Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

2971 Pages·2003·4.86 MB·English

Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
E. COBHAM BREWER FROM THE NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION OF 1894
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Table of Contents
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.........................................................................................................................1
E. COBHAM BREWER FROM THE NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION OF 1894..........................1
A...............................................................................................................................................................1
B...........................................................................................................................................................182
C...........................................................................................................................................................447
D...........................................................................................................................................................741
E...........................................................................................................................................................916
F.........................................................................................................................................................1002
G.........................................................................................................................................................1140
H.........................................................................................................................................................1301
I..........................................................................................................................................................1470
J..........................................................................................................................................................1528
K.........................................................................................................................................................1587
L.........................................................................................................................................................1641
M........................................................................................................................................................1786
N.........................................................................................................................................................1973
O.........................................................................................................................................................2043
P.........................................................................................................................................................2094
Q.........................................................................................................................................................2293
R.........................................................................................................................................................2314
S.........................................................................................................................................................2436
T.........................................................................................................................................................2697
U.........................................................................................................................................................2824
V.........................................................................................................................................................2842
W........................................................................................................................................................2871
X.........................................................................................................................................................2951
Y.........................................................................................................................................................2952
Z.........................................................................................................................................................2962
i
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
E. COBHAM BREWER FROM THE NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION OF 1894
This page copyright © 2003 Blackmask Online.
http://www.blackmask.com
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z
A
A
This letter is modified from the Hebrew (aleph = an ox), which was meant to indicate the outline of an ox's
head.
A
among the Egyptians is denoted by the hieroglyphic which represents the ibis. Among the Greeks it was the
symbol of a bad augury in the sacrifices.
A
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 1
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
in logic is the symbol of a universal affirmative. A asserts, E denies. Thus, syllogisms in bArbArA contain
three universal affirmative propositions.
A1
means first—rate — the very best. In Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, the character of the
ship's hull is designated by letters, and that of the anchors, cables, and stores by figures. A1 means hull
first—rate, and also anchors, cables, and stores; A2, hull first—rate, but furniture second—rate. Vessels of an
inferior character are classified under the letters Æ, E, and I.
“She is a prime girl, she is; she is A1.”— Sam Slick.
A.B
(See Able.)
A.B.C
= Aerated Bread Company.
A B C Book
A primer, a book in which articles are set in alphabetical order, as the A B C Railway Guide. The old Primers
contained the Catechism, as is evident from the lines: —
“That is question now;
And then comes answer like an Absey book.” Shakespeare: King John, i, 1.
A.B.C. Process
(The) of making artificial manure. An acrostic of Alum, Blood, Clay, the three chief ingredients.
A.E.I.O.U
The device adopted by Frederick V, Archduke of Austria (the Emperor Frederick III. — 1440——1493).
Austria Est Imperare Orbi Universo.
Alles Erdreich Ist Oesterreich Unterthan.
Austria's Empire Is Overall Universal.
To which wags added after the war of 1866,
Austria's Emperor Is Ousted Utterly.
Frederick II of Prussia is said to have translated the motto thus: —
“Austria Erit In Orbe Ultima” (Austria will one day be lowest in the world).
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
A.U.C
Anno urbis conditæ (Latin), “from the foundation of the city" — i.e., Rome.
Aaron
An Aaron's serpent. Something so powerful as to swallow up minor powers. — Exodus vii. 10——12.
Ab
Ab ovo. From the very beginning. Stasinos, in the epic poem called the Little Iliad, does not rush in medias
res, but begins with the eggs of Leda, from one of which Helen was born. If Leda had not laid this egg, Helen
would never have been born. If Helen had not been born, Paris could not have eloped with her. If Paris had
not eloped with Helen, there would have been no Trojan War, etc.
Ab ovo usque ad mala.
From the first dish to the last. A Roman coena (dinner) consisted of three parts. The first course was the
appetiser, and consisted chiefly of eggs, with stimulants; the second was the “dinner proper;” and the third the
dessert, at which mala (i.e., all sorts of apples, pears, quinces, pomegranates, and so on) formed the most
conspicuous part. — Hor. Sat. I. iii. 5.
Aback
I was taken aback — I was greatly astonished — taken by surprise — startled. It is a sea term. A ship is
“taken aback” when the sails are suddenly carried by the wind back against the mast, instantly staying the
ship's progress — very dangerous in a strong gale.
Abacus
A small frame with wires stretched across it. Each wire contains ten movable balls, which can be shifted
backwards or forwards, so as to vary ad libitum the number in two or more blocks. It is used to teach children
addition and subtraction. The ancient Greeks and Romans employed it for calculations, and so do the Chinese.
The word is derived from the Phoen. abak (dust); the Orientals used tables covered with dust for ciphering
and diagrams. In Turkish schools this method is still used for teaching writing. The multiplication table
invented by Pythagoras is called Abacus Pythagoricus. (Latin, abacus)
Abaddon
The angel of the bottomless pit (Rev. ix. 11). The Hebrew abad means “he perished.”
“The angell of the bottomlesse pytt, whose name in the hebrew tonge is Abadon.” — Tindale.
Abambou
The evil spirit of the Camma tribes in Africa. A fire is kept always burning in his house. He is supposed to
have the power of causing sickness and death.
Abandon
means put at anyone's orders; hence, to give up. (Latin, ad, to; bann—um, late Latin for “a decree.”)
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 3
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Abandon fait larron
As opportunity makes the thief, the person who neglects to take proper care of his goods, leads into
temptation, hence the proverb, “Neglect leads to theft.”
Abaris
The dart of Abaris. Abaris, the Scythian, was a priest of Apollo; and the god gave him a golden arrow on
which to ride through the air. This dart rendered him invisible; it also cured diseases, and gave oracles. Abaris
gave it to Pythagoras.
“The dart of Abaris carried the philosopher wheresoever he desired it.” — Willmott.
Abate
(2 syl.) means properly to knock down. (French, abattre, whence a battue, i.e., wholesale destruction of game;
O.E. a beátan.)
Abate,
in horsemanship, is to perform well the downward motion. A horse is said to abate when, working upon
curvets, he puts or beats down both his hind legs to the ground at once, and keeps exact time.
Abatement in heraldry, is a mark of dishonour annexed to coat armour, whereby the honour of it is abated.
Abaton
As inacessible as Abaton. Artemisia, to commemorate her conquest of Rhodes, erected two statues in the
island, one representing herself, and the other emblematical of Rhodes. When the Rhodians recovered their
liberty they looked upon this monument as a kind of palladium, and to prevent its destruction surrounded it
with a fortified enclosure which they called Abaton, or the inaccessible place. (Lucan speaks of an island
difficult of access in the fens of Memphis, called Abaton.)
Abbassides
(3 syl.). A dynasty of caliphs who reigned from 750——1258. The name is derived from Abbas, uncle of
Mahomet. The most celebrated of them was Haroun—al—Raschid (born 765, reigned 786——808).
Abbey Laird
(An). An insolvent debtor sheltered by the precincts of Holyrood Abbey.
“As diligence cannot be proceeded with on Sunday, the Abbey Lairds (as they were jocularly called) were
enabled to come forth on that day to mingle in our society.” — R. Chambers.
Abbey—lubber
(An). An idle, well—fed dependent or loafer.
“It came into a common proverbe to call him an Abbay—lubber, that was idle, wel fed, a long, lewd, lither
loiterer, that might worke and would not.” — The Burnynge of Paules Church, 1563.
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 4
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
It is used also of religions in contempt; see Dryden's Spanish Friar.
Abbot of Misrule
or Lord of Misrule. A person who used to superintend the Christmas diversions. In France the “Abbot of
Misrule” was called L'abbé de Liesse (jollity). In Scotland the master of revels was called the “Master of
Unreason.”
Abbotsford
A name given by Sir Walter Scott to Clarty Hole, on the south bank of the Tweed, after it became his
residence. Sir Walter devised the name from a fancy he loved to indulge in, that the abbots of Melrose Abbey,
in ancient times, passed over the fords of the Tweed.
abd
in Arabic = slave or servant, as Abd—Allah (servant of God ), Abd—el—Kader (servant of the Mighty One),
Abdul—Latif ( servant of the Gracious One), etc.
Abdael
(2 syl.). George Monk, third Duke of Albemarle.
“Brave Abdael o'r the prophets' school was placed;
Abdael, with all his father's virtues graced ...;
Without one Hebrew's blood, restored the crown.” Dryden and Tait: Absalom and Achitopel, Part ii.
Tate's blunder for Abdiel (q.v.).
Abdallah
the father of Mahomet, was so beautiful, that when he married Amina, 200 virgins broke their hearts from
disappointed love. — Washington Irving: Life of Mahomet.
Abdallah
Brother and predecessor of Giaffir, pacha of Abydos. He was murdered by Giaffir (2 syl.). — Byron: Bride of
Abydos.
Abdals
Persian fanatics, who think it a merit to kill anyone of a different religion; and if slain in the attempt, are
accounted martyrs.
Abdera
A maritime town of Thrace, said in fable to have been founded by Abdera, sister of Diomede. It was so
overrun with rats that it was abandoned, and the Abderitans migrated to Macedonia.
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 5
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Abderitan
A native of Abdera, a maritime city of Thrace. The Abderitans were proverbial for stupidity, hence the phrase,
“You have no more mind than an Abderite.” Yet the city gave birth to some of the wisest men of Greece: as
Democritos (the laughing philosopher), Protagoras (the great sophist), Anaxarchos (the philosopher and friend
of Alexander), Hecatæos (the historian), etc.
Abderitan Laughter
Scoffing laughter, incessant laughter. So called from Abdera, the birthplace of Democritos, the laughing
philosopher.
Abderite
(3 syl.) A scoffer, so called from Democritos.
Abderus
One of Herakles's friends, devoured by the horses of Diomede. Diomede gave him his horses to hold, and they
devoured him.
Abdiel
The faithful seraph who withstood Satan when he urged the angels to revolt. (See Paradise Lost, Bk.
v., lines 896, etc.)
“[He] adheres, with the faith of Abdiel, to the ancient form of adoration.” — Sir W. Scott.
Abecedarian One who teaches or is learning his A B C.
Abecedarian hymns.
Hymns which began with the letter A, and each verse or clause following took up the letters of the alphabet in
regular succession. ( See Acrostic.)
Abel and Cain
The Mahometan tradition of the death of Abel is this: Cain was born with a twin sister who was named
Aclima, and Abel with a twin sister named Jumella. Adam wished Cain to marry Abel's twin sister, and Abel
to marry Cain's. Cain would not consent to this arrangement, and Adam proposed to refer the question to God
by means of a sacrifice. God rejected Cain's sacrifice to signify his disapproval of his marriage with Aclima,
his twin sister, and Cain slew his brother in a fit of jealousy.
Abel Keene
A village schoolmaster, afterwards a merchant's clerk. He was led astray, lost his place, and hanged himself.
— Crabbe: Borough, Letter xxi.
Abelites
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 6
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
(3 syl.) Abelians, or Abelonians. A Christian sect of the fourth century, chiefly found in Hippo (N. Africa).
They married, but lived in continence, as they affirm Abel did. The sect was maintained by adopting the
children of others. No children of Abel being mentioned in Scripture, the Abelites assume that he had none.
Abessa
The impersonation of Abbeys and Convents, represented by Spenser as a damsel. When Una asked if she had
seen the Red Cross Knight, Abessa, frightened at the lion, ran to the cottage of blind Superstition, and shut the
door. Una arrived, and the lion burst the door open. The meaning is, that at the Reformation, when Truth
came, the abbeys and convents got alarmed, and would not let Truth enter, but England (the lion) broke down
the door. — Faërie Queen, i. 3.
Abesta
A book said to have been written by Abraham as a commentary on the Zend and the Pazend. It is furthermore
said that Abraham read these three books in the midst of the furnace into which he was cast by Nimrod. —
Persian Mythology.
Abeyance
really means something gaped after (French, bayer, to gape). The allusion is to men standing with their
mouths open, in expectation of some sight about to appear.
Abhigit
The propitiatory sacrifice made by an Indian rajah who has slain a priest without premeditation.
Abhor
(Latin, ab, away from, and horreo, to shrink; originally, to shudder have the hair on end). To abhor is to have
a natural antipathy, and to show it by shuddering with disgust.
Abiala
Wife of Makambi; African deities. She holds a pistol in her hand, and is greatly feared. Her aid is implored in
sickness.
Abida
A god of the Kalmucks, who receives the souls of the dead at the moment of decease, and gives them
permission to enter a new body, either human or not, and have another spell of life on earth. If the spirit is
spotless it may, if it likes, rise and live in the air.
Abidharma
The book of metaphysics in the Tripitaka (q.v.).
Abigail
A lady's maid, or ladymaid. Abigail, wife of Nabal, who introduced herself to David and afterwards married
him, is a well—known Scripture heroine (l Sam. xxv 3). Abigail was a popular middle class Christian name in
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 7
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
the seventeenth century. Beaumont and Fletcher, in The Scornful Lady, call the “waiting gentlewoman"
Abigail, a name employed by Swift, Fielding, and others, in their novels. Probably “Abigail Hill” the original
name of Mrs. Masham, waiting—woman to Queen Anne, popularised the name.
Abimelech is no proper name, but a regal title of the Philistines, meaning Father—King.
Able
An able seaman is a skilled seaman. Such a man is termed an A.B. (Able—Bodied); unskilled seamen are
called “boys” without regard to age.
Able—bodied Seaman
A sailor of the first class. A crew is divided into three classes: (1) able seamen, or skilled sailors, termed A.B.;
(2) ordinary seamen; and (3) boys, which include green—hands, or inexperienced men, without regard to age
or size.
Aboard
He fell aboard of me — met me; abused me. A ship is said to fall aboard another when, being in motion it
runs against the other.
To go aboard
is to embark, to go on the board or deck.
Aboard main tack
is to draw one of the lower corners of the main—sail down to the chess—tree. Figuratively, it means “to keep
to the point.”
Abolla
An ancient military garment worn by the Greeks and Romans, opposed to the toga or robe of peace. The
abolla being worn by the lower orders, was affected by philosophers in the vanity of humility.
Abominate
(abominor, I pray that the omen may be averted; used on mentioning anything unlucky). As
ill—omened things are disliked, so, by a simple figure of speech, what we dislike we consider ill—omened.
Abomination of Desolation
(The). The Roman standard is so called (Matt. xxiv. 15). As it was set up in the holy temple, it was an
abomination; and, as it brought destruction, it was the “abomination of desolation.”
Abon Hassan
A rich merchant, transferred during sleep to the bed and palace of the Caliph
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 8