whale" (http://pitt-crit-reading.blogspot.ch/2012/02/ahab-and-insane.html) .  So "parmacetti for an inward bruise" is using it (probably in cosmetic form) to sooth a bruise - this one I guess is inside, so really a bruised soul.  But what means "sovereignest" in this context?  Said by King Henry it seems to refer to his rank, but in context appears to just mean "best". 

Quite a gutsy opening for 1851, I must say.  Probably before the invention of editors.  I know you will all come down on me about how important this section is and how it foreshadows the story.  I'm sure that's true, but still, Call me Ishmael already.

But gulp down your tears and hie aloft to the royal-mast with your hearts!

-T/D

P.S.  LOVE that he quotes Darwin in 1851, 8 years before the publication of Origin!