Littré

It was said of the French savant, Littré, that he was a saint who did not believe in God.

Littré gave them the finishing stroke by declaring that there never had been, and never could be positive orthography.

Littré derives chervis from the Spanish chirivia, but the latter is more likely derived from the French.

Littré says that it seems to have been introduced late into the language, and that he does not know its origin.

But as he was then a détenu at Clairvaux, Bastide and Littré filled the editorial chair during the interregnum.