Онлайн кітапты тегін оқу  Phrases and Names Their Origins and Meanings

автор Trench H. Johnson

Transcriber’s Note:

Footnotes have been collected at the end of each chapter, and are linked for ease of reference.

Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation.

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PHRASES AND NAMES
THEIR ORIGINS AND
MEANINGS

PHRASES AND NAMES

THEIR ORIGINS AND

MEANINGS

BY

TRENCH H. JOHNSON

“How did such and such a country, city, town, street, river, natural curiosity, or world-renowned edifice obtain its name? Whence arose a particular sobriquet, nickname, byword, epithet, or slang term? What was the origin of the thousand-and-one phrases and expressions engrafted upon our vocabulary which would appear to have no meaning whatever? These things are worthy of investigation.”

PHILADELPHIA

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

LONDON

T. WERNER LAURIE

PREFACE

Few words are necessary to introduce this work to the reader. It partakes of the nature of an encyclopædia, with the saving clause that the information it sets forth is confined to a plain statement of facts. Verbal embellishments have been studiously avoided. Those who seek for additional intelligence may easily obtain it from ordinarily available sources. To account for the origin of popular phrases and names has been the author’s sole design. To the best of his knowledge, no other work of the kind exists. From the stores of his own knowledge, acquired through many years of omnivorous reading, patient inquiry, and investigation, he has been enabled to bring together an Olla podrida which should go far towards supplying a want.

The origin of place-names is interesting in that it opens up the history of peoples and the civilising influences, if so one might term it, of conquest. London street-names, in particular, convey in one word to a person of antiquarian tastes as much meaning as “a volume of forgotten lore.” As to phrases and expressions, the author has made a special study of the subject. A great many Americanisms have been included, but as the number is daily increasing it would require a monthly publication of such home-made phrases to keep fully abreast with the times. That nothing should be wanting in the way of exhaustiveness, it has been thought advisable to incorporate in the text a number of slang terms and expressions which daily assail one’s ears. To the author the compilation of this volume has been a pleasant recreation in the intervals of more exacting literary labours. If it be found to contain a plethora of good things, the reader will, of course, take them out in small doses.

T. H. J.

London, 1906.

Phrases and Names

A

A1. An expression meaning “first-rate.” Derived from Lloyd’s “Registry of Shipping,” in which letters denote the quality of a ship’s hull, and figures that of its equipment. A vessel registered A1 is of the first class in all respects.

Abbey Laird. An insolvent debtor who in former times sought the sanctuary of the precincts of Holyrood Abbey against arrest.

Abbey Road. From the ancient abbey of the Holy Virgins of St John the Baptist in St John’s Wood.

Abbotsford. The name given by Sir Walter Scott to his residence on the banks of the Tweed, from the poetical assumption that the abbots of Melrose must have forded the stream hereabouts in olden times.

A.B.C. Girls. Waitresses at the depots of the Aerated Bread Company Limited.

Aberdeen. From the Celtic aber, estuary, confluence; the town at the mouth of the Dee.

Abernethy Biscuits. From the name of the baker who introduced them. Their connection with Dr Abernethy was repudiated by the great physician himself.

Aberystwith. The town at the mouth of the Ystwith.

Abigail. The generic name for a waiting-maid, in allusion to the handmaid who introduced herself to David (1 Sam. xxv. 23). Its popularity during the second half of the seventeenth century may be accounted for by the fact that the maiden name of Mrs Masham, the waiting-woman of Queen Anne, was Abigail Hill.

Abingdon. A corruption of Abbendon, the town of abbeys, being a place famed for religious houses far back in Anglo-Saxon days.

Abingdon Street. From the ancient town residence of the Earls of Abingdon.

Abney Park. From Abney House, now a Conservative Club, the residence of Sir Thomas Abney, Lord Mayor of London. Dr Isaac Watts passed away at Abney House in 1748.

Abode of Love. See “Agapemonites.”

Abolitionists. The party sworn to the total and immediate abolition of slavery in the United States.

Above Board. Open, not playing an underhanded game. The owners of the gaming-tables on a race-course unsuspectedly regulated the issue of the spinning hand on the board by means of a treadle.

Abraham Newlands. Bank of England notes, so called from the signature they bore early in the last century.

Absinthe. From the Greek apsnithion, wormwood.

Absquatulate. A Far-West Americanism. A squatter who suddenly left his claim was said to have absquatulated.

Abyssinia. The country of the Abassins, or “mixed races.”

Academy. From the garden of Academus, where Plato taught his disciples; called on this account the Academics, or Academic School of Philosophy.

According to Cocker. Strictly correct. After Edward Cocker of Paul’s Chain, who published a most popular arithmetic.

According to Gunter. An expression much used in America for anything done properly and systematically. The allusion is to Edmund Gunter, the celebrated mathematician, who invented a chain and scale for measuring.

Achilles Tendon. The tendon reaching from the calf of the leg to the heel. See “Heel of Achilles.”

Acknowledge the Corn. An Americanism of extremely popular application. Its origin is thus given by The Pittsburg Commercial Advertiser: “Some years ago a raw customer from the upper country determined to try his fortune at New Orleans. Accordingly he provided himself with two flat boats--one laden with corn and the other with potatoes--and down the river he went. The night after his arrival he went up town to a gambling-house. Of course, he commenced betting, and, his luck proving unfortunate, he lost. When his money was gone he bet his ‘truck’; and the corn and potatoes followed the money. At last, when evidently cleaned out, he returned to his boats at the wharf, where the evidences of a new misfortune presented themselves. Through some accident or other the flat boat containing the corn was sunk, and a total loss. Consoling himself as well as he could he went to sleep, dreaming of gamblers, potatoes, and corn. It was scarcely sunrise, however, when he was disturbed by the ‘child of chance,’ who had arrived to take possession of the two boats as his winnings. Slowly awakening from his sleep, our hero, rubbing his eyes and looking the man in the face, replied: ‘Stranger, I acknowledge the corn--take ’em; but the potatoes you can’t have, by thunder!’ Since that time it has become customary for a man who frankly admits having been hoaxed or beaten to say: ‘I acknowledge the corn.’”

Acropolis. From the Greek akros, highest, and polis, city. A citadel or fortress overlooking a city, as at Athens.

Acton. Anglo-Saxon for “Oak Town,” built in the neighbourhood of a great oak forest.

Actors’ Day. A day--the third Thursday in October--set apart for a performance in all the theatres of the United Kingdom in aid of the various theatrical charities--actors being pledged to give their services, dramatic authors to forego their fees, and managers to devote the entire receipts to the good cause.

Adam Street. After the Brothers Adam, who built the streets collectively styled the “Adelphi.”

Adam’s Needle. A plant so called from its long, pointed leaves. Whether he and his spouse strung their aprons together by its means is doubtful.

Adam’s Wine. Drinking water, because Adam knew not the fermented juice of the grape.

Ada Rehan. This American actress is of Irish extraction, her name being “Regan,” but on entering the dramatic profession she changed it to “Rehan.”

Addison of the North. The literary sobriquet of Henry Fielding, author of “The Man of Feeling,” on account of the purity and elegance of his style.

Addison Road. After the great English essayist, who, having married the Dowager Countess of Warwick, lived and died at Holland House, Kensington.

Addled Parliament. A memorable session during the reign of James I., which, though it lasted from 5th April 1614 to 7th June 1615, passed no new measure whatever.

Adelaide. The capital of South Australia, an island, and also a noted hostelry on Haverstock Hill, named in honour of the consort of William IV.

Adelphi. The collective name for several streets and a noble terrace on the south side of the Strand, built by the Brothers Adam. Adelphi is Greek for “brothers.”

Adieu. Originally a popular commendation to the care of God--A Dieu!

Adonis. The name given to a beautiful youth, and also to the anemone, after Adonis, who was beloved by Venus. The flower is said to have sprung from his blood when he was gored to death by a wild boar in the chase.

Admirable Crichton. The designation of one accomplished in all the arts. “Admirable” Crichton was a noted Scottish prodigy of the sixteenth century.

Admiral. From the Arabic emir-el-bahr, Lord of the Sea.

Adrianople. The city founded by the Emperor Hadrian.

Adriatic Sea. After the Emperor Hadrian.

Adullamites. Those who in 1866 seceded from the Reform Party. John Bright said they had retired to the Cave of Adullam, there to gather around them all the discontented. The allusion was to David’s flight from Saul (1. Sam. xxii. 1, 2).

Ad valorem. A Customs term for duties levied according to the stated value of goods imported. The duty on various qualities of the same goods may therefore differ.

Ædiles. Civil officers of Rome who had the care of the streets and ædes, or public buildings.

Æolian Harp. A lute placed in the trees for the zephyrs to play upon, so called after Æolus, the god of the winds.

Æsculapius. The generic term for a physician, after the one of this name mentioned by Homer, who was afterwards deified in the Greek mythology.

Afghanistan. Pursuant to the Persian stan, the country of the Afghans.

Africa. From the Phœnician afer, a black man, and the Sanskrit ac, earth, land, country. This great continent is the natural home of the blacks--the negroes of North America and the West Indian Islands being descended from the slaves carried thither from the west coast of Africa since the time of the original slave trader, Sir John Hawkins, in 1562.

Agapæ. Love feasts of the Romans, from the Greek agape, love.

Agapemonites. An old term which has newly come into vogue in our day. Agapemone is Greek for “abode of love.” There was such a retreat early in the nineteenth century at Charlynch, Somerset, the seat of the Agapemonists or Agapemonites, followers of Henry James Prince, an ex-Churchman.

Agar Street. After William Agar, a wealthy lawyer, who resided in it. See “Agar Town.”

Agar Town. A now vanished district covered by St Pancras Railway Station, the lease of which was acquired by William Agar in 1840 for building purposes.

Agate. From Achates, the Greek name of a Sicilian river, in the bed of which this gem was found in abundance.

Agnostic. From the Greek a, without, and gnomi, to know. One who professes a belief only in what he knows or can discover for himself. Literally a “know-nothing.”

Agony Column. At first this newspaper column was confined to distressful inquiries for missing relatives and friends. Latterly it has become a tacit means of communication between persons who, for various reasons, cannot exchange letters sent through the post.

Ahoy. From Aoi, the battle cry of the Norsemen as they ran their galleys upon the enemy.

Aigrette. A French word, denoting the tall white plume of a heron. From a feather head-dress the term has now come to be applied to an ornament of gems worn by a lady on the crown of her head when in full evening dress.

Air of a Gentleman. In this sense the word “air” is synonymous with “manner” and “deportment.”

Air Street. When laid out and built upon in 1659 this was the most westerly street in London. The allusion to fresh air is obvious.

Aix-la-Chapelle. The Aquis Granum of the Romans, famous for its baths. Hence the German name Aachen, expressive of many springs. The place is also noted for its many churches; the cathedral, which grew out of the original chapel, contains the shrine of Charlemagne.

Alabama. Indian for “here we rest.”

A la Guillotine. The name given in France after the Revolution to the fashion of wearing the hair very short, in memory of friends and relatives who had fallen victims to the “Guillotine.”

A la Watteau. The name given to a stage ballet in which the pretty rustic costumes are after the style of those ever present in the pastoral paintings of Antoine Watteau, the famous French artist. Reproductions of his pictures frequently also figure on expensive furniture--screens in particular.

Albania. From the Latin albus, white, “the country of snowy mountain ranges.”

Albany. A commodious range of bachelor chambers in Piccadilly, at one time the residence of Frederick, son of George III., created Duke of York and Albany.

Albany Street. After the Duke of York and Albany, temp. George III.

Albemarle Street. In the West End street of this name resided Christopher Monk, second Duke of Albemarle. The other, in Clerkenwell, was built upon when General Monk, the first Duke of Albemarle, was at the zenith of his popularity.

Albert. After the Prince Consort, to whom the jewellers of Birmingham presented a short gold watch-chain on the occasion of his visit to that city in 1849.

Albert Gate. After Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria. The Albert Bridge, Albert Memorial, and Royal Albert Hall likewise perpetuate his name.

Albigensis. Christian heretics of the twelfth century, drawn from the Albigeois, whose capital was Albi, in Languedoc.

Albion. The name given to Britain by the Romans on account of its (albus) white cliffs, as approached from the sea.

Alcantara. From the Arabic Al-kantarah, “the bridge,” referring to the fine stone bridge built by Trajan.

Alcove. From the Arabic El-kauf through the Spanish alcoba, a tent.

Aldermanbury. The bury or enclosed place in which stood the first Guildhall prior to the reign of Henry IV.

Alderney. In French Aurigny, from the Latin Aurinia, Isle of Light.

Aldersgate Street. From the ancient city gate near which grew several fine alder-trees.

Aldgate. From the Auld Gate of Saxon London, the earliest of the city gates.

Aldine Editions. Early editions of the classics produced and given to the world by Aldo Manuzio, the celebrated printer of Venice, in the sixteenth century.

Aldwych. An old name for a magnificent new thoroughfare which has taken the place of quaint, out-of-date Wych Street, anciently described as Auld Wych, leading as it did to the old village, whose parish church was that of St Giles’s in the Fields.

Ale-stake. The pole anciently set up in front of an alehouse. This was at first surmounted by a bush, in imitation of a wine bush; later it became exchanged for a sign.

Ale-wife. An old name for the wife of a tavern keeper.

Alexandra Limp. When our present Queen, as Princess of Wales, having sustained an injury to her knee, was walking lame, it became the fashion to imitate her gait.

Alexandria. The city founded by Alexander the Great, B.C. 332.

Aleutian Islands. From the Russian aleut, “bald rock.”

Alfreton. Properly Alfred’s Town, identified with Alfred the Great.

Algiers. From the Arabic Al Jezair, “the peninsula.”

Alhambra. From the Arabic Kal-at-al-hamra, “the red castle.”

Alibi. Latin for “elsewhere.”

A Little too Previous. An Americanism for being in too great a hurry; rushing at conclusions; saying or doing a thing without sufficient warranty.

All Abroad. Provincial for scattered wits; “all over the place.”

Allahabad. Arabic and Persian for “City of God.”

All Bosh. The introduction of the term “Bosh” into our vocabulary must be accredited to James Morier, in whose Oriental romances, “The Adventures of Haiji Baba of Ispahan” and “Ayesha,” it frequently appears. Bosh is Persian and Turkish, signifying rubbish, nonsense, silly talk.

Alleghany. A corruption of Alligewi, the name of an Indian tribe.

Allemanni. Teutonic for “All Men”; expressing a confederacy.

All-fired. An Americanism for “great”--e.g. “He came in an all-fired hurry.”

All-hallowe’en. The vigil of “All-hallows’ Day.”

All-hallows’-Barking. This ancient church, dedicated to All the Saints, belonged to the Abbey at Barking, Essex.

All-hallows’ Day. The old-time designation of All Saints’ Day, from Anglo-Saxon halig, holy.

All Moonshine. As the light of the moon is reflected from the sun, so an incredible statement received at second hand is said to be “all moonshine.”

All my Eye and Betty Martin. A corruption of Ah mihi, beate Martine (Woe to me, Blessed Martin), formerly used by beggars in Italy to invoke their patron saint. The story goes that a sailor who wandered into a church in that country, hearing these words, afterwards told his companions that all he could make out from the service was: “All my eye and Betty Martin.”

All Saints’ Bay. Discovered by Amerigo Vespucci on the Feast of All Saints, 1503.

All Saints’ Day. The day set apart by the Church for the invocation of the whole body of canonised saints.

All Serena. From the Spanish serena, used by sentinels as a countersign for “All’s well.”

All Souls’ College. Founded at Oxford by Henry Chichely, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the perpetual offering up of prayers on behalf of the souls of those who fell in the wars of Henry V. in France.

All Souls’ Day. The day of special prayers for the liberation of the suffering souls in Purgatory. The French people make it a point of duty to visit the graves of their deceased relatives on this day.

All the Go. Originally a drapers’ phrase, meaning that a certain line of goods is “going” fast and will soon be gone. A publisher, too, thinks a book should “go” with the reading public.

All There. An Americanism expressive of one who has all his wits about him.

Almack’s. Fashionable assembly-rooms in King Street, St James’s, opened 12th February 1765 by MacCall, a Scotsman, who inverted his name to remove all suspicion of his origin. The next proprietor called them Willis’s Rooms, after himself. In 1890 they were converted into a restaurant.

Almighty Dollar. For this expression we are indebted to Washington Irving, who in his sketch of “The Creole Village” (1837) spoke of it as “the great object of universal devotion throughout our land.”

Alnwick. The wick, or village, on the Alne.

Alpaca. Cloth made from the wool of the Peruvian sheep of the same name, akin to the llama.

Alps. From the Latin albus, white, the mountains eternally capped with snow.

Alsace. Teutonic for “the other seat,” being the abode of their own people west of the Rhine. With the Celtic suffix the name became “Alsatia.”

Alsatia. Anciently the district of Whitefriars, which, being a sanctuary for law-breakers, received the name of the Rhine province notorious as the common refuge of the disaffected.

Alter Ego. Expresses the Latin for “my other self” or “double.”

Amadeus. The family name of the House of Savoy, from its motto: “Love God.”

Amain. A nautical phrase meaning suddenly, at once--e.g. “Strike amain,” “Lower amain.”

Amateur Casual. The literary sobriquet of Mr James Greenwood, who in 1866 spent a night in Lambeth Workhouse, and wrote his experiences in The Pall Mall Gazette. Within the last few months he has undertaken a similar up-to-date commission for The Tribune.

Amati. A violin of rare excellence made by Andrea Amati of Cremona.

Amazon. The Spaniards first called this river the Orellana, in honour of their countryman who navigated it, but after hearing accounts of the fighting women on its banks they gave it the name of the fabled African tribe of warlike women who cut or burnt off the right breast in order the better to steady the bow. The word Amazon is Greek, from a, without, and maza, breast.

Ambrosian Chant. Ascribed to St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan in the fourth century.

Ambuscade. From the Italian imboscata, concealed in a wood.

Amen. Hebrew for “Yea,” “Truly,” “So be it.”

Amen Corner. Old Stow tells us this lane was suddenly stopped up in his time, so that people said “Amen” on finding they had to turn back again. There may be something in this; but the greater likelihood is that it was here where the monks finished the recital of the Paternoster before they took up the Ave Maria while on their way in solemn procession to St Paul’s at the great Church festivals.

America. After Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine adventurer, who chanced to be at Seville when Columbus was preparing for his second voyage to the West. With Ojeda, Vespucci embarked upon an independent expedition. Subsequently he made further voyages in Portuguese ships, and discovered the Bay of All Saints. His remaining days were spent in the service of the King of Spain, preparing charts and prescribed routes to the New World. Although these official publications bore his signature, Vespucci never claimed to have discovered the great Western Continent. A wonderful narrative of his voyages, however, purporting to have been written by Vespucci, found its way into the hands of Martin Waldseemuller of Freiburg, Baden. This he translated, and caused it to be published by a bookseller at St Die in Lorraine in 1507. In his preface to the work Waldseemuller suggested that the newly discovered country should be called America, after the author, who had visited it. Hence the name really originated in Germany.

American Indians. See “Indians.”

Americanism. A coined word or phrase in the United States which, freely repeated, tickles the popular ear and soon becomes engrafted upon the national vocabulary. Many Americanisms are now as common in England as in the land of their origin. The term may also be applied to such American deviations from British custom, as the substitution of “Depot” for Railway Station, “News-stand” for Bookstall, “On the street” for “In the street,” etc. etc.

Amiens. From the Latin ambiens, surrounded by water. Three branches of the River Somme run through the city.

Ammonites. The descendants of Ben-ammi, the son of Lot (Gen. xxix. 38).

Among the Gods. At the time when the expression first came into use, the ceiling of Drury Lane Theatre was embellished with classical deities disporting themselves among the clouds in an azure sky.

Among the Missing. An Americanism for an absentee. When a person wishes to be “out” to a visitor, he tells the servant that he prefers to be “among the missing.”

Amorica. The country of the Armorici, “dwellers on the sea.”

Ampthill Square. From Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire, one of the seats of the ground landlord, the Duke of Bedford.

Amsterdam. The town built on the dam of the Amstel.

Amwell Street. After one of the wells in Hertfordshire, whose waters were drawn upon by Sir Hugh Myddleton for the New River.

Anabaptists. Conformably to the Greek ana, twice, the designation of the original Baptists, who, having been baptised at birth, went through the ceremony a second time on reaching maturity.

Anacreon Moore. The sobriquet of Thomas Moore, who translated the Odes of Anacreon, and constructed his own verses on the same classic model.

Anatolia. The Turkish and Greek description of Asia Minor, from anatolie, east--i.e. of Constantinople.

Ancient. Iago is described as Othello’s “ancient.” Even in Shakespeare’s day this word was a corruption of ensign, or standard-bearer.

Ancient Lights. After having enjoyed the light of a window on his premises for twenty years uninterruptedly a person may, subject to displaying the notice “ancient lights,” prevent that light from being intercepted by any other building.

Ancona. From the Greek agkon, elbow, relative to its position on an angle of the coast.

Andalusia. Properly Vandalusia, the country of the Vandals.

Andes. From the Peruvian anta, copper.

Andrea Ferrara. A world-famous Italian sword blade made by Andrea of the city of Ferrara.

Angel. An inn sign, originally the “Angel and Salutation,” depicting the visit of the angel who announced to the Virgin that she was to be the mother of the Redeemer.

Angelic Doctor. One of the sobriquets of St Thomas Aquinas, universally regarded as “The Angel of the Schools.” He is said also to have written much on the nature of angels.

Anglesea. Properly Anglesey, expressing, from the point of view of the Celtic inhabitants of Wales, the ey, or island of the Angles.

Anglesea Morris. After William Morris, who caught this species of fish off the Isle of Anglesea.

Angola. Wool brought from Angola on the West Coast of Africa.

Angostura Bitters. Prepared from the celebrated medicinal bark discovered by Capuchin monks in the Venezuelan city Angostura, which name signifies a strait.

Anguilla Island. West Indian for “Little Snake,” from its shape.

Anisette. A cordial prepared from aniseed.

Annunciator. An Americanism for bell or gong.

Antarctic Ocean. That situate anti, opposite to, the Arctic Ocean.

Antelope State. Nebraska, from the number of antelopes found there.

Anthem. A hymn sung by the entire congregation, as distinguished from Antiphone, which term expresses a series of choral responses.

Antigua. Expresses the Spanish for an ancient city.

Antwerp. In French Anvers, the Antverpia of the Romans.

Any. An Americanism for “at all”--e.g. “It didn’t trouble me any.”

Apache State. Arizona, the scene of many bloodthirsty encounters with the wild Apaches.

Apennines. The Pennine Alps, from the Celtic ben, which is the same as the Welsh pen, summit or mountain head.

Apollinaris Water. Brought from the famous mineral spring in the valley of the Ahor of the Rhine province. The ruins of a temple of Apollo gave the name to the spot.

Apothecary. The old name for a dispenser of medicines. The Greek word really implies a storehouse or depository; it is compounded out of apo, to put away, and theke, chest, box. Differing from modern chemists and druggists, licentiates of the Apothecaries’ Company may visit the sick and prescribe for them, as well as make up physicians’ prescriptions.

Appian Way. The construction of this famous road leading from Rome to Capua was commenced by Appius Claudius.

Apostle of Temperance. Father Mathew, the inveterate enemy of tipplers in the Emerald Isle of his time.

Apostles’ Creed. The whole summary of Christian Faith, according to the Apostles.

Apostolic Fathers. Those early doctors of the Church who, living in the first century after Christ, received their teaching from His disciples, if they did not actually enjoy personal communion with the Apostles.

Apricot. From the Latin præcoqus, early ripe.

April. The month in which the buds begin to shoot, from aperio, to open.

April Fish. The French equivalent of “April Fool,” since, like a fish, the unsuspecting victim of a practical joke is easily caught.

April Fool. The custom of April Fooling originated in France, which country took the lead in shifting the New Year from what is now Lady Day to the 1st of January. This occurred in 1564. From the earliest periods of history people bestowed gifts upon their neighbours at the New Year, but as the 25th of March so often fell in Holy Week, even on Good Friday itself, the Church uniformly postponed the celebration of the New Year until the octave--viz. the 1st of April. When, therefore, New Year’s Day had been transferred to the 1st of January, people paid mock visits to their friends on the 1st of April with the object of fooling them into the belief that matters remained as they were. The like custom was introduced into England on the alteration of our calendar in 1762. April Fools’ Day is supposed to be over at twelve o’clock, since the New Year’s visitation and bestowal of gifts always took place before noon.

Apsley House. The residence of the Duke of Wellington, built by Henry Apsley, Lord Chancellor, afterwards Lord Bathurst.

Aquarians. A Christian sect of the fourth century who substituted water for wine in the Communion.

Aqua Tofana. A colourless poison invented by a Sicilian woman named Tofana towards the close of the seventeenth century. So extensive was her secret traffic with this liquid among young married women who were anxious to rid themselves of their husbands that when, at a great age, Tofana was dragged from the convent where she had taken refuge, and executed, she admitted to having caused the deaths of 600 persons.

Arabia. The country of the Arabs, or “men of the desert.”

Arbor Day. A day set apart in America for planting trees.

Arbroath. Originally Aberbrothockwick, the village at the mouth of the Brothock.

Arcadian. An ideal farmer or a rustic scene; after the Arcadians, who were essentially a pastoral race.

Arcadian Poetry. Pastoral poetry, in allusion to the Arcadians.

Archangel. A town in Russia which derived its name from a great monastery of St Michael the Archangel.

Archer-fish. A fish endowed with the power of shooting water at insects, which thus become an easy prey.

Archway Road. Leads to the modern successor of the famous Highgate Archway opened in 1813.

Arctic Ocean. From the Greek arktos, bear, having reference to the great northern constellation.

Ardennes. The great forest on the heights.

Argand Lamp. After its inventor, Aimé Argand.

Argentine Republic. The modern name of Argentina, through which runs the La Plata, or River of Silver. While preserving their original designation of the river, the Spaniards Latinised that of the country.

Argosy. A vessel laden with rich merchandise, from the Argo, in which Jason and his fellow-adventurers, the Argonauts, sailed to Colchis in quest of the Golden Fleece, B.C. 1263.

Argyll. From Garra Ghaidhael, the country of the West Gaels.

Argyll Street. From the old town mansion of the Dukes of Argyll. The celebrated Argyll Rooms, now the Trocadero Restaurant, were a far cry from the other extreme of Regent Street.

Argus-eyed. After the fabled Argus, who had a hundred eyes.

Arians. The followers of the first Christian heretic, Arius, a presbyter of the Church of Alexandria in the fourth century.

Arizona. Indian for “sand-hills.”

Arkansas. The same as Kansas, “smoky water,” with the French suffix arc, a bow.

Arkansas Toothpick. The Far-West designation of a “Bowie Knife,” the blade of which, as used by the people of this state, shuts up into the handle.

Arlington Street. From the town mansion of Henry Bennett, Earl of Arlington.

Arminians. The anti-Calvinists of Holland, led by James Harmensen under the Latinised name of Jacobus Arminius.

Arras. Mediæval tapestry, for the production of which the town of Arras, in the French Netherlands, was famous.

Arrowroot. So called because the Indians of tropical America regarded the root of the plant as efficacious against arrow wounds.

Artemus Ward. The pseudonym of Charles Farrar Browne, the American humorous lecturer. This was, however, the actual name of an eccentric showman whom he had encountered on his travels.

Artesian Well. From Artois, where such wells were first bored.

Arthur’s Seat. Said to have derived its name from King Arthur, but how his association with the city of Edinburgh arose no man can tell.

Artichoke. From the Arabic ardischauki, earth thorn.

Artillery Lane. Stands on part of the site of the practising ground of the London Artillery Company, temp. Henry VIII., and later of the Tower Gunners, when all the land towards the north hereabouts was open fields.

Arundel. The dale of the River Arun.

Arundel Street. That in the Strand from the town mansion and extensive grounds of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel and Surrey. That in the Haymarket after the ground landlord, Lord Arundel of Wardour.

Ascension Island. Discovered by the Portuguese on the Feast of the Ascension, 1501.

As Cross as Two Sticks. Two sticks held together in the centre like the letter X form a cross.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The home among the ash-trees of the De La Zouches. By expresses the Anglo-Saxon for a dwelling.

Asia. From the Sanskrit Ushas, “land of the dawn.” By the Western nations Asiatics were anciently styled “the people of the sun.”

Asia Minor. Lesser Asia, called by the Turks and Greeks “Anatolia.”

Aspasia. A flower named after Aspasia of Miletus, the mistress of Pericles.

As Poor as a Church Mouse. A church is one of the very few buildings that contain neither kitchen nor larder. Church mice, therefore, have a hungry time of it.

As Rich as a Jew. The Jews in England were the first usurers, bankers, and bill-brokers. They only had the command of ready money, the wealth of the nobility consisting in the possession of broad lands.

Assumptionists. A modern religious Order, founded fifty years ago, whose full title is the Augustinians of the Assumption.

Astoria. From the fur-trading station established in 1811 by John Jacob Astor of New York.

Astrakhan. Fur brought from Astrakhan, which name signifies the country or district ruled by a khan of the Tartar or Mogul Empire.

Asturia. From the Basque asta, rock, and ura, water, denoting a region of mountains and estuaries.

Atlantic Ocean. Called by the Greeks Atlantikos pelagos, from the Isle of Atlantis, imagined by Homer and Plato to be beyond the Strait of Gibraltar.

Athanasian Creed. Opinions affecting the doctrine of the Trinity, ascribed to St Athanasius of Alexandria, adopted and formally compiled by St Hilary, Bishop of Arles in the fifth century.

Athens. From the Temple of Athene, or Minerva, the tutelary goddess of the city.

Athens of America. The city of Boston, considered the chief seat of learning in the New World.

Athens of the South. Nashville, Tennessee, on account of the number of its scholastic institutions.

Athelney. The “Royal Island” or “Isle of the Nobles,” where Alfred the Great founded a Benedictine monastery.

Atlas. Since the publication of “Mercator’s Projections,” with the figure of Atlas bearing the globe on his shoulders as a frontispiece, in 1560, all books of maps have received this name.

At Loggerheads. See “Loggerhead.”

Auburn. From the Anglo-Saxon Auld Bourne, old bourn, or stream.

Auckland. The capital of New Zealand, named in honour of Lord Auckland, a famous politician of his time, who became Governor-General of India, and after his retirement was elected President of the Asiatic Society. His ancestor, the first Lord Auckland, took his title from Auckland in Durham, which name was originally Oakland.

Audley Street (North and South). Perpetuate the memory of Hugh Audley, a barrister of the Middle Temple, whose landed estates hereabouts were computed at his death in 1662 to be worth a million of money.

Augsburg Confession. The Lutheran Confession of faith drawn up by Melancthon, and presented by Martin Luther to Charles V. during the sitting of the German Diet at Augsburg in 1530.

August. After Augustus Cæsar, who regarded this as his lucky month. Its original name was Sextilis, the sixth month of the Roman year.

Augustan Age. The best literary age of any country, because Rome in the time of Augustus Cæsar produced the finest examples of Latin literature.

Augustin Friars. The religious Order said to have been founded by St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury. See “Austin Friars.”

Auld Reekie. The name given to the old part of Edinburgh, from the cloud of reek or smoke which usually caps it.

Austin Friars. Part of the site of the priory of the Augustin Friars, whose church still remains.

Australasia. Southern Asia.

Australia. From the Latin Australis, southern.

Austria. From Oesterreich, or Eastern Empire, as distinguished from the Western Empire founded by Charlemagne.

Autocar. The name first given to a motor car; incorrectly, however, since so far from being automatic such a one, like all mechanically propelled vehicles, requires a guiding intelligence.

Autun. The Augustodunum, or Town of Augustus, of the Romans.

Auvergne. From the Auverni, who overran it in the time of the Cæsars.

Avoca. Gaelic for “the meeting of the waters.”

Ave Maria Lane. Where the monks of old chanted the “Ave Maria” on their way to St Paul’s. See “Amen Corner.”

Avon. From Arfon, the Celtic for river or stream, which enters into many place-names.

Axminster. The monastery town on the Axe.

Ayah. Hindustani for waiting-woman or nurse.

Aye-Vye. An animal found in Madagascar, so called from its cry.

Aylesbury Street. From the town house and garden of the Earls of Aylesbury.

Azores. The Portuguese named this group of islands Acores, the plural of acor, hawk, on account of the great number of hawks there.

Azov. A Russianised form of Asak, the name given to it by the Tartars.

B

Bacchanalia. Roman festivals in honour of Bacchus, the god of wine.

Bacchus Verses. Verses

written

written

in praise or dispraise of Bacchus, and affixed to the doors of the College at Eton on “Collop Monday.”

Bachelor Girl. One who lives in her own rooms, belongs to a woman’s club, and considers herself superior to what is called home influence--a distinctly modern creation.

Backgammon. From the Saxon Bac and gamen, “back-game,” because the pieces have at times to go back and be moved up afresh.

Back a Man. To have full confidence in him. From backing or endorsing a bill on another’s behalf.

Badajoz. Called by the Moors Beledaix, “Land of Health.”

Bad Egg. A man who is commercially or morally unsound, and therefore fit only to be shunned.

Badger State. Wisconsin, from the name given to the early miners, who made for themselves winter habitations in the earth, like a badger.

Badminton. A drink of spiced claret, and also a game of tennis played with shuttlecocks instead of balls, introduced by the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton, his country seat.

Baffin’s Bay. After William Baffin, the pilot of an expedition sent out to explore this region in 1616.

Bagatelle. From the Italian bagetella, a conjurer’s trick.

Baggage. A term often applied to a woman, because the wives of soldiers taken on foreign service go with the stores and baggage generally. In the United States this word is an equivalent for the English “Luggage.”

Bagman. The old name for a commercial traveller, who carried his samples in a bag.

Bag o’ Nails. A popular corruption of the ancient inn sign, “The Bachannals,” referring to Pan and the Satyrs.

Bag o’ Tricks. In allusion to the large bag in which an itinerant conjurer carried his tricks.

Bakers’ Dozen. In olden times, when bread was sold in open market instead of shops, women took up the trade of selling bread from door to door. They received from the bakers thirteen loaves for the price of twelve, the odd one constituting their profit.

Baker Street. After Sir Edward Baker, a great friend of the Portmans of Dorsetshire, the ground landlords.

Bakshish. A Persian word for “gratuity.”

Balaklava. When settled by the Genoese, they gave it the name of Bella-chiava, or “Fair Haven.”

Balearic Islands. From the Greek ballein, to throw, expresses the Island of Slingers.

Ball. A dancing party received this name primarily from the curious ancient Ball Play in Church by the Dean and choir boys of Naples during the “Feast of Fools” at Easter. While singing an antiphon the boys caught the ball thrown by the Dean as they danced around him. At private dancing parties the dancers always threw a ball at one another as, to the sound of their own voices, they whirled around in sets, the pastime consisting in loosening hands in time to catch it. Afterwards the ball was discarded, but the dance time received the name of a Ballad, from the Latin ballare, to dance.

Ballad. See “Ball.”

Ballet. Expresses the French diminutive of bal, a dance. See “Ball.”

Ball’s Pond. From an inn, the “Salutation,” kept by John Ball, whose dog and duck sports in a large pond attracted a great concourse of visitors in former days.

Balsover Street. From Balsover, Derbyshire, the seat of the Fitzroys, Dukes of Grafton, the ground landlords.

Baltic Sea. A sea of belts or straits. Bält is Norse for strait.

Baltimore. After Lord Baltimore, the founder of the neighbouring state of Maryland.

Baltimore Bird. Though found almost everywhere in the United States, it is said to have received its name from the correspondence of its colours with those distinguished in the arms of Lord Baltimore, the Governor of Maryland.

Bancroft Road. After Francis Bancroft, the founder of the Drapers’ Almshouses, in this road.

Bandana. The Hindu term for silk goods generally, but now applied to cotton pocket-handkerchiefs with white or yellow spots on a blue ground.

Bandy Words with You. From the old game of Bandy, in which the ball was struck or bandied to opposite sides.

Bangor. From Ban-choir, “The White Choir” of the Abbey, founded by St Cungall in the sixth century.

Banjo. Properly Bandore, from the Greek Pandoura, a stringed instrument named after Pan. The word was introduced into North America from Europe.

Banker Poet. Samuel Rogers, author of “The Pleasures of Memory,” who was a banker all his life.

Banshee. From the Gaelic bean sidhe, woman fairy.

Bantam. A species of fowl said to have been introduced to Europe from Bantam in Java.

Banting. After William Banting, a London cabinetmaker, who in 1863 reduced his superfluous fat by a dietic system peculiarly his own.

Bar. In old days, when a counter did not obtain, and drinking vessels had to be set down on the benches or barrel ends, a bar separated the frequenters of a tavern from the drawers or tapsters. Similarly, at the Courts of Law the Bar was a rail behind which a barrister or counsel had to plead his client’s cause.

Barbadoes. From the streamers of moss, resembling a beard, suspended from the tree branches.

Barbarians. The name universally applied by the Romans to wandering or warlike tribes who were unkempt and unshaven.

Barbarossa. The sobriquet of Frederick the First of Germany, on account of his red beard.

Barbary. The land of the Berbers, the Arabic description of the people of this region prior to the Saracen Conquest.

Barber. From the Latin barba, a beard.

Barber-surgeons. Hairdressers who, down to the sixteenth century, also practised “cupping” or blood-letting, a relic of which is the modern Barber’s Pole. The red and white stripes around the pole denoted the bandages, while in place of the gilt knob at the end there originally hung the basin affixed under the chin of the patient operated upon.

Barbican. That portion of the Roman wall round the city of London where there must have been a watch-tower looking towards the north. Barbacana is a Persian word for a watch-tower in connection with a fortified place.

Barcelona. Anciently Barcino, after Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, who refounded the city.

Baring Island. Named by Captain Penny after Sir Francis Baring, first Lord of the Admiralty.

Barley Mow. An old sign for a tavern in connection with the Mow or house where the barley was stored for brewing. Mowe is Saxon for “heap.”

Barmecide’s Feast. An illusory banquet. From the story of the Barber’s Sixth Brother, in “The Arabian Nights.” Barmecide invited a starving wretch to a feast, but gave him nothing to eat.

Barnsbury. Anciently Berners’ Bury, the manor of which was held by Lady Berners, abbess of St Albans.

Barnstormer. A strolling actor. In the old days, away from the regular circuits, there were no provincial theatres or halls licensed for stage plays whatever. The consequence was a company of strolling players obtained permission to perform in a barn. Edmund Kean admitted, when in the zenith of his fame, that he had gained his experience “by barnstorming.”

Barrister. See “Bar.”

Barrow Road. This, with Barrow Hill Place, marks the site of a barrow or sepulchral mound of the Britons and Romans slain in battle.

Barry Cornwall. The anagrammatic pseudonym of Bryan Waller Procter, the poet.

Bar Tender. An Americanism for barman or barkeeper.

Bartholomew Close. The site of the ancient cloisters of St Bartholomew’s Priory, connected with the neighbouring church, which is the oldest in London.

Bartholomew Fair. The famous fair which for centuries survived the mediæval mart that had given rise to it in the neighbouring street, still known as Cloth Fair. It was held on the Feast of St Bartholomew.

Barton Street. A street in Westminster built by Barton Booth, the eminent actor of Drury Lane Theatre.

Bashaw. Properly “Pashaw.” See “Pasha.”

Basinghall Street. From the mansion and grounds of the Basings, whose ancestor, Solomon Basing, was Lord Mayor of London in 1216.

Bassano. The better known, indeed to most people the only proper, name of the famous Italian artist, Jacopa da Ponte, who signed all his pictures “Il Bassano,” having been born at Bassano in the state of Venice.

Bass’s Straits. Discovered by Matthew Flinders. These straits were named by him after a young ship’s surgeon, who, with a crew of only six men, in a small vessel, accompanied him on the expedition.

Bath Chair. First introduced at Bath, the great health resort of a bygone day.

Bath Street. From a Bagnio, or Turkish Bath, established here in the seventeenth century.

Battersea. Anciently Patricesy, or St Peter’s-ey, the manor belonging to the abbey of St Peter’s, Westminster. The suffix ey implied not only an island, but also a creek.

Battle-born State. Nevada, because admitted into the American Union during the Civil War.

Battle Bridge Road. In this neighbourhood the Iceni, under Boadicea, sustained their total defeat at the hands of the Romans, A.D. 61.

Battle of all the Nations. The battle of Leipsic, 16th to 18th October 1813, so called because it effected the deliverance of Europe from the domination of Napoleon Buonaparte.

Battle of the Giants. That of Marignano, in which 1200 Swiss Guards, allies of the Milanese, were defeated, 13th September 1515.

Battle of the Herrings. From the sortie of the Orleaners to cut off a convoy of salted herrings on its way to the English, besieging their city, 12th February 1429.

Battle of the Standard. From the high crucifix borne as a standard on a waggon by the English at Northallerton, 29th August 1138.

Battle of the Spurs. That of Guinnegate, 16th August 1513, when the French were utterly routed in consequence of a panic; they used their spurs instead of their weapons of defence.

Battle of the Spurs of Gold. From the enormous number of gold spurs picked up on the field after the defeat of the French knights at Courtray, 11th July 1302.

Bavaria. The country of the Boii, anciently styled Boiaria.

Baynard’s Castle. See “Bayswater.”

Bayonet. Not from the town of Bayonne, but because a Basque regiment in the district of Bayonnetta in 1647, surprised by the Spaniards, stuck their knives into the muzzles of their muskets, and, charging, drove off the enemy with great slaughter.

Bay State. Massachusetts, from the original denomination of this colony in the New England Commonwealth--viz. Massachusetts Bay.

Bayon State. Mississippi, from the French bayon, watercourse, touching its great river.

Bayswater. Originally described as “Baynard’s Watering,” being a manor built by Ralph Baynard, one of the favourites of William the Conqueror, the owner of Baynard’s Castle, in what is now Thames Street, destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

B. D. V. A tobacco advertisement which stands for “Best Dark Virginia.”

Beak. The slang term for a magistrate, on account of the beag or gold collar that he wears.

Beak Street. This name has a sportive reference to the magistrate at the neighbouring police court in Great Marlborough Street.

Beanfeast. From the Bean-goose (so called from the similarity of the nail of its bill to a bean) which was formerly the invariable dinner dish.

Bear. Wherever this enters into the name of a tavern sign (with the single exception of that of “The Bear and Ragged Staff”) it denotes a house that had originally a bear garden attached to it.

Bear and Ragged Staff. A common inn sign in Warwickshire, from the heraldic device of Warwick the King Maker.

Bear Garden. This name at the corner of Sumner Street, Southwark, recalls the old Paris Garden, a famous bear-baiting establishment founded by Robert de Paris as far back in English history as the reign of Richard I. A “Bear Garden” is in our time synonymous with a place of resort for roughs or rowdies.

Bear State. Arkansas, from the Western description of the character of its people. “Does Arkansas abound with bears that it should be called the Bear State?” a Western man was once asked. “Yes, it does,” was the reply; “for I never knew a man from that state but he was a bar, and, in fact, the people are all barish to a degree.”

Bearward. The custodian of the bear at public and private bear-baiting gardens. Most English towns anciently retained a bearward. See “Congleton Bears.”

Beats a Philadelphia Lawyer. An American expression implying that the lawyers of Philadelphia are noted for shrewdness and learning.

Beauchamp Tower. After Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, whom Richard II. caused to be imprisoned here for inciting the barons to remove the King’s favourite, Sir Simon de Burley.

Beauclerc. The surname of Henry I., on account of his accomplishments in an age when learning was rare.

Beckenham. The home in the vicinity of becks or brooks. The Saxon terminal en expresses the plural.

Bedad. An Irishman’s exclamation, derived from the English “Begad” or “By Gad.”

Bedford. From the Anglo-Saxon Bedican-ford, the protected ford over the Ouse.

Bedfordbury. The bury or enclosed land of the Duke of Bedford. Bedford Street and Bedford Square likewise point to the great ground landlord.

Bedlam. Short for Bethlehem Hospital, a “Lazar House” in South London which in 1815 was converted into an asylum for lunatics. See “Bethlehem.”

Bedouins. From the Arabic badawiy, “dwellers in the desert.”

Beech Street. Said to have been the property of Nicholas de la Beech, Lieutenant of the Tower, temp. Edward III.

Beefeaters. Although it has been proved that the word Buffetier cannot be met with in any old book, the Yeomen of the Guard instituted by Henry VII. certainly waited at the royal table, and since this monarch was largely imbued with French manners, his personal attendants must after all have received their nickname from the Buffet, or sideboard.

Beer Bible. From the words “the beer” in place of “strong drink” (Isaiah xxiv. 9).

Before the Mast. The for’ard part of a ship, where, in the forecastle, the sailors have their quarters. Hence a common seaman is said to “Serve before the Mast.”

Begad. See “By Gad.”

Begorra. An Irish form of the English corrupted oath Begad or “By Gad.”

Beguines. An order of nuns in France, from the French beguin, a linen cap. These nuns are distinguished by their peculiar head covering.

Begum. A lady of high rank in the East, a princess in India, or the wife of a Turkish beg (generally corrupted into bey) or Governor.

Beldame. From the French Belle-dame, “fine lady.” The meaning has now been corrupted from a lady entitled to the utmost respect on account of age or position to an ugly old woman.

Belgium. From the Belgæ, the name given by Cæsar to the warlike people who overran this portion of Gaul.

Belgravia. The fashionable district of which Belgrave Square is the centre, after one of the titles of the Duke of Westminster, the ground landlord.

Bell. A tavern sign, originally denoting a haunt for the lovers of sport, where a silver bell constituted the prize.

Bell, Book, and Candle. The instruments used by the Church in carrying out a sentence of excommunication. The bell apprised all good Christians of what was about to take place, the dread sentence was read out of the book, while the blowing out of the candle symbolised the spiritual darkness in which the excommunicated person would in future abide.

Belleisle. French for “beautiful isle.”

Beloochistan. Pursuant to the Persian stan, the country of the Belooches.

Below Par. Not up to the mark in point of health. The allusion is to Government stock not worth its nominal £100 value.

Belvedere. A public-house sign, derived from the Italian word for a pavilion built on a house-top commanding a fine prospect.

Ben. Theatrical slang for “benefit.”

Bench. The primitive seat of judges and magistrates before the modern throne-like chair was introduced. Barristers of the Inns of Court are styled “Benchers” from the wooden seats formerly provided for them.

Benedict. A confirmed bachelor, after St Benedict, who unceasingly preached the virtues of celibacy. Also a newly-married man who, like Benedick in Much ado about Nothing, after having long forsworn marriage, at length succumbed to the grand passion.

Benedictine. A liqueur made at the Benedictine monastery at Fécamp.

Benedictines. The monastic Order founded by St Benedict in the sixth century.

Bengal Tigers. The Leicester Regiment, which as the old 17th Foot rendered good service in India at the commencement of the last century, and received a royal tiger as a badge.

Bennett Street. From the town mansion of Henry Bennett, Earl of Arlington.

Bentinck Street. After William Bentinck, second Duke of Portland, the ground landlord.

Bergen. From the Danish bierg, mountain, the port nestling at the foot of high hills.

Berkeley Square. The whole district hereabouts comprised the land of Lord Berkeley of Stratton, one of the officers of Charles I.

Berkeley Street (Upper and Lower). After Edward Berkeley Portman, the ground landlord. There is a Berkeley Street too in Clerkenwell, on the site of which stood the residence of Sir Maurice Berkeley, the standard-bearer of Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Elizabeth.

Berkshire. The Beoric, or “forest shire,” of the Saxons.

Berlin. From the Slavonic Berle, denoting its situation in the midst of a sandy plain.

Bermondsey. The ey, or creek land, belonging to the Saxon lord Beomund.

Bermuda Islands. After Juan Bermudas, who discovered them in 1522.

Bernardine Hospice. This noble institution on the Alpine heights was not founded by St Bernard, nor has it ever been served by the monks of his Order. It takes its name from Bernard de Menthon, a wealthy Savoyard, who in 962 established this house of refuge for the pilgrims crossing the Alps on their way to the Holy Land. The monks who serve the Hospice are Augustinians.

Bernardines. The monastic Order founded by St Bernard in 1115.

Berne. From the German Bären, which expresses the plural for bear. The figure of a bear is conspicuous on the public buildings, fountains, etc.

Berners Street. After Lady Berners, the original owner of the land hereabouts.

Best Man at a Wedding. A survival of feudal times, when the particular friends of the “Bridegroom” undertook to frustrate the designs of a rival sworn to carry off the bride before the nuptials could take place. In Sweden weddings formerly took place under cover of night. Behind the high altar of the ancient church at Husaby, in Gothland, a collection of long lances, with sockets for torches, may yet be seen. These were served out to the groomsmen on such occasions, both for defence and illumination. These groomsmen were the bravest and best who could be found to volunteer their services.

Bethlehem. Hebrew for “house of bread.” Hence Bethlehem Hospital, the original name for a lazar or poor house.

Bethnal Green. Anciently Bednal Green, but corrupted from the family name of the Bathons, who resided here, temp. Edward I.

Bevis Marks. Properly Bury’s Marks, from the posts to define the limits of the ground belonging to the town house of the Abbots of Bury.

Bideford Postman. The sobriquet of Edward Capern, the poet, who was a letter-carrier at Bideford in Devon.

Big Ben. After Sir Benjamin Hall, Bart., M.P., one of the designers of the New Houses of Parliament, and Chief Commissioner of Works.

Big Bend State. Tennessee, which name expresses the Indian for “river of the great bend.”

Bilbo. The old name for a Spanish sword blade made at Bilboa.

Bilboes. The irons with which mutinous sailors are manacled together. From Bilboa, Spain, their place of origin.

Bilker. A corruption of Balker, one who balks or outwits another. In our day one hears mostly of the “Cab bilker”; formerly the “Tavern bilker” was an equally reprehensible character.

Billingsgate. After Belin, a Saxon lord, who had a residence beside the old Roman water-gate on the north bank of the Thames.

Billiter Street. A corruption of Belzettar, the name of the first builder on the land hereabouts.

Billycock. The slang term for a “bowler” hat always worn by William Coke at the Holkham shooting parties.

Bingham’s Dandies. One of the nicknames of the 17th Lancers, after their Colonel and their smart uniforms.

Bioscope. Moving or living pictures thrown on a screen, so called from the Greek bios, life, and skopein, to view.

Birchin Lane. Properly Birchover Lane, after the name of the builder.

Birdcage Walk. From the Royal Aviary of the Restoration, located along the south wall of St James’s Park.

Bird of Passage. A hotel phrase applied to a guest who arrives at stated seasons.

Bird’s Eye Tobacco. So called from the oval shape of the stalks when cut up with the leaf.

Birkbeck Institute. The premier Mechanics’ Institute, established by Dr Birkbeck in 1824.

Birmingham. Called Bremenium by the Romans and Birmingeham in Domesday Book. This being so, it cannot be corrupted from “Broom-place town,” as some authors say.

Birrell. To write, speak, or do anything after the manner of Mr Augustine Birrell, M.P., President of the Board of Education.

Birrelligion. A word coined by Dr Casterelli, Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, who, speaking on Mr Birrell’s New Education Bill, said it was not one exactly of irreligion, but of Birrelligion, acceptable to no party or denomination.

Bishopsgate Street. From the ancient city gate rebuilt by Bishop Irkenwald, the son of King Offa, and repaired by Bishop William in the time of the Conqueror.

Biz. Theatrical slang for “business” or stage by-play.

Black Brunswickers. A celebrated regiment of seven hundred volunteers raised in Bohemia in 1809 by Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick, who took up arms against Napoleon because the latter had obstructed his succession to his father’s dukedom. Their uniform was black, in token of mourning for the deceased Duke. Finding they could not bear against the power of France, they enlisted in the English service. Thus it came to pass that the Black Brunswickers fought at the Battle of Waterloo, where their gallant leader met his death. Afterwards they were heard of no more.

Black Bull. An inn sign derived from the heraldic device of the House of Clare.

Black Country. The name given to the great coalfield in the Midlands. It extends from Birmingham to Wolverhampton on one side and from Lyle Waste to West Bromwich on the other.

Black Friars. The Order of the Dominicans, so called from their habits. In the district of Blackfriars stood the great monastery.

Blackguards. A derisive nickname given originally to the scullions of the Royal Household, touching their grimy appearance, as contrasted with the spruceness of the Guards of Honour.

Blackheath. A corruption of Bleak Heath.

Blackleg. After sporting men of a low type, who invariably wore black gaiters or top-boots.

Blackmail. Originally a tax or tribute paid to robbers or freebooters as a compromise for protection. “Black” implied the Gaelic for security, while mal was Anglo-Saxon for tribute.

Black Maria. Slang for a prison van. Many years ago a negress of powerful build and strength, named Maria Lee, kept a sailor’s lodging-house at Boston. Everyone dreaded her, and she so frequently assisted the police of that day to pin down a refractory prisoner before he could be manacled that “Send for Black Maria!” became quite a common exclamation among them. Hence the earliest vehicles for the conveyance of offenders against law and order, especially since they were painted black, were named after her.

Black Museum. The collection of criminal relics preserved at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police at New Scotland Yard.

Black Prince. The sobriquet of Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Edward III., not because he wore black armour, as is generally supposed, but, according to Froissart, “by terror of his arms,” and again, Strutt, “for his martial deeds.”

Black Sea. From its many black rocks, which render navigation dangerous.

Blackwall. A corruption of Bleak Wall.

Black Watch. Soldiers first appointed to watch the Highlands of Scotland. They received the name from their black tartans.

Blandford Square. From Blandford, Dorsetshire, near Bryanstone, the seat of the great ground landlord, Viscount Portman.

Blankets. First made by the Brothers Blanket, of Bristol, in 1337.

Blarney. Suave speeches intended only to gain time. When Cormack Macarthy was besieged by the English in Blarney Castle in 1662 he concluded an armistice, with the object of surrendering after a few days; but instead of doing so he sent out soft, evasive speeches, until Lord Carew and his soldiers were forced to admit that they had been duped. Hence the expression: “None of your Blarney.”

Blenheim Oranges. First cultivated at Blenheim, the seat of the Duke of Marlborough.

Blenheim Street. In compliment to the Duke of Marlborough after the battle of Blenheim.

Blind Man’s Buff. So called because if any one of those taking part in the game allowed the blind man to buff up against him he had to be blindfolded in his place.

Blood. See “Penny Blood.”

Bloody. The addiction of the vulgar to the use of this adjective on all occasions has made it low and reprehensible. Anciently, however, it was employed in a most reverential sense, relative to the Blood of Christ--e.g. the “Bloody Sacrifice of the Mass.”

Bloody Assizes. Those held by Judge Jeffreys in 1685 for the punishment of all who had taken part in the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion. Three hundred persons were executed, and more than a thousand transported to the plantations.

Bloody Butcher. The sobriquet of the Duke of Cumberland, son of George II., owing to his wholesale slaughter of the adherents of Prince Charles Stuart, the Young Pretender, after the battle of Culloden.

Bloody Eleventh. The 11th Foot, in memory of the terrible slaughter inflicted on this regiment at Salamanca.

Bloody Tower. Where the infant Princes were murdered at the order of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Glo’ster.

Bloomers. After Mrs Ann Bloomer of New York, who introduced the original nondescript style of “New Woman” in 1849.

Bloomsbury. A corruption of “Lomesbury,” the name of a manor house and grounds which stood on the site of the present square. “Lomesbury village” sprang up around the ancient church of St Giles’s in-the-Fields.

Bluchers. After Field-Marshal von Blucher, who affected this style of military half-boot.

Blue. An indecent story is said to be “blue” because harlots in the ancient Bridewell, and in more modern houses of correction or penitentiaries, were habited in blue gowns.

Blue Boar. An inn sign derived from the heraldic device of Richard III.

Blue Grass State. Kentucky, from the character of the orchard grass in this fertile limestone region.

Blue Hen’s Chickens. A nickname for the people of Delaware. The Delaware State Journal thus accounts for its origin: “At the beginning of the Revolutionary War there lived in Sussex county of that colony a gentleman of fortune named Caldwell, who was a sportsman, and breeder of fine horses and game-cocks. His favourite axiom was that the character of the progeny depends more on the mother than on the father, and that the finest game-cocks depended on the hen rather than on the cock. His observation led him to select a blue hen, and he never failed to hatch a good game-cock from a blue hen’s egg. Caldwell distinguished himself as an officer in the First

Delaware

Delaware

Regiment for his daring spirit. The high state of its discipline was conceded to its exertions, so that when officers were sent on recruiting service it was said that they had gone home for more of Caldwell’s game-cocks; but as Caldwell insisted that no cock could be truly game unless its mother was a blue hen, the expression Blue Hen’s Chickens was substituted for game-cocks.”

Blue Law State. An old name for Connecticut, whose original settlers shared with the Puritans in the mother country a disgust of the licentiousness of the Court of the Restoration, and on this account were said to advocate “Blue” Laws.

Blue Noses. A nickname bestowed upon the Nova Scotians, from the species of potato which they produce and claim to be the best in the world.

Blue Peter. The flag hoisted at the mast head to give notice that a vessel is about to sail. Its name is a corruption of the French “Bleu Partir,” or blue departure signal.

Blue Pig. An inn sign, corrupted from the “Blue Boar.”

Blue Stocking. From the famous club of literary ladies formed by Mrs Montague in 1840, at which Benjamin Stillingfleet, who habitually wore blue stockings, was a regular visitor. Blue stockings, therefore, became the recognised badge of membership. There was, however, such a club of ladies and gentlemen at Venice as far back as 1400, called Della Calza, from the colour of stockings worn.

Blunderbuss. A corruption of the Dutch donderbus, “thunder tube.”

Board of Green Cloth. The steward of the Royal Household presides over this so called court, which has a green cover on its table.

Boar’s Head. The sign of the ancient tavern in Eastcheap immortalised by Shakespeare. This, like all others of the same name, was derived from the heraldic device of the Gordons, the earliest of whom slew a boar that had long been a terror of the forest.

Bob Apple. A very old boyish pastime. Standing on tiptoe, with their hands behind them, they tried to catch in their mouths an apple as it swung to and fro at the end of a piece of string suspended from the ceiling. A variant of the same game consisted in lying across a form and plunging their heads into a large tub of water, at the bottom of which was the apple.

Bobby. The nickname of a policeman, after Sir Robert Peel, to whom the introduction of the modern police system was due.

Bobs. The popular nickname of Lord Roberts during the South African War. He is also called “Lord Bobs.”

Boer. Expresses the Dutch for a farmer. Synonymous with the English “boor,” an uncultivated fellow, a tiller of the soil.

Bogtrotter. An Irishman, from the ease with which he makes his way across the native bogs, in a manner astonishing to a stranger.

Bogus. In reporting a trial at law The Boston Courier in 1857 gave the following authoritative origin:--“The word Bogus is a corruption of the name of one Borghese, a very corrupt individual, who twenty years ago or more did a tremendous business in the way of supplying the great west, and portions of the south-west, with counterfeit bills and bills on fictitious banks. The western people fell into the habit of shortening the name of Borghese to that of Bogus, and his bills, as well as all others of like character, were universally styled by them ‘bogus currency.’” So that the word is really American.

Bohea. Tea of the poorest quality, grown in the hilly district of Wu-i; pronounced by the Chinese Vooy.

Bohemia. From the Bohii, the ancient inhabitants of the country.

Bohemian. One who leads a hand-to-mouth existence by literary or other precarious pursuits, who shuns the ordinary conventions of society, and aspires to that only of his fellows. The term originally meant a “Gipsy,” because the earliest nomadic people who overran Western Europe did so by way of Bohemia.

Boiled Shirt. An Americanism, originally from the western states, for a starched white shirt.

Bolivia. After General Simon Bolivar, surnamed “The Liberator of Peru.”

Bologna. A settlement of the Boii, after whom the Romans called it Bononia.

Bomba. The sobriquet of Ferdinand, King of Naples, on account of his bombardment of Messina in 1848.

Bonanza State. Nevada, on account of its rich mines, styled Bonanza mines. Bonanza is Spanish for “prosperity.”

Bond Street (Old and New). Built on the land owned by Sir Thomas Bond, Comptroller of the Household of Charles I.

Bone of Contention. In allusion to two dogs fighting over a bone.

Bone-shaker. The original type of bicycle, with wooden wheels, of which the rims consisted of small curved pieces glued together. Compared with a modern machine it was anything but easy riding.

Boniface. The popular name for an innkeeper--not that St Boniface was the patron saint of drawers and tapsters, but because one of the Popes of this name instituted what was called “St Boniface’s Cup,” by granting an indulgence to all who toasted his health, or that of his successors, immediately after saying grace at meals.

Booking Office. In the old coaching days passengers had to book their seats for a stage journey several days in advance at an office in the innyard whence the coaches set out. When railways came in the name was retained, though no “booking” was ever in evidence. Nearly all the old coaching innyards have been converted into railway goods and parcels receiving depots.

Bookmaker. From the way in which

he

he

adjusts his clients’ bets, so that, ordinarily, he cannot lose on the issue of a day’s racing.

Boot-jack. A wooden contrivance by which the wearer could help himself to take off his high-legged boots without the aid of a servant. Hence it was called a jack, which is the generic term for a man-servant or boy.

Border Eagle State. Mississippi, on account of the Border Eagle in the arms of the state.

Bore. This name was first applied by the “Macaronies” to any person who disapproved of foppishness or dandyism. Nowadays it implies one whose conversation is uninteresting, and whose society becomes repugnant.

Borneo. A European application of the Sanskrit boorni, land.

Born in the Purple. Since purple was the Imperial colour of the Cæsars and the Emperors of the East, the sons of the reigning monarch were said to be born in it. This expression had a literal truth, for the bed furniture was draped with purple.

Born with a Silver Spoon in his Mouth. In allusion to the silver apostle spoon formerly presented to an infant by its godfather at baptism. In the case of a child born lucky or rich such a gift of worldly goods was anticipated at the moment of entering life.

Borough. The Burgh or town which arose on the south side of Old London Bridge, long before the City of London became closely packed with streets and houses.

Borough English. A Saxon custom, whereby the youngest son of a burgher inherited everything from his father, instead of the eldest, as among the Normans.

Bosh. See “All Bosh.”

Bosphorus. From the Greek bos-porus, cow strait, agreeably to the fable that Io, transformed into a white cow, swam across it.

Boss. A term derived from the Dutch settlers of New York, in whose language baas (pronounced like the a in all), expressed an overseer or master.

Boston. Short for St Botolph’s Town. “The stump” of the church is seen from afar across the Boston Deeps.

Botany Bay. So called by Captain Cook on account of the variety of, to him, new plants found on its shores. This portion of New South Wales was the first British Convict Settlement; hence Botany Bay became a term synonymous with penal servitude.

Botolph Lane. From the church of St Botolph, situated in it.

Bottle of Hay. A corruption of “bundle of hay,” from the French botte, a bundle, of which the word bottle expresses the diminutive.

Bottom Dollar. An Americanism for one’s last coin.

Bovril. An adaptation of bovis, ox, and vril, strength--the latter being a word coined by Lord Lytton in “The Coming Race.”

Bow. From the ancient stone bridge over the Lea, which was the first ever built in this country on a bow or arch.

Bow Church. Properly the church of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, the first in this country to be built on bows or arches.

Bowdlerise. In the year 1818 Thomas Bowdler brought out an expurgated edition of Shakespeare’s Plays; hence a “Bowdlerised Edition” of any work is one of which the original text has been unwarrantably tampered with.

Bowie Knife. After Colonel Jim Bowie, a famous fighter of the western states, who first armed himself with this weapon.

Bow Street. From its arc shape when first laid out.

Bow Street Runners. Primitive detectives sent out from their headquarters in Bow Street in highwayman days.

Bowyer Tower. Anciently the residence of the Tower bowyer or bowmaker. Here, according to tradition, the Duke of Clarence was drowned in a butt of “Malmsey.”

Boxing Day. See “Christmas-box.”

Box Office. At one time only the private boxes at a theatre could be booked in advance; hence the term.

Box the Compass. To be able to repeat all the thirty-two degrees or points of the mariner’s compass; a mental exercise all round the compass-box.

Boycott. To ostracise a man. This word came into use in 1881, after Captain Boycott of Lough Mark Farm, co. Mayo, was cut off from all social and commercial intercourse with his neighbours for the crime of being an Irish landlord.

Boy King. Edward VI., who ascended the throne of England in his tenth, and died in his sixteenth, year.

Boz. Under this nom de plume Charles Dickens published his earliest “Sketches” of London life and character in The Morning Chronicle. He has told us himself that this was the pet name of a younger brother, after Moses Primrose in “The Vicar of Wakefield.” The infantile members of the family pronounced the name “Bozes,” and at last shortened it into “Boz.”

Bradford. From the Anglo-Saxon Bradenford, “broad ford.”

Braggadocio. After Braggadochio, a boasting character in Spenser’s “Faery Queene.”

Brahma Fowl. Originally from the district of the Brahmapootra River in India. Pootra is Sanskrit for Son; hence the river name means “The Son of Brahma.”

Brandy. From the German Brantwein, burnt wine. A spirituous distillation from wine.

Brazenose College. The brazen nose on the college gate notwithstanding, this name was derived from the fact that here stood an ancient brasenhuis, or “brew-house.” Oxford has always been famous for the excellent quality of its beer.

Bravo. In Italy one who is always boasting of his courage and prowess; generally a hired

assassin

assassin

.

Brazil. From braza, the name given by the Portuguese to the red dye-wood of the country.

Bread Street. Where the bakers had their stalls in connection with the Old Chepe, or market.

Break Bread. To accept hospitality. In the East bread is baked in the form of large cakes, which are broken, never cut with a knife. To break bread with a stranger ensures the latter personal protection as long as he remains under the roof of his host.

Breakfast. The morning meal, when the fast since the previous night’s supper is broken.

Break the Bank. Specifically at the gaming-tables of Monte Carlo. With extraordinary luck this may be done on occasion; but the winner’s triumph is short-lived since, the capital of the bank being unlimited, if he continues to play after fresh stores of gold have been produced, he must lose in the end.

Brecon. See “Brecknock.”

Brecknock. The capital (also called Brecon) of one of the shires of Wales, originally Breckineauc, after Brychan, a famous Welsh prince. Brecknock Road takes its name from Lord Camden, Earl of Brecknock, the ground landlord.

Breeches Bible. From the word “breeches” for “aprons” (Genesis iii. 7).

Brentford. The ford over the Brent.

Breviary. The name given to an abridgment of the daily prayers, for the use of priests, during the Seven Canonical Hours, made by Pope Gregory VII. in the eleventh century.

Brevier. The style of type originally employed in the composition of the Catholic “Breviary.”

Bridegroom. The word groom comes from the Gothic and Anglo-Saxon guma, man, allied to the Latin homo, man. It still expresses a man-servant who grooms or attends to his master’s horse.

Bride Lane. From the church of St Bride or Bridget.

Bride of the Sea. Venice, in allusion to the ancient ceremony of “The Marriage of the Adriatic.”

Bridewell. The name anciently given to a female penitentiary, from the original establishment near the well of St Bride or Bridget in the parish of Blackfriars. The name is preserved in Bridewell Police Station.

Brigadier. The commanding officer of a brigade.

Bridge. Twenty years ago two families at Great Dalby, Leicestershire, paid each other a visit on alternate nights, for a game of what they called Russian whist. Their way lay across a broken bridge, very dangerous after nightfall. “Thank goodness, it’s your bridge to-morrow night!” they were wont to exclaim on parting. This gave the name to the game itself.

Bridge of Sighs. The bridge forming a covered gallery over the Canal at Venice between the State prisons on the one hand and the palace of the Doges on the other. Prisoners were led to the latter to hear the death sentence pronounced, and thence to execution. No State prisoner was ever known to recross this bridge; hence its name.

Bridgewater Square. From the town house of the Earls of Bridgewater.

Brief. A brief summary of all the facts of a client’s case prepared by a solicitor for the instruction of counsel.

Bristol. Called by the Anglo-Saxons “Brightstow,” or pleasant, stockaded place.

Britain. This country was known to the Phœnicians as Barat-Anac, “the land of time.” The Romans called it Britannia.

British Columbia. The only portion of North America which honours the memory, as a place name, of Christopher Columbus.

Brittany. The land anciently possessed by the kings of Britain.

Brixton. Anciently Brigestan, the bridge of stone.

Broadside. A large sheet printed straight across instead of in columns.

Broker. From the Anglo-Saxon brucan, through the Old English brocour, to use for profit.

Brompton. Anciently Broom Town, or place of the broom plant.

Brook Street. From a stream meandering through the fields from Tyburn.

Brooke Street. From the town house of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke. In this street the boy poet Chatterton poisoned himself.

Brother Jonathan. After Jonathan Turnbull, the adviser of General Washington in all cases of military emergency. “We must ask Brother Jonathan” was the latter’s invariable reply to a suggestion made to him.

Brougham. First made to the order of Lord Brougham.

Brought under the Hammer. Put up for sale by public auction. The allusion is, of course, to the auctioneer’s hammer.

Bruce Castle. The residence of Robert Bruce after his defeat by John Baliol in the contest for the Scottish crown.

Bruges. From its many bridges.

Brummagem. The slang term for cheap jewellery made at Birmingham. In local parlance this city is “Brummagem,” and its inhabitants are “Brums.”

Brunswick Square. Laid out and built upon at the accession of the House of Brunswick.

Bruton Street. From the seat of the Berkeleys at Bruton, Somersetshire.

Bryanstone Square. From the seat, near Blandford, Dorset, of Viscount Portman, the ground landlord.

Bucephalus. A horse, after the famous charger of Alexander the Great.

Buckeye State. Ohio, from the buckeye-trees with which this state abounds. Its people are called “Buckeyes.”

Buckingham. The Anglo-Saxon Boccenham, or “beech-tree village.”

Buckingham Palace. After the residence, on this site, of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham.

Buckingham Street. From the older mansion of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. The water-gate is still in evidence.

Buckle to. An expression descended from the days of chivalry, when a knight buckled on his armour for the tournament.

Bucklersbury. Anciently the bury or enclosed ground of a wealthy grocer named Buckle or Bukerel.

Budge Row. From the vendors of “Budge” or lambskin fur who congregated here.

Bug Bible. From the word “bugges”--i.e. bogies--in place of “the terror” (Psalm xci. 5).

Buggy. From bâghi, the Hindustani for a one-horse vehicle.

Bull. A papal edict, so called on account of the bulla, or seal.

Bull and Gate. An inn sign, corrupted from “Boulogne Gate,” touching the siege of Boulogne and its harbour by Henry VIII. in 1544.

Bulgaria. A corruption of Volgaria, the country of the Volsci.

Bull-dog. A dog originally employed in the brutal sport of bull-baiting. The name is also given to one of the two attendants of the proctor at a university while going his rounds by night.

Bullion State. Missouri, after Thomas Hart Benton, who, when representing this state in Congress, merited the nickname of “Old Bullion,” from his spirited advocacy of a gold and silver currency instead of “Greenbacks” or paper.

Bullyrag. See “Ragging.”

Bullyruffian. A corruption of the Bellerophon, the vessel on which Napoleon surrendered after the battle of Waterloo.

Bungalow. From the Bengalese bangla, a wooden house of one storey surrounded by a verandah.

Bunhill Fields. Not from the Great Plague pit in Finsbury, but from the cart-loads of human bones shot here when the charnel-house of St Paul’s Churchyard was pulled down in 1549.

Bunkum. Originally a Congressman’s speech, “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” An oratorial flight not intended to carry a proposal, but to catch popular applause. The representative for Buncombe, in North Carolina, occupied the time of the house at Washington so long with a meaningless speech that many members left the hall. Asked his reason for such a display of empty words, he replied: “I was not speaking to the House, but to Buncombe.”

Bureau. French for a writing-desk, from buro, a drugget, with which it was invariably covered.

Burgess Roll. See “Roll Call.”

Burgundy. A wine produced in the French province of the same name.

Burke. To stop or gag--e.g. to burke a question. After an Irishman of this name, who silently and secretly took the lives of many peaceable citizens by holding a pitch plaster over their mouths, in order to sell their bodies to the doctors for dissection. He was hanged in 1849. His crimes were described as “Burking.”

Burleigh Street. From the residence of Lord Burleigh in Exeter Street, hard by.

Burlington Street (Old and New). After Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington and Cork, from whom Burlington House, refronted by him, also received its name.

Burmah. From the natives, who claim to be descendants of Brahma, the supreme deity of the Hindoos.

Burton Crescent. After the name of its builder.

Bury St Edmunds. A corruption of the Borough of St Edmund, where the Saxon king and martyr was crowned on Christmas Day, 856. Taken prisoner and killed by the Danes, he was laid to rest here. Over the site of his tomb Canute built a Benedictine monastery.

Bury Street. Properly Berry Street, after its builder.

Bury the Hatchet. At a deliberation of war the hatchet is always in evidence among the Indians of North America, but when the calumet, or pipe of peace, is being passed round, the symbol of warfare is carefully hidden.

Busking. Theatrical slang for an al fresco performance to earn a few coppers. To “go busking on the sands” is the least refined aspect of a Pierrot Entertainment. See “Sock and Buskin.”

Buy a Pig in a Poke. A man naturally wants to see what he is bargaining for. “Poke” is an old word for a sack or large bag, of which pocket expresses the diminutive.

By Gad. A corruption of the old oath “By God.”

By George. Originally this oath had reference to the patron saint of England. In more modern times it was corrupted into “By Jove,” so that it might have applied to Jupiter; then at the Hanoverian Succession the ancient form came in again.

By Hook or by Crook. The final word here is a corruption of Croke. More than a century ago two eminent K.C.’s named Hook and Croke were most generally retained by litigants in action at law. This gave rise to the saying: “If I can’t win my case by Hook I will by Croke.”

By Jingo. An exclamation traceable to the Basque mountaineers brought over to England by Edward I. to aid him in the subjection of Wales at the time when the Plantagenets held possession of the Basque provinces. “Jainko” expressed the supreme deity of these hillmen.

By Jove. See “By George.”

By the Holy Rood. The most solemn oath of the crusaders. “Rood,” from the Anglo-Saxon rod, was the Old English name for Cross.

By the Mass. A common oath in the days of our Catholic ancestors, when quarrels were generally made up by the parties attending Mass together.

By the Peacock. See “Peacock.”

By the Skin of my Teeth. An expression derived from Job xix. 20: “My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.”

Byward Tower. A corruption of Bearward Tower, the residence of the Tower “Bearward.” The bear-house at our national fortress in the time of James I. is mentioned in Nichol’s “Progresses and Processions.”

C

Cab. Short for “Cabriolet,” or little caperer, from cabriole, a goat’s leap. See “Capri.”

Cabal. A political term formed out of the initials of the intriguing ministry of 1670--thus: Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale.

Cabinet. The designation of Ministers of State, who first conducted their deliberations in a cabinet, from the Italian gabinetto, a small room. A picture or photograph of this size received its name from the apartment for which it was best suited.

Cabin Girls. Waitresses at the “Cabin” Restaurants Limited.

Cablegram. An Americanism for telegram.

Cadiz. Called Gades by the Romans, from the Phœnician Gadir, enclosed, shut in.

Cadogan Square. From the Earl of Cadogan, the lord of the manor of Chelsea.

Cahoot. An Americanism for partnership or company, derived from the French capute, hut, cabin. Men who share a cabin or shanty are said to be “in cahoot.”

Caitiff. An old term of contempt for a despicable person, derived from the Latin captivis, a captive, slave.

Caius College. The name given to Gonville College, Cambridge, after its refoundation by Dr Caius by royal charter in 1558.

Cake Walk. A musical walking competition round a cake, very popular among the negroes of the southern states. The couple adjudged to walk most gracefully receive the cake as a prize.

Calcutta. From Kalikutta, “the village of Kali,” the goddess of time.

Caledonia. The country of the Caels or Gaels; Gadhel in the native tongue signified a “hidden cover.”

Caledonian Road. From the Royal Caledonian Asylum for Scottish orphans, now removed.

Calico. First brought from Calicut in the East Indies.

California. Called by Cortez Caliente Fornalla, or “hot furnace,” on account of its climate.

Caliph. From the Arabic Khalifah, a successor.

Called over the Coals. A corruption of “Hauled over the Coals.”

Camberwell. From the ancient holy well in the vicinity of the church of St Giles, the patron saint of cripples. Cam is Celtic for “crooked.”

Cambria. The country of the Cimbri or Cymri, who finally settled in Wales.

Cambric. First made at Cambray in Flanders.

Cambridge. From the bridge over the Cam, or “crooked” river. See “Cantab.”

Camden Town. After the Earl of Camden, the ground landlord.

Camellia. Introduced into Europe by G. J. Camelli, the German missionary botanist.

Camera Obscura. Literally a dark chamber.

Cameron Highlanders. The Scottish regiment of infantry raised by Allan Cameron in 1793.

Camisard. A military term for a night attack, after the Camisards, Protestant insurgents of the seventeenth century, who, wearing a camise, or peasant’s smock, conducted their depredations under cover of night.

Camomile Street. From the herbs that grew on the waste north of the city.

Campania. An extensive plain outside Rome, across which the “Appian Way” was constructed. The word comes from the Latin campus, a field.

Campden Square. From the residence of Sir Baptist Hicks, created Viscount Campden.

Canada. From the Indian kannatha, a village or collection of huts.

Canary. Wine and a species of singing bird brought from the Canary Islands, so called, agreeably to the Latin canis, on account of the large dogs found there.

Candia. Anciently Crete, called by the Arabs Khandæ, “island of trenches.”

Candy. An Americanism for sweetmeats. The Arabic quand, sugar, gave the French word candi.

Canned Meat. An Americanism for tinned meat.

Cannibal. See “Caribbean Sea.”

Cannon Row. The ancient residence of the Canons of St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

Cannon Street. A corruption of Candlewick Street, where the candle-makers congregated.

Cannucks. See “K’nucks.”

Canonbury. From the manorial residence of the priors of St Bartholomew Church, Clerkenwell, of which the ancient tower remains.

Cant. After Alexander and Andrew Cant, a couple of bigoted Covenanters, who persecuted their religious opponents with relentless zeal, and at the same time prayed for those who suffered on account of their religious opinions.

Cantab. Of Cambridge University. The River Cam was anciently called the Granta; hence the Saxon name of the city Grantabrycge, or the bridge over the Granta, softened later into Cantbrigge.

Canterbury. The fortified place or chief town of “Kent.”

Canterbury Music Hall. This, the first of the London music halls, opened in 1848, grew out of the old-time popular “free-and-easy,” or “sing-song,” held in an upper room of what was until then a tavern displaying the arms of the city of Canterbury, and styled the “Canterbury Arms.”

Cantlowes Road. See “Kentish Town.”

Canvas Back. A species of sea-duck, regarded as a luxury on account of the delicacy of its flesh. So called from the colour of the plumage on its back.

Cape Finisterre. Adapted by the French from the Latin finis terra, “land’s end.”

Capel Court. The Stock Exchange, so called from the residence of Sir William Capel, Lord Mayor in 1504.

Cape of Good Hope. So called by John II., King of Portugal, after Diaz had touched this point of Africa, as a favourable augury for the circumnavigation of the globe.

Cape Horn. Named Hoorn, after his birthplace, by Schouten, the Dutch navigator, who first rounded it.

Capri. From the Latin caper, a he-goat, expresses the island of wild goats.

Capuchin Friars. From the pointed cowl or capuce worn by them.

Carat Gold. So called because gold and precious stones were formerly weighted against carat seeds or seeds of the Abyssinian coral flower.

Carbonari. Italian for charcoal-burners, in whose huts this secret society held its meetings.

Carburton Street. From the Northamptonshire village on the ducal estate of the ground landlord.

Cardiff. From Caer Taff, the fort on the Taff.

Cardigan. After Ceredog, a famous chieftain.

Caribbean Sea. From the Caribbs, which West Indian designation signifies “cruel men.” Corrupted through the Spanish Caribal, we have derived the word “Cannibal,” for one who eats human flesh.

Carlton House Terrace. From Carlton House, built by Lord Carlton, later the residence of Frederick, Prince of Wales, the father of George III.

Carmagnole. A wild song and dance which came into prominence during the French Revolution. It received its name from Carmagnolas, a town in Piedmont, whence the Savoyard boys carried the tune into the south of France.

Carmarthen. A corruption of Caer-merlin, or the fortress built by Merlin, in the neighbourhood of which he was born.

Carmelites. White Friars of the order of Mount Carmel.

Carnarvon. The fortress on the Arfon, or water.

Carolina. After Carollus, the Latinised name of Charles II., who granted a charter of colonisation to eight of his favourites.

Caroline Islands. In honour of Charles I. of Spain.

Carpenter. Originally one who made only the body or wooden portion of a vehicle. So called from the Latin carpentum, waggon. An ordinary worker in wood was, and still is in the English provinces, a joiner.

Carpet Knight. A civilian honoured with a knighthood by the sovereign. One who has not won his spurs on the field, like the knights of old.

Carry Coals to Newcastle. To do that which is altogether superfluous. It would be ridiculous to take coals to a place where they are found in abundance.

Cartaret Street. After John Cartaret, Earl of Granville, Secretary of State, and one of the most popular ministers of the reign of George II.

Carte de Visite. Photographs received this name because the Duc de Parma in 1857 had his likeness printed on the back of his large visiting-cards.

Carthage. From the Phœnician Karth-hadtha, New Town.

Carthagena. From Carthago Novo, or New Carthage.

Carthusians. Monks of La Chartreuse, near Grenoble. This name is also given to former scholars of the “Charter House.”

Carthusian Street. Although some distance to the west of it, this street leads to the “Charter House.”

Caspian Sea. From the Caspii, who peopled its shores.

Castile. In Spanish Castilla, from the castles or forts set up for defence against the Moors.

Castle. An inn sign denoting a wine-house, from the castle in the arms of Spain.

Catacombs. Italian Catacomba, from the Greek kata, downward, and kumbe, a hollow, a cavity.

Cat and Fiddle. A corruption of “Caton le Fidele,” the faithful Caton, Governor of Calais, whose name was honoured by many an inn sign.

Cat and Wheel. A corruption of the old inn sign the “Catherine Wheel,” the instrument of the martyrdom of St Catherine.

Cat Call. A corruption of Cat Wail. When a theatre or music-hall audience is dissatisfied with the performance, and impatient for it to be brought to an end, the “Gods” indulging in “Mewing” like a chorus of cats on the roof by night.

Catch a Weasel asleep. No one ever caught a weasel napping, for the simple reason that he hides himself in a hole away from the sight of man.

Catchpenny. Short for “Catnach Penny,” from the penny dying speeches and yard of songs printed by James Catnach in Seven Dials, and hawked about the streets. The “Catnach Press” was as great a power in that day as the trashy “Bits” literature is in our own.

Cathedral. From the Greek kathedra, a seat--i.e. the chair of a bishop. See “City.”

Caucus. From the Caulkers of Boston, U.S., who shortly before the Revolution came into open conflict with the British soldiery. Meetings were held in the calk houses, and a Caulkers’ Club was formed. Since that time a political meeting of American citizens has been styled a Caucus.

Cavalier. From the French chevalier, a horseman.

Cavendish. Tobacco pressed into plugs for chewing, from the name of the first maker.

Cavendish Square. After Henrietta Cavendish, second wife of Lord Harley, the ground landlord.

Centennial State. Colorado, admitted into the American Union one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence.

Ceylon. Called by the Portuguese Selen, an abbreviation of the Sanskrit Sinhaladwipa, “Island of Lyons.”

Chadwell Street. After the name of the source of the New River in Hertfordshire. The well was anciently dedicated to St Chad.

Chaff. A corruption of chafe, to make hot with anger, as heat may be produced by friction.

Chalk Farm. Originally “Chalcot Farm,” a noted resort for duellists of a past day.

Chalk it up. In allusion to the drink score chalked on a slate against a customer at a country ale-house.

Champagne. A light wine, from the French province of the same name, which expresses a plain, from the Latin campus, field.

Champs de Mars. Expresses the large open space or “Plain of Mars,” in Paris, set apart for military reviews.

Chancery Lane. A corruption of “Chancellor’s Lane,” from the town house of the Bishops of Chichester, afterwards the residence of the Lord High Chancellor of England.

Chandos Street. From the residence of James Bridges, Duke of Chandos.

Chap. Originally short for “Chapman,” one who sold his wares at a chepe, or market.

Chap Book. A small book or tract sold by chapmen. See “Chap.”

Chapel. A printers’ meeting held in the composing-room, so called because Caxton set up the first English press in a disused chapel of Westminster Abbey. The presiding workman is styled “The Father of the Chapel.”

Chapel of Ease. An auxiliary place of worship, for the convenience of those who resided at a great distance from the parish church.

Charing Cross. The idea that this spot received its name from the “good Queen” Eleanor, whose bier was set down here for the last time on its way to Westminster Abbey has been exploded. It was even then called the village of Charing, in honour of La Chère Reine, the Blessed Virgin, this being the usual halting-place between London and the venerable Abbey.

Charlatan. From the Italian ciarlatano, a quack, a babbler, a loquacious itinerant who sold medicines in a public square.

Charles Martel. See “Martel.”

Charles Street. Built upon in the reign of Charles II.

Charlies. The old night watchmen reorganised by Charles I. These were the only civic protectors down to the introduction of the modern police system by Sir Robert Peel.

Charlotte Street. After the queen of George III.

Charter House. A corruption of La Chartreuse, one of the English houses of the Order of monks of the place of the same name in France.

Chartreuse. The liqueurs prepared at the monastery of La Chartreuse, near Grenoble.

Chauffeur. The French term for a motor-car driver; it has no English equivalent.

Cheap Jack. A modern equivalent for “Chap-man.” Jack is a generic name for man-servant or an inferior person.

Cheapside. The High Street of the city of London, consequently abutting on the chepe, or market-place.

Cheese it. A corruption of “Choose it better,” or, in other words, “Tell me something I can believe.”

Chef. French for head or master. Employed alone, the word expresses a head man cook.

Chelmsford. The ford over the Chelmer.

Chelsea. Anciently “Chevelsey,” or “Shingle Island.” See “Chiswick.”

Chequers. An inn sign derived from the arms of the Fitzwarrens, one of whom had the granting of vintners’ licences.

Cherry Bob. An old summer pastime for boys. A bunch of cherries suspended from a beam or tree-branch was kept swinging to and fro, while the boys, with their hands behind them, tried to catch the fruit with their mouths.

Cherry Gardens Pier. A name reminiscent of a popular resort of bygone days in connection with the “Jamaica” in front of which rum, newly arrived from the West Indies, was landed.

Cherry Pickers. The 11th Hussars, because, when captured by the French during the Peninsular War, some men of the regiment were robbing an orchard.

Chesapeake. Indian for “great waters.”

Chester. The city built on the Roman castra, or camp.

Chestnut. Edwin Abbey, the painter of the Coronation picture, is said to have been responsible for the term “Chestnut” as applied to a stale joke. While a member of a club at Philadelphia he always told a story about a man who had a chestnut farm, but made nothing out of it because he gave his chestnuts away. Abbey invariably began this story differently, so that his follow clubmen would not recognise it, but they soon interrupted him by exclaiming “Chestnuts!”

Chestnut Sunday. The first Sunday in June, when the chestnut-trees in Bushey Park at Hampton Court are in bloom.

Cheyne Walk. After Lord Cheyne, lord of the manor of Chelsea in the seventeenth century.

Chicago. Indian for “wild onion.”

Chichester. The Roman camp town taken by Cissa, King of the South Saxons, thenceforth called Cissanceaster.

Chichester Rents. The site of the town mansion of the Bishops of Chichester.

Chili. Peruvian for “land of snow.”

China. After Tsin, the founder of a great dynasty. Earthenware of a superior quality was first made in China; hence the name.

Chin Music. An Americanism for derisive laughter.

Chip off the Old Block. A saying in allusion to the “Family Tree.”

Chippendale. Furniture of elegant design, named after its famous maker.

Chiswick. Anciently “Cheoselwick,” or village of shingles, from the Anglo-Saxon ceosal, sand, gravel.

Chocolat-Menier. The perfection of chocolate, introduced by M. Menier of Paris, who died in 1881.

Choke Him off. The allusion is to grip a dog by the throat in order to make him relax his hold.

Christiania. Rebuilt by Christian IV. of Denmark.

Christian Scientists. A modern offshoot of the Peculiar People, or Faith Healers, who believe that sickness and pain can be cured by faith and prayer without medicine.

Christmas-box. A relic of Catholic days, when a box was placed in all the churches to receive Christmas alms for the poor. These were distributed on the day following.

Christmas Island. Captain Cook landed here on Christmas Day, 1777.

Christ’s College. Founded at Cambridge by Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII., for a master and twelve fellows, corresponding to Christ and His apostles, to whom it was dedicated.

Christy Minstrels. After Charles Christy, who introduced the Negro Minstrel Entertainment to England.

Church Ale. Specifically the ale brewed by the church-wardens for merrymakers on the village green at Whitsuntide and other high holidays. Later the assemblage itself came to be styled a “Church Ale.”

Chute. The French for “a fall,” applied by the Americans to a declivity of water. The exciting diversion of boating on such a waterfall is styled “Shooting the Chutes.”

Cicerone. After Cicero, the prince of speakers. The comparison between the celebrated orator and the “Roman Guide” befooled by Mark Twain is rather painful.

Cigar. From the Spanish Cigarro, the original name of a particular kind of Cuban tobacco.

Cinderella Dance. Because it is brought to an end at twelve o’clock, in allusion to the heroine in the fairy story.

Circumlocution Office. A term first applied to the shuttle-cock methods in vogue at our public offices by Charles Dickens in “Little Dorrit.”

Cistercians. An Order of monks established at Cistercium, or Citeau, near Dijon.

City. The proper and historic distinction between a city and a town lies in the fact that the former is the seat of a bishop, and accordingly contains a cathedral. In modern times many burghs or towns have been advanced to the dignity of a city on account of their commercial importance. These are, however, cities only in name.

City Fathers. Aldermen of the city of London.

City Golgotha. Old Temple Bar, from the heads of rebels spiked on its top. Golgotha is Hebrew for “the place of skulls.”

Claim. A squatter’s term for a piece of land which he has marked off and settled upon pending its legal acquisition from the Government. During the gold fever the name also came to be applied to the land parcelled out to each digger.

Clare Market. The site of Clare House, the residence of the Earl of Clare.

Clarence. A carriage named after the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV.

Clarges Street. From the mansion of Sir Walter Clarges, afterwards taken over by the Venetian ambassador.

Clarendon. The black type first used at the Clarendon Press, Oxford, which owed its foundation to the profits of Lord Clarendon’s “History of the Rebellion,” presented to the University.

Claude Lorraine. The assumed name of the celebrated landscape painter Claude Galée, who was a native of Lorraine.

Cleaned Out. Pockets emptied of cash. The allusion is to a saucepan or other domestic cooking utensil which is cleansed after use.

Clerkenwell. The holy well beside which the parish clerks performed their miracle plays on festival days.

Clifford Street. After Elizabeth Clifford, wife of the Earl of Burlington.

Closure. A modern parliamentary term signifying the right of the Speaker to order the closing of a useless debate. The Closure was first applied 24th February 1884.

Cloth Fair. The great annual mart for the sale of cloth brought over by Flemish merchants.

Club. From the German kleben, to adhere, cleave to, associate.

Clyde. The strong river, from the Gaelic clyth, strong.

Coast is Clear. Originally a smugglers’ phrase relative to coastguards.

Coat of Arms. During the days of chivalry, when a knight was completely encased in armour and the vizor of his helmet was drawn over his face, his sole mode of distinction was by the embroidered design of his armorial bearings on a sleeveless coat that he wore in the lists at tournaments. In warfare the coat was dispensed with, but he was known to his comrades by another device on the crest of his helmet.

Cobbler. An American drink of spirits, beer, sugar, and spice, said to have been first concocted by a Western shoemaker.

Coblentz. From the Latin name, Confluentia, being situated at the confluence of the Rivers Rhine and Moselle.

Cockade. From the party badge originally displayed on a cocked hat. See “Knocked into a Cocked Hat.”

Cockade State. Maryland, from the brilliant cockades worn by the brave Old Maryland Regiment during the War of Independence.

Cockney. From “Cockayne,” a Fools’ Paradise, where there is nothing but eating and drinking, described in a satiric poem of the thirteenth century. The word was clearly derived from coquere, to cook, and had reference to London, where the conduits on occasion ran with wine, and good living fell to the lot of men generally.

Cock-penny. A penny levied by the master on each of the boys for allowing the brutal sport of cock-throwing in school on Shrove Tuesday formerly. The master himself found the bird.

Cocktail. Tradition has it that one of Montezuma’s nobles sent a draught of a new beverage concocted by him from the cactus plant to the Emperor by his daughter Xochitl. The Aztec monarch smiled, tasted it, gulped it down with a relish, and, it is said, afterwards married the girl; thenceforward this drink became the native tipple, and for centuries it bore the softened name of Octel. The corruption of Octel into Cocktail by the soldiers of the American Army when, under General Scott, they invaded Mexico, about sixty years ago, was easy.

Coger. A slang term derived from the members of the celebrated Cogers’ Club in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. They styled themselves “Cogers” from the Latin cogito, to think deeply.

Cohees. Natives of Western Pennsylvania, owing to their addiction to the phrase “Quoth he,” softened into Quo’he.

Coin Money. To make money as fast as it is turned out at the Mint. Few men are so fortunate.

Coke Hat. After William Coke, who popularised it. See “Billycock.”

Coldbath Fields. A district of Clerkenwell now long built over, but famous for a cold bath; the site is marked by the present Bath Street.

Colchester. The camp town on the Colne.

Coldstream Guards. The regiment raised by General Monk at Coldstream, Berwickshire, in 1660.

Coleman Street. Said to have been built upon by one Coleman; but long before his time the coalmen or charcoal merchants congregated here.

Colleen. Irish for girl. “Colleen Bawn” expresses a blonde girl.

College Hill. From a collegiate foundation of Sir Richard Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London.

College Port. Inferior port served up to the older students at college. It is said to be specially prepared for this market.

Collop Monday. The day preceding Shrove Tuesday, when housewives cut up all their meat into large steaks or collops for salting during Lent.

Cologne. The Colonia Agrippina of the Romans, so called after the mother of Nero, who was born here.

Colonel. A Far-West title of courtesy bestowed upon anyone who owns a stud horse.

Colorado. The Spaniards gave this name to the state in allusion to its coloured ranges.

Colosseum. Greek for “great amphitheatre.”

Combine. An Americanism for “Combination.” Applied in a financial or commercial sense, this term is now well understood in our own country.

Come up to the Scratch. A prize-fighting expression. A line was scratched on the ground with a stick, and the combatants were expected to toe it with the left foot.

Commonwealth. In theatrical parlance, a sharing out of the proceeds of the week’s performances after all expenses have been deducted. This generally happens when the manager has decamped with the entire takings, and left his company stranded.

Compton Street (Old and New). Built upon by Sir Richard Compton and Bishop Compton respectively.

Conduit Street. From a conduit of spring water set up here before the land was built over.

Confidence Man. An Americanism for one who in this country is known to extract money from strangers by the “confidence trick.”

Confounded Liar. Literally one who is covered with confusion on being brought face to face with the truth.

Congleton Bears. A nickname given to the people of Congleton, Cheshire. Local tradition has it that the bear intended for baiting at the holiday sports died, and, to procure another, the authorities appropriated the money collected for a new Church Bible.

Congregationalists. Independent Nonconformists, who are neither Baptists nor Wesleyans, and claim the right to “call” their own ministers, each congregation managing its own affairs.

Connecticut. From the Indian Quinnitukut, “country of the long river.”

Conscience Money. Money sent anonymously to the Treasury in respect of Income-Tax after the thought of having defrauded the Revenue has pricked the individual conscience.

Constance. Founded by Constantine, the father of Constantine the Great; one of the oldest cities of Germany.

Constantinople. The city of Constantine.

Constitution Hill. Where John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, took his daily constitutional walk while residing at Buckingham House, built by him in 1703. On the site of this mansion George IV. erected the present edifice, Buckingham Palace, in 1825.

Cook your Goose. An old chronicler thus explains this saying: “The Kyng of Swedland coming to a towne of his enemyes with very little company, his enemyes, to slyghte his forces, did hang out a goose for him to shoote, but perceiving before nyghte that these fewe soldiers had invaded and sette their chief houlds on fire, they demanded of him what his intent was, to whom he replied, ‘To cook your goose.’”

Coon. Short for racoon, an American animal much prized on account of its fur.

Cooper. A publican’s term for half ale and half porter. See “Entire.”

Copenhagen Street. From Copenhagen Fields, where stood a noted tea-house opened by a Dane.

Copper. A policeman, from the thieves’ slang cop, to take, catch.

Copperheads. A political faction of North America during the Civil War, regarded as secret foes, and so called after the copperhead serpent, which steals upon its enemy unawares.

Cordeliers. Franciscan Friars distinguished from the parent Order by the knotted waist-cord.

Corduroy. In French Cord du Roy, “King’s cord,” because ribbed or corded material was originally worn only by the Kings of France.

Cordwainer. The old name for a shoemaker, because the leather he worked upon was Cordwain, a corruption of Cordovan, brought from the city of Cordova.

Cork. From the Gaelic corroch, a swamp.

Cork Street. From the residence of Lord Cork, one of the four brothers of the Boyle family.

Corncrackers. The Kentuckians, from a native bird of the crane species called the Corncracker.

Corner. The creation of a monopoly of prices in respect of natural produce or manufactured goods. The allusion here is to speculators who agreed in a quiet corner, at or near the Exchange, to buy up the whole market.

Cornhill. The ancient city corn market.

Cornwall. Pursuant to the Saxon Wahl, the horn of land peopled by foreigners.

Corpus Christi College. At Cambridge, founded by the united guilds or fraternities of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin.

Corsica. A Phœnician term for “wooded isle.”

Cossack. The Russian form of the Tartar term kasake, a horseman.

Costa Rica. Spanish for “rich coast.”

Costermonger. In Shakespeare’s time a Costardmonger, or trader in a famous species of apple so called.

Cottonopolis. Manchester, the city identified with English cotton manufacture.

Cotton Plantation State. Alabama, from its staple industry.

Cotton to. An Americanism meaning to cling to a man as cotton would cling to his garments.

Counter-jumper. The derisive nickname of a draper’s assistant, on account of his agility in leaping over the counter as a short cut from one department to another.

Country Dance. A corruption of the French contre danse, from the opposite positions of the dancers.

Coup de Grace. The merciful finishing stroke of the executioner after a criminal had been tortured by having all his bones broken on a wheel. One blow on the head then put him out of his misery.

Court Cards. Properly Coat Cards, on account of their heraldic devices.

Court of Arches. The ecclesiastical Court of Appeal for the Archbishopric of Canterbury which in ancient times was held in the crypt of St Mary-le-Bow, or St Mary of the Arches at Cheapside. See “Bow Church.”

Court Plaster. The plaster out of which ladies of the Court fashioned their decorative (?) face patches.

Covenanters. Those who entered into a Solemn League or Covenant to resist the religious and political measures of Charles I. in 1638.

Covent Garden. A corruption of Convent Garden, the site of which was converted into a market, temp. Charles II. The convent and garden belonged to the Abbey at Westminster.

Coventry. A corruption of Conventry--i.e. Convent town. Before the Reformation it was far famed for the number of its conventual establishments. The suffix try is Celtic for “dwelling.”

Coventry Street. From the residence of Henry Coventry, Secretary of State, temp. Charles II.

Cowcross Street. Where the cattle crossed the brook in days when this now congested neighbourhood was pleasant pasture land watered by the “River of Wells.”

Coxcomb. A vain, empty-pated individual. So called from the cock’s comb worn on the cap by the licensed jesters, because they were allowed to crow over their betters.

Cracker. Although the origin of this term when applied to a juvenile firework would appear to be self-evident, it is really a corruption of Cracque, the Norman description of “Greek Fire.”

Crackers. The people of Georgia, owing, it is said, to the unintelligibility of their speech.

Cranbourn Street. From the long, narrow stream of this name, when the whole district hereabouts was open fields.

Crank. One whose notions of things are angular, eccentric, or crooked. His ideas do not run in a straight line.

Cravat. Introduced into Western Europe by the Cravates or Croatians in the seventeenth century.

Craven Street. From the residence of Lord Craven prior to his removal to Drury House in Drury Lane.

Cream City. Milwaukee, from the cream-coloured bricks of which its houses are built.

Credit Draper. The modern designation of a “Tallyman.”

Cree Church. See “St Katherine Cree.”

Creed Lane. Where the monks recited the Credo in procession to St Paul’s. See “Ave Maria Lane.”

Cremorne Gardens. Laid out on the site of the mansion and grounds of Thomas Dawson, Lord Cremorne.

Creole State. Louisiana. In New Orleans particularly a Creole is a native of French extraction.

Crescent City. New Orleans, built in the form of a crescent.

Crimea. From the Kimri or Cymri who settled in the peninsula.

Cripplegate. From the city gate around which gathered cripples begging for alms, the neighbouring church being dedicated to St Giles, their patron.

Crokers. Potatoes, because first raised in Croker’s Field at Youghal, Ireland.

Cromwell Road. From the mansion and grounds of Richard Cromwell, son of the Lord Protector.

Crop Clubs. Clubs formed to evade Mr Pitt’s tax on hair powder. The Times thus noticed one of the earliest in its issue of 14th April 1795: “A numerous Club has been formed in Lambeth called the ‘Crop Club,’ every member of which is obliged to have his hair docked as close as the Duke of Bridgewater’s old bay horses. This assemblage is instituted for the purpose of opposing, or rather evading, the tax on powdered heads.”

Cross Keys. A common inn sign throughout Yorkshire, from the arms of the Archbishop of York.

Crowd. Theatrical slang for members of a company collectively.

Crow over him. A cock always crows over a vanquished opponent in a fight.

Crutched Friars. Friars of the Holy Trinity, so called from the embroidered cross on their habits (Latin, cruciati, crossed). Their London house was located in the thoroughfare named after them.

Cuba. The native name of the island when Columbus discovered it.

Cully. A slang term applied to a man, mate, or companion. Its origin is the Romany cuddy, from the Persian gudda, an ass.

Cumberland. The land of the Cymri.

Cupboard. See “Dresser.”

Curaçoa. A liqueur first prepared at the West Indian island of the same name.

Currants. First brought from Corinth.

Cursitor Street. From the Cursitors’ Office that stood here. The Cursitors were clerks of Chancery, but anciently choristers, just as the Lord Chancellor himself was an ecclesiastic.

Curtain Road. From the “Curtain Theatre,” where Ben Jonson’s “Every Man in his Humour” was put on the stage.

Curzon Street. From George Augustus Curzon, created Viscount Howe, the ground landlord.

Cuspidor. The American term for a spittoon, derived from the Spanish escupidor, a spitter.

Cut me to the Quick. The quick of one’s fingers when cut into is most alive or sensitive to pain. See “Quicksilver.”

Cutpurse. A thief who, in days before pockets came into vogue, had no difficulty in cutting the strings with which a purse was suspended from the girdle.

Cut the Line. A printer’s expression for knocking off work. Formerly compositors finished the line they were composing; nowadays Trades Unionism has made them so particular that they leave off in the middle of a line on the first stroke of the bell.

Cypress. A tree introduced to Western Europe from the island of Cyprus.

Cyprus. From kupras, the Greek name for a herb which grew on the island in profusion.

D

Dachshund. German for “badger-dog.”

Daffodil. An English corruption of the French d’Asphodel.

Dagonet. The pseudonym of Mr George R. Sims in The Referee, after the jester at the Court of King Arthur.

Daguerreotype. An early process of photography discovered by L. J. M. Daguerre.

Dahlgreen Gun. After its inventor, an officer in the United States Navy.

Dahlia. Introduced to Europe from Mexico in 1784 by Andrew Dahl, the Swedish botanist.

Daisy. From the Anglo-Saxon dæges eye, or “day’s eye,” on account of its sunlike appearance.

Dakota. From the Dacoits, a tribe of Indians found there.

Dale Road. From the residence of Canon Dale, poet, and Vicar of St Pancras.

Dalmatian. A species of dog bred in Dalmatia.

Dalston. The town in the dale when the north of London was more or less wooded.

Damage. See “What’s the Damage?”

Damascenes. From Damascus, famous for its plums.

Damascus. From the Arabic name of the city, Dimiskesh-Shâm.

Damascus Blade. From Damascus, a city world famous for the temper of its sword blades.

Damask. First made at Damascus in Syria.

Damask Rose. Introduced to Europe from Damascus.

Damassin. A Damask cloth interwoven with flowers of gold or silver.

Dame School. The old name for a girls’ school taught by a spinster or dame.

Damsons. Properly Damascenes, from Damascus.

Dancing Chancellor. Sir Christopher Hatton so pleased Queen Elizabeth by his dancing at a Court masque that she made him a Knight of the Garter; subsequently he became Lord Chancellor of England.

Dandelion. A corruption of the French dent de lion, from its fancied resemblance to a lion’s tooth.

Dandy. From the French dandin, silly fellow, ninny.

Dantzic. Expresses the town settled by the Danes.

Danvers Street. From Danvers House, in which resided Sir John Danvers, to whom the introduction of the Italian style of horticulture in England was due.

Darbies. A pair of handcuffs, in allusion to Darby and Joan, who were inseparable.

Dardanelles. After the city on the Asiatic side founded by Dardanus, the ancestor of Priam, the last king of Troy.

Dark and Bloody Ground. Kentucky, the great battle-ground of the Indians and white settlers, as also that of the savage tribes amongst themselves.

Darmstadt. The stadt, or town, on the Darm.

Dartford. From the Saxon Darentford, the fort on the Darent.

Dartmoor. The moor in which the River Dart takes its rise.

Dartmouth. On the estuary of the River Dart.

Dauphin. The title borne by the eldest son of the King of France until 1830, from the armorial device of a delphinus, or dolphin.

Davenport. After the original maker.

Davies Street. After Mary Davies, heiress of the manor of Ebury, Pimlico.

Davis Strait. After the navigator who discovered it.

Davy Jones’s Locker. Properly “Duffy Jonah’s Locker.” Duffy is the ghost of the West Indian Negroes; Jonah, the prophet cast into the sea; and “locker,” the ordinary seaman’s chest.

D. D. Cellars. See “Dirty Dick’s.”

Dead as a Door Nail. The reflection that, if a man were to be knocked on the head as often as is the “nail” on which a door knocker rests, he would have very little life left in him, easily accounts for this saying.

Dead Beat. Prostrate from fatigue, incapable of further exertion. Also the name of an American drink of whisky and ginger-soda after a hard night’s carousal.

Deadheads. In America persons who enjoy the right of travelling on a railway system at the public expense; in this country actors and pseudo “professionals,” who pass into places of amusement without paying. The origin of the term is as follows:--More than sixty years ago all the principal avenues of the city of Delaware converged to a toll gate at the entrance to the Elmwood Cemetery Road. The cemetery having been laid out long prior to the construction of the plank road beyond the toll gate, funerals were allowed to pass through the latter toll free. One day as Dr Price, a well-known physician, stopped to pay his toll he observed to the gatekeeper: “Considering the benevolent character of the profession to which I have the honour to belong, I think you ought to let me pass toll free.” “No, no, doctor,” the man replied; “we can’t afford that. You send too many deadheads through here as it is!” The story travelled, and the term “Deadheads” became fixed.

Dead Reckoning. Calculating a ship’s whereabouts at sea from the log-book without aid from the celestial bodies.

Dead Sea. Traditionally on the site of the city of Sodom. Its waters are highly saline, and no fish are found in them.

Dean Street. After Bishop Compton, who, before he became Dean of the Savoy Chapel, held the living of St Anne’s, Soho.

Dean’s Yard. Affords access to the residence of the Dean of Westminster, which, with the cloisters, belonged to the abbots prior to the Reformation.

Death or Glory Men. The 17th Lancers, from their badge, a Death’s head superposed on the words “Or Glory.”

De Beauvoir Town. From the manorial residence of the De Beauvoirs.

Deccan. From the Sanskrit Dakshina, the south, being that portion of Hindustan south of the Vindhya Mountains.

December. The tenth month of the Roman Calendar when the year was reckoned from March.

Decemvir. One of the ten legislators of Rome appointed to draw up a code of laws.

Decoration Day. 30th May, observed in the United States for decorating the graves of the soldiers who fell in the struggle between the North and South.

Deemster. See “Doomster.”

Dehaley Street. From the residence of the Dehaleys.

Delaware. After the Governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord Delaware, who died on board his vessel while visiting the bay in 1610.

Del Salviati. The assumed name of the famous Italian painter Francesco Rossi, in compliment to his patron, Cardinal Salviati, who was born in the same year as himself.

Demijohn. A corruption of Damaghan, in Persia, a town anciently famous for its glass-ware.

Democracy. From the Greek demos, people, and kratein, to rule. Government by the people.

Denbigh. From Dinbach, the Celtic for “a little fort.”

Denmark. Properly Danmark, the mark or boundary of the land of the Danes.

Depot. The American term for a railway station.

Deptford. The deep ford over the Ravensbourne.

Derby. Saxon for “deer village.” The Derby stakes at Epsom were founded by Edward Smith Stanley, Earl of Derby, in 1780.

Derrick. The old name for a gibbet and now for a high crane. So called after a seventeenth-century hangman at Tyburn.

Derry Down. The opening words of the Druidical chorus as they proceeded to the sacred grove to gather mistletoe at the winter solstice. Derry is Celtic for “grove.”

Dessborough Place. From Dessbrowe House, in which resided the brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.

Detroit. French for “strait.”

Deuteronomy. A Greek word signifying the second giving of the Law by Moses.

Devereaux Court. See “Essex Street.”

Devil’s Sonata. One of Tartini’s most celebrated compositions. He dreamt that the Evil One appeared to him playing a sonata on the violin. At its conclusion his visitor asked: “Tartini, canst thou play this?” Awaking with his mind still full of the grotesque music, Tartini played it over, and then recorded it permanently on paper.

Devil to Pay. When money was lost by unsuccessful litigation it passed into the hands of lawyers, who were thought to spend it where they spent much of their time--viz. at the Devil Tavern in Fleet Street. The money, therefore, went to the Devil.

Devizes. From the Latin Devisæ, denoting the point where the old Roman road passed into the district of the Celts.

Devon. After a Celtic tribe, the Damnonii.

Devonshire House. The town house of the Duke of Devonshire.

Devonshire Square. From the mansion of William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire, who died here in 1628.

Diamond King. The late Mr Alfred Beit, the South African financier, whose wealth rivalled that of the Rothschilds.

Dickey. A shirt front, which often has to do duty for a clean shirt. So called from the German decken, to hide.

Diddler. A schemer, an artful dodger. After Jeremy Diddler, the chief character in the old farce, “Raising the Wind.”

Die Hards. The 57th Foot. When the regiment was surrounded at Albuera, their Colonel cried: “Die hard, my lads; die hard!” And fighting, they died.

Digger Indians. Tribes of the lowest class who live principally upon roots. They have never been known to hunt.

Diggings. A Bohemian term for “lodgings.” Not from the Californian gold diggings, as generally supposed, but from the Galena lead miners of Wisconsin, who called both their mines and their underground winter habitations “diggings.”

Dime. A ten-cent piece, from the French dixme, or dîme, tenth--i.e. of a dollar.

Dimity. First brought from Damietta, Egypt.

Dine with Duke Humphrey. An old saying of those who were fated to go dinnerless. When the “Good Duke Humphrey,” son of Henry IV., was buried at St Albans, a monument to his memory was to be erected in St Paul’s Cathedral. At that time, as for long afterwards, the nave of our national fane was a fashionable promenade. When the promenaders left for dinner, others who had no dinners to go to explained that they would stay behind in order to look for the Good Duke’s monument.

Dining-room Servant. An Americanism for waiter or male house servant.

Diorama. See “Panorama.”

Dirty Dick’s. The noted tavern in Bishopgate, said to have been associated with Nathaniel Bentley, the miser, who never washed himself. As a matter of fact, Dirty Dick was an ironmonger in Leadenhall Street. After his death his effects were bought and exhibited at the Bishopgate tavern, together with his portrait as a sign.

Dirty Shirts. The 101st Foot, who were hotly engaged at the battle of Delhi in their shirt sleeves.

Dissenters. Synonymous with the Nonconformists. Those who dissented from the doctrines of the Church of England and those likewise who, at a later period, separated from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Distaffs’ Day. The old name for 7th January, when, Christmas being over with Twelfth Night, women returned to their distaffs or spindles.

Divan. A Turkish word signifying a Council of State, from the fact that the Turkish Council Chamber has low couches ranged round its walls, plentifully supplied with cushions. The name has been imported into Western Europe specifically to imply a low-cushioned sofa or couch.

Dixie’s Land. The Negroes’ paradise in slavery days. Dixie had a tract of land on Manhattan Island. He treated his slaves well, but as they increased sold many of them off to masters further afield. They always looked back to Dixie’s Land as an ideal locality, associated with heaven, and when one of them died his kith and kin said he had gone to Dixie’s Land.

Dizzy. The nickname of Benjamin Disraeli, afterwards Earl of Beaconsfield, the great political opponent of Mr Gladstone.

Doctor. There are three kinds of Doctors--of Law, Physic, and Divinity. The first and the last are essentially University degrees, with which the vulgar orders of the people have little or no acquaintance. They know only of one “Doctor,” the medical practitioner, and since he wears a frock coat and a silk hat he is entitled to all the respect that they can pay him.

Doctors’ Commons. Anciently a college for Professors of Canon and Civil Law, who dined in common on certain days in each term, similar to students at the Inns of Court before they are called to the Bar.

Dog and Duck. A tavern sign indicative of the old sport of duck hunting by spaniels in a pond.

Dog-cart. Originally one in which sportsmen drove their pointers and setters to the field.

Dog his Footsteps. To follow close to his heels like a dog.

Dog in the Manger. From the old story told of the dog who did not require the hay for himself, yet refused to allow the ox to come near it.

Dog Rose. From the old idea that the root of this rose-tree was an antidote for the bite of a mad dog.

Dog Watch. A corruption of “Dodge Watch,” being a watch of two hours only instead of four, by which dodging seamen gradually shift their watch on successive days.

Dolgelley. Celtic for “dale of hazels.”

Dollar. From the German Thaler, originally Joachims-Thaler, the silver out of which this coin was struck having been found in the Thal or Valley of St Joachim in Bohemia.

Dollars and Dimes. An Americanism for money generally. See “Dime.”

Dolly Shop. The old name for a rag shop which had a black doll over the door for a sign. At one time old clothes were shipped to the Negroes in the southern states of America.

Dolly Varden. The name of a flowered skirt, answering to the description of that worn by Dolly Varden in Dickens’s “Barnaby Rudge.” This dress material became very popular after the novel was published. It also gave rise to a song, of which the burden was: “Dressed in a Dolly Varden.”

Dolphin. A gold coin introduced by Charles V. of France, also Dauphin of Vienne.

Dominica. Expresses the Spanish for Sunday, the day on which Columbus discovered this island.

Dominicans. Friars of the Order of St Dominic; also called Black Friars, from their habits.

Dominoes. A game invented by two French monks, who amused themselves with square, flat stones marked with spots. The winner declared his victory by reciting the first line of the Vesper service: “Dixit Dominus Domino Meo.” When, later, the game became the recreation of the whole convent, the Vesper line was abbreviated into “Domino,” and the stones themselves received the name of “Dominoes.”

Don. A corruption of the Celtic tain, river.

Donatists. A sect of the fourth century, adherents of Donatus, Bishop of Numidia.

Doncaster St Leger. The stakes at Doncaster races founded by Colonel Anthony St Leger in 1776.

Donegal. Gaelic for the “fortress of the west”--viz. Donegal Castle, held by the O’Donnels of Tyrconnel.

Donet. The old name for a Grammar, after Donatus, the grammarian and preceptor of St Jerome.

Donkey. An ass, from its dun colour.

Don’t care a Dam. When this expression first obtained currency a dam was the smallest Hindoo coin, not worth an English farthing.

Don’t care a Jot. See “Iota.”

Doomster. The official in the Scottish High Court who pronounced the doom to the prisoner, and also acted as executioner. In Jersey and the Isle of Man a judge is styled a “Deemster.”

Dope Habit. An Americanism for the morphia habit. “Dope” is the Chinese word for opium. This in the United States is now applied to all kinds of strong drugs or bromides prepared from opium.

Dorcas Society. From the passage in Acts ix. 39: “And all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.”

Dorchester. The Roman camp in the district of the Dwr-trigs or water dwellers. See “Dorset.”

Dorset. The Anglo-Saxon Dwrset, or water settlement, so called from the British tribe the Dwr-trigs, “water dwellers,” who peopled it.

Dorset Square. After Viscount Portman, the ground landlord, who, before he was raised to the peerage, was for many years Member for Dorsetshire.

Dorset Street. From the mansion and grounds of the Earl of Dorset of the Restoration period. Here stood also the Dorset Gardens Theatre.

Doss. Slang for a sleep, a shakedown. From the old word dossel, a bundle of hay or straw, whence was derived Doss, a straw bed.

Doss-house. A common lodging-house. See “Doss.”

Douay Bible. The Old Testament translation of the Latin Vulgate printed at the English College at Douay, France, in 1609.

Doublet. So called because it was double lined or wadded, originally for purposes of defence.

Douglas. From its situation at the juncture of the two streams, the Dhoo, black, and Glass, grey.

Douro. From the Celtic Dwr, water.

Dover House. The residence of the Hon. George Agar Ellis, afterwards Lord Dover.

Dover Street. After Henry Jermyn, Lord Dover, who died at his residence here in 1782.

Dowager. The widow of a person of high rank, because she enjoyed a substantial dower or dowry for her maintenance during life.

Dowgate. From the Celtic Dwr, water. Hence a water gate on the north bank of the Thames.

Downing Street. From the mansion of Sir George Downing, M.P., of the Restoration period.

Down with the Dust. A gold miner’s expression in the Far West, where money is scarce and necessary commodities are in general bartered for with gold dust.

Doyley. From the Brothers Doyley, linen drapers in the Strand, who introduced this species of table napery.

Do your Level Best. This expression means that, while striving to the utmost you must also act strictly straightforward.

Drachenfels. German for “dragon rocks.” Here Siegfried, the hero of the Niebelungenlied, slew the dragon.

Draft on Aldgate Pump. A punning phrase for a worthless bill or cheque.

Draggletail. A slovenly woman who allows her skirts to draggle or trail in the mire of the street.

Dragoman. From the Turkish drukeman, an interpreter. A dragoman is in the East what a “Cicerone” is in Italy and elsewhere in Western Europe.

Dragoons. From the ancient musket called a dragon, or “spitfire.” The muzzle was embellished with a representation of a dragon.

Draper. One who dealt in cloth for draping only, as distinct from a mercer, milliner, or mantle-maker.

Drapers’ Gardens. The property of the Drapers’ Company, whose hall is situated here.

Drat it. A corruption of “Odd rot it,” from the old oath, “God rot them.”

Drawer. The old name for an inn or tavern keeper’s assistant, who drew the beer from the casks.

Drawing-room. Originally “Withdrawing-room” to which the ladies withdrew after dinner while the gentlemen sat over their wine.

Draw it mild. Originally a tavern phrase, when anyone preferred ordinary ale to hot spiced liquor.

Draw the Long Bow. In allusion to the exaggerated skill of the English archers prior to the introduction of gunpowder.

Dress Circle. That portion of a theatre which, before the introduction of stalls, was set apart for the superior sections of the audience.

Dressed up to the Knocker. To the extreme height of his resources. Before the establishment of the modern police system door knockers were placed as high as possible to prevent them from being wrenched off by sportive wags after nightfall.

Dresser. The kitchen sideboard, on which the meat was dressed before serving it up in the dining-chamber. The collection of cups, plates, and dishes which distinguishes a dresser originally had a place on a wide shelf or board over this meat dresser; hence cup-board.

Drinks like a Fish. Ready to swallow any quantity of liquor that may be offered. A great many fish have their mouths wide open whilst swimming.

Drive a Bargain. An expression meaning to knock down the original price asked, in punning allusion to “driving” a nail.

Drop o’ the Crater. See “Mountain Dew.”

Druid. In the Celtic Derwydd, derived from dewr, oak, and gwydd, knowledge. A priest who worshipped and offered sacrifices under an oak.

Drum. The name for a fashionable evening party of bygone days, from the noise made by the card players.

Drummers. An Americanism for commercial travellers, who are engaged in beating up trade.

Drunkard’s Cloak. A large wooden crinoline that hung from a drunkard’s neck to the ground, causing every bone in his body to ache owing to the weight resting on his shoulders. The instrument resembled an inverted flower pot, having a hole in the top for his head to be thrust through. Under this drastic treatment he soon became sober.

Drunk as a Fiddler. The fiddler was generally incapable of discoursing further music half way through the night’s jollification, because the dancers freely plied him with drink.

Drunk as a Lord. When George the Third was King, and long afterwards, the fine old English gentleman acted up to his character by using strong language and imbibing strong potations. To be “drunk as a lord” was the surest mark of gentility, and a “three bottle man” a pattern of sobriety. After dining it was considered no disgrace to roll helplessly under the table.

Drury Lane. From Drury House, the residence of Sir William Drury, temp. William III.

Dublin. From Dubh-linn, “black pool.”

Dub Up. An expression derived from the very general custom of dubbing or touching a man on the shoulder when arresting him for debt.

Ducat. Duke’s money, anciently struck in the Duchy of Apulia, Sicily.

Duchess Street. After Lady Cavendish, who became the wife of the second Duke of Portland.

Ducking Stool. An instrument for the punishment of scolding wives. This public ducking in a pond effectually served to cool their temper for the time being.

Duck’s Foot Lane. Properly “Duke’s Foot Lane,” the footway leading from the town house of the Earls of Suffolk down to the Thames.

Dude. An American name for a fop, derived from a very old English word, “dudes,” whence we have the slang term “Duds,” for clothes.

Dudley. From the castle built by Dodo, a Saxon prince, and ley, “meadow.”

Duds. See “Dude.”

Dug-out. A Far West Americanism for a boat or canoe hewn out of a large tree log.

Dukeries. That portion of Nottinghamshire distinguished for the number of ducal residences, of which Welbeck Abbey is perhaps the most admired.

Duke Street. In Aldgate, after the Dukes of Norfolk. Near Smithfield, the ancient property of the Dukes of Brittany. In Grosvenor Square, after the Duke of Cumberland. Off Langham Place, after the Duke of Portland. Near Manchester Square, after the Duke of Manchester. In the Strand, after George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.

Dulwich. The corruption of Dalewich, the village in the dale.

Duma. Russian for Parliament or popular representation.

Dumb Ox. One of the sobriquets of St Thomas Aquinas, from the silence with which he pursued his studies. His master, Albertus Magnus, however, predicted that “this dumb ox will one day fill the world with his bellowing.”

Dumping. A word which has come into prominence relative to Mr Chamberlain’s Fiscal Policy. In various forms the verb dump may be met with in Teutonic and Scandinavian tongues, meaning to “pitch down,” “throw down in a lump,” etc. etc. A “Dump Cart” in America is one that tilts up in front, and so “dumps” its load behind.

Dun. A persistent creditor. After Joe Dun, a noted bailiff, who never failed to bring a debtor to book. People used to say: “Why don’t you Dun him for the debt?” meaning they would send Joe Dun to make him pay or arrest him.

Dunce. From John Duns Scotus, who, it is said, gave no proof of his remarkable attainments in his early scholastic days.

Dundee. A corruption of Duntay, the hill fort on the Tay.

Dunedin. See “Edinburgh.”

Dungeness. A corruption of Danger Ness, the Headland of Danger.

Dunkirk. Expresses the “Church in the Dunes,” or sand-hills, built by St Eloi in the seventh century.

Durham. A corruption of Dunholm, from its situation on a hill surrounded by the river.

Dusseldorf. The village on the Dussel.

Dutchman. A contemptuous epithet applied to our phlegmatic enemies during the wars with Holland.

Dyers’ Buildings. The site of an ancient almshouse of the Dyers’ Company.

E

Eagle. An inn sign, the cognisance of Queen Mary.

Earl Street. After Charles Marsham, Earl of Romney.

Earl’s Court. From the Earl of Warwick, whose estate it was until, by the marriage of the Dowager Countess of Warwick with Lord Holland, it passed into her husband’s family.

East Anglia. A name still popular as defining the eastern counties. This was one of the seven divisions or petty kingdoms of England under the Angles or Saxons.

Eastcheap. The eastern chepe, or market, of the city of London.

Easter. From the Teutonic Ostara, goddess of light or spring; rendered by the Anglo-Saxons Eastre. This great spring festival lasted eight days.

Easter Island. The name given to it by Jacob Roggevin when he visited the island on Easter Sunday, 1722.

East Sheen. A name reminiscent of the original designation of “Richmond.”

Eat Dirt. An Americanism for a confession of penitence or absolute defeat in an argument.

Eat Humble Pie. In the days of sumptuous banquets of venison the lords of the feast reserved to themselves the flesh of the deer. The huntsmen and retainers had to be content with the heart, liver, and entrails, collectively called the “umbles,” which were made into monster pies.

Eat my own Words. To take them back again, to retract a statement.

Eaton Square. From Eaton Hall, near Chester, the seat of the Duke of Westminster, the ground landlord.

Eau de Cologne. A scent prepared at Cologne. The city itself is not sweet to the nostrils; it has been said that forty different smells may be distinguished there.

Eavesdropper. A corruption of Eavesdripper, one who, listening under the eaves of a house, caught the drips from the roof when it chanced to be raining.

Ebro. After the Iberi, who spread themselves over the country from the banks of this river. See “Iberia.”

Ebury Square. From the ancient manor of Eabury Farm, inherited by Mary Davies, and which, by her marriage, passed into the possession of the Grosvenor family.

Eccleston Square. From Eccleston, Cheshire, the country seat of the Grosvenors.

Ecuador. Expresses the Spanish for Equator.

Edgar Atheling. Signifies “Edgar of noble descent.”

Edinburgh. The fortress or burgh built by Edwin, King of Northumbria. The Scots called it Dunedin.

Edinburgh of America. Albany, in the state of New York, so called on account of its magnificent public buildings and its commanding situation.

Edmonton. In Anglo-Saxon days Edmund’s Town.

Edmund Ironside. So called from the suit of chain mail that he wore. Notwithstanding this protection he was treacherously murdered after a reign of nine months only.

Edward the Confessor. The title bestowed upon the King of the Anglo-Saxons at his canonisation, on account of his remarkable asceticism, since, although he made the daughter of Earl Godwin his queen, he denied himself what are styled conjugal rights.

Edward the Martyr. Murdered at the instance of his stepmother at Corfe Castle after having reigned scarcely three years.

Eel Pie Island. From the invariable dinner dish served up to river excursionists.

Effra Road. At Camberwell, from the little river of the same name, now converted into a sewer.

Egalité. The name assumed by Philippe, Duc d’Orleans, the father of Louis Philippe, King of France, when, siding with the Republican Party in 1789, he accepted their motto: “Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality.” Four years later he met his death by the guillotine.

Ehrenbreitstein. Expresses the German for “Honour’s Broad Stone.” The castle stands on a precipitous rock, which well merits the description of the “Gibraltar of the Rhine.”

Eisteddfod. Celtic for a gathering of Welsh bards, from eistodd, to sit. As of old, the annual “Eisteddfod” is held for the encouragement of national music.

Eldorado. California. Eldorado expresses the Spanish for “golden region.”

Electic Philosophers. Those who, agreeably to the Greek ek-lego, to pick out, selected what was best in the different schools or systems, and so built up one of their own.

Elephant and Castle. The famous landmark in South London derived its sign from the arms of the Cutlers’ Company. A tavern in St Pancras parish took its sign from the skeleton of an elephant, beside which was a flint-headed spear, dug up in the neighbourhood. The connection between these and the battle fought by the followers of Queen Boadicea against the Roman invaders was unmistakable.

Elephant stepped on his Purse. An Americanism implying that a creditor or some unlucky speculation has squeezed all the money out of a man.

Elgin Marbles. Brought from Greece by the seventh Earl of Elgin. Acquired by the nation for the British Museum in 1816.

Elia. The pseudonym of Charles Lamb for his “Essays” contributed to The London Magazine. This was the name of a gay, light-hearted foreigner, who fluttered about the South Sea House at the time when Lamb was a clerk there. At the moment of penning his signature to the first essay he bethought himself of that person, and substituted the name of Elia for his own.

Eltham. Anciently Ealdham, “the old home.” Here Anthony Bec, the “Battling Bishop of Durham,” built himself a palace midway in the thirteenth century. After his death it fell to the Crown, and became a Royal residence, until the time of James I. The original Banqueting-Hall, used in modern days as a barn, may yet be seen.

Ely Place. Marks the site of the residence of the Bishops of Ely.

Ember Days. This term has no connection with embers or sackcloth and ashes as a penitential observance. The Saxons called them Ymbrine dagas, or “running days,” because they came round at regular seasons of the year.

Emerald Isle. Ireland, from its fresh verdure, due to its shores being washed by the warm waters of the “Gulf Stream.”

Empire Day. May 24th, formerly the Queen’s Birthday. In the last days of Victoria the British Empire was consolidated through the assistance lent by the Colonies to the Mother Country in the South African War. When, therefore, King Edward VII. came to the throne, the former Queen’s Birthday was invested with a greater significance than of old.

Empire State. New York, which, owing to position and commercial enterprise, has no rival among the other states of the Union.

Empire State of the South. Georgia, in consequence of its rapid industrial development.

Ena Road. In honour of Princess Ena, the consort of the young King of Spain.

Encore. From the Latin hauc horam, till this hour, still, again.

Encyclopædia. A book containing general or all-round instruction or information, from the Greek enkylios, circular or general, and paideia, instruction. An epitome of the whole circle of learning.

Endell Street. After the name of the builder. This is one of the few streets in London that has preserved its old characteristics, steadfastly refusing to march with the times.

England. In the time of Alfred the Great our country was styled Engaland, or the land of the Engles or Angles, who came over from Jutland.

Englishman’s House is his Castle. By the law of the land a bailiff must effect a peaceable entrance in order to distrain upon a debtor’s goods; therefore the latter is, as it were, sufficiently secure in his own fortress if he declines to give the enemy admittance.

Ennis. Expresses in Ireland, like Innis, the Celtic for an island. Both these words enter largely into Irish place-names.

Enniskillen. The kirk town on an island, the Celtic kil, originally implying a hermit’s cell, and later a chapel.

Ennismore Place. After Viscount Ennismore, Earl of Listowel, the ground landlord.

Enough is as good as a Feast. Because at no time can a person eat more than enough.

Enrol. See “Roll Call.”

Entente Cordiale. Expresses the French for cordial good will.

Entire. A word still to be met with on old tavern signs. It meant different qualities of ale or beer drawn from one cask.

Entrées. French for entries or commencements. Those made dishes are served after the soups, as an introduction to the more substantial portions of the repast, the joints.

Epicure. After Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, who taught that pleasure and good living constituted the happiness of mankind. His followers were styled Epicureans.

Epiphany. From the Greek Epiphaneia, an appearance, a showing; relative to the adoration of the Magi, who came from the East twelve days after the birth of the Saviour.

Epsom Salts. From the mineral springs at Epsom.

Equality State. Wyoming, where, first among the communities of the world, women were accorded the right to vote.

Erie. Indian for “Wild Cat,” the fierce tribe exterminated by the Iroquois.

Escurial. Properly Escorial, Spanish for “among the rocks.” King Philip II. built this superb convent and palace after the battle of St Quentin, in the course of which he had been obliged to bombard a monastery of the Order of St Jerome. He dedicated it to St Lawrence. He caused the structure to be in the form of a gridiron, the symbol of the Saint’s martyrdom.

Esk. A river name derived from the Celtic uisg, water.

Esquimaux. An Alonquin Indian term signifying “eaters of raw flesh.”

Essex. The kingdom of the East Saxons under the Heptarchy.

Essex Street. From the mansion of Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the Parliamentary General in Cromwell’s time.

Ethelred the Unready. From his incapacity and unwillingness to accept rede, or counsel.

Ethiopia. From the Greek aithein, to burn, and ops, the face. Hence “the country of the blacks.”

Etiquette. A French word for “label.” Formerly a ticket or card of instructions was handed to visitors on ceremonial occasions. Nowadays such rules as pertain to deportment or decorum are supposed to enter into the education of all well-bred persons.

Etna. From the Phœnician attuna, a furnace.

Eton. The Anglo-Saxon Eyton, “island town.”

Ettrick Shepherd. The literary sobriquet of James Hogg, the poet, of Ettrick, Selkirkshire.

Europe. From the Greek euros, broad, and ops, the face; literally “the broad face of the earth.”

Euston Road. From the seat of the Earl of Euston at Thetford, Norfolk, the ground landlord.

Evacuation Day. November 25th, observed in the United States as commemorating the evacuation of New York city by the British after the War of Independence, 1783.

Evangelist. From the Greek euanggelion, “good news.” One of the four writers of the Gospels of the New Testament.

Evelyn Street. From the residence of John Evelyn, the diarist. One of his descendants, the Rev. W. J. Evelyn, of Wolton, built the church of St Luke, Deptford, in 1872.

Everglade State. Florida, from its tracts of land, covered with water and grass, called Everglades.

Ex. Another form of the Celtic uisg, water.

Exchequer. The table of this Court was formerly covered with checkered cloth, so called from the Old French eschequier, chess board.

Executive City. Washington, which contains the White House, the official residence of the President of the Republic, the House of Representatives, and the Senate Chamber.

Exellers. The 40th Foot, from the Roman numerals XL.

Exeter. Called by the Saxons Exancester, or the Roman camp town on the Exe.

Exeter College. Founded at Oxford by Walter Stapleton, Bishop of Exeter and Lord Treasurer of England, in 1316.

Exeter Street. From the mansion and grounds of the Earl of Exeter, the eldest son of the great Lord Burleigh.

Exhibition Road. This wide thoroughfare formed the eastern boundary of the plot of ground purchased by the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition of 1862.

Exodus. The Scriptural narrative of the departure of the Israelites from the Land of Bondage.

Eye. Expresses the Anglo-Saxon for island. The river Waveney surrounds the town.

Eye-opener. An American drink of mixed spirits as a remedy for drowsiness.

F

Face the Music. To bear the jeers and taunts of those who laugh at us.

Factory King. Richard Oastler of Bradford, the promoter of the “Ten Hours’ Bill.”

Fag. Slang for a cigarette, derived from the fag end--i.e. fatigued or spent end--of a cigar. Also a small boy who acts as a drudge in the service of another at a public school, so called from the Anglo-Saxon fæge, weak, timid.

Fair Cop. Thieves’ slang for a smart capture by the police. Whereas another would say “The game’s up!” a thief admits that he has been fairly caught by the expression “It’s a fair cop.” See “Cop.”

Fair Maid of Kent. Joan, the beautiful and only daughter of the Earl of Kent, who became the wife of Edward the Black Prince.

Fair Street. A name left us as a reminder of a once celebrated fair on the Southwark bank of the Thames.

Faith Healers. A sect which upholds the doctrine of healing the sick by prayer and anointing with oil in the name of the Lord, as set forth in James v. 13-15.

Faix. An Irishman’s exclamation for “Faith” or “In Faith.”

Fake. To make-believe or cheat. An actor is said to “fake up” an article of costume out of very sorry materials, which at a distance looks like the real thing. A photographer can “fake” a spirit photo by means of two distinct plates. Food also is largely “faked.” The word is derived from “Fakir.”

Fakir. From the Arabic fakhar, poor.

Falcon Square. From an ancient hostelry, “The Castle and Falcon,” hard by in Aldersgate Street.

Falernian. A celebrated wine, extolled by Horace, Virgil, and other Latin authors, prepared from grapes grown in the district of Falernicum.

Fall. An Americanism for autumn, in allusion to the fall of the leaves.

Fallopian Tubes. Said to have been discovered by Gabriel Fallopius, the eminent Italian anatomist of the sixteenth century. They were, however, known to the ancients.

Falls City. Louisville, in the state of Kentucky, because it overlooks the falls of the Ohio River.

Falmouth. A seaport at the mouth of the Fale.

Family Circle. This expression had a literal meaning in the time of the Normans, when the fire occupied the centre of the floor, and the smoke found its vent through a hole in the roof. In Germany and Russia the domestic apartments are economically warmed by an enclosed stove in the centre. Amongst ourselves the phrase “sit round the fire” only conveys a half-truth.

Fancy Drink. An Americanism for a concoction of various spirits, as distinguished from a Straight Drink of one kind.

Fandago. Spanish for a “lively dance.”

Farmer George. George III., on account of his dress, manners, and bucolic sporting inclinations.

Farm Street. From an old farm, on the land of Lord Berkeley of Stratton in the time of Charles I.

Faro. So called from a representation of Pharaoh on one of the cards originally.

Farringdon Road. After William

Farringdon

Farringdon

, citizen and goldsmith, who, for the sum of twenty marks, in 1279 purchased the Aldermanry of the ward named after him.

Farthing. From the Anglo-Saxon feorthling, a little fourth. In olden times penny pieces were nicked across like a Good Friday bun; so they could be broken into halves and fourths as occasion required.

Farthingale. A corruption of Verdingale, from the French vertugarde, a guard for modesty. Queen Elizabeth is said to have introduced this hooped petticoat in order to disguise her figure.

Farthing Poet. The sobriquet of Richard Horne, who published his chief poem, “Orion,” at one farthing, so that it should not want for buyers.

Fastern’s E’en. The Scottish description of Shrove Tuesday, being the eve of the Lenten Fast.

Father of Believers. Mohammed, because he established and promulgated the faith of the Moslem, or “true believers.”

Father of the Music Halls. The late William Morton, manager of the Palace Theatre of Varieties, and founder of the earliest London Music Hall, “The Canterbury,” in the Westminster Bridge Road, which dates from the year 1848.

Fathers of the Church. The great doctors or theological writers of the period from the first to the seventh centuries of Christianity. See “Apostolic Fathers.”

Faugh-a-Ballagh Boys. The 87th Foot, from their battle cry.

Feast of Lanterns. A Chinese festival which occurs on the fifteenth day of the first moon of the year. Walking by the side of a beautiful lake one night the daughter of a mandarin fell in, and was drowned. When her father heard of the accident he, attended by all his household, carrying lanterns, rushed to the spot. On the anniversary he caused fires to be lighted beside the lake, and invited all the people of the country round about to offer up prayers for the safety of her soul. In course of time the solemn character of the gathering was forgotten, and the day has ever since been observed as a national holiday.

Feast of Tabernacles. Commemorative of the forty years’ wandering of the Israelites in search of the Promised Land, during which long period they dwelt in temporary huts or tabernacles, formed of tree branches covered with leaves. Even at the present day the Jews at least take their meals in temporary structures covered with leaves throughout the nine days of the festival.

Feather in my Cap. An expression derived from a custom of the North American Indians, who stuck a fresh feather in their head-dress for every one of their enemies slain in battle.

Feathers. An inn sign originally, when the painted device appeared in place of the mere name, signifying the “Plume of Feathers,” or “Prince of Wales’s Feathers,” the crest of Edward the Black Prince.

February. From the Latin februare, to purify, this being the month appointed by the Romans for the festival of the Februalia of purification and expiation.

Federal States. During the American Civil War the Treaty States of the North, which resisted the Separatist or Confederate States in the South.

Feel Peckish. See “Keep your Pecker up.”

Fellah. Arabic for agriculturist or peasant. In the plural, “El Fellahin,” the term is specifically applied to the labouring population of Egypt.

Fenchurch Street. From an ancient church in the fens or marshy ground through which ran the Lang Bourne from Beach Lane to the Wall brook behind the Stocks Market, where the Mansion House now stands.

Fenians. Said to express the Gaelic for “hunters,” but the greater likelihood is that this secret society took the name of the Finna Eirinii, ancient organisation of Irish militia, so called after Fion MacCumhal, the hero of legendary history.

Fetter Lane. A corruption of “Fewters Lane,” from the Norman-French faitour, an evil-doer, on account of the idle vagabonds who infested it in days when this lane led to some pleasure gardens.

Feuilleton. Expresses the French for a small leaf. Like the serial stories nowadays in many English newspapers, articles of a non-political character were introduced in the French Journal des Debatés as long ago as the commencement of the nineteenth century, these being separated from the news by a line towards the bottom of each page.

Fez. From Fez in Morocco, whence this red cap of the Turks was introduced into the Ottoman Empire.

F. F. V. Initials well understood in America, implying the “First Families of Virginia.”

Fiddler’s Money. A threepenny piece. Originally it was a small coin paid by each of the dancers to the fiddler at a merry-making.

Fifth Monarchy Men. Religious fanatics of the time of Charles I. who proclaimed the second coming of Christ to establish the fifth monarchy, or millennium. The four previous great monarchies of the world were the Assyrian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman.

Fifty Club. A social club founded in 1899 by G. C. Paterson, incidentally for the entertainment of its members on the attainment of their fiftieth birthday.

Fighting Fifth. The 5th Foot, on account of their prowess during the Peninsular War.

Fighting Fitzgerald. George Robert Fitzgerald, a noted gamester and duellist of the eighteenth century, with whom no one ever picked a quarrel without falling by his hand. A sure shot and an expert swordsman, he was a man to be feared by all.

Fight Shy. Originally a prize-fighting expression, when one of the combatants betrayed a lack of courage.

Filberts. After St Philibert, on whose feast day, 22nd August, the nutting season commenced.

Filibuster. A Spanish and French corruption of the German freibeter, derived from the Dutch vlie-boot, or fly-boat, a small clipper vessel. This was introduced into England during the wars with the Low Countries. The word Freebooter claims the same origin.

Finality John. The sobriquet of John Russell, afterwards Earl Russell, from his conviction that the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832 would be a finality to the universal Suffrage Question.

Finch Lane. Properly Finke Lane, after Sir Richard Finke, who resided in it, and rebuilt the church of St Bennet on the site of the present Royal Exchange. A tradesman in Cheapside rejoices in the possession of the full name of this vanished church, St Bennet-Finke.

Fingal’s Cave. That of Fion MacCumhal, abbreviated into Fingal, a celebrated legendary hero.

Finland. Properly Fenland, the land of lakes and marshes. The native name of the country is Suomesimaa, the watered land of the Suomes.

Finsbury. From the Anglo-Saxon Fensbury, the town among the fens or marshes.

Finsbury Pavement. The first London thoroughfare where the paving of the side walk with flagstones was introduced.

Fire dogs. These adjuncts to an old-fashioned fireplace received their name from the small dog that was anciently imprisoned in a wheel at one end of the spit. Three hours of this canine exercise were required to prepare the roast beef of Old England for the table. If the dog refused to exert himself a live coal was put inside the wheel to accelerate his movements.

Fire Water. The North American Indian designation of rum, and ardent spirits generally.

Fire Worshippers. The Parsees, who worship the sun as the symbol of the Deity.

First Gentleman of Europe. The complimentary sobriquet of George IV., owing to his rank, personal attractions, and the ability, as became a gentleman of the period, of telling good stories well.

Firth of Forth. Firth expresses the Gaelic for an estuary or arm of the sea. Forth is the name of the river.

Fish Street Hill. From the fishmongers who first congregated here in the reign of Edward I. The Hall of the Fishmongers’ Company stands at the foot of London Bridge.

Fit-up. In theatrical parlance the entire appurtenances of a stage, excepting the floor only, carried from town to town, and fitted up in Town Halls, Assembly-rooms, and Corn Exchanges.

Fitzroy Square. From one of the family names of the ground landlord.

Fives. An old game at ball, usually played by five on each side. The “court” consists of a roomy space with a high wall at one end.

Fixings. An Americanism for dress ornaments or accessories; house, hotel, or theatre embellishments and decorations generally.

Flamingo. From the bright red colour of this tropical bird.

Flanders. From the native name Vländergau, the country of the Vländer, who from the earliest period of their history were ruled by counts.

Flannelled Fools. An opprobrious epithet bestowed upon the English people on account of their all-pervading sport of cricket by Rudyard Kipling. It gave rise to much acrimony at the time, and tended to lessen his popularity as a writer.

Flash Jewellery. Spurious, not what it pretends to be. Like a flash of fire, its brilliance is only fleeting.

Flask Walk. In this pleasant lane stands the old hostelry “The Flash.”

Fleet Road. All that is left us to remind one of the clear stream which coursed through the meadows down to Holborn (the Old Bourne) and Clerkenwell, emptying itself into the Thames in what is now Bridge Street, Blackfriars.

Fleet Street. The River Fleet, which in old days was navigable from the Thames as far as what is now Ludgate Circus. The old English word Fleot expressed a tidal stream deep enough for vessels to float in.

Fleetwood Road. Here stood Fleetwood House, the residence of Charles Fleetwood, the Parliamentary General.

Fleshly School of Poetry. That of the sensuous order, popularised by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Swinburne, and Morris.

Flint. From the flint or quartz which abounds in this country.

Floralia. A Roman festival in honour of Flora, commencing 28th April and terminating 2nd May. It was said to have been instituted at the command of an oracle with a view of obtaining from the goddess the protection of blossoms.

Florence. Expresses “The City of Flowers.”

Florida. Named by Ponce de Leon from the twofold circumstance of his landing upon it on Pascua Florida, or Easter Sunday, and the luxuriance of its vegetation.

Florin. A silver coin of the value of two shillings, originally struck at Florence. It still bears on its reverse side a representation of a lily, symbolical of “The City of Flowers.”

Flower Sermon. An annual observance at the Church of St Katherine Cree, Leadenhall Street, inaugurated by the rector, the Rev. Dr Whittemore, in 1853. The flowers of the earth form the text; the pulpit is richly adorned with flowers; and every member of the congregation brings a bouquet. The idea of the flower service, if not the sermon, has been largely copied in various parts of the country.

Flunkey. From the French flanquer, the henchman or groom who ran at the flank or side of his mounted master.

Fly. Provincial for a hansom cab. When one looks at such a hackney carriage it suggests a sedan-chair on wheels. Such a vehicle, introduced at Brighton for invalids, was a great favourite with George IV.

then

then

Prince of Wales, who often requisitioned it for a night frolic. Called by him on account of its lightness a “fly-by-night,” its name became abbreviated into a “fly.”

Fly Posting. A showman’s phrase for small bills posted hurriedly in all possible conspicuous places under cover of night.

Fly-up-the-Creeks. The people of Florida, who were wont to disappear on the approach of strangers.

F. M. Allen. The pseudonym of Mr Edward Downey at the time when he was also a publisher. F. M. Allen was his wife’s maiden name.

Foley Street. After the town house of Lord Foley.

Fontagne. A wire structure for raising the hair of ladies, introduced by the Duchesse de Fontagne, one of the mistresses of Louis XIV. of France.

Fontinalia. Roman festivals in honour of the nymphs of wells and fountains. It was from these that the English and French custom of “Well Dressing” in the month of May found its origin.

Foolscap. A size of paper which from time immemorial has had for its watermark a fool’s cap and bells.

Footpad. Originally a thief or highway robber who wore padded shoes.

Fop. From the German and Dutch foppen, to jeer at, make a fool of. This word must be very old, since Vanbrugh gave the name of Lord Foppington to a conceited coxcomb in this comedy “The Relapse,” 1697.

Forecastle. The quarters apportioned to the seamen in the fore end of a vessel. Anciently the whole forward portion bore the name of Aforecastle on account of “The Castle” or State Cabin erected in a castle-like form in the centre.

Forefathers’ Day. December 21st, commemorated in the New England States on account of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620.

Forest City. Cleveland (Ohio) and Portland (Maine), on account of the trees which characterise their beautiful avenues.

Forest Gate. The district which in modern times has sprung up south of the old gate leading into Epping Forest. A representation of the gate appears on the curtain of the local public hall, or, as it is now styled, “The Grand Theatre.”

Forest Hill. A name reminiscent of days when this portion of South London as far as Croydon was forest land.

Fore Street. The street in front of the London Wall, the Barbican or watch-tower, and Cripple Gate.

Forget-me-not. A flower emblematical of friendship or a keepsake. The story goes that a German knight, walking on the banks of the Danube with his lady, undertook, at her request, to gather a tuft of Mysotis palustris, growing in the water. Encumbered by his armour, he was carried away by the stream, and sank, after having thrown the flowers to his mistress, exclaiming: “Vergess mein nicht!”

Forlorn Hope. From the German verloren, lost. A company of soldiers ordered upon such a perilous enterprise, that there is small hope of their return.

Formosa. A Portuguese word signifying “beautiful.”

Fortino. A clipped phrase in several of the states of North America, from “For aught I know.”

Foster Lane. From the Church of St Vedast, the name of a Bishop of Arras. How Vedast came to be Anglicised into Foster is not explained.

Foul-weather Jack. Commodore John Byron, the circumnavigator of the eighteenth century. Whenever he put out to sea he was sure to experience foul weather.

Four Hundred. The Select or “Smart” Society of New York city.

Fourteen Hundred. The cry raised when a stranger is discovered in the Stock Exchange, whereupon he is immediately hustled out. This had its origin in the circumstance that for a great many years the recognised full membership on ’Change was 1399.

Fourth Estate. The Press. Edward Burke referred to the Reporters’ Gallery as more powerful than the three great estates of the realm--viz. the Lords Spiritual, the Lords Temporal, and the Commons.

Fox in the Hole. An inn or tavern sign contiguous to the hunting field.

Frame House. The American term for a house built of timber. Chinatown, or the Chinese quarter of the city of San Francisco, was entirely constructed of “frame houses.”

Franc. A silver coin of Franconia or France.

France. Anciently Franconia, the country of the Franks, so called from the franca, a kind of javelin with which they armed themselves when this people effected the conquest of Gaul.

Franciscans. Friars of the Order of St Francis of Assisi. Originally the Grey Friars, their habits are now brown. One of the rules laid down by their pious founder was that the brethren should always be clad like the poorest of the poor. He selected the loose sack of grey, undyed wool, bound round the waist by a cord of the Umbrian Shepherds. Towards the close of the fifteenth century the better classes affected gaudy colours, and the poorer orders, imitating them so far as the use of dyed materials was concerned, took to wearing garments of sober brown. Hence the change in the colour of the Franciscan habit.

Frankincense. Incense brought to the East from “Franconia.”

Freak Dinner. A latter-day term, arising out of the examples set by American millionaires to outdo all previous attempts in the way of sumptuous banquets. There have been dinners costing £100 per head. To please the eye, champagne has been made to flow wastefully from a fountain. The name is, however, more correctly applied to the scenic embellishments, as when the banqueting-chamber of the Gaiety Restaurant was converted into a South African mining tent, and real Kaffirs were the waiters, to remind the diners of the mode by which they had acquired their wealth.

Freebooter. See “Filibuster.”

Free Church of Scotland. The adherents of Dr Chalmers, who separated from the Scottish Presbyterian Church to establish an independent community, 18th May 1843.

Free House. A public-house, of which the landlord, being his own master, is at full liberty to change his brewer if the quality of the liquor supplied to him does not give complete satisfaction. See “Tied House.”

Free-lance. An unattached journalist who sends out his literary wares on approval. The term has been derived from those roving companies of knights who, at the close of the Wars of the Crusades, were ready to enlist under any banner for a monetary consideration. Like the mercenaries of the Carthaginians and Romans, these were the first paid soldiers.

Free List. A list kept by theatrical managers of Men about Town, barristers, medical men, and others, who can be relied upon to “dress the house” at short notice when business is bad, and so give it an air of prosperity. These are not “Deadheads” in the ordinary sense, because they render the management a service; but being well able to pay for seats at all times they are apt to be obnoxious in their demands when the entertainment really draws good houses. Hence the notice “Free list entirely suspended” at such times.

Freemasons. A brotherhood of masons who in the Mediæval Ages built the cathedrals which are even now lasting mementoes of their skill. They travelled from one city to another, always employed in the same devoted work, and, to prove that they were master craftsmen, invented various symbols, by which they could be recognised. Everywhere these masons enjoyed immunity from taxation and military service. Hence they received the name of “free-masons.”

Freeze on to him. To cling to a man as hoarfrost clings to wood in winter.

Freight Train. An Americanism for goods train.

Freshman. An undergraduate in his first year at a university.

Friar. Agreeably to the Latin fratre, brother. This term signifies a member of a religious community as distinguished from a monk (Greek, monas, alone), who was originally a hermit, and, except when at meals or at prayers in the monastery, spends his time in a cell.

Friar Street. Marks the eastern boundary of the monastery of the Dominicans or Black Friars anciently located south of Ludgate Hill.

Friar Tuck. So called because, like that of all friars, his habit was tucked or drawn up round the cord that encircled his waist.

Friday. In the Scandinavian mythology this day of the week was set apart for the worship of Frigga, the wife of Odin.

Friday Street. The fish market of Old London, so called from the weekly fast day, when it must have been particularly thronged.

Friendly Islands. So called by Captain Cook on account of the peaceable disposition of the natives.

Friesland. Anciently Friesia, the country of the Frisii.

Frisco. An American abbreviation of San Francisco.

Frith Street. Originally Fryth Street, after the name of the builder upon the land in 1680.

Frobisher Strait. Discovered by Sir Martin Frobisher, 1576.

Frognal. That portion of Hampstead once graced by Frognal Priory, built by “Memory-Corner Thompson.”

From Pillar to Post. This had reference in olden times to the hooting crowds who followed a public offender from the pillory to the whipping-post. The “post,” however, was more usually a “cart’s tail.”

Fuchsia. After Leonard Fuchs, the distinguished German botanist.

Fudge. A word derived from the sound produced by the nasal expression of contempt, futsch! among the Germans and Dutch.

Fulham. The Fullenhame of Anglo-Saxon days, expressing the home or habitation of water-fowl.

Funeral. Specifically a torchlight procession, from the Latin funis, a torch. In ancient times burials always took place by night.

Furnival Street. A name left to remind us of Furnival’s Inn, on the opposite side of Holborn, and where Charles Dickens wrote his “Pickwick Papers.” Anciently this was the “Inn” or town mansion of the Lords Furnival, a title which became extinct in the reign of Richard II.

Fusiliers. Because originally armed with a light musket styled a fusil.

Fye Foot Lane. A corruption of Five Foot Lane, the width of this narrow thoroughfare when it led down to the Thames side.

G

Gad-about. The word “Gad” is Gaelic, signifying “to rove.”

Gaelic. See “Caledonia.”

Gaff. See “Penny Gaff.”

Gaffer. Provincial for an old man; a corruption of “grandfather.”

Gag. An actor’s interpolation of catch phrases at his own sweet will. Originally, however, gagging was a device to disconcert or stop the mouth of another actor by the unexpected employment of words not in the text of the play.

Gallivanting. An old English word for “doing the agreeable.” Its derivation is clearly traceable to “gallant” and “gallantry.”

Galoshes. From the Spanish galocha, a patten or wooden shoe.

Galvanism. After Luigi Galvani, the eminent physician of Bologna in the eighteenth century, the discoverer of electrical currents produced by chemical agency.

Gamboge. Brought from Cambogia in Siam.

Gamp. After Mrs Gamp in “Martin Chuzzlewit,” who never went abroad without her fat, pawky umbrella, and when at home gave it an honoured position by the side of the fireplace. Charles Dickens must have had the town of Guingamp in his mind when he invented Mrs Gamp. See “Gingham.”

Gander Party. An Americanism for a social party composed of men only.

Ganges. The sacred river of the Hindoos, thought by them to flow through Gang, the earth, to heaven. The name they gave to it, therefore, was Ganga.

Garden of England. The Isle of Wight. The mildness of the climate and the luxuriance of the vegetation bespeak a perpetual summer.

Garden Spot. The fertile centre of Kentucky, whence the Indians, after many a sanguinary encounter, were banished by the white settlers.

Garden State. New Jersey, from the fertility of its soil.

Garden Town. The name bestowed upon both Cheltenham and Leamington in virtue of their spas, public gardens, and promenades tastefully laid out.

Gargantuan. Anything out of all reasonable limits. We speak of a “Gargantuan Feast,” a “Gargantuan Thirst,” to express a capacity for enormous consumption. The word is derived from Gargantua, the hero of Rabelais’s famous satire of this title.

Garlick Hill. Where garlic was anciently brought to land at Queenhithe.

Garrick Street. From the Garrick Club, the premier rendezvous of the leading members of the dramatic profession.

Garrotters. Street marauders of the latter part of the last century who gripped their victim tightly round the neck while accomplices rifled his pockets. Their designation was derived from the Garrotte, with which malefactors are strangled in Spain.

Gas Bag. An Americanism for one who is always boasting of his own importance.

Gasconade. To boast. The people of Gascony had an unenviable reputation for boasting.

Gate. This old English word does not in all cases express a city gate, as in London, but a road, street, or passage--e.g. Canongate, the way past the House of the Canons of Holyrood Abbey at Edinburgh; Lowgate, Whitefriargate, etc., at Hull; Harrowgate, the passage through the hills; and Boulogne Gate, or entrance to Boulogne Harbour.

Gatling Gun. Named after R. J. Gatling, its inventor.

Gaul. The Gallia of the Romans, from the Celtic name of the country, Gal, “western.”

Gave him a Baker’s Dozen. As much as he merited, and one blow over as a finishing stroke. A drubbing that he little expected.

Gave him a Roland for an Oliver. Exactly what he gave me himself; a tit for tat. Roland and Oliver were two knights in the train of Charlemagne. Both were equally accomplished; what the one did the other essayed also with success. In the matter of fighting too they were exactly on a par, since, after having been put to the test in single combat, for a long time neither of them gained the least advantage.

Gave him the Cold Shoulder. Received him with scant ceremony. The allusion is to the fare generally set before an unexpected visitor who has not dined.

Gave him the Grand Shake. An Americanism for finally breaking off an acquaintance.

Gavelkind. A custom among the Anglo-Saxons whereby all the sons of a family inherited alike. Lord Coke traces it from the Teutonic gif eal cyn, and translates it literally “give all kinde.” Inheritance by Gavelkind obtained in Kent long after the Norman Conquest; indeed, it is said that some Kentish lands are still held by this ancient tenure.

Gavotte. A dance familiar to the Gavots in the French province of Dauphiny.

Gay Lothario. A seducer. From the leading character in Nicholas Rowe’s “The Fair Penitent,” produced in 1703.

Gazette. From the Italian Gazzetta, the name of a Venetian coin valued at about ¾d. of English money, which was charged for the individual reading, from hand-to-hand, of a written sheet at Venice containing news of the war with Soliman II., temp. sixteenth century.

Geneva Gown. The habit of Low Churchmen, so called from its resemblance to the gown worn by the Calvinists of Geneva.

Genre Painting. One on a pastoral subject, with figures, that does not properly come under the definition of a landscape. The word is French for a kind, a sort.

Gentleman in Black. A chimney-sweep, who, like a clergyman, was formerly saluted out of respect for “the cloth.”

Gentleman Jack. John Bannister, a favourite actor of Drury Lane Theatre, respected by all for his integrity even more than for his histrionic accomplishments.

Gentleman Smith. William Smith of Drury Lane, the beau ideal of a gentleman on the stage.

Gentleman Turkey. The Far Western description of a turkey cock.

George. An inn sign in honour of the patron saint of England. After the Hanoverian Succession, by which time pictorial signs had for the most part disappeared, and the name alone stood for a sign, the omission of the “St” made the sign complimentary to the reigning monarch. Reading of the execution of Charles I., we are told that the ill-fated King handed his “George” to Juxon, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who attended him on the scaffold. This was the badge of the Order of the Garter, representing St George on horseback piercing the fallen dragon with his lance.

George and Dragon. See “George.”

George Ranger. H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, who was appointed Ranger of the Royal Parks.

Georges Sand. This literary pseudonym of Mademoiselle Dupin, afterwards Madame Dudevant, arose out of her attachment to a young student named Jules Sandeau, with whom she collaborated in the production of her first novel, “Rose et Blanche.”

Georgia. In compliment to George II., the reigning monarch when this state was colonised.

German Silver. See “Sterling Silver.”

Germany. Called by the Romans Germania, from a Gaulish or Celtic word meaning “neighbours.”

Gerrard Street. After the family name of the Earl of Macclesfield, the ground landlord, when it was first built upon at the close of the seventeenth century.

Gerrymandering. An American political term for subdividing a constituency in such a way as to give one party an unfair advantage over all others. Its adoption was due to Elbridge Gerry, Governor of Massachusetts. When a map of this new electoral distribution was shown to an artist he remarked that it looked very much like a salamander. “A salamander, you say? Why not a Gerrymander!” was the reply. And a Gerrymander the name of the scheme remained.

Get there all the same. An Americanism meaning to succeed in any enterprise, despite all obstacles or opposition.

Ghost. One employed by an author or an artist to do his work for him, so called because, his name and personality being withheld from the public, he is kept in the shade. In other words, he is a mere shadow of his master. Originally, however, the term had reference to the friend who had inspired or suggested the work.

Ghost walking. A theatrical phrase. Actors assembling at the theatre for their weekly salaries generally put the question among themselves: “Is the ghost walking?” While those about to accept an engagement with a manager of whom they know nothing ask: “Does the ghost walk?” Its origin is as follows:--Many years ago a manager of the Bogus type had in his company a self-willed actor whose strong part was the Ghost in “Hamlet.” If his salary was not forthcoming on a Saturday morning he exclaimed: “Then the ghost won’t walk to-night.” Indispensable actor as he was, the manager invariably acceded to his demands. Sometimes it happened that he received only a portion of his salary, with a promise of the remainder in the course of the performance, in which case he refused to go on until the money was actually paid. It is said that the other members of the company would wait on a Saturday morning about the time for “Treasury” until they received word by a messenger that the ghost would walk.

Giaour. From the Arabic kiafir, “unbeliever.” The Turks bestow this name on all European Christians, enemies of the Mohammedan faith. Readers of Lord Byron’s poem “The Giaour” may require to be informed of its meaning.

Gibberish. After Geber, an Arabian alchemist of the eleventh century, who employed an unintelligible jargon to mystify the ecclesiastics, lest by plain speaking he might be put to death as a sorcerer.

Gibraltar. From the Arabic designation, Jebel-al-Tarik, the Mountain of Tarik, in honour of Ben Zeyad Tarik, a Moorish General, to whose prowess the conquest of Spain in the eighth century was due.

Gibraltar of America. The city of Quebec, from its commanding and impregnable position on the heights.

Gibson Girl. A new type of womanhood popularised in America by the drawings of Charles Dana Gibson, and introduced to London by Miss Camille Clifford.

Gibus. An opera or crush hat, so called after its inventor.

Gift of the Gab. “Gab” is a very old word; it was used by the Anglo-Saxons for speech. The Scots employed it to describe the mouth; hence to “gabble.” The French had it too in the forms of “gaber,” to boast or talk wildly.

Gig. A term claiming the same origin as “Jig”--i.e. the French gigue, a lively dance--because this vehicle moves lightly.

Gilbertines. An English religious Order of the twelfth century, founded by St Gilbert of Sempringham, Lincolnshire.

Gilly flower. A corruption of July flower, from the month when it blossoms.

Giltspur Street. Said to have received its name from the gilt spurs of the knights riding to the tournaments in Smithfield. The greater probability is that the makers of gilt spurs congregated in this street.

Gimnal Ring. A love token of bygone days, so called from the Latin gemellus, joined. This ring was composed of two separate bands fitted into each other with little teeth. When lovers were betrothed it was divided, only to be put together again at the nuptial ceremony.

Gin. Short for Geneva. Not after Geneva in Switzerland, because this is the national spirituous drink of the Dutch, called at first by them giniva, from the French genievre, juniper. Juniper berries were originally employed to flavour the spirit distilled from unmalted rye. The native name for Dutch gin is now Schiedam, after the town where it is made. Dutch gin brought to England is called Hollands.

Ginger. Red-haired people are said to be ginger because Guinevre, the Queen at the Court of King Arthur, had red hair.

Gingham. A corruption of Guingamp in Brittany, where the cotton stuff brought from Java, there called gingang, was dyed and made into umbrella covers before silk and alpaca came into use for this purpose. Hence the slang term for an umbrella. See “Gamp.”

Gin Sling. An American drink composed of equal parts of gin and water. See “Sling.”

Gipsies. A corruption of Egyptians, because, when first heard of in Europe, they spread themselves over Bohemia, and were thought to have arrived there by way of Egypt.

Giraldus Cambrensis. The Latinised pen name of Gerald de Barri, Archbishop of St David’s, and historian of Cambria or Wales.

Girasole. The Italian name of the sunflower, from the Latin gyara, to turn, and sol, the sun.

Girondists. Deputies from the Department of the Gironde who formed the Moderate Republican Party in the French Revolution.

Girton Girl. A student of Girton College, Cambridge.

Give him Beans. An expression derived from a French proverb: “If he gives me peas I will give him beans”--i.e. I will be quits with him.

Give him plenty of Rope. Let him do just what he thinks is best, and everything will come out right in the end. Following in your train, and, metaphorically, attached to your rope, the longer the rope the wider will be the sweep he can command; he can always be pulled in when it becomes necessary to check his movements.

Given Name. An Americanism for a Christian or forename.

Gives himself Airs. One who assumes a manner out of keeping with his social position. “Air” was formerly synonymous with deportment.

Give up the Ghost. Literally to yield up the Spirit.

Gladiator. From the Latin gladius, a sword. A slave trained to defend himself with a short sword in the mortal combats of the Roman arena for the amusement of the Emperors and the populace.

Glad Rags. An Americanism for holiday clothes or festive garments.

Gladstone Bag. So called in compliment to Mr W. E. Gladstone when, as leader of the Liberal Government, his name was “familiar in men’s mouths as household words.”

Glamorgan. From Gwlad-Margam, “the territory of Margam,” a Welsh chieftain of the tenth century. His name is correctly preserved in Margam Abbey.

Glenlivet. Whisky distilled in the Vale of Glenlivet in Banffshire.

Globe. An inn sign, the name of which was derived from the arms of the King of Portugal.

Globe Trotter. A tourist, a traveller in foreign lands.

Glorious Fourth of July. Another name for “Independence Day.”

Gloucester. The Gloicastra of the Romans, in honour of Gloi, son of the Emperor Claudius, who was born here.

Gloucester Road. From Oxford Lodge, the one-time residence of the Duchess of Gloucester.

Go ahead. From the nautical phrase “The wind’s ahead”--i.e. blowing from the stern towards the vessel’s head.

Goat and Compasses. A corruption of the Puritan motto “God encompass us.”

Goatee. An Americanism for the typical Yankee chin tuft, in allusion to the beard of a goat.

Gobelin Tapestry. Made under royal patronage in the house originally occupied by Jean Gobelin, a wool dyer in Paris, temp. seventeenth century.

God help you. Anciently an invocation on behalf of a person subjected to the Ordeal of Fire.

Godstone. A corruption of “Good Stone,” relative to the excellence of the stone quarried here.

Goggles. Shaded spectacles, so called in allusion to gig lamps.

Go in for Banting. See “Banting.”

Gold Coast. The coast of Guinea, West Africa, where gold was found.

Golden Cross. The device of the Crusaders, extensively adopted as an inn sign.

Golden Gate. The entrance to San Francisco Harbour. This name had been bestowed upon it by the Spaniards centuries before the outbreak of the gold fever in 1847, from their own knowledge that this was the gate to the Land of Gold.

Golden Lane. A corruption of “Golding Lane,” after the builder.

Golden Square. Properly “Gelding Square,” from an old inn of this name.

Go Marooning. A southern state American expression for a picnicking party on the shore or up country which is to last for several days. See “Maroons.”

Gone over to the Majority. A Parliamentary phrase equally, if more generally, applied to one who has passed from the scene of his life’s labours to the spirit world. Ancient and modern authors contain passages in the latter connection. The Rev. Robert Blair in “The Grave” says: “’Tis long since Death had the majority.”

Gone to Pot. Vanished possessions. The reference is to the metalliferous melting pot.

Gone to Rack and Ruin. A corruption of “wreck and ruin.”

Gone to Texas. An American expression for one who has decamped leaving debts behind him. It was (and is) no unusual thing for a man to display this notice, perhaps only the initials “G.T.T.” on his door for the information of callers after he has absconded.

Gone to the Devil. From the twofold circumstance that money lost through lawyers would surely be spent by them at their regular resort, the celebrated “Devil Tavern,” hard by Temple Bar, and the not unusual answer tendered by a subordinate to a caller at a place of business in Fleet Street that his master had “gone to the ‘Devil.’”

Gone to the Dogs. Money that has been squandered uselessly, as the remains of a feast in Eastern countries are thrown to the dogs instead of being given to the poor. A vicious man is said to have gone to the dogs because in the East social outcasts are often worried by ravenous dogs that prowl about the streets by night.

Gone under. One who has sunk in the social scale; never recovered from financial embarrassments; who found it impossible to “keep his head above water.” The allusion is, of course, to drowning.

Gone up the Country. An expression implying that a person is insolvent; originally introduced into England from the Colonies. When a man could not make ends meet in the coast cities he went prospecting up the country.

Gong Punch. The American term for the bell ticket punch used by conductors on tramcars.

Gonville College. The original name of Caius College, Cambridge, founded by Edmund Gonville in 1348.

Good enough Morgan. An American phrase for an imposition, or any person or thing likely to pass muster for the reality. This originated during the Anti-Masonic riots in the state of New York, when it was alleged that the Freemasons had drowned a man called Morgan for having betrayed their secrets. A body was actually found in the river

near

near

Fort Niagara, and identified by Morgan’s wife chiefly on account of a missing tooth. It was, however, proved that the whole story had been trumped up for political ends. A prominent politician who had a hand in the affair indeed confessed that, when reminded that the body would never pass for Morgan’s, he declared: “It’s a good enough Morgan.” Hence the phrase.

Goodge Street. After the name of the builder.

Goodman’s Fields. After the owner of the lands upon a portion of whose farm the Prioresses or Nuns of St Clare built their priory. This name recurs in the “Life of David Garrick,” who established his fame at the old Goodman’s Fields Theatre before he migrated to Drury Lane.

Good Old Town of Hull. A name originally bestowed upon the “Third Port” by tramps and beggars, who, in common with the deserving poor, fared exceeding well out of the bounty of the Dominican and Carmelite Friars. The streets Blackfriargate and Whitefriargate fix the locality of these conventual establishments.

Good Time. An Americanism for a very pleasurable or festive time. See “High Time.”

Good Wine needs no Bush. An ivy bush was in former times displayed at the end of a stake wherever wine was sold, the ivy being sacred to Bacchus. Travellers who had once tasted good wine took careful stock of the place before leaving it; consequently they needed no bush to direct them when next they visited the neighbourhood.

Goodwin Sands. At the time of the Norman Conquest this comprised the estate of Earl Godwin, from whom it was filched and bestowed upon the Abbey of St Augustine at Canterbury. Neglect of the repair of the sea-wall caused the waves to rush in and overwhelm the land.

Go off the Handle. To lose one’s head or go insane. The allusion is to the head of an axe flying off the handle.

Go one better. Originally a sporting expression, meaning that by jumping farther a contestant would make a scratch on the ground beyond the one just scored.

Goose. The tailor’s smoothing iron, from the resemblance of its handle to the neck of a goose.

Gooseberry. A corruption of Gorseberry, rough or coarse, on account of the hairs or diminutive prickles which distinguish this berry.

Gordon Hotels. Established by the late Frederick Gordon, a solicitor of Bloomsbury. These middle-class hotels have supplied a long-felt want in London and elsewhere.

Gordon Square. In compliment to Lady Georgina Gordon, wife of the sixth Duke of Bedford, the ground landlord.

Gospel. From the Anglo-Saxon God-spell, “good news.”

Gospel Oak. From the oak-tree marking the juncture of St Pancras and Hampstead parishes, beneath which the Gospel was annually read.

Goswell Road. From an ancient spring, styled “God’s Well,” discovered in this neighbourhood.

Gotham. The city of New York. Washington Irving first gave it this name in his “Salmagundi.” Its people in his time were anything but fools, yet he may not have appreciated the singular wisdom attributed to them. By referring to the city as Gotham he made a playful allusion to Gotham in Nottinghamshire, England, which for centuries had merited a reputation for being a town whose inhabitants did and said the most foolish things.

Go the whole Hog. An expression derived from Cowper’s poem entitled “Of the Love of the World reproved,” in which he discusses the eating of pork by the Turks:

“But for one piece they thought it hard

From the whole hog to be debarred.”

Got my Back up. In allusion to cats, which set up their backs on being confronted by their own species or by a ferocious dog.

Got my Dander up. The word dander here is a corruption of dandruff, which, though it means only the scurf on the head, has come to be curiously applied to the hair itself; as when the fur of enraged animals is raised.

Got the Bullet. Suddenly discharged from one’s occupation; “fired out,” as it were.

Got the Push. Ousted from one’s place of employment. Metaphorically to have been pushed off the premises.

Got the Sack. An expression derived from the sack in which mechanics and artisans generally carried their own tools. When engaged to work the tools were assigned to a proper place in the workshop, while the master took possession of the sack. On discharging his men he returned them the sack.

Go to. An Old English expression which leaves something to the imagination. Originally it must have implied a place where there is much caloric. In its popular acceptation it meant simply “Get along with you!”

Go to Bath. An expression signifying that a person is talking nonsense. When the west of England was the fashionable health resort silly and slightly demented folk were recommended to “Go to Bath, and get your head shaved.”

Go to Bungay. The curt answer received by persons who asked where they could get the once fashionable leather breeches. Bungay, in Suffolk, was the only place where they were made. This expression travelled over to New England with the first emigrants, and is still common in that portion of the United States.

Go to Jericho. Jericho was the name given by Henry VIII. to the Manor of Blackmore, near Chelmsford, whither he often retired quite suddenly from affairs of State. At such times his courtiers suspected some fresh freak of gallantry, and said he had “gone to Jericho.” Moreover, when in a testy mood, his Queen would tell him to “go to Jericho!”

Go to Putney. A very old expression, tantamount to consigning a person beyond the pale of London society or civilisation.

Got out of Bed the wrong Way. From the old superstition that planting the left foot on the ground first on rising in the morning was a harbinger of ill luck for the day.

Government Stock. The origin of the word Stock is interesting. Down to the year 1782, when the practice was abolished, public money invested in Government securities was acknowledged on the two opposite ends of a piece of wood called a stock, from the Anglo-Saxon stocc, a trunk. The stock was then cut in two, one portion being handed to the investor and the other consigned to the Tally Office.

Gower Street. After the name of the builder on this portion of the Bedford estate.

Gowk. The Scottish equivalent for an “April Fool,” signifying a foolish person.

Gracechurch Street. From the herb market anciently held around the Church of St Benet, called the Grass Church. This edifice has in modern times been pulled down, and the money realised for the site devoted to the erection of a new St Benet’s in the Mile End Road.

Gramercy. From grand merci, “great thanks,” a phrase introduced when French was the language of the Court.

Granby Street. In honour of John Manners, Marquis of Granby, whose name is also perpetuated by many a tavern sign.

Grand Hotel. Not in the sense of magnificence, but true to the French meaning of the word “great”; hence Grand Theatre, the Grand Tour, and the Grand Canal at Venice.

Grand Old Man. The name applied by Mr Labouchere to Mr W. E. Gladstone on the occasion of Mr Bradlaugh’s expulsion from the House after his election for Northampton because he refused to take the oath in the prescribed manner. Referring to a conversation in the tea-room Mr Labouchere said: “I told some friends that before I left Mr Gladstone came to me, and that grand old man, with tears in his eyes, took me by the hands, and said: ‘Mr Labouchere, bring me Mr Bradlaugh back again.’”

Grand Tour. More than a hundred years ago each of the sons of gentlemen in their turn made the Grand or Extended Tour through France, Germany, and Italy, just as nowadays daughters are presented at Court as a preliminary to moving in fashionable society.

Grange Road. Marks the situation of an old mansion called “The Grange.” The word Grange expresses the French for a barn or granary.

Granite State. New Hampshire, from its staple product.

Grapes. An inn or public sign, denoting that the house contained a vinery.

Grass Widow. A married woman separated from her husband, but not divorced. In the eyes of the world she passes for a widow by grace of courtesy. The correct description is, therefore, a “Grace Widow.” The corruption came about quite easily.

Grays. Anciently the estate of the noble family who gave their name to Gray’s Inn, their town mansion. Lady Jane Grey came of this stock.

Gray’s Inn. The Inn or mansion of the Earls Gray, made over to the law students, temp. Edward III. See “Inn.”

Gray’s Inn Road. From Gray’s Inn, the eastern wall of which it skirts.

Great Bear Lake. On account of its situation under the northern constellation of the Great Bear.

Great Belt. The great strait leading to the Baltic Sea. Both these names are derived from the Norse bält, strait.

Great College Street. At the southern extremity of this thoroughfare in Camden Town stands the Royal Veterinary College.

Great Coram Street. From the Foundling Hospital built and endowed by Captain Thomas Coram in 1739.

Great Dover Street. The London portion of the old Roman highway to Dover.

Great George Street. Stands on the site of the stable-yard of a famous old coaching inn, “The George and Dragon.”

Great Marlborough Street. In honour of the Duke of Marlborough, the people’s idol after the victory of Blenheim.

Great Ormond Street. After the British General, James Butler, second Duke of Ormond.

Great Peter Street. Contiguous to Westminster Abbey, dedicated to St Peter.

Great Portland Street. The business thoroughfare on the Duke of Portland’s estate.

Great Queen Street. First laid out across the fields in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and named after her.

Great Russell Street. In honour of the ill-fated Lord William Russell, whose wife, Rachel, was the daughter of the Duke of Bedford, the great ground landlord.

Great St Helen’s. Occupies the site of the ancient priory of St Helen’s, of which the church remains.

Great St Thomas Apostle. Marks the site of a vanished church of this name.

Great Stanhope Street. From the mansion of Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield.

Great Suffolk Street. After Suffolk House, in which resided George Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.

Great Sutton Street. Perpetuates the memory of Thomas Sutton, the founder of the Charter House.

Great Titchfield Street. After the Duke of Grafton and Marquis of Titchfield, father of the Earl of Euston, the ground landlord.

Great Winchester Street. From Winchester House, the residence of the first Earl of Winchester.

Great Windmill Street. A couple of centuries ago, when this district was open fields, a large windmill stood hereabouts.

Greece. Called Græcia by the Romans, after the Graikoi, a tribe of settlers in Epiros.

Greek Street. At one time a colony of Greek merchants who contributed to the erection of a Greek church here.

Greenaway Gardens. After the late Miss Kate Greenaway, the lady artist, who resided in its vicinity.

Greenbacks. The paper currency of the United States, printed in green and with a device of the same colour on the back. Mr Chase, Secretary of the Treasury in 1862, claimed the honour of having added this word to the American vocabulary.

Green Dragon.

An

An

inn sign anciently depicting the combat of St George with the dragon.

Greengage. The greenish plum introduced to England by Lord Gage from the monastery of La Chartreuse in France.

Greengrocer. See “Grocer.”

Greenhorn. A raw, inexperienced youth. The allusion here is to the undeveloped horns of a young ox.

Green Horse. The nickname of the 5th Dragoon Guards, from their green facings.

Greenland. From the moss which grows abundantly in this otherwise sterile region. Iceland or Greenland moss is said to be very efficacious in the treatment of consumption.

Green Man. An inn sign denoting that the house was kept by a retired gamekeeper of the lord of the manor. Mediæval gamekeepers always dressed in green. See “Inn.”

Green Man and Still. A tavern sign pointing to the existence on the premises of a still where cordials were distilled from green herbs. In this case the house was not kept by a gamekeeper, but by a herbalist. It may, however, have belonged to an innkeeper or a “Green Man” further afield on the same estate.

Green Mountain State. Vermont, as its name implies.

Green Park. On account of its delightful grassy surface.

Green-room. From the green-coloured walls of the room set apart by David Garrick behind the scenes of Drury Lane Theatre for members of the company in the intervals of playing their parts. This colour was chosen as a relief to the eye after the glare of the stage lights.

Green Sea. From the aspect of its waters looking towards the shores of Arabia.

Greenwich. Expresses the Saxon for “green village.”

Grenadiers. Anciently a company of soldiers who marched in front of every regiment of foot, it being their function to throw hand-grenades into the ranks of the enemy.

Gresham Street. After Sir Thomas Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange. His residence in Old Broad Street, on the site of the present Gresham House, was converted by him into a college, which in 1843 was removed into Gresham Street. The word Gresham comes from the German Grassheim, “grass home”; hence the grasshopper on the summit of the Royal Exchange.

Greville Street. Marks the site of the mansion of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke, one of the ministers of James I.

Grey Friars. See “Franciscans.”

Greyhound. An inn sign derived from the badge of Henry VII. The dog of this name originally came from Greece, and was accordingly styled a graihund, after the Graikoi, the people of that country.

Gripsack. An Americanism for a travellers’ hand-bag, corresponding to an English carpet bag.

Grisette. A generic name for a Parisian shop or work girl, from the gris, or grey cloth, which was at one time generally worn by the inferior classes in France.

Grocer. A term derived from the same root as Gross, “the great hundred,” and applied to a provision dealer who in former times was the only trader rejoicing in the monopoly of dealing in large quantities.

Grocery. An Americanism for a grocer’s store or shop. Also used in the plural sense for commodities dealt in by a grocer; corresponding to our “groceries.”

Grog. The name originally given by the sailors under Admiral Edward Vernon to the rum diluted with water he served out to them on board ship. They called him “Old Grog” because he always appeared on deck in a long grogram cloak when the weather was “dirty.”

Groggery. An Americanism for a “grog shop” where spirituous liquors only are purveyed; answering to our “Gin Palace.”

Grosvenor Square. The centre of the London estate of the Grosvenor family. Sir Richard Grosvenor was Grand Cup-bearer to George II. The word Grosvenor is Norman-French--i.e. Le Gros Veneur, “the chief hunter.”

Groundlings. The common spectators at the plays referred to by Hamlet in his “Advice to the Players.” The earliest London playhouses were the inn-yards, whose galleries corresponded to our box tiers, while the yard itself was given up to the audience generally.

Growler. A four-wheeled cab, so called from the surly manners of the driver. Since the advent of the “Hansom” his vehicle is rarely in request, save when the “fare” has much luggage to convey to a railway station or when a patient is being driven to the hospital.

Guadalquiver. From the Arabic Wad-al-Kebir, “great river.”

Guildford Street. After Francis North, Lord Keeper, who resided in it.

Guildhall. The Hall of the City Guilds. The old word Guild expressed the fee paid for membership in an association of artisans; from the Anglo-Saxon gild, money, gildan, to pay.

Guinea. A West African term for “abounding in gold.” The English coin of this name was first struck in 1663 out of gold brought from the coast of Guinea.

Guinea Fowl. Originally brought from Guinea, West Africa.

Guinea Pig. A South American rodent, somewhat resembling a pig. Its name is a corruption of Guiana pig.

Gulf of Carpentaria. Discovered by Captain Carpenter, a Dutch navigator, in 1606.

Gulf States. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas--all bordering on the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Stream. The warm equatorial waters of the Amazon River, which, after coursing round the coasts of South America and the Gulf of Mexico, make their way across the Atlantic, direct for the British Isles and Norway. This ocean stream, never less than forty miles in breadth, is distinguished by a deep indigo colour.

Gunnersbury. The name of a Saxon village, after the Lady Gunylda, a niece of King Canute, who took up her residence here while England was under the sway of the Danes.

Gutta-percha. A Malay term, gutta, gum, and percha, the tree which provides it.

Gutter Lane. A corruption of “Gutheron Lane,” from a Danish burgher who resided in it.

Guy’s Hospital. The generous benefaction of Thomas Guy, a wealthy Lombard Street bookseller, in 1722. His large fortune was chiefly due to the buying up, at a large discount, of seamen’s prize-money tickets, and investing the proceeds in South-Sea Stock.

Gyp. The college servitor at Cambridge, so called because he subsists on the perquisites of those whom he waits upon. Gyp expresses the Greek for a vulture.

H

Haberdasher. Anciently one who sold Hapertas cloth, a mixture of silk and wool. In modern times a haberdasher is a vendor of smallwares, such as handkerchiefs, neckties, tapes, etc. The origin of the word Hapertas has been traced to the Anglo-Saxon Habihr das: “Will you buy this?” a trader’s exclamation similar to that of the London ’prentice of a later period: “What do you lack?” However this may be, the German tauschen stands for sale, exchange, barter.

Hack Author. See “Hackney Coach.”

Hackney. The whole of this district originally belonged to a Danish Chief named Hacon. The suffix ey expresses an island--i.e. land intersected by rivulets (in this case of the Lea)--or low, marshy ground. The suggestion that coaches were first let out for hire in this neighbourhood is not correct. See “Hackney Coach.”

Hackney Coach. One let out for hire. In France a coche-a-haquenée expresses a coach drawn by a hired horse. Originally the word haquenée meant any kind of horse but a thoroughbred. The Dutch hakkenei means hack horse, an ambling nag. From the French haquenée we have derived the term hack author, or literary hack, one whose services are hired for poor pay by a bookseller.

Haggerston. A Saxon village called “Hergotstein,” “Our God’s Stone.” The stone is believed to have had relation to a miraculous well, beside which an altar was set up.

Hague. Properly, according to the Dutch name of the place, Gravenhaag, the ancient seat of the Gravs or Counts of Holland.

Hail. An exclamation of greeting derived from the Anglo-Saxon hæl, “health.” The Scandinavian heill expressed the same sentiment. See “Wassail.”

Halberd. From two Teutonic words, hild, battle, and bard, axe.

Halcyon Days. Days of peace and tranquillity. This was the name anciently given to the seven days before and after the shortest day, because, according to fable, there were always calms at sea during this period while the halcyon or kingfisher birds were breeding.

Half-and-half. Originally a mixture in equal proportions of strong ale and small beer. In modern days it consists of half ale and half porter. See “Entire” and “Porter.”

Half Moon Street. After an ancient tavern, “The Half Moon,” which stood in this neighbourhood. This sign was derived from the crescent or ensign of the Turks.

Halfpenny. The original penny pieces were deeply indented crosswise, so that halfpennies and farthings (or fourthlings) could easily be broken off, as occasion demanded.

Half Seas Over. A nautical phrase applied to a drunken man staggering along, who is in danger of falling to the ground at any moment. When a ship has all her sails spread a sudden change in the direction of the wind often threatens to lay her on her side.

Halifax. A corruption of the Saxon “Haligfock,” from halig, holy, and fock, people. For what reason the inhabitants of this place were considered more saintly than people elsewhere local tradition does not say. Halifax in Nova Scotia was named, on the foundation of the city in 1749, by the Hon. Edward Cornwallis, after the Earl of Halifax.

Halifax Gibbet Law. An ancient enactment for the protection of the local woollen manufacture. Owing to the systematic theft by the employées in the trade of material supplied to them, it was found that the fabric lacked body and weight. To put a stop to this pilfering a law was passed, making the theft of anything whatsoever, to the value to thirteen pence halfpenny, subject to the death penalty. On conviction before a magistrate the thief was publicly executed on the next market day. The mode of execution was not by hanging, but by beheading, the instrument used being a kind of guillotine. Taylor, the Water Poet, speaks of this

“Jyn that wondrous quick and well,

Sends thieves all headless into heaven or hell.”

Hallelujah. From the Hebrew halelu, “praise ye,” and Iah, “Jehovah.”

Hallelujah Victory. That gained by the newly baptised Bretons under Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, in 429. As they marched to the attack they cried “Hallelujah!”

Hall Mark. The test mark of Goldsmiths’ Hall stamped upon gold and silver plate as a guarantee of its purity.

Hamiltonian System. A novel method of teaching languages, invented by James Hamilton, a merchant, whose death took place at Dublin, 1831. The peculiarity of this system was that it dispensed with the initiatory grammatical stages.

Hamilton Place. After Colonel James Hamilton, Ranger of Hyde Park, temp. Charles II.

Hammer and Scourge of England. The sobriquet of Sir William Wallace, the Scottish warrior patriot.

Hammer and Tongs. A corruption of “Hammer and Tongues.” A wordy warfare is well described as a hammering of tongues; hence the saying: “They went at it hammer and tongs” (tongues).

Hammer-cloth. It has been suggested that this is the covering for the box-seat of a coach that contained the hammer, bolts, nails, etc., useful to remedy a breakdown on a journey. The true meaning of the term is, however, that it is properly “Hammock-cloth,” the driver’s seat being formed of stout straps or webbing stretched upon crutches, after the fashion of a sailor’s hammock.

Hammered. A stockbroker is said to be “hammered” when he is driven out of the Stock Exchange on account of his failure to meet his liabilities.

Hammersmith. Originally Hammerschmiede, literally Saxon for blacksmith’s shop. In the early periods of its history this village had a great number of smithies.

Hampshire (or Hants). The shire of the Hamptune, Hantone, or Anton, which river gives its name to the county town and “Southampton Water.”

Hampstead. From “Homestead,” signifying the enclosed property--i.e. farm buildings--of a rural mansion.

Hampton. From the Saxon heim, home, to which ton or town was added. “Hampton Wick” expresses the village home on a creek.

Hampton Court. In the thirteenth century the manor of Hampton belonged to the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. Cardinal Wolsey built himself a sumptuous palace here, and lived in luxurious style. Eventually he presented it to Henry VIII., since whose time Hampton Court has remained Crown property. The last monarch who resided here was George II.

Hand in your Checks. An Americanism for dying, giving up the ghost; meaning properly to make your will and settle your earthly affairs. All over the United States it is the custom at German restaurants to give a certain amount of credit to known regular patrons, who now and again are asked to hand in their checks or vouchers for settlement.

Handkerchief. Anciently a kerchief, which term was a corruption of “Coverchef,” from the French couvrir, to cover, and chef, the head, reserved for hand use in wiping the face, and carried in the left sleeve of the garment. At a later period, until the reign of Elizabeth, when pockets came into vogue, the handkerchief found a place in the pouch worn on the left side of the girdle.

Handsel Monday. The first Monday in the New Year, when handsels or gifts were bestowed upon servants. The word “Handsel” is Anglo-Saxon, meaning the delivery of something into another’s hands; also the first instalment of a series of payments as an earnest of good faith.

Handyman. The modern designation of a bluejacket or man-of-war’s-man. Since 1882, when, after the bombardment of Alexandria, he was sent ashore to cooperate with our troops in Egypt, he has proved himself not only an expert fighting man with the cutlass and musket, but an agile auxiliary to the artillery--in short, a handy man in all respects.

Hangbird. The Baltimore oriole, which suspends its nest from a tree branch.

Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered. The former capital sentence for treason. The criminal was drawn to the place of execution upon a hurdle, hanged, and his body was hewn into four quarters, each being spiked in a public place as an example to the multitude. This quartering was substituted, in the fifty-fourth year of the reign of George III., for the disembowelling of the hanged criminal while he was yet alive.

Hang of the Thing. An Americanism for the mechanism or the understanding of a thing--e.g. “I can’t get the hang of the thing nohow.”

Hanover Square. In honour of the Hanoverian Succession, because laid out and built upon in the reign of George I.

Hansards. Parliamentary debates and papers, so called because they were printed by Luke Hansard and his successors from the year 1752 until comparatively recent days.

Hanse Towns. Those towns of Northern Germany embraced by the Hansa or Hanseatic League, as long ago as the thirteenth century, for the protection of commerce against pirates at sea and marauders on land. The word Hansa is Gothic for a league, society, federation.

Hans Place. After Sir Hans Sloane, the original ground landlord. See “Sloane Square.”

Hansom Cab. The “Safety Cab” patented in 1883 by Joseph Aloysius Hansom. This was not so much an improvement upon the Four-Wheeler as a horse-drawn adaptation of the invalids’ chair introduced at Brighton at the commencement of the century. See “Fly.”

Hants. See “Hampshire.”

Hanway Street. Here resided Jonas Hanway, the founder of Magdalen Hospital, who, newly arrived in England from Persia, and in delicate health, excited much ridicule because he was the first male pedestrian to carry an umbrella through the London streets as a protection against the rain. Hackney coachmen were especially wrath at this innovation, foreseeing that their business would be ruined if it caught on with the public.

Happify. An Americanism for to make happy--e.g. “One ought to try to happify mankind.”

Hapsburg. The name of the Imperial family of Austria, derived from Habichtsburg, or “Hawk’s Castle,” built by Werner, Bishop of Strasburg, on the right bank of the Aar, in the Swiss canton of the Aargau--i.e. country of the Aar River.

Hard pushed. See “Hard up.”

Hard-shell Baptists. The American term for the hard and strait-laced sect of Baptists; corresponding to that which in England is designated the “Particular Baptists.”

Hard up. The allusion is to being pushed hard by circumstances into a tight corner.

Harem. Expresses the Arabic for “Sacred Spot.”

Harewood Square. From the town house of the Earls of Harewood.

Harlequin. From the Italian arlechino, a satirist, a jester.

Harlequinade. The comic scenes of a pantomime. In the original form of this entertainment the Harlequinade was by far the longer portion, and the principal character was Harlequin, the lover of Columbine. To his ingenuity in evading the clown and pantaloon, and confusing them by wondrous changeful tricks brought about by his magic wand, the success of the good old English pantomime was due. Speaking clowns did not come into existence before the days of Grimaldi.

Harley Street. After Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, the ground landlord.

Harmonium. From the sustained harmonies produced on this wind instrument by means of the keys and finger-board.

Harold Harefoot. Harold I., the Saxon King of England, surnamed “Harefoot” because he was fleet of foot as a hare.

Harpsichord. An old form of pianoforte, so called because it was a harp encased longitudinally, and its chords were produced by the player on a key or finger board.

Harpur Street. After Sir William Harpur, Lord Mayor in 1562, the owner of a considerable estate in this neighbourhood.

Harrier. A dog specially suited for hunting the hare owing to his keen scent; also one who engages in a foot race according to the rule that each individual contestant makes for the goal by a different route.

Harringay. Expresses a neighbourhood or district abounding in hares.

Harrington Square. The property of one of the Earls of Harrington, whose daughter married the seventh Duke of Bedford.

Hart Street. Both these thoroughfares, in Bloomsbury and off Drury Lane, received their names from an adjacent inn sign, “The White Hart.”

Harum-scarum. One who is such a fright that he scares all beholders, causing them to fly from him with the swiftness of a hare.

Harvard

University

University

. The foundation and endowment of the Rev. John Harvard at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1638.

Harvest Festival. This distinctly religious observance by way of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth really originated in or grew out of the Harvest Supper which landlords were accustomed to give their tenants after the harvest had been gathered in, because what was the ancient “Lammas Day” fell into abeyance at the Reformation.

Harz Mountains. Both these mountain ranges are for the most part forest clad. Harz is Old Saxon for wood, forest.

Hasn’t a Leg to stand on. A figurative expression applied to one whose argument has no support or firm basis.

Has the true Ring. A phrase generally applied to poetry, in allusion to the common test of genuine or debased coin by “ringing” it on a board or table.

Hatton Garden. Laid out across the extensive grounds attached to Hatton House, in which resided Sir Christopher Hatton, the Chancellor of Queen Elizabeth.

Hauled over the Coals. An expression dating back to the Ordeal by Fire, where persons accused of a crime were made to walk barefooted over red-hot iron shares or glowing embers. If they did so unharmed that was considered a proof of their innocence.

Hautboy. From the French hautbois, literally “high wood,” being a high-toned reed instrument.

Havelock. The white cloth forming part of the military cap as a protection against the scorching rays of the sun, introduced by General Havelock during the Indian Mutiny.

Haversack. Provincial English for Oatsack, derived from the German habersack. The word hafre, oats, is Scandinavian.

Haverstock Hill. From a stockaded dwelling among the oats. See “Haversack.”

Havre. Originally “Le Havre de Notre Dame de Grace,” the Harbour of Our Lady of Mercy, afterwards shortened into “Havre de Grace.”

Hawker. From the German hoken, to carry on the back. A pedlar who carried his wares in a sack over his shoulder.

Hawkeye State. Iowa, owing to the sanguinary conflicts with the savage tribe led by the chief “Hawkeye.” Its people are called “Hawkeyes.”

Hawthorn. Expresses the Anglo-Saxon for “hedge thorn.”

Haydon Square. After the ground landlord, John Heydon, Alderman of the city of London towards the close of the sixteenth century.

Hay Hill. Marks the situation, together with Hill Street and Farm Street, of an old farm on the lands of John, Lord Berkeley of Stratton, temp. Charles I.

Haymarket. Where hay was sold in open market prior to January 1831.

Hayti. West Indian for “mountainous country.”

Hazing. An Americanism for a mad sport or frolic. Specifically it expresses the tricks played upon, and the ignominious treatment meted out to, an unpopular comrade in the army and the Military Schools; what in our own country is called “Ragging.” Like most other Americanisms, the word cannot be explained on etymological grounds.

Hear, Hear. A modern form of the ancient parliamentary exclamation “Hear him!” to enjoin silence while a Member was addressing the House.

Hearse. From the French herse and German hirsch. Both these terms expressed a harrow or triangular candlestick set at the head of a coffin at a funeral service in church. At a later period they implied a sepulchral mound temporarily distinguished by a triangular stake setting forth a number or other identification mark. The modern application of the term to a vehicle specially designed for the conveyance of a body to the grave was an easy transition.

Heart-breakers. Artificial ringlets formerly worn by ladies to enhance their beauty. It is said that the most inveterate woman-hater was not proof against the attraction of these Heart-breakers.

Heathen. Literally a dweller on a heath in the open country. The Romans applied the term to those who, having no communion with the dwellers in cities, were cut off from all knowledge of their complicated system of mythology. When Rome became converted to Christianity the untutored inhabitants of the country at large were the last to receive the Gospel. A heathen nation therefore, in a religious sense, is one far removed from civilisation, which offers a fruitful field for missionary work.

Heaven-sent Minister. William Pitt, first Earl of Chatham, one of the most eminent statesmen that England has ever possessed. His intense love of his own country prompted him to measures which made the success of British arms pre-eminent. Had his colleagues during the later portion of his career been actuated by the same patriotism as himself, and heeded his warnings, our American colonies might never have separated from the Mother Country.

Heavy Hill. Holborn Hill, because the hearts of those riding in the fatal cart to the place of execution at Tyburn were heavily laden.

“He” Bible. The first edition of the Authorised Version, containing a typographical error in Ruth iii. 15: “And he went into the city.” The subsequent edition, published in the same year, in which the passage was rectified, became known as “The ‘She’ Bible.”

Hebrews. Said to be descendants of Eber, the great-grandson of Shem, one of the ancestors of Abraham. The greater probability, however, is that the term has been derived from the native ebher, the region on the other side--i.e. of the Euphrates.

Hebrides. Expresses the “Western Isles” of the Norwegians.

Hector. To swagger, bully, treat with insolence, after Hector, the celebrated Trojan warrior. From the known character of this hero of antiquity it is not easy to conceive that he could ever have been a braggart. The inference is rather that this word in its accepted sense was derived from the brutal manner in which Achilles treated the body of Hector after he had slain him in single combat.

Hedge Priest. Specifically in Ireland an itinerant cleric unattached to any mission; one admitted to Holy Orders without having studied theology.

Hedge School. An open-air school in the poor rural districts of Ireland beside a hedge.

Heel of Achilles. When Thetis, the mother of Achilles, dipped her son in the River Styx to make him invulnerable the water laved every portion of his body save that by which she held him. It was

accordingly

accordingly

in the heel that he received his mortal wound.

Heir Apparent. The rightful heir to the crown, whose succession is beyond a doubt provided he survives the reigning monarch.

Heir-Presumptive. The presumed heir to the crown provided no child in the direct line of succession is born to supersede his claim.

Heligoland. Danish for “Holy Land,” which name was bestowed upon it after the conversion of its people by St Willibrod in the seventh century. A great many conventual establishments sprang up on the soil, but the encroachments of the sea had swept them away by the seventeenth century. Prior to their conversion the Anglii were wont to repair to this isle from the opposite mainland for the worship of the goddess Hertha, also known as Foseta, of whose temple it is said some ruins yet remain.

Heliotrope. From the Greek helios, sun, and tropos, to turn. The flowers of this plant are said always to turn towards the sun.

Hello Girls. A nickname popularly bestowed upon the telephone girls in the Post Office Department at St Martin’s-le-Grand.

Hellespont. The older name of the “Dardanelles,” where Helle in fleeing from her stepmother was drowned. This occurred at the point where Xerxes with his army had crossed the strait on a temporary bridge.

Hell Kettles. Three very deep pits full of water at Oxenhall, Durham. The people of the neighbourhood declare them to be bottomless. They are really disused coal pits, the water in which cannot be drained off.

Helmuth the Taciturn. The sobriquet of Count Von Moltke, Field Marshal of the German Empire, on account of his habitual reserve.

Helot. The name given by the Spartans to a slave from the Greek town of Helos, whose inhabitants they reduced to slavery.

Henbane. A plant which is poisonous to poultry.

Henchman. A corruption of “Haunchman,” the groom or servant who out of doors was in constant attendance upon his master at the flank or haunches of his horse. See “Flunkey.”

Heneage Lane. After the residence of Sir Thomas Heneage, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the sixteenth century.

Henrietta Street. In Covent Garden, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. On the north side of Oxford Street, after Henrietta Cavendish, who, by her marriage, carried not only a goodly portion of the Cavendish estate, but also that of her father, Lord Holles, into the Harley family.

Henry Irving. See “Irving.”

Heptarchy. The Saxon division of England comprising Kent, Sussex, Wessex, Essex, East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria, each having originally its own ruler.

Herculaneum. The foundation of this buried city was by the Romans traditionally ascribed to Hercules.

Hereford. Expresses the Saxon for “army ford” over the River Wye. During the Heptarchy this was the military headquarters of Mercia.

Heroic Verse. That usually selected for epic poetry, since the exploits of Achilles at the siege of Troy were set forth by Homer in hexameters.

Hertford. Originally “Hartford,” being the ford of the River Lea crossed by harts.

He’s a Brick. This expression, if not quite as old as the hills, carries us back to the time of Plutarch, who in his “Lives” gives the following account of its origin:--“On a certain occasion, an ambassador from Epirus paid a visit to Argesilaus, King of Sparta, on a mission of diplomatic importance. By that monarch he was shown over the capital. But the ambassador failed to see any massive walls reared to defend the city, and openly expressed his astonishment to the King. ‘Sire!’ he said, ‘I have visited most of your principal towns, and find no walls reared for defence. Why is this?’ ‘Indeed, Sir Ambassador,’ Argesilaus replied, ‘thou canst not have looked carefully. Come with me to-morrow, and I will show thee the walls of Sparta.’ On the following morning the King conducted his guest out upon the plains, where his army was drawn up in full battle array, and, proudly pointing to the serried host, he exclaimed: ‘There, Sir Ambassador, thou beholdest the walls of Sparta--ten thousand men, and every man a brick!’”

He’s joined the Majority. See “Gone over to the Majority.”

Hessel Street. The recent change from Morgan Street to Hessel Street in Stepney is accounted for by the discovery that here a celebrated character, in the person of Phœbe Hessel, was born. For many years she served as a private soldier in the Fifth Regiment of Foot, and fought at the Battle of Fontenoy, in which engagement she was wounded. A long inscription on her tombstone in Brighton churchyard would have us believe that she was at the time of her death, 21st December 1821, no less than one hundred and eight years of age.

Hessian. An Americanism for a hireling, a fighter for pay, a mercenary politician. The Hessian soldiers have always been ready to enlist in a foreign service for pay.

Hessian Fly. An insect which has caused the utmost destruction among young wheat in North America, so called because it was said to have been introduced by the Hessian troops in their horse straw during the Revolution.

Hetman. The Russian title of the general or headman of the Cossacks, derived from the Tartar Ataman. This too supplies the origin of the German Hauptmann, captain, chief, or headman of a village.

Hibernia. See “Ireland.”

Hickory. See “Old Hickory.”

Hicksite Friends. An American offshoot of the Society of Friends or Quakers under Elias Hicks in 1827.

Highbury. From the bury or enclosed land belonging to the Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell. In 1271 they built a priory here, of which the barn remained standing until modern days. Compared with the low-lying district round about, this was elevated ground.

Highbury Barn. Originally a cake and ale house contiguous to the ancient barn of the Clerkenwell Priory. This place of public resort developed into a theatre in 1865; subsequently it degenerated into a dancing saloon, and was finally abolished in 1875.

Highfalutin. A corruption of “high-flighting.” This word originated in the western states of North America.

Highgate. The village that sprang up around the ancient toll gate on the road from London to Barnet. The tolls levied here were for the benefit of the Bishop of London. Even in our time this elevated situation commands a good view of London. The absurd ceremony of “swearing on the horns” was formerly imposed on all travellers passing through the gate.

High Seas. The great ocean highways out of sight of land and common to mariners of all nations.

High Tea. A substantial meat tea towards the close of the day in place of the fashionable set dinner. This is the invariable custom in Germany. In English it is usual to designate such a meal as a “Knife and Fork Tea.” See “High Time.”

High Time. A phrase employed in the same sense as High Street, High Seas, Highway, etc.--i.e. great. The German word for wedding is Hochzeit, literally a “high time.” In America the expression for a festive occasion or a pleasurable trip is “a good time.”

Hilary Term. In law the sittings of the Courts from 11th to 13th January, so called from the festival of St Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, on the latter date.

Hill Street. See “Hay Hill.”

Himalaya Mountains. From the Sanskrit hima, snow, and alaya, abode.

Hinde Street. After James Hinde, a speculative builder, who more than a century ago laid out many of the streets now covering what was the estate of Marylebone Park.

Hindustan. Agreeably to the Persian stan, the country traversed by the Hindu or Indus; both terms are derived from the Sanskrit Sindhu, “great river.”

Hippodrome. Expresses the Greek for a race-course, from hippos, a horse, and dromos, a course.

Hippocras. A cordial of spiced wine, so called by the apothecaries because it was supposed to have been made from the prescription of Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine.

His Nibs. A corruption of “His Nobs”; used ironically for “His Highness” in reference to a parvenu or a conceited upstart.

Hispania. See “Spain.”

Hoboken. Indian for the “smoke pipe,” or pipe of peace. This was the place where the chiefs first met the white settlers, and while passing round the calumet entered into a friendly treaty.

Hobson’s Choice. In the seventeenth century Tobias Hobson kept a livery stable at Cambridge. When the students at the University wished to hire a horse for the day he led out the occupant of the first stall. If they demurred, he said abruptly: “It’s this one or none.” So Hobson’s choice settled the question.

Hock. The general name for Rhenish wines, but properly that made at Hockheim on the Maine.

Hockey. Expresses the diminutive of hook, the club used in this game being only slightly hooked at the end.

Hocking. See “Hock Tuesday.”

Hockley. Anglo-Saxon for a miry field. Clerkenwell was at one time called “Hockley-in-the-Hole,” after a bear garden dating from the Restoration period.

Hock Tuesday. Anciently a high festival throughout England, in commemoration for the final expulsion of the Danes, who had ravaged the eastern portions of our country for more than two centuries. This occurred on Easter Tuesday 1074. Most of the Danes were slaughtered off-hand by first hamstringing, or cutting their hams or houghs, which prevented them from making for their boats; hence the term Hock for the festival. The English landlords levied what was called “Hock Money” on this day from their tenants, in return for which they treated them to a good supper. In modern times people stopped pedestrians in the streets with ropes, and declined to release them until they had parted with hock money.

Hocus-pocus. The gibberish of a conjurer when performing his tricks; said to have been derived from one Ochus Bochus, a celebrated wizard of Northern Europe, three centuries ago. The early conjurers were thought to use these words as an invocation to this magician. Nowadays our sleight-of-hand professors dispense with words, and fire off a pistol, doubtless to prove that they can do the trick in a crack.

Hodge. The generic name for a farm labourer; a corruption of Hedger.

Hoist with his own Petard. Caught in his own trap, blown up with his own engine of destruction. The petard was an ancient infernal engine filled with gunpowder; he who fired it stood in great danger of sacrificing his own life.

Holborn. Anciently spelt “Holeburne,” the bourn or stream in a hollow. This was the River Fleet, which had an outlet into the Thames. Further north, in Clerkenwell, it was called “the River of Wells.”

Holborn Bars. The western limits of the city of London.

Hold hard. This exclamation, when the advice really means to stop or “leave go,” sounds ridiculous. It originally meant, as it still does in the Emerald Isle, to keep a firm hold with both hands on the back rail of an Irish jaunting car lest the rider might be thrown out of it.

Hole in the Wall. A tavern sign, derived from the fact that this house was originally approached either through an opening made in the ancient city wall or else through another house that stood in front of it.

Holiday. The modern form of “Holy Day,” expressive of a great feast in the Church calendar.

Holland. From the Danish ollant, “marshy ground.” The linen cloth of the same name was first made in Holland.

Holland Road. From Holland House, the residence of Henry Rich, Earl of Holland, temp. Charles I. By his marriage with the Dowager Countess of Warwick, widow of Lord Holland, in 1710, Joseph Addison became nominally master of this noble mansion, and here he died.

Hollands. See “Gin.”

Holles Street. In the West End, after John Holles, the last Duke of Newcastle, whose only daughter by her marriage carried the entire estate hereabouts into the possession of the Harleys. In Drury Lane, the name given by Gilbert, Earl of Clare, whose house stood in what became Clare Market, in honour of his uncle, Denzil, Lord Holles, temp. Charles I.

Holloway. At one time a miry highway in a hollow between Highbury and Highgate.

Holloway College. Founded in 1883 for the higher education of women at Egham, Surrey, by Thomas Holloway, the pioneer of modern advertising on a lavish scale.

Hollyhock. A species of mallow, called by the Anglo-Saxon hoc, and first brought to Europe from the Holy Land. Hence holy-hoc.

Holly Village. A modern settlement at Highgate founded by the Baroness Burdett Coutts-Bartlett but a short distance removed from her rural retreat known as Holly Lodge.

Holy Boys. The regimental nickname of the 9th Foot, because they sacked monasteries and sold Bibles in the street during the Peninsular War.

Holy Cross Day. Otherwise the “Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross,” 14th September, commemorates, the restoration of the Cross of Christ to Jerusalem, A.D. 628.

Holy Land. Palestine, the scene of the birth, life labours, and death of the Redeemer.

Holy Maid of Kent. The name given to Elizabeth Barton, a poor Kentish servant girl, who, subject to trances, foretold events, and afterwards entered a convent at Canterbury. Her fame as a religious enthusiast increased, until, for pronouncing sentence against the divorce of Queen Catherine of Aragon, she, in company with five monks, was hanged at Tyburn.

Holyrood Palace. This residence of the ancient kings of Scotland grew out of the Abbey of the Holy Rood built by David I. as the permanent abode of the Black Rood, brought to Scotland by St Margaret in 1070. This precious relic was a piece of the true cross set in gold and ebony. It fell into the hands of the English at the battle of Neville’s Cross in 1344, after which all trace of it was lost. James II. was born at Holyrood; here too he was buried. The foundations of the new palace were laid by James IV. in 1500.

Holywell. From the miraculous well of St Winifred in Flintshire, the scene of her martyrdom.

Holywell Lane. Here, in Shoreditch, stood an ancient Priory of Nuns of St John the Baptist, in the grounds of which a “sweet, holy well” was discovered.

Holywell Street. This now vanished thoroughfare, east of the Strand, received its name from a Holy Well close to the Church of St Clement Danes. That in Westminster marks the site of the town house of the Grosvenors, whose rural estates lay around “Holywell” in Flintshire.

Homely. An Americanism for “plain,” “ugly;” applied to persons only.

Home Office. The official department of the Secretary for Home--i.e., internal, Affairs.

Homerton. A corruption of “Heimathton,” which expressed the town that grew out of the Saxon village styled Heimath, “home” or “native country.”

Honduras. Spanish for “deep water.”

Honey Lane. In this lane stood an ancient market-house or hall for the sale of honey. Owing to the dearness of sugar prior to the discovery of America and the colonisation of the West Indies, honey was in general request.

Honeymoon. From the custom of the Scandinavians, who drank Hydromel, or diluted honey, for thirty days after a marriage feast.

Honiton Lace. A superior kind of “Pillow Lace” made at Honiton in Devonshire. This industry was introduced into England by the Lollards, temp. Elizabeth.

Honor Oak. From the famous boundary oak beneath which Queen Elizabeth once dined. Prior to that event it bore the name of Gospel Oak, under whose shade, in common with all other parish boundary oaks, the Gospel was read there once a year.

Hoodlum. A street rough, originally a product of San Francisco, but now common in New York and most cities of the American Union. The origin of the term was thus accounted for by The Congregationalist, 26th September 1877: “A newspaper man in San Francisco, in attempting to coin a word to designate a gang of young street Arabs under the beck of one named ‘Muldoon,’ hit upon the idea of dubbing them Noodlums--that is, simply reversing the leader’s name. In writing the word the strokes of the N did not correspond in height, and the compositor, taking the N for an H, printed it Hoodlum. ‘Hoodlum’ it is, and probably ever will be.”

Hoodman Blind. The ancient form of the game of “Blind Man’s Buff.” Instead of being bandaged the Blind Man had the hood, which everyone wore, drawn over his eyes.

Hook it. A variant of “Sling your Hook.”

Hook of Holland. From the Dutch hoek, a cape, a corner. The same perverted designation obtained in all the early Dutch settlements of New York State, notably “Sandy Hook.”

Hooligan. A London rough. This term is of quite modern date, and clearly an adaptation of that which has become common all over the United States. See “Hoodlum.”

Hooter. A United States corruption of iota. The people of New York State in particular are addicted to the saying: “I don’t care a hooter whether I do or not.” “This note isn’t worth a hooter,” etc.

Hoosier State. Indiana, from the nickname given to its people. “Hoosier” is really a corruption of Husher, touching the power of a bully to silence a stranger. The Hoosiers are noted for their brusque manners. The state is also called “Hoosierdom.”

Hopkinsians. An American Calvinistic sect named after their founder, Samuel Hopkins of Connecticut.

Hornbill. A bird distinguished for a horny excrescence on its bill.

Horn Book. A primitive text-book for children. It was really no book at all, but a piece of paper containing the alphabet, the nine digits, and at times the Lord’s Prayer, mounted on a small flat board, over which was stretched a transparent sheet of horn; below was a handle to hold it by.

Hornpipe. A lively sailor’s dance, which had its origin in the west of England to the accompaniment of a Welsh musical instrument of the same name composed of a wooden pipe with a horn at each end.

Hornsey. A corruption of “Harringsey,” a watered meadow of hares.

Horse Chestnut. Some say this term is a corruption of “Coarse Chestnut,” in contradistinction to the edible chestnut; others that these chestnuts were formerly ground up and given to horses for food.

Horseferry Road. Where horses were conveyed across the Thames on a ferry boat in bygone times.

Horse Latitudes. A portion of the Atlantic distinguished for its tedious calms, where old navigators were wont to throw overboard the horses they had to transport to the West Indies in order to lighten the ship.

Horsleydown. A corruption of “Horsadown”; formerly a down or hilly ground used for grazing horses.

Horse Marines. There can be no Horse Marines; but the 17th Lancers were at one time made to bear this opprobrious nickname from the circumstance that two men of this regiment had originally served as Marines on board the Hermione in the West Indies.

Horse Shoe. A large public-house at the Oxford Street end of Tottenham Court Road, this sign being derived from the trade mark of Messrs Meux’s brewery adjoining.

Hose. From the Icelandic hosa, stocking.

Hosier Lane. From the hosiers who congregated in it.

Hospice. From the Latin hospes, a stranger, guest. This term is now confined to an Alpine retreat for the reception of travellers. Elsewhere the French word Hospital obtains for any establishment set apart for the temporary accommodation of the poor. Formerly, however, it implied a lazar-house or a refuge for fallen women; in its modern sense a hospital is exclusively an institution for the sick poor.

Hospice of St Bernard. See “Bernardine Hospice.”

Hospital. See “Hospice.”

Hostelry. From the old French hostellerie, an inn, through the Latin hospes, a stranger, a guest. The modern French form is “Hotel,” which implies not only an establishment for the entertainment of travellers, but also a superior house or palace.

Hotel. See “Hostelry.”

Hotel des Invalides. A magnificent establishment in Paris, originally designed as an asylum for invalided and disabled soldiers by Henry IV. in 1596. Prior to that time no provision existed for warriors who had spent their best energies in their country’s service save the charity of the monastic institutions.

Hotspur. The surname of Harry Percy, on account of his mad courage when mounted on his charger. A man of fiery, ungovernable temper is said to be “a regular Hotspur.”

Houndsditch. The dry ditch outside the city wall which was made the receptacle for all kinds of refuse, and dead dogs in particular.

Houp la. This exclamation on the part of a circus ringmaster as the signal for an equestrienne to leap over horizontal barriers or through paper hoops has been derived from the Californian stage drivers’ ejaculation to their horses.

Housemaids’ Knee. Housemaids are specially liable to this affection of the sac under the knee-pan through kneeling on hard or damp floors.

House of Keys. The Representative Council of the Isle of Man, so called from the Manx Kiare-as-feed, four and twenty, this being the number appointed by statute to form the “Court of Tynwald.” Tynwald is an artificial mound in the centre of the island whence a new law has from time immemorial been promulgated.

Housewarming. The name given to a party or reception of guests on taking possession of a newly built mansion. This was of old a winter function, when the lighting of large fires in all the rooms for the occasion proved serviceable in drying the plastered walls and ceilings.

Howard Street. From the town house and grounds of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel and Surrey, that stood on the large plot of ground now covered by the four streets bearing these names.

Howitzer. A German cannon, properly called a haubitze, from the Bohemian term haufnice, a sling.

Hoxton. Little more than a hundred years ago this district bore the name of Hogsdon on account of the great number of pigs bred here. Hog Lane still exists off the High Street.

Hub. The proud pet name of the city of Boston, the social centre of the United States, in the same sense as the hub is a centre for a wheel. The origin of the term is ascribed to Dr Oliver Wendell Holmes who, in one of his books spoke of the State House at Boston as “the hub of the solar system.”

Hudibrastic Verse. That which is in imitation of the measure and doggerel style of Samuel Butler’s “Hudibras.”

Hudson River. After Captain Henry Hudson, who discovered it in 1609. A year later, when searching for a north-west passage, he navigated the bay and the strait named in his honour.

Huggin Lane. After Hugan, a wealthy citizen who resided here, temp. Edward I.

Huguenots. The name borne by the adherents of the Reformation in France, after Hugh, a Genevese Calvinist, their leader, and the German eidgenossen, confederates.

Hull. From the river upon which it stands. Its ancient name was Kingston-upon-Hull, a town founded by Edward I. in 1299.

Hull Cheese. A strong ale for which the “Good Old Town of Hull” was at one time famous. To “eat Hull cheese” was to get incontinently drunk.

Hull, Hell, and Halifax. In olden times, before Kingston-upon-Hull could be approached direct from the Humber, the River Hull was navigable, as now, only at high water, and even then it required very skilful pilotage on account of the many sandbanks at its mouth; it was therefore dreaded by seafaring men. Taylor, the Water Poet, wrote: “From Hull, Hell, and Halifax, good Lord, deliver us!” The reference to Halifax arose out of the knowledge that in his day a man could be executed there for stealing property to the value of thirteen pence halfpenny. See “Halifax Gibbet Law.”

Humanitarians. Those who believe in the complete humanity of Christ, namely--that He was capable of committing sin like any other mortal.

Humble Bee. A corruption of “Humming Bee.”

Humbug. The old mode of expressing approbation of a speech or at the play was by humming, but since the sincerity of this form of applause could not always be relied upon, intermingled as it may have been with suppressed murmurs of disapproval, the word Hum came to be applied to mock admiration or flattery, intended only to deceive. Hence the saying: “That’s all hum.” The added word Bug is very old, signifying a frightful object, a thing to be shunned. To humbug is to deceive; to prefer candour to humbug is to be proof against flattery.

Humming Bird. So called from the sound caused by the rapid motion of its wings in flight.

Hummums. A hotel in Covent Garden built on the site of a Persian or Turkish sweating bath so called in the seventeenth century. The name is Arabic.

Hundred. A Saxon subdivision of the English shires said to have been introduced by Alfred the Great. Each hundred comprised a colony of “ten times ten” families--that is to say, ten divisions of ten freeholders and their dependents in each. In all then there were one hundred champions to defend the common cause. In legal and ecclesiastical documents relative to lands such property is still said to be situate in a particular “hundred” as well as parish.

Hungary. The country of the Huns, who swarmed over from Asia and expelled the Goths from this portion of Europe in the fourth century. When first heard of in China, about a hundred years previous, the natives designated them Hiong-nu, signifying “Giants.” These Huns were really the Mongolian race still known as the Kalmucks. The suffix gary is a Western modification of the Teutonic gau, district or country.

Hungary Water. A perfume, properly called “The Queen of Hungary’s Water” from the circumstance that the recipe had been given by a hermit to one of the queens of Hungary.

Hung on Wires. An American expression for one suffering from “nerves,” a nervous or fidgety person.

Huns. See “Hungary.”

Huntingdon. Expresses the shire most favoured for hunting, this being anciently a vast deer forest.

Hurly-burly. An expression derived from the tumult of ancient warfare, with especial reference to the hurling of spears and battle-axes. The witches in Macbeth say:

“When the hurly-burly’s done,

When the battle’s lost and won.”

Huron. This lake was so called by the French settlers on account of the profusion of hair of the Indian tribe, the Wyandots, whom they encountered on its shores. Hure is French for “head of hair.”

Hurrah. This exclamation is from the Scandinavian Hurra, said to have been originally Thor-aie, an invocation to the god Thor for aid in battle, just as the battle cry of the Normans was Ha-Rou, in honour of Rollo.

Hurricane. From the West Indian urican, “a violent wind.” The word was introduced to Europe by seamen, and so became incorporated in various languages.

Hurry up. An exclamation derived, both in England and America, from the custom of eating-house keepers anxious to expedite the service from the kitchens below stairs.

Husbands’ Boat. The steamboat by which city men and others go down to Margate for the week-end holiday in order to join their families who are staying there for the season.

Hussar. Expresses the Hungarian for a “twenty-paid soldier”--husz meaning twenty, and ar the price of. When Matthias Corvinus ascended the throne of the Magyars he decreed that, in order to provide a regular cavalry, each twenty families must enrol and equip one mounted soldier free of all cost to the State. An interesting point in connection with the uniform of the Hussar regiments everywhere was that they always allowed the right sleeve of the upper jacket to hang loose on their backs. This was only in keeping with the general custom of the Magyar peasantry, who had the right arm free on all occasions.

Hussites. The Protestants of Bohemia, after John Huss, the Reformer.

Hussy. A corruption of “housewife.” The epithet now implies a slatternly sort of woman.

Hustings. The ancient name for the Court of Aldermen in the city of London. In modern days it came to imply the platform from which candidates for election delivered their addresses to the populace. The word Husting expressed the Anglo-Saxon for a council-house: from the Scandinavian hus, house, and thing, an assembly.

Hustler. An Americanism for a smart, energetic tradesman, more especially a caterer or restaurateur, who hustles about and never keeps his customers waiting. The word “Hustle” comes from the Dutch hutselen, to shake together or to and fro.

Hyacinth. According to the Greek fable this flower sprang from the blood of the beautiful youth Hyacinthus, who, having aroused the jealousy of Zephyr, received his death-blow at her hands by casting Apollo’s quoit at his head.

Hyde Park. Anciently described as the Hyde Manor belonging to the Abbots of St Peter’s, Westminster.

Hyde Park Corner. Of old the western extremity of London, defined by a toll gate.

Hydro. Short for a hydropathic establishment.

Hythe. From the Anglo-Saxon hithe, a haven.

I

Iambic Verse. Poetical satires written in Iambics, or two-syllable foot measure, were originally so called after Iambe, an attendant upon one of the queens of Sparta, who kept a commonplace book of lively, free, and satirical pieces.

Iberia. The ancient name of Spain, from the Iberi, its original inhabitants. These were maritime adventurers from Phœnicia who penetrated the country by way of the River Ebro. When in course of time the Celts descended upon them from the Pyrenees, they spread themselves to the south and west. On reaching the sea at the farthest limit of their wanderings they imagined themselves at the end of the world, and so gave the name of Iber, a Phœnician word of that import, to the country. Its principal eastern river, the Ebro, retains the original name.

Iceland. So called because its north and west coasts are generally blocked with ice that has drifted down from Greenland.

Iceland Moss. A lichen indigenous to Iceland and Greenland which is said to be very efficacious in the treatment of consumption.

Ice Plant. Found in South Africa, and so called on account of its glittering, watery vesicles which give it the appearance of being covered with ice.

Ich Dien. German for “I serve.” The motto assumed by Edward the Black Prince after he found it under the plume of John, King of Bohemia, slain by him at the battle of Cressy.

Iconoclast. An image breaker, from the Greek eikon, image, and klazo, I break.

Idolater. From the Greek eidolon, a figure, and latres, worshipper. The root of this word, eidein, to see, furnishes the key to its true meaning. An idolater is one who worships that which he sees, not on account of its intrinsic worth, but because it is a visible representation, or it may be merely a symbol, of the deity that he is taught to venerate.

Idol Lane. Said to be a corruption of Idle Lane, because this was perhaps the only thoroughfare in the neighbourhood not given up to business--i.e. either as a market or a hive of industrious artisans.

Il Bassano. See “Bassano.”

Il Furioso. The sobriquet of Jacopo Robusti, better known as “Tintoretto,” owing to the rapidity with which he turned out his wonderful paintings.

Iliad. The title of Homer’s epic treating of the destruction of Troy; originally called Illium, after Ilos, the founder of the city.

I’ll be through directly. An Americanism for “I’ll be ready very soon,” or “I’ll have it finished directly.”

Illinois. The Indian illini, men, with the French suffix oix, a tribe.

I’ll take my Davy on it. The word “Davy” is a corruption of “affidavit.”

Il Perugino. The better-known name of the celebrated Italian artist Pietro Vanucci, who, born at Citta della Pieve in Umbria, established himself and remained all his life in the neighbouring city of Perugia.

Il Tintoretto. See “Tintoretto.”

Imperial. The name given to the once fashionable chin tuft, after Napoleon III., who was the first to wear his beard in this diminutive fashion.

In a Crack. Done instantly, in no more time than it takes for a gun to go off.

In a Jiffy. The word “jiffy” is a corruption of the now obsolete gliff--i.e. a mere glance.

Inch of Candle. In some parts of the country land is still disposed of at auction by inch of candle. This was the ancient form of auctioneering. Candles of inch length were provided, and when the candle went out the bidding was closed.

Inchcolm. Expresses the inch or isle of St Columba, who dwelt here while labouring to convert the Picts to Christianity.

In Clover. In a contented frame of mind because provided with everything necessary for the time being. Cattle always make for the clover when turned out to graze.

Incog. Short for Incognito, an Italian word signifying “not known.” Royal personages desirous of avoiding ceremony often travel incog., or under an assumed title.

Independence Day. The fourth of July, in commemoration of the American Declaration of Independence, 1776.

Independents. The same as “Congregationalists.”

India. From the Indus or Hindus, a Persian corruption of the Sanskrit Sindhu, “great river.” By the Greeks this river was known as the Hindus, which with the Persian suffix stan gave the name “Hindustan” to the whole country. In the time of Columbus, and long afterwards, the Asiatic continent east of the Ganges was generally styled India. This accounts for such names as “Indian Ink,” etc., products really of the Far East.

Indiana. From the great number of Indians that overran this state in the early days of its history.

Indianapolis. The capital of the state of Indiana. Polis is Greek for city.

Indian Corn. Maize, brought

from

from

the West Indies.

Indian File. A march in single file, as is the custom of the North American Indians.

Indian Gift. A reclaimed present. When a North American Indian gives anything he expects a gift equivalent in value, or else his own back again.

Indian Ink. Originally brought from China, but now made from lamp-black and animal glue in England. See “India.”

Indian Liquor. See “Indian Whisky.”

Indian Reservation. A considerable tract of land on the plains reserved for the Indian tribes.

Indians of North America. When Columbus discovered the “New World” he was under the impression that he had happened on that vast tract of country east of the Ganges vaguely known as India. This shows that, sailing westward as he did, he must have regarded the earth as a globe.

Indian Summer. The equivalent of what is called St Martin’s Summer in England. The North American Indians always avail themselves of the pleasant weather during the early part of November for harvesting their corn; they say there is an unfailing nine days’ second summer just before the winter sets in.

Indian Whisky. The name given to specially adulterated whisky for sale to the Indians of North America.

India Paper. A special kind of paper, made of vegetable fibre in China and Japan, on which the first impressions, called India proof, of engravings are taken. See “India.”

India Proof. See “India Paper.”

India-rubber. Caoutchouc, first imported from China, but now found elsewhere. See “India.”

India-rubber Railway Sandwich. The typical refreshment-room sandwich, the bread slices of which are as a rule so stale that they defy hasty mastication.

Indigo. A blue dye prepared from the Indicus, or Indian plant.

Industrial Schools. Also known as Ragged Schools, of which the scholars are waifs and strays brought together for the acquirement of some useful industry.

Infra. Latin for below, beneath. A word very generally met with in library catalogues: “See Infra.” It is the antithesis of Supra, above.

Infra Dig. Short for Infra Dignitatem, which expresses the Latin for “beneath one’s dignity.”

Infant. In law, any person under the age of twenty-one.

Infanta. The title of princesses of the royal blood in Spain and Portugal, except the heiress-apparent.

Infante. The corresponding title of the sons of the kings of Spain and Portugal.

Infant Roscius. William Henry Betty, the celebrated boy actor, named after the greatest historian of antiquity. His public career was brief--viz. five years only, 1803-1808--but during that period he became the rage; so much so, that while at Covent Garden, where he received a salary of fifty guineas a night, the military had to be called out to maintain order.

Infantry. Foot soldiers, so called, not because, like children, they have to be trained to walk, but for the reason that one of the Infantes of Spain collected a body of armed men, unmounted, to rescue his father, the King, from captivity at the hands of the Moors. Afterwards foot soldiers in Spain and Italy received the name of Enfanteria.

Infirmary. The older and more correct description of an institution for the sick and infirm. See “Hospice.”

Inn. The Anglo-Saxon word Inne expressed a mansion. The Inns of Court were originally the town houses of noble families, whose name they still bear--e.g. Gray’s Inn. Our first inns set apart for the entertainment of travellers were in all cases the mansions of the nobility left in charge of the trusted servant, the gamekeeper, during the prolonged absence, either in the wars at home or in the Crusades abroad, of their owners. The family arms served as a sign. After the return of his master the servant, now an innkeeper, set up an inn of his own contiguous to the original, and adopted the same sign. Here we have an explanation of such grotesque inn signs--now that their names have taken the place of the painted device--as the Blue Boar, the Red Lion, etc. At times the innkeeper preferred the sign of the “Green Man.”

Innocents’ Day. December 28th, commemorating the massacre of the Holy Innocents by Herod. Anciently children were soundly whipped in their beds before rising on this day. Being undeserving of such punishment, they were taught to suffer pain for Christ’s sake.

Inns of Court. See “Inn.”

In Quad. This is not altogether thieves’ slang, though the gipsy word for prison is quaid. Boys at our public schools say they are “in quad” when they are confined to their own quadrangle. The phrase became popular in connection with a prison when debtors were confined in the Fleet, the Marshalsea, and Whitecross Street, because they were free to receive visitors in the exercise court or quadrangle.

Insect. From the root seco, to cut, because this tiny species of the animal world is, as it were, cut deeply into three distinct parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen.

Interlaken. The Swiss village situated “between the lakes” Brienz and Thun.

In the Jug. Slang for “in prison.” The term is derived from the Scottish joug, a kind of iron yoke or pillory for the head designed for the punishment of rogues and vagabonds. When at a later period a round house of stone was set up in the market-place for such offenders, this earliest prison was popularly called “The Stone Jug.”

In the Nick of Time. This expression originated in the nicks or notches made in a piece of wood called a Tally, both as an acknowledgment of money paid and by way of registering a person’s arrival at a place of assembly. If, in the latter case, he arrived late, his tally would not be nicked, as evidence of having put in an appearance.

In the Odour of Sanctity. The ancient idea was that the bodies of saints after death emitted a peculiar fragrant odour. This originated in the profuse employment of incense at the administration of the last solemn rites of the Viaticum.

In the Soup. An Americanism for “out of the running.” This had reference originally to the hunting field when a rider was pitched into a ditch of foul water after leaping a hedge.

In the Stone Jug. See “In the Jug.”

In the Straw. An expression denoting that a woman has been brought to bed with a child. Straw was the usual stuffing of a bed formerly among the poorer orders of the people.

In the Suds. An Americanism for being unprepared to receive visitors. The allusion is to a washerwoman with her hands in the soapsuds.

In the Swim. To be admitted to a certain professional or financial clique. River fish generally keep together, and an angler’s object is to get what he calls “in the swim.” By so doing he may hook fish after fish without difficulty.

In the wrong Box. The origin of this expression is simply this: When Vauxhall, Cremorne, Ranelagh, Highbury Barn, and similar alfresco resorts were in existence, they had rows of cosy hutches or boxes all around for the benefit of those who wished to do their courting in private, while they could at the same time listen to the music and see the illuminations. It was no easy matter for anyone to find his own box again among the many if he left it; consequently on returning to his partner after sallying forth, he rendered his presence obnoxious to strangers by suddenly finding himself in the wrong box.

Intrepid Fox. A historic tavern in Soho named after Charles James Fox, the great Whig Minister. At the time of the famous election of 1784 the redoubtable Sammy House, the landlord, served all customers free, and also entertained several notable Whigs.

Invention of the Cross. The name of this Church festival, 3rd May, commemorative of the finding of the True Cross by those sent in quest of it by St Helena, sounds peculiar, but the word “invent” is really from the Latin invenire, to find, discover, come upon.

Inverary. The county town of Argyleshire, “at the mouth of” the River Aray.

Inverness. Situate at the mouth of the River Ness.

Invincibles. See “Irish Invincibles.”

Ionia. The ancient name of Asia Minor, settled by the Ionians, so called after Ion, the son of Apollo according to Greek fable.

Ionic. The style of architecture so called was peculiar to Ionia in Greece. The earliest of the Greek philosophers so called too were all natives of Ionia.

Iota. From the name of the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet. “Jot” is a softened form of this word.

Iowa. Indian for “the sleepy-ones”; applied by the Sioux to the Pahoja or Graysnow tribe.

Ireland. From Ierne, Gaelic for “western isle.” The Greeks, who heard of it through the Milesians, called this remote land of the west Iernis, and the Romans Hibernia.

Ireland Yard. This property in Blackfriars was made over by its owner, William Ireland, to Shakespeare, as appears in the deed of conveyance now preserved in the Guildhall Library.

Irish Invincibles. A secret society whose members made it their boast that they defied extermination. Carey, the informer, openly declared that their mission was “the making of history by killing tyrants.” The Phœnix Park murders were the work of the “Invincibles.”

Irishman’s Crossing. An Americanism for the mode of many people anxious to cut off corners by crossing and recrossing the street, by which process one’s way is actually made longer.

Irish Stew. So called because among the Irish peasantry the beef is generally absent, the stew consisting wholly of onions and potatoes.

Iron Chancellor. The sobriquet of Prince Bismarck, Chancellor of the German Empire, on account of his iron will.

Iron City. Pittsburg, world renowned for its ironworks.

Iron Devil. An inn sign corrupted from “The Hirondelle,” or swallow.

Iron Duke. The Duke of Wellington, distinguished for his unbending will.

Ironmonger Lane. Where the artificers in iron congregated during the reign of Edward I. Later they removed into Thames Street.

Ironside. The surname of the Anglo-Saxon king, Edmund II., on account of the iron armour that he wore as a preservative against assassination.

Ironsides. The name given to the Cromwellian soldiers on account of their heavy armour and iron resolution.

Irrawaddy. Hindoo for “the father of waters.”

Irving. The patronymic of the late Sir Henry Irving was Brodribb. When he went on the stage he took the name of Irving, out of his admiration of the writings of the American author, Washington Irving. Half-a-century ago no one ever thought of entering the dramatic profession under his own name. Now that the stage has become fashionable actors need no longer be actuated to select a nom de theatre out of regard to family pride.

Irvingites. The followers of the Rev. Edward Irving, who maintained the sinfulness of Christ’s nature in common with that of ordinary mankind. Deposed from his living by the Presbytery of the Church of Scotland in 1830, he founded the “Apostolic Catholic Church.”

Isabel. The name given to a yellowish brown colour from the circumstance that at the memorable

siege

siege

of Ostend in 1601 Isabella, the wife of the Duke of Austria, vowed she would not change her linen until the town was taken. Unhappily for her, it held out nearly three years. Rash vows are always followed by leisurely repentance.

Isis. From the Celtic uisg, water. The word enters into many English river names, notably the “Thames.” The University of Oxford is called Isis from the river upon which it stands.

Islam. From the Arabic islama, to bend. This term expressed an entire submission or resignation to the will of God. By the Mohammedans “Islam” is described as the true faith.

Isle of Bourbon. A French settlement named in compliment to the House of Bourbon.

Isle of Desolation. When discovered by Captain Cook this island was utterly devoid of animal life.

Isle of Dogs. A corruption of “Isle of Ducks,” owing to the great numbers of water-fowl settled on the marshes. In our time it might well be described as the “Isle of Docks.”

Isle of Man. Properly “Mona Isle,” from the Celtic mæn, a stone; hence “Isle of Rocks.”

Isle of St Helena. Discovered on the Feast of St Helena, 1502.

Isleworth. Expresses a manorial dwelling beside the river. Sion House, in which Lady Jane Grey resided for a time, was built upon the ruins of an ancient nunnery. It is now the property of the Duke of Northumberland, who removed thither the famous lion on the top of the demolished Northumberland House at Charing Cross. The popular belief that when this lion heard the clock of St Martin’s Church strike it would wag its tail and turn round was on a par with that of the washing of the Tower lions on the first of April.

Islington. The family settlement of the Islings.

Is the Ghost walking? See “Ghost walking.”

Italics. Thin sloping types, altogether different from the older Roman, first used in an edition of Virgil by Aldo Manuzio, the celebrated printer of Venice, in 1207.

Italy. The modern form of the Roman description of the country, Latium, or “broad plain.” This resulted in the designation of all the tribes of the conquered districts as Latini, or the Latins.

Ivan the Terrible. Ivan IV., son of the founder of the Russian Empire, who rose to power from the position of Grand Duke of Moscow. This second Ivan, at the age of fourteen, during the regency of his mother, had the triumvirate put to death; whereupon he assumed the title of Czar. His reputation for cruelty soon began to assert itself. In the space of six weeks he caused to be put to death no less than 25,000 (some authorities say 60,000) persons at Novogorod, from the idea that they were plotting to deliver up that city to the King of Poland. To crown all, in a fit of passion he killed his own son.

Ivory Black. A pigment originally obtained from calcined ivory, but now from bone.

Ivy Lane. From the ivy-covered houses of the prebendaries attached to St Paul’s Cathedral.

J

Jackanapes. Properly “Jack-of-apes,” an impudent fellow who apes the manners of his social superiors.

Jackass. The male ass.

Jack-boots. When first worn by cavalry these high leather boots were covered with metal plates as a protection for the leg. The term Jack is derived from the Norman-French jacque, a leathern jerkin worn over a coat of mail. At a later period the jacque itself was made sword-proof by metal plates on its under side.

Jacket. Expressed originally the diminutive of the jacque--viz. a short or sleeveless coat of leather. See “Jack-boots.”

Jack Ketch. The name formerly given to the common hangman, after Richard Jacquett, who owned the manor of Tyburn, where malefactors were executed previous to 1783.

Jack-knife. The name formerly given to a large folding pocket-knife, and now used by sailors, in contradistinction to a “Penknife.” See “Jack Tar.”

Jackson. The name of a river and several towns of the United States, after General Andrew Jackson, the seventh President.

Jack Straw’s Castle. A noted hostelry at Hampstead, said to have been built on the spot where Jack Straw, one of the leaders in Wat Tyler’s insurrection, made his habitation on the hillside.

Jack Tar. A sailor, because he wears tarpaulins in “dirty weather.” Jack is a generic name for a man or servant.

Jacobins. The French designation of the Black Friars or Dominicans, from the situation of their earliest convent in the Rue St Jacques, Paris, 1219.

Jacobites. The Catholic adherents of James II. and his lineal descendants after the accession to the English throne of William III. Jacobus was the Latinised form of the King’s name.

Jacobus. The Scottish sovereign, valued at 25s., which became current in England also at the union of the two crowns in the person of King James I.

Jacquard Loom. After its inventor, Marie J. Jacquard of Lyons, who died in 1834.

Jacquerie. The name given to an insurrection of French peasants in 1358. Jacques is the generic name for a member of the artisan class in France, owing to the jacque, or sleeveless white cotton jacket, worn by them. The leader of this insurrection called himself Jacques Bonhomme, being of the artisan class himself.

Jag. An Americanism for drunkenness. The word is employed in a variety of ways: “He’s got a jag on”--“He’s on a drinking bout”; “He’s on his jags”--“He knows how it is to have the jags”; “He has the jags just now,” etc. etc.

Jail Bird. So called because the earliest kind of prison in this country was an alfresco iron cage.

Jailed. An Americanism for being put in jail, sent to prison.

Jalap. From Jalapa in Mexico, whence the root of this plant was first brought to Europe for medicinal purposes in 1610.

Jamaica. From the West Indian Caymaca, signifying “a country abounding in springs.”

Jamaica Road. See “Cherry Gardens Pier.”

James Bay. After James I., in whose reign this arm of Hudson’s Bay was completely explored.

James River. After James I., in the fourth year of whose reign it was navigated, and the English settlement called Jamestown, thirty-two miles inland, formed.

James Street. In Covent Garden, in compliment to the Duke of York, afterwards James II. That on the south side of the Strand received the Christian name of one of the Brothers Adam, builders of the Adelphi.

Jamestown. See “James River.”

Jamie Duff. The Scottish designation for a mourner or weeper at a funeral. So called after an Edinburgh eccentric of this name; nothing pleased him better than to attend a funeral, perhaps because he enjoyed the ride in the coach.

Jane Hading. This famous French actress was christened Jeanne, but, appearing on the stage while she was quite a child, her parents habitually called her Jane, because, as she has herself explained, being shorter, it would admit of the family name appearing in larger letters on the playbill.

Janissaries. A militia of Turkish footguards originally composed of the sons of Christian subjects, this being the tribute levied upon the parents for allowing them to live in peace and safety. The native term is Jeniaskari, new soldier.

Janitor. The American description of a caretaker or doorkeeper. This term has long been obsolete in England; it was derived from the Latin janua, door.

Jansenists. A religious sect headed by Cornelius Jansen, Bishop of Ypres, France, early in the seventeenth century.

January. Called by the Romans Januarius, after Janus, the sun god, who presided over the beginnings of things. In the temple of Janus the figure of this god had two faces: one supposed to look on the past, the other on the future.

Japan. A Western corruption, through the Portuguese Gepuen, of the native name Niphon, or “land of the rising sun.” The brilliant black varnish called “Japan” was first made by the people of the Far East.

Jarvey. A cabman or car driver, so called after the name of a hackney coach driver who was hanged.

Jaunting Car. The characteristic light vehicle in Ireland in which the people enjoy a jaunt or excursion. English folk newly arrived in the Emerald Isle do not always appreciate it. See “Hold hard.”

Java. A Malay word meaning “the land of nutmegs.”

Jayhawker State. Kansas, from the nickname borne by the soldiers of Colonel Jennison of New York, who, being a jovial fellow, was called a “Gay Yorker,” afterwards corrupted into “Jayhawker.” The people of this state in process of time came to be styled “Jayhawkers.”

Jedburgh. A royal burgh situate at the confluence of the Rivers Tefy and Jed. The ancient form of justice meted out here of hanging a man first and trying him afterwards is frequently alluded to as “Jedwood” or “Jeddart” justice.

Jefferson. The name of a river, a city, and a mount in the United States, after Thomas Jefferson, the third President.

Jeffreys Street. After one of the family names of the Earl of Brecknock, Marquis of Camden, the ground landlord.

Jehu. A cabman, in allusion to Jehu, the son of Nimshi, who, we are told in 2 Kings ix. 20, drove furiously.

Jeremiad. A tale of woe, a doleful story. So called after the Prophet Jeremiah, who wrote the “Book of Lamentations.”

Jerked Meat. Dried meat, more particularly beef dried in the open air. The term is derived from the Chilian charqui,

applied

applied

to dried beef throughout Spanish America.

Jerkin. Expresses the diminutive of the Dutch jurk, coat, frock; hence a short coat or jacket.

Jermyn Street. From the town house of Henry Jermyn, Earl of St Albans.

Jerry Builder. A speculative builder who runs up whole streets of houses as cheaply as possible in order to sell them. The word “Jerry,” derived from the French jour, day, is a corruption of joury, meaning temporary, unsubstantial.

Jersey. From Czar’s-ey, or “Cæsar’s Isle,” so called by the Romans in honour of Julius Cæsar. The close-fitting rowing shirt and female bodice received the name of a Jersey because it was first worn by the inhabitants of this isle.

Jersey Lily. The punning pet name of Mrs Langtry, when, as a society star, she first adopted the stage as a profession. Her Christian name is Lillie, and she was born in Jersey.

Jerusalem. Expresses the Hebrew for “habitation of peace.”

Jerusalem Artichoke. A corruption of “Girasole Artichoke,” from the resemblance of the leaf and stem of this flower to the “Girasole,” or sunflower.

Jerusalem Chamber. This apartment of Westminster Abbey, in which Henry IV. died, received its name from the pictures of the Holy Land, in connection with the Crusades, that adorned its walls.

Jesuits. The members of a powerful missionary order styled “The Society of Jesus” which was founded in 1534 by Ignatius Loyola, on a military basis, having himself been a soldier.

Jesuits’ Bark. Another name for the Peruvian or Cinchona Bark, because discovered by the Jesuit missionaries in Peru.

Jewin Street. The ancient burying ground of the Jews while they were permitted to reside within the city walls--viz. in the Old Jewry. The suffix in is a corrupt form of the Anglo-Saxon en, expressing the plural, as in Clerken or clerks’ well.

Jewry Street. All that remains of the old name given collectively to the Jewish quarter of London after this oppressed race had been driven eastward of the city proper. This street was the Jews’ later burial ground. The suffix ry denotes a place or district.

Jews’ Harp. A corruption of “Jaws’ Harp,” because it is held between the teeth.

Jezebel. A daring, vicious woman, so called after the wife of Ahab, King of Israel.

Jig. From the French gigue, a lively dance, and the Italian giga, a romp.

Jilt. From the Scottish gillet, a giddy young woman. This word expressed the diminutive of Jill or Julia, a name used in a contemptuous sense after Julia, the daughter of Augustus Cæsar, who disgraced herself by her dissolute conduct.

Jimmy. A crowbar used by house burglars. The word is not so much thieves’ slang as a corruption of Jenny, expressing the diminutive of gin or engine, the general term formerly for a machine or mechanical appliance.

Jimpson Weed. Properly “Jamestown Weed,” from the place in Virginia where it was introduced.

Jingo. See “By Jingo.”

Jingoes. The British war party during the Russo-Turkish struggle of 1877-8, when there was grave likelihood of this country interfering. The term became popular through the refrain in G. H. Macdermott’s famous song:

“We don’t want to fight, but, by Jingo, if we do,

We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men, we’ve got the money too.”

For a time the Jingo Party was in the ascendant.

Joachims-Thaler. See “Thaler.”

Jockey. The diminutive of Jock, which is the Scottish form of Jack or John, expressive of a servant. The first jockeys engaged in horse racing were boys, on account of their light weight; hence the term.

Joe Miller. A stale joke, corresponding to the modern “Chestnut.” Joe Miller was a witty comedian whose sayings were compiled by John Mottley in the reign of James II. Until about a hundred years ago this was the only book of jests extant, and everyone who wished to “set the table in a roar” freely drew upon it.

Joey. The popular nickname of Mr Joseph Chamberlain, of Fiscal Policy fame.

Johannis. From Johannisberg, near Wiesbaden. This name is literally “John’s Rock,” on which stands the famous castle.

John Audley. An old showman’s phrase, which still obtains in what is called a portable theatre. As soon as a sufficient crowd for another “house” has collected outside, the money-taker, or the showman himself, calls out at the door “John Audley!” (originally it was the question “Is John Audley here?”) as a hint to the performers to finish quickly and dismiss the audience. This, it is said, was the invention of Shorter, the comedian, while he was playing in booths at country fairs.

John Bull. The Representative Englishman, bluff, long-suffering, and open-hearted. This national nickname was derived from a satire of the same title published by Dr John Arbuthnot in 1721.

John Carpenter Street. After the founder of the City of London School, which occupies one side of this modern thoroughfare, having been removed hither from Bow Lane in 1882. John Carpenter was town clerk of the city of London in the reigns of Henry V. and VI.

John Chinaman. Ever since the outbreak of the gold fever in California a Chinaman in that part of the United States has been addressed as “John,” the Transatlantic generic name for a man-servant, corresponding to the old English Jack.

John Doe and Richard Roe. Fictitious names, which prior to 1852, when they were abolished, appeared in every legal process of ejectment in place of the names of the real parties.

John Dory. The name of this fish is a corruption of the French Jaune-dorée, yellow, golden, relative to the colour.

Johnnies. Overdressed, empty-pated scions of good families who spent their surplus cash upon burlesque actresses, and hung about for them at the stage door when the “sacred lamp of burlesque” burned brightly at the Gaiety Theatre. Since “Jack” was the generic name for a man or servant, so one distinguished for the possession of more money than brains was, and is still, dubbed a “Johnnie.”

John of Gaunt. Properly of Ghent, his birthplace, in Flanders.

John o’ Groat’s House. Formerly the most northern habitation on the mainland of Scotland, said to have been that of Johnny Groat, for the accommodation of travellers who wished to cross the ferry to the Orkney Isles. Its site may now be recognised by a green knoll.

Johnson’s Court. Although the great

lexocographer

lexocographer

, Dr Johnson, spent ten years of his life in this Fleet Street court, it was not named after him, but after another Johnson, whose property it was, and who also resided in it.

John Street. In the Adelphi, after the Christian name of one of the brothers Adam. In Piccadilly, after one of the family names of the Berkeleys, the ground landlords.

Joiner. The provincial term for one who in London is called a “Carpenter.” Literally a joiner of wooden building materials.

Joint Ring. Another name for a “Gimnal Ring.”

Joint-Stock Company. So called because the stock is vested jointly in many persons.

Jonathan’s. The original name of the Stock Exchange, after a coffee-house keeper whose house was the rendezvous of the earliest dealers in stock.

Jollies. The sailors’ nickname for the Marines, because they are about as useful to a ship as the “Jolly Boat” which floats behind it.

Jolly Boat. A corruption of “Jawl boat,” from the Danish jolle, a small boat.

Jordan. Expresses the Hebrew for “the flowing.”

Journeyman. An artisan who hires himself out to labour, conformly to the French jour, day, a day labourer.

Juan Fernandez. After the navigator, who discovered it in 1567. On this isle Alexander Selkirk was the sole inhabitant from September 1704 until February 1707. Daniel Defoe made this adventurer the hero of his celebrated story “Robinson Crusoe.”

Jubilee Plunger. The sobriquet of Ernest Benzon, who lost £250,000 on the turf in two years after embarking upon his betting career in 1887, the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria’s reign.

Judd Street. The property of Sir Andrew Judd, Lord Mayor of London in 1551. By his will he bequeathed it to the endowment of a school at Tonbridge, his native place.

Judges’ Walk. So called because a number of judges and barristers of the King’s Bench made themselves temporary habitations in tents on this breezy height of Hampstead during the Great Plague.

Jug. Thieves’ slang for prison. See “In the Jug.”

Juggins. A fool, a reckless fellow, so called after a noted character of this name, who about twenty years ago squandered his whole fortune by reckless betting on the turf.

Juggler. From the French jougleur, a jester or miscellaneous entertainer who was the invariable companion of a troubadour during the Middle Ages.

Julep. An American spirituous beverage, also a preparation to make medicines less nauseous. The word is derived from the Arabic julab, rose-water.

July. In honour of Julius Cæsar, who was born in this month.

Jump a Claim. A Far West expression meaning to deprive another of his lawful claim; literally to jump into his diggings and take possession.

Jump on it with both Feet. The Transatlantic mode of saying “I’ll denounce it to the utmost of my power.”

Jump the Game. An Americanism for running away from one’s creditors.

June. The sixth month of the year; that of growth, agreeably to the Latin juvenis, young. The Romans dedicated it to the “Juniores,” or young soldiers of the State.

Jungfrau. Two reasons are assigned for the name (German, “The Maiden”) given to this, one of the highest peaks of the Bernese Alps. Firstly, because of the unsullied purity and dazzling whiteness of the snow with which it is eternally clad; secondly, owing to the fact that, its summit being inaccessible, no man has ever conquered or ravished this mountain maiden.

Junk. A seaman’s term for rope ends and also the salt beef served out on board ship. The word is derived from the Latin Juncus, a bulrush, out of which ropes were anciently made. In the second sense of the term the toughness of the meat is sarcastically implied.

Jury. From the Latin jurare, to swear.

Jury Mast. Properly “Joury Mast,” from the French jour, day, because it is only a temporary mast put up to replace one carried away by stress of weather.

Justice is Blind. An expression derived from the allegorical representation of Justice, who, holding the scales, is blindfolded. See “Scales of Justice.” This really had its origin in the custom of the ancient Egyptians, who conducted their trials in a darkened chamber, in order that the prisoner, the pleader, and the witnesses being alike unseen, the judges could not be moved to undue sympathy, and their judgment might be the more impartial.

Justice Walk. In this portion of Chelsea resided a London magistrate whose name has not been handed down to posterity.

Juteopolis. The name given to Dundee on account of its staple industry.

Jutland. The land of the Jutes.

Juveniles. In theatrical parlance the lovers’ parts. The principal stage lover’s part, such as Romeo, is called the “juvenile lead.” Other young men’s parts, that do not call for love making on the stage, are styled “walking gentlemen.”

K

Kaaba. The stone building inside the great Mosque at Mecca; said to have been erected over the spot where Adam first worshipped after his expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The name is Arabic for “square house.”

Kaffraria. The country of the Kaffirs or “unbelievers,” from the Mohammedan standpoint. This term was applied not only to the natives south of Abyssinia and the desert regions of Africa, but also to the people of a country in Central Asia east of the Hindu Cush known accordingly as Kafiristan. Kaifer is Arabic for “infidel,” and the suffix stan expresses the Persian for “country.”

Kailyard. Scottish for cabbage garden.

Kaisar. The German form of the title of the Roman Emperors, “Cæsar.”

Kalmucks. A Western corruption of the native Khalmick, or “Apostates,” the name given to this large family of the Mongolian race because they rejected the doctrines of Buddha. It was these Kalmucks who, under the name of “Huns,” descended upon Europe in the fourth century.

Kamptulicon. From the Greek Kampto, to bend.

Kansas. The Indian name for the river, signifying “smoky water”; afterwards applied also to the state.

Keble College. A memorial college at Oxford of the Rev. John Keble, author of “The Christian Year,” whose death took place in 1866.

Keelhaul. To haul under the keel of a vessel from stem to stern by means of ropes on either side. This was the most dreaded, because the most dangerous, punishment meted out to seamen or apprentices by tyrannical captains in former times. Readers of Captain Marryat’s “Snarleyyow, or the Dog Fiend” will recollect what that meant to the hapless victim.

Keeping Crispin. An old phrase for the shoemakers’ annual holiday on the Feast of St Crispin, their patron saint, 25th October. In some parts of the country we hear of it in connection with what passes elsewhere under the name of “Cobblers’ Monday.”

Keep it Dark. The reference was originally to treasure kept in a place of concealment.

Keep on Pegging at it. See “Peg Away.”

Keep the Ball Rolling. An expression derived from the game of Bandy, in which the two sets of players, armed with hooked sticks, continually sent the ball rolling to opposite goals.

Keep the Pot Boiling. The antithesis of a hand-to-mouth existence; meaning the command not only of something for the stock pot but also needful fuel.

Keep the Wolf from the Door. By paying one’s way others will prosper likewise, and ravenous creditors clamouring at the door for their just demands will be non-existent. The wolf is represented by a greedy landlord hungering for his rent, or, failing that, the household goods.

Keep your Nose to the Grindstone. To continue hard at work without cessation. If a tool is not held close to the grindstone the stone will go round all the same, but the tool does not get sharpened. So a man may loiter over his work, but the actual accomplishment is nil.

Keep your Pecker up. Have courage, and hold your head erect. Pecker is slang for the mouth, in allusion to fowls which peck their food--in other words, they strike at it with the beak.

Keep your Weather Eye open. Be on a sharp look-out in the right direction. A sailor looks towards the wind in order to forecast the weather.

Kendal. Expresses the dale of the River Ken.

Kendal Green. Green cloth made at Kendal in Westmoreland, for which this town was long famous. The cloths produced here still bear the name of “Kendals.”

Kennington. The town which grew up in the king’s meadow. Henry VIII. had a rural retreat erected here.

Kensington. Described in Anglo-Saxon records as Kynsington, or king’s meadow town.

Kensington Gore. After Gore House, the residence of the Countess of Blessington, that occupied part of the site of the Royal Albert Hall.

Kent. Called by the Romans Cæsar Cantium after the Cantii, who peopled this Kenn, headland or corner, of Albion’s Isle.

Kentish Fire. The name given to rapturous volleys of cheers, such as that which distinguished the Kentish men when they applauded the “No Popery” orators in 1828-9.

Kentish Man. A native of the county of Kent, west of the Medway.

Kentish Town. A corruption of “Kantelowes Town,” built upon the manor of the same name. The modern spelling of this family name is “Cantlowes,” which is that given to a street on the south side of Camden Road.

Kent Street. Leads out of London to the great Kentish highway to Dover. At one time the landlords in this street took away the front doors of tenants who were more than a fortnight in arrears of paying their rent. This, styled a “Kent Street Ejectment,” was found effectual in getting rid of unprofitable tenants.

Kentucky. Indian for “long river.”

Keppel Street. From the “Admiral Keppel” at the corner of this street and Fulham Road.

Kerchief. See “Handkerchief.”

Kersey. From Kersey, in Suffolk, once famed for its woollen manufacture.

Kettledrum. A rounded drum, so called from its shape; also the name given to a tea party, both on account of the noise made by the guests, and because the hostess metaphorically beats them up at the time of sending out her invitations. See “Drum.”

Kettle of Fish. See “Pretty Kettle of Fish.”

Kew. Styled in ancient documents Kay-hoo, meaning a quay on a hoo or oe, which expressed the Danish for an island; also a spit of land at the mouth of a river or creek.

Keystone State. Pennsylvania, geographically considered as seventh among the thirteen original states of the Union.

Khaki. Expresses the Hindoo for “colour of cow dung.” This term came into prominence during the South African War, when all British uniforms were made of materials of this hue, so as to make our troops less conspicuous to the enemy.

Khan

Khan

. Expresses the Persian, from a Tartar word, for a lord or prince.

Khedive. From the Persian khidiw, a king. In the Turkish khadiv the title expresses a ruler one grade removed from a Sultan.

Kicker. An Americanism for one who at a public meeting objects to a proposal.

Kick the Bucket. An expression derived from the primitive mode of a man hanging himself by standing on a bucket, and then kicking it aside. The “drop” in this case could not have been a long one.

Kidnap. Not only is this word accepted English in the absence of a more refined equivalent, but it is also made to do service in the case of an adult taken away against his will. Kid, of course, expresses a young goat, and is slang for a child. The second portion of the term is likewise slang, from nab, to steal.

Kidney Bean. The coarse bean shaped like a kidney.

Kiel. From the Danish keol, a ship.

Kilbride. The church of St Bride or Bridget.

Kilburn. Expresses the kil, or cell, of “one Godwynne, a holy hermit,” beside the bourn, or brook.

Kildare. From the Celtic kildara, the cell or hermitage among the oaks. A monastery was founded here by St Bridget towards the close of the fifth century.

Kilkenny. The kil, or church, of St Kenny or Canice in connection with the ancient abbey dedicated to St John.

Killarney. A corruption of “Killeaney,” from the church of the Dominican monastery on the banks of the River Leane.

Kindergarten. Expresses the German for a children’s garden or playground. The system of juvenile education so called aims at self-tuition by means of toys and games.

Kinetoscope. The name originally given to our modern “living pictures,” from the Greek kinetikos, “putting in motion.” See “Mutoscope.”

King Charles Spaniel. The small species of “Spaniel” which was such a favourite with Charles I.

King Edward’s Grammar School. A superior academical institution founded and endowed for the tuition of Latin and Greek grammar by Edward VI.

King Edward Street. After Edward VI., the “Boy King,” founder of Christ’s Hospital, or Blue Coat Grammar School, hard by.

Kingfisher. The king of fisher birds that dive into water for their prey, so called on account of its gay plumage.

King James’s Bible. The Authorised Version ordered to be prepared and given to the people by James I.

King-maker. Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, so called because he was instrumental in placing both Edward IV. on the Yorkist and Henry VI. on the Lancastrian side on the throne after espousing their individual cause.

King of Bath. The sobriquet of Richard Nash, also known as Beau Nash, who for more than half-a-century was Master of Ceremonies at the fashionable Assembly Rooms of Bath.

King’s Arms. An inn sign, originally representing the counterfeit presentment or royal arms of an individual sovereign, but now a mere name, which must have done duty alike in honouring a long line of monarchs.

King’s Bench. Anciently the superior Court of Law presided over by the King in person, when he sat on an oaken bench. Wherever he went in state this Court followed him. Judges and magistrates are still said to occupy the Bench.

King’s College. At Cambridge, founded in 1441 by Henry VI. In London, the foundation by a royal charter of George IV. in 1828.

King’s County. In honour of Philip of Spain, the husband of Queen Mary. The original name was Ossaly.

King’s Cross. So called from a statue of George IV. set up here at the accession of that monarch, and taken down in 1842 to make way for the Great Northern Railway terminus. It is highly probable that an ancient cross stood on the same spot, since, quite apart from the fact that Queen Boadicea was defeated by the Romans at Battle Bridge hereabouts, it was in this neighbourhood too that King Alfred waged a sanguinary conflict with the Danes.

King’s Evil. The name given to scrofula, from the old superstitious idea that it could be cured by the touch of a king or queen.

Kingsgate Street. So called from the gate through which James I. passed across the meadows to Theobalds in Hertfordshire, his favourite hunting seat.

King’s Head. See “King’s Arms.”

Kingsland. This district marked the southern limits of the ancient royal domain of Enfield Chase.

King’s Lynn. Anciently called “Lynn Episcopi,” being the property of the Bishop of Norwich. At the dissolution of the monasteries Henry VIII. sequestered this estate, and gave the town the name of Lynn Regis, or King’s Lynn. The word Lynn is Celtic for “pool.”

King’s Own Men. The 78th Foot, so called from their Gaelic motto: “Cuidichr Rhi” (Help the King).

King’s Road. In compliment to Charles II., who caused this highway between Chelsea and Fulham Palace to be made passable.

Kingston. The capital of Jamaica, after William III., in whose reign (1693) it was founded.

Kingston-on-Thames. From the ancient stone on which seven of the Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned. This interesting relic is now enclosed with iron railings near the Town Hall.

Kingstown. Originally “Dunleary,” the name was changed in honour of the visit of George IV. in September 1821.

King Street. That in Covent Garden, after Charles I., in whose reign it was laid out. In St James’s, after James I. In Cheapside, in honour of Henry IV., who passed down it to open the new Guildhall. At Westminster, because this was the direct road between the Court and the Abbey.

Kingsway. The name given by the London County Council to the new thoroughfare from Holborn to the Strand opened by King Edward VII. in 1905.

King William Street. In the city, after William IV., who performed the inaugural ceremony of declaring the London Bridge open for traffic, 1st August 1831. The street of the same name west of the Strand was newly laid out in his reign as a direct thoroughfare to Leicester Square.

Kirkcudbright. Expresses the Celtic for “the Church of St Cuthbert.”

Kirkdale. The church in the dale or vale of Pickering.

Kirke’s Lambs. The nickname bestowed upon the 2nd Foot, under the command of Captain Kirke, during the “Bloody Assizes,” and having for their badge the Paschal Lamb.

Kirschwasser. German for “Cherry Water,” this beverage being distilled from the juice of the black cherry.

Kiss-me-Quick. The name of a small bonnet popular in England midway during the last century. Though of the “coal scuttle” pattern it did not extend beyond the face, and was chiefly worn by ladies going to parties or the play.

Kiss the Place and make it better. The expression, commonly employed by mothers and nurses to pacify children when they have hurt themselves, is a survival of the days of the sorcerers, who pretended to cure a disease by sucking the affected part.

Kiss the Scavenger’s Daughter. See “Scavenger’s Daughter.”

Kit. A soldier’s outfit, which he carries on his person when on the march. The name is derived from the Dutch kitte, a wooden beer-can strapped on the soldier’s belt.

Kit-Cat. The name given by artists to a three-quarter length portrait, and also to a canvas measuring 28 by 36 inches, in allusion to the portraits of uniform size, and all painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, to suit the dimensions of the apartments occupied by the famous Kit-Cat Club. This club was long held at the house of a pastrycook called Christopher Cat in Shire Lane, Fleet Street (now Serle’s Place), after whom, familiarly styled “Kit-Cat,” it took its name. His own mutton pies were the staple refreshment, from which circumstance such pies were until quite modern times also called “Kit-Cats.”

Kleptomania. The name given to an impulsive desire to steal or appropriate that which is ready to hand; so called from the Greek kleptes, thief, and mania, madness.

Knacker. From the Icelandic knakkr, a saddle; hence a dealer in and slaughterer of old horses.

Knapsack. From the Dutch and German knappen, to bite or chew, and zak, a sack. Like the original German and Dutch forms of this receptacle for a soldier’s necessaries on the march, the Swiss still carry a bag made of goatskin.

Knave. From the German knabe, a boy. The tricks peculiar to a boy no doubt caused this term to be applied to a deceitful or otherwise reprehensible fellow. The knave in a pack of cards represents, of course, the knight or servant to the king and queen.

Knife-board. The advertisement-board on either side of an omnibus roof, so called on account of its fancied resemblance to the domestic knife-sharpener. On the old-fashioned omnibuses the roof passengers sat back to back, with their feet touching the “knife-board,” and it was facetiously said they thereon sharpened their wits.

Knife and Fork Tea. See “High Tea.”

Knight. From the Saxon knicht, a servant, which is the origin also of the modern German knecht, a man-servant.

Knight Bachelor. One who in the days of chivalry forswore marriage until he had performed some feat of valour, and so merited renown.

Knight Banneret. A knight hastily created on the field of battle in recognition of signal bravery. This was done by tearing off a streamer from a banner and handing it to him as a token of investiture.

Knight Errant. One who went forth in quest of adventures, more particularly to win the admiration of fair ladies, by rescuing them, in common with the weak and oppressed, from the feudal lords whose rapacity in those barbarous ages knew no bounds. The word errant, like its modern equivalent errand, was derived from the Latin errare, to wander. It was in ridicule of this system of knight-errantry that Cervantes wrote his immortal romance “Don Quixote.”

Knight of the Yard Stick. An Americanism for a draper’s assistant or a retail dry-goods salesman; what in England people often style a “Counter Jumper.”

Knightrider Street. The place of assembling of the knights of old on their way in procession to the Smithfield tournaments.

Knightsbridge. Tradition has it that two knights who went to receive a blessing from the Bishop of London at Fulham Palace suddenly quarrelled, and fought a deadly combat on the bridge which anciently spanned the Westbourne where now stands Albert Gate. A public-house close by, demolished within the last three years, bore the sign of “The Fulham Bridge.”

Knights Hospitallers. The Second Order of Knights of the Crusades, who founded and protected the hospital at Jerusalem for the accommodation of pilgrims to the Holy Places. When at a later period they erected a larger hospital in connection with the church dedicated to St John the Baptist, they assumed the title of “Knights of St John of Jerusalem.”

Knights of Malta. The Knights Hospitallers who, having taken Rhode Island, were at length expelled therefrom by the Turks, and took up their establishment permanently at Malta.

Knights of St John of Jerusalem. See “Knights Hospitallers.”

Knights of the Road. Highwaymen, who were always good horsemen.

Knights Templars. The military Order of Knights of the Crusades, styled “Soldiers of the Temple.” Their aim was to wrest the Holy Sepulchre from the hands of the Saracens, and maintain it through futurity.

Knights Teutonic. An independent Order of Knights of the Crusades composed of nobles from the cities of Bremen and Lubeck for the protection of German pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Knickerbockers. The people of the city of New York. When Washington Irving wrote his “History of New York” he assumed the name of Diedrich Knickerbocker, in allusion to the wide breeches worn by the early settlers of the colony, then called by them New Amsterdam; hence the application of the term “Knickerbockers” to knee-breeches generally. New York is known as “The Knickerbocker City.”

Knocked into a Cocked Hat. Prostrated or completely flattened out like a cocked hat, which, as its name implies, could be cocked or carried under the arm.

Know-nothings. A secret society in the United States pledged to the checking of foreign immigration and political influence by foreigners which came into existence about the year 1848, and finally split upon the slavery question in 1860. When asked what its party or political aims were, all the members merely replied: “I don’t know; I know nothing.”

Knows the Ropes. Said of one who thoroughly understands his calling. A naval phrase, since a sailor must know all the ropes belonging to his ship.

K’nucks. In Canada the name given to French Canadians; elsewhere to Canadians generally. It has been stated on the authority of an intelligent French Canadian, by way of accounting for the origin of this term, that “the word ‘Cannuck’ is a corruption of ‘Connaught,’ the name we usually apply to the Irish, who are mostly emigrants from that province of Ireland.”

Kohinoor. A famous diamond which came into the possession of Queen Victoria on the annexation of the Punjaub in 1849. Its name expresses the Hindoo for “Mountain of Light.”

Kolis. The nickname of the 51st King’s Own Light Infantry, from the initials of their regimental name.

Koordistan. Pursuant to the Persian stan, the country of the Koords, “fierce, strong.”

Kopeck. A Russian copper coin of the value of three-eights of an English penny. So called from kopye, the native term for a lance, because this coin originally had upon it the representation of a lancer on horseback.

Kops Ale. A non-alcoholic ale brewed from the best Kentish hops, and not to be distinguished by appearances from the intoxicant. The name was chosen as a near approach to Hops Ale.

Koran. Properly Al Koran, Arabic for “the book,” “the reading,” or “the thing to be read.”

Koumiss. A Mongolian term for an intoxicating beverage made by the Kalmucks from camels’ or mares’ milk by fermentation and distillation. “Koumiss” is the popular Russian beverage.

Kraal. The Kaffir term for a collection of huts shaped like a beehive and arranged in circular form, a native South African village.

Kremlin. The citadel of Moscow, so called from the Russian krem, a fortress.

Krems White. A pigment extensively produced at Krems in Austria.

Kreuzer. A copper coin of Germany conspicuous for a kreuz, or cross, on its reverse side. Its value was the sixtieth part of a gulden or florin.

Krupp Gun. After its inventor, and made at the famous Krupp Steel works at Essen in Germany.

Kümmel. The German name for a beverage, expressive of “Carraway,” from the seeds of which it is made.

Kummerbund. A Hindoo term for waistband. It became current in England two or three years ago during the excessively hot weather, when waistcoats were discarded, and the trouser tops concealed by a brilliant blue or scarlet sash.

Kurdistan. See “Koordistan.”

Kursaal. A place of entertainment at Southend-on-Sea. The name is German, literally “Cure-hall,” expressive of the public assembly-room at a “Kurhaus,” or hydropathic establishment, corresponding to the pump-room at a west of England health resort.

Kyrle Society. A modern society having for its aims the improvement of the homes of the poorer orders. It originated with the Misses M. and O. Hill in 1875, and was formally inaugurated by Prince Leopold a couple of years later. The title of the society was derived from John Kyrle of Ross, Herefordshire, whose artistic tastes and benevolent disposition contributed to the happiness and well-being of the people on his estate and all the country round about.

L

Labadists. A sect of Protestant mystics founded in the seventeenth century by Jean Labadic of Bourg, Germany.

La Belle Sauvage Yard. The yard of the famous coaching inn of the same name. The history of this sign was curious. Kept by Isabelle Savage, it bore the name of “The Bel Savage”; but its sign was a bell suspended within an iron hoop at the top of the usual “Ale Stake.” Hence its proper name was “The Bell in the Hoop.” When in the year 1616 John Rolfe brought his Virginian bride Pocohontas to London, the story of his remarkable adventures had anticipated his arrival, and people spoke of this Indian heroine as “La Belle Sauvage.” It was odd that these strangers within our gates should put up at the “Bell Savage,” and the association resulted in the change of title on their account.

Labrador. Called by the Portuguese navigators Tierra Labrador, “cultivatable land.”

Lackland. The surname of King John, who, owing to his thriftlessness, was left entirely without provision at the death of his father, Henry II.

Laconics. Terse and pithy replies, so called from the Lacons, which was the name applied to the Spartans, from the country whence they came. When Philip of Macedon sent this message to the Spartan magistrates: “If I enter Laconia I will level Lacedæmon to the ground,” the reply was briefly: “If.”

Lacrosse. This name was given to the game by Charlevoix, who, seeing it played by some Alonquin Indians with a stick between Quebec and Three Rivers, called it le jeu de la Crosse.

Ladbroke Grove. This, with the square of the same name, was built upon by the Ladbroke family, who acquired the lease of the land for the purpose.

Lad Lane. A name frequently met with in connection with the old coaching inn, “The Swan with Two Necks.” It was a corruption of “Our Lady Lane,” so called from a statue of the Virgin.

Ladrones. Expresses the Spanish for “thieves,” the name given to those islands by Magellan because the natives made off with the stores he had landed.

Ladybird. A pretty species of beetle resembling a bug, and anciently called “Our Lady’s Bug.” Bug is the accepted American term for a beetle.

Lady Day. The Feast of Our Lady, otherwise of the Annunciation to the Virgin (25th March). Prior to 1752 this was also the first day of the New Year; now it figures as Quarter Day, when rents and taxes have to be paid.

Lady Freemason. The Hon. Elizabeth St Leger, niece of Sir Anthony St Leger, who founded the stakes named after him at Doncaster Races, and daughter of Lord Doneraile of Dublin. Chancing to overhear the proceedings at a Lodge held at her father’s mansion she was discovered, and, as the only way out of an unprecedented dilemma, initiated to the craft. No other female has ever been made a “Freemason.”

Lager Beer. The German “lager bier” is simply stock beer, the liquor being kept in a lager, or cellar, until it is sufficiently ripened for consumption. All over the United States the demand for “Lager” is enormous.

Laid on the Shelf. A phrase implying that one’s period of usefulness has been passed. The allusion is to books read and clothes laid aside as of no further use.

Laid up in Lavender. Something put away very carefully, as a good housewife preserves linen strewn with lavender in a press against moths. At times we hear the expression allusive to an article put in pawn.

Lake Erie. See “Erie.”

Lake Huron. See “Huron.”

Lake Ontario. See “Ontario.”

Lake School of Poets. A term applied by The Edinburgh Review to the imitators of Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Southey, who communed with Nature in the Lake District of Cumberland and Westmoreland.

Lake Superior. The uppermost and principal of the five great lakes of North America.

Lake Winnipeg. See “Winnipeg.”

La Marseillaise. See “Marseillaise.”

Lambeth. A corruption of “Lamhithe,” the Anglo-Saxon for mud haven, or a muddy landing-place.

Lambeth Palace. The historic residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury.

Lamb’s Conduit Street. After William Lambe, a wealthy clothworker, who at his own cost built “a faire conduit and standard” in the fields here off Holborn in 1577.

Lamb’s Wool. A rural beverage of roasted apple juice and spiced ale. It received its name from the Saxon La Mæs Ubhal, or “Feast of the Apple Gathering.” From lammas ool its further corruption was easy.

Lame Duck. The name given to a member of the Stock Exchange who cannot meet his liabilities on settling day. Instead of walking erect, like a man of strict integrity, he ducks his head, and waddles off, well knowing that he has been black-boarded and struck off the list of members.

Lammas Day. The ancient name for the first of August, when every parishioner brought to church a loaf made of new wheat. The name expresses the Anglo-Saxon for “loaf mass,” and the bread was a gift of first-fruits to the clergy. Its modern equivalent is the “Harvest Festival.”

Lamp-black. So called because this pigment was at first obtained by burning resinous matter over the flame of a lamp.

Lancaster. The Roman Lunecastra, or fortified camp on the Lune.

Lancaster Gun. After the name of its inventor.

Lancastrians. During the Wars of the Roses the partisans of the House of Lancaster in the contest for the crown of England as opposed to the House of York.

Lancers. This dance received its name from a company of Lancers who went through the evolutions of a quadrille on horseback about the year 1836.

Landau. After Landau in Germany, where it was first made.

Landes. Expresses the French for heaths. The people of this marshy and, in parts sandy, district walk on long stilts.

Landgrave. The Anglicised form of the German landgraf, count, a ground landlord.

Land o’ Cakes. Scotland, which has always been celebrated for its oatmeal cakes.

Land of Green Ginger. A square at Hull where, as popularly thought, green ginger was anciently landed from the river and sold in open market. The name is, however, a corruption of “Greenhinger,” being the land owned by Moses Greenhinger, a boat builder, who lived in Whitefriargate in the seventeenth century. This is proved by a letter of Sir Willoughby Hickman, a candidate for the borough in 1685. Therein he states that a coach took him from the waterside to the George Inn, “at the corner of the land of Moses Greenhinger.”

Land of Promise. The name of a short street in Hoxton, so called, sarcastically no doubt, because it leads to the workhouse.

Land of Steady Habits. Connecticut, so called on account of the excellent moral character of the people.

Land of Sundown Seas. Alaska. “Sundown” is an Americanism for sunset, just as “Sun-up” is for sunrise.

Land o’ the Leal. The Scottish heaven, or “Dixie’s Land”; according to the Baroness Nairne’s ballad the word Leal means faithful.

Land of the Midnight Sun. Norway.

Landscaper. Local slang in the eastern counties for a tramp, vagrant, or “Loafer.”

Land Shark. The name given by sailors to a boarding-house keeper in a seaport town who preys upon them by systematic overcharges.

Landwehr. The German equivalent for our volunteers, or soldiers for land defence. The term wehr means bulwark, defence.

Lane. Actors refer to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, as “The Lane,” the playhouse of London par excellence since the palmy days of the Drama.

Langbourn Ward. From the long bourn or stream, of which now no trace remains.

Langholm Place. After the mansion and grounds of Sir James Langham, which occupied what is now the street of the same name.

Laodicea. This ancient city was so called after Laodice, the queen of Antiochus Theos, who founded it.

Lap Dog. One literally nursed in the lap of luxury. Mothers of families are strangers to such pets.

Lapsus Linguæ. Latin for “a slip of the tongue.”

Largess. From the Latin largitso, to give freely, through the French largesse. This word meant originally a fee or present bestowed upon a butler or head servant by a departing guest. In its modern acceptation it is a distribution of money amongst a number rather as a matter of policy or necessity than from choice.

Lascar. The generic name for an East Indian seaman, though it really expresses the Persian for a soldier, from lashkari, a camp-follower. Lascars were first employed by the East Indiamen homeward bound. Nowadays all Asiatic sailors, of whatever nationality, are called Lascars.

Lasso. From the Spanish lazo, a noose.

Latakia. A Turkish tobacco, so called from the place (the ancient Laodicea) where it is produced.

Latch-string is always out. An Americanism for a hearty welcome at all times, without need for a formal invitation. The allusion to the latch-string means: “You have only to walk in, like any member of the family.”

Lath. A subdivision of land while certain portions of Eastern England were held by the Danes, so called from the Norse “Lathing,” a law assembly.

Latins. See “Italy.”

Latin Vulgate. The Roman Catholic Bible authorised by the Council of Trent in 1546. This translation of the Scriptures was made by St Jerome from the Greek into the Latin or vulgar tongue A.D. 405.

Latitudinarians. The opposers of the High Church party, and also of the Puritans, during the Restoration period. Modern Latitudinarians are those who hold very broad views in regard to orthodox doctrine.

Laugh and grow Fat. In allusion to Democritus, “The Laughing Philosopher,” who waxed fat, and lived to be 109 years old.

Laughing Philosopher. Democritus of Abdera, from his habit of humorously exposing the absurdities of his countrymen, whose stupidity, he declared, was proverbial; the feeble powers of mankind, contrasted with the forces of nature, likewise aroused his contempt.

Laugh in your Sleeve. Anciently the sleeves of all outer garments were very wide, and when a person covered his face with his hand there was always a suspicion that he was making merry at someone else’s discomfiture.

Laugh on the wrong Side of your Face. A person may preserve a grave countenance while listening to a story, and at the same time wink significantly to a bystander on the opposite side of the speaker. The expression means that if, for his insolence, he received a castigation, both his eyes would be made to wink or blink.

Laundress. The exclusive designation of a housekeeper or caretaker of bachelor chambers in the Temple. This is because during the Crusades a great many women of the town followed in the train of the Knights Templars to the Holy Land for the purpose of washing their linen. It afterwards transpired that, as a rule, they acted also as mistresses to the Knights, and had tents set apart for them even within sight of Jerusalem. Historians tell us too that, though a religious Order, the Templars did not scruple to introduce these women into their London house after their return from the seat of warfare, and this irregularity, in fact, led to their suppression by Edward II. in 1313.

Laundried. An Americanism for “washed,” in relation to household or personal linen. This, when one comes to look into the word, is correct English, meaning lawn dried.

Lavender. From the Latin verb lavare, to wash, because this shrub yields an essential oil employed in medicine and perfumery. Laundresses also use it for preserving newly washed linen against moths.

Lavender Water. A scent produced from the essential oil of lavender, spirits of wine, and ambergris.

Lawing. An Americanism for “going to law.”

Lawless Parliament. See “Parliament of Dunces.”

Lawn. The finest linen, which has been bleached on a lawn instead of the usual drying ground. The greensward called a lawn received its name from the Celtic allawnt, a smooth, rising ground.

Lawrence Lane. From the Church of St Lawrence, at its foot, in Gresham Street.

Law Sakes. An American corruption of the phrase “For the Lord’s sake!” which, current among the Puritans of New England, found its way in this new form into neighbouring states.

Laws, Laws-a-me. A corruption of “Lord, have mercy on me.”

Lawyer. From the old English Lawwer, literally “lawman”; the suffix is allied to the Latin vir, man.

Lawyer’s Treat. A phrase implying that each shall pay for his own drinks. A lawyer never treats his clients at a refreshment bar; they defray the cost between them.

Lay-by. The name given to an article, generally clothing, purchased on the weekly instalment system, and laid by on a shelf until the whole amount has been paid off.

Lazar-house. The old name for a poor-house, in allusion to Lazarus, who picked up the crumbs under the table at the mansion of Dives. On the Continent such an institution is styled a “Lazaretto.”

Lazarists. An Order of missionaries founded by St Vincent de Paul, so called from their headquarters in Paris, the Priory of St Lazare, between 1632 and 1792.

Lazzaroni. The beggars of Naples, and originally all the poorest people of that city who had no regular habitation save the streets. Their name was derived from the common refuge, the Hospital of St Lazarus.

Leadenhall Street. After the edifice known as the Leadenhall, the first in London ever roofed with lead, built in 1419 by Sir Simon Eyre, and presented to the city for the purposes of a granary in time of scarcity.

Leading Article (or Leader). There are three reasons for this term applied to a large-type newspaper article. It is supposed to be written by the chief of the literary staff, the editor; it leads off the foreign and all other important news on the inside pages of the paper; and it is intended to lead public opinion according to the party views maintained by the journal in question.

League of the Cross. The title of a modern crusade among the Roman Catholics for the total suppression of drunkenness.

Leamington. The town in the meadow on the banks of the Leam.

Leap Year. That which every fourth year leaps to the total of 366 days by adding a day to the month of February.

Leather Lane. From “The Old Leather Bottle,” now modernised, at the corner of this lane and Charles Street.

Leave some for Manners. A dinner-table phrase, which had its origin in the ancient custom of making an offering of a portion of the viands to the gods.

Lebanon. From the Hebrew laban, white; expresses “the white mountain.”

Lee. A variant of the Anglo-Saxon lea and ley, “meadow” or “pasture land.” This word enters into many river and place-names.

Leech. The old name for a medical man in the days when bleeding the patient, no matter what his ailment might be, was the common practice.

L. E. L. The literary pseudonym, formed from the initials of Letitia Elizabeth Landon, the poetess.

Leg and Star. A corruption of “The Star and Garter.” This, of course, arose when a painted device, instead of a mere title, served as an inn and tavern sign.

Legend. An Americanism for a written or printed notice. The term has latterly come into use in England relative to a tradesman’s shop announcement.

Legitimate Drama. That which is dependent upon its intrinsic literary and constructive merits, quite apart from scenic effects.

Leg Stretcher. A Far Western expression for a drink. This arose from the common travellers’ exclamation while the stage coach was waiting for the mails: “I’ll get off a bit, and stretch my legs.”

Leicester. The Leirecastra of the Romans, being the fortified camp on the Leire, now called the Soar.

Leicester Square. Originally Leicester Fields, from the town mansion built on its east side by Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester, in 1636.

Leipsic. Expresses the Slavonic for linden or lime tree town, from lipa, lime-tree.

Leman Street. Properly “Lemon Street,” from a wharf at the Thames side, where, before the construction of the docks, lemons were landed and sold.

Lemon Sole. The species of sole found on the south coast of England; really a mud sole, from the Latin lima, mud.

Lent. From the Anglo-Saxon lencten, the spring. The word has the same origin as “lengthen,” since at this season of the year the lengthening of the days becomes perceptible.

Lent Crocking. A popular old-time diversion of the schoolboys on Shrove Tuesday. The ringleader, having knocked at a house door and recited a garbled set of verses, to the effect that he had come a-shroving, his companions kept up an incessant din with old saucepans and kettles until they were paid to go away.

Leonine Verses. Those which rhyme both in the middle and at the end of each line, so called after Leoninus, a canon of St Victor in Paris midway in the twelfth century.

Let the Cat out of the Bag. To disclose a trick unwittingly. The illusion is to a very old device at country fairs of selling a cat for a sucking pig. One pig only was exposed to view; all the others were supposed to be ready tied up for carrying away. If, on occasion, a purchaser insisted on untying the sack before paying for it, the cat leapt out, and the fraud was discovered. As to the other victims who had taken away theirs on trust, they were forced to admit, because their sack contained no sucking pig, that they had been “sucked in.”

Levant. An Italian term for the Orient or East--i.e. all those parts of the Mediterranean eastward of Italy. The word is also used in the sense of to depart, and a defaulter was said to have levanted, or gone to the Levant. This was in allusion to the “Grand Tour” which all scions of the nobility were expected to make on reaching their majority.

Levee. A French word applied to a royal reception, from lever, arising, because in former times such a function took place in the King’s bed-chamber at the hour of rising.

Levellers. The primitive Radicals or Socialists of the time of Charles I. and long afterwards; their plea was that all men should be on a common level in regard to office-seeking. Also the original name of the “White Boys” in Ireland, who commenced their agrarian outrages by levelling the hedges and fences on enclosed lands.

Leviticus. That book of the Old Testament which sets forth the laws pertaining to the priests or Levites, the descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah.

Lewisham. From Leesham, the home or family settlement in the meadow. See “Lee.”

Leyden. Originally Lugdunum, the Latinised form of the Celtic llwch, a morass, and dun, a hill, fortress.

Leyton. The town in the lea or meadow.

Leytonstone. A corruption of “Leytonstowe,” the stock or wooded place in the vicinity of a meadow.

Lhassa. A Tibetan word for “full of gods.”

Liberal. The modern designation of the Progressive or “Whig” Party. This arose out of Lord Byron’s political magazine, The Liberal, in 1828, though the name was not formally assumed until the agitation for the Reform Bill in 1831.

Liberator. The surname of Simon Bolivar, who established the independence of Peru.

Liberia. An independent republic of free Negroes on the west coast of Africa. The word is derived from the

Latin

Latin

liber, free, and the Celtic suffix ia, country.

Library. From the Latin librarium, a bookcase, through liber, a book.

Lifting. This technical term in the printing trade, because type is lifted out of the columns prior to distribution, or, as may happen in a newspaper, to be held over until the next issue for want of space, has come to be applied by journalists to literary theft. Facts, anecdotes, or jokes stolen from a contribution submitted to an editor on approval are said to have been “lifted.” One newspaper, too, often “lifts” matter from another without acknowledgment.

Light. A journeyman printer’s term for “credit.” Derived from the old saying: “He stands in a good light with his neighbours.” The boast: “My light is good,” has about it little to find fault with.

Liguorians. Another name for the Redemptorists or Preachers of the Redemption, an Order founded by St Francis Liguori in 1732.

Like a Thousand of Brick. An Americanism for very heavily, as if a waggon-load of bricks had been dumped down on one.

Lille. Properly L’Isle, the island.

Lima. A Spanish corruption of the Peruvian Rima, the name of the river on which it is situated.

Limavady. From the Irish Leim-a-madha, “The Dog’s Leap.”

Limehouse. A corruption of Limehurst, or wood of lime-trees.

Lime Street. Where lime was sold in ancient times.

Limoges. Anciently called “Lemovica,” from the Lemovices, the people who settled in this portion of Gaul.

Lincoln. Originally Llyn-dun, the Celtic for “Pool hill,” or the town built on the eminence overlooking the Swanpool, which was not drained until the eighteenth century. When the Romans established themselves here they called it Lindum Colonia, or the colony beside the pool. Of this name, therefore, Lincoln is a softened abbreviation.

Lincoln College. Founded at Oxford by Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln, in 1427.

Lincoln’s Inn. Anciently the town mansion of the Earls of Lincoln, built by Henry de Lacey, Earl of Lincoln, in the fourteenth century.

Line of Business. A theatrical phrase for the special kind of parts in which an actor is experienced. One who plays the “Juveniles” would not be entrusted with an “Old Man’s” part, and so forth.

Liner. A steamship belonging to a regular line or service of fast sailers--e.g. the Cunard Line.

Lingo. Slang for language, derived from the Latin lingua, the tongue.

Lingua Franca. A common language along the Mediterranean shores, being a mixture of French and Italian. See “Lingo.”

Linoleum. A floorcloth, into the manufacture of which linseed oil enters largely.

Linseed Lancers. The nickname of the Army Medical Corps.

Lion. An ancient inn sign derived from the heraldic device of a particular monarch, or it might be, the Lord of the Manor. According to the colour of the animal in that device, so the name of the inn, after a mere name was substituted for the painted representation, came to be designated. Hence “Red Lion,” “Black Lion,” etc.

Lion and Key. A corruption of “The Lion on the Quay,” by way of distinguishing an inn or tavern from other Lions in the same seaport.

Lion Comique. The name bestowed upon George Leybourne and other music-hall vocalists of his class in days when comic singing was very different to what it is now. The modern type of vocal comedians is, happily, not “lionised” in the strict sense of the word.

Lionise. See “Lion of the Season.”

Lion of the Season. A

distinguished

distinguished

musical executant or other celebrity, generally a foreigner, at whose shrine society metaphorically worships while his fame is at its zenith. The expression is the outcome of the anxiety of the country folk in former days to see the “London Lion” at the Tower. Hence to “lionise,” make the most of a “stranger within our gates.”

Lion Sermon. This is delivered once a year at the Church of St Katherine Cree in commemoration of Sir John Gayer’s miraculous escape from death by a lion when he found himself separated from his companions in the African desert. He bequeathed the sum of £200 a year to the poor on condition of this sermon being annually preached.

Lisbon. Anciently Olisipo or Ulyssippo, after Ulysses, who, visiting Portugal with Lucus, is traditionally stated to have laid the foundations of the city.

Lisson Grove. Formerly Lidstone Green, a corruption of “Ossulton Green,” the name of a Hundred cited in Domesday Book. Ossulton Street in the Euston Road preserves the name in the original form.

Litany. See “Rogation Days.”

Little Bit of All Right. A popular expression meaning “Just the thing I wanted,” or “It couldn’t have happened better.”

Little Britain. From the ancient residence of the Dukes of Brittany.

Little Corporal. The name bestowed upon Napoleon I., at the commencement of his military career, from his rank and low stature.

Little John. The real name of this Sherwood forester was John Little, but Robin Hood playfully inverted it because its owner was a tall, strapping fellow.

Little Man. The affectionate sobriquet of the late Mr Alfred Beit, the “Diamond King,” on account of his diminutive stature.

Little Mary. A modern euphonism for the stomach, popularised by J. M. Barrie’s successful comedy of this title.

Little too Thick. The antithesis of a “thin” story; one so crowded with extraordinary statements that it is hard to grasp or credit.

Little Turnstile. The lesser turnstile on the north side of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, set up to prevent sheep from straying into Holborn.

Live like Fighting Cocks. From the days of the Greeks down to comparatively modern times game-cocks were fed luxuriantly, so as to increase their pugnacity; hence the application of the phrase to good living.

Live Man. An Americanism for an energetic agent or canvasser.

Liverpool. From an extinct bird, somewhat resembling the heron, and called the liver, that made the pool on which this city was built its home.

Liverpool Landseer. The sobriquet of William Huggins, who acquired an equal celebrity for animal painting in his native place, as Sir Edwin Landseer in the country at large.

Liverpool Street. After Lord Liverpool, one of the most popular members of the Ministry at the accession of George IV. There is another Liverpool Street named after him at King’s Cross.

Liverymen. Freemen of the city of London who on great special occasions wear the distinctive livery of the companies to which they belong.

Llandaff. Properly Llan Taff, the church on the Taff.

Lloyd’s. After Edward Lloyd, a coffee-house keeper in Abchurch Lane, whose premises were first used by merchants and shippers as a sort of club.

LL Whisky. That distilled by Messrs Kinahan of Dublin. When the Duke of Richmond was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland between 1807 and 1813 he in the former year sent to various distilleries for samples of good whisky, and preferring that tendered by Messrs Kinahan, he ordered a large vat of the same quality to be exclusively reserved for him. This vat had LL painted on it, denoting “Lord-Lieutenant Whisky.”

Lo. An American term for an Indian. This originated in Pope’s “Essay on Man,” a couplet of which reads:

“Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind

Sees God in clouds or hears Him in the wind.”

Loaded. An Americanism for intoxicated or “primed.”

Loafer. This word is neither Dutch nor German, as generally stated; it is distinctly Spanish-American. The early settlers of Mexico and Texas gave the name of gallofo to a vagrant, who, like the lazzaroni of Naples, hung about the churches begging for alms. From the western states this word travelled to New York, and in the process became changed into “Loafer.”

Loan. An Americanism for “lend.”

Lock-out. When artisans have struck for an advance of wages, and afterwards decide to return to work on the former scale, the masters retaliate by shutting them out of the works altogether and employing fresh hands from elsewhere.

Lock, Stock, and Barrel. A sportsman’s phrase for the whole of a thing, in allusion to the three parts of a gun. In the modern sense it is used to imply the complete discomfiture of an adversary in argument or of one utterly outwitted in his schemes.

Loco-Focos. The American term for lucifer matches. By a patent dated 16th April 1834 John Marck, a storekeeper of Park Row, New York, brought out a self-lighting or friction cigar, which he called a Loco-Foco. The first portion of this name was taken from the newly introduced locomotive, which people generally thought to mean self-moving; the latter half was a euphonism of his own. When friction or self-firing matches came in they received the same designation. The Democratic Party of the United States received the name of “Loco-Focos” from the circumstance that at a great general meeting held in Tammany Hall to confirm the nomination of Gideon Lee as the Democratic candidate for Congress, a tumult arose, and the lights were turned out; whereupon the adherents of the candidate, who had provided themselves with loco-focos and candles, relighted the hall in a moment.

Loft. An Americanism for storey. In the United States it is usual to say a house contains so many “lofts” instead of storeys.

Logger. One employed in the North American forests cutting down trees and sawing them into logs.

Loggerhead. A dull, stupid fellow with no more sense in his head than a “logger” or lumberman. These loggers often quarrel for no visible cause; hence the expression to be “at loggerheads.”

Log-rolling. Primarily a political term descriptive of mutual co-operation on the part of individuals for the furtherance of a general cause. It means: “You help me and I’ll help you”; “If your party further my Bill through Congress I’ll pledge my party to push yours along too.” The expression obtains also in a social and journalistic sense: “If I propose a testimonial for you I expect you to do the same for me”; “I’ll write you up in the Press if you engage to return the compliment.” For the origin of the term we must look to the lumber regions of the state of Maine, where the loggers of different camps assist one another by turns to roll their logs down to the river.

Lollards. Originally an association of pious people in Germany at the commencement of the thirteenth century banded together for the purpose of burying the dead. They were so called on account of the solemn dirges they sang, from the Low German lollen, to sing softly. After a time the same title was assumed by the followers of one Walter Goilard, a dissolute priest, who was burned for heresy at Cologne in 1322. The Wycliffites assumed this name still later, and some of these it must have been who were imprisoned in the “Lollards’ Tower,” Lambeth Palace.

Lombard Street. From the Jews of Lombardy, who here set up banks and money-lending establishments, at the instance of Pope Gregory IX., as a means of assisting the people of England to raise money for the payment of their taxes early in the thirteenth century.

Lombardy. Called by the Romans Longobardi after its people, whom they subdued. This name was not derived from their long beards, as generally stated, but from the longis bardis, or long battle-axes, with which they were armed.

London. This name claims the same origin as “Lincoln,” the first rude habitations beside the Thames being situated on the rising ground now known as Tower Hill.

London Bridge was built on Woolpacks. This expression had its origin in the fact that, when the construction of Old London Bridge was stopped for want of funds, Henry II. expedited its completion by imposing a tax upon wool.

Londonderry. The town built by a company of London adventurers, to whom it, with the county of the same name, was granted by a royal charter of James I. Derry is Celtic for a grove or oak forest.

London Lion. An expression derived from the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London ere the metropolis rejoiced in a Zoological Gardens, and when travelling menageries were unheard of. Country visitors up in town for a few days never failed at that period to feast their eyes upon a real live lion, and on returning to their homes boasted of having seen the London Lion.

London Stone. Marked the centre of Roman London, from which all the great roads through the country radiated.

London Wall. From the Roman wall which here defined the northern limits of the city. A portion of this old wall may yet be seen in Cripplegate Churchyard.

Lone Star State. Texas, from the single star in her flag.

Long Acre. The Anglo-Saxon acer, like the modern German acker, expresses a field. This was anciently a path across the fields between Lincoln’s Inn and “Lomesbury Village,” or the manor now known as Bloomsbury in the parish of St Giles’s-in-the-Fields.

Long Friday. The old name for Good Friday, both on account of the length of the Church service and the long fast imposed on all good Catholics.

Longford. The long ford on the River Camlin.

Long Island. So called from its shape.

Long Lane. This was a long, narrow lane extending from Barbican to Farringdon Road before the greater portion of its one side was cleared for the Smithfield Market.

Long Lane that has no Turning. An expression meaning that sooner or later a turn of fortune must come, since no lane, however long, exists that has no turning.

Long Peter. This name was merited by the celebrated Flemish painter, Peter Aartsen, by reason of his abnormal stature.

Long Parliament. That which was dissolved by Oliver Cromwell after it had lasted more than twelve years.

Longshanks. The surname of Edward I. on account of his spindle legs.

Longshoreman. Properly “Along-shoreman”--namely, a wharfinger, or one employed in loading and unloading vessels.

Look Daggers. A phrase used when two persons look fixedly at each other as if their eyes were dagger points ready to make a fatal thrust.

Loosen your Purse Strings. See “Purse Strings.”

Lord Bobs. The later nickname of Lord Roberts since the close of the South African War.

Lord’s Cricket Ground. After Thomas Lord, the founder of the earliest private Cricket Club in London, in 1780. First in Dorset Square, and eventually on its present site--his own landed property--he set up a private pitch for genteel folk far from the haunts of the city apprentices and other enthusiasts of the game.

Lord’s Day. The name given to Sunday by the Quakers.

Lordship Lane. From the Lord of the Manor of Dulwich.

Loretto. Called by the Romans Lauretana after Laureta, the lady to whom the country villa, and a large tract of land on which the town was afterwards built, belonged.

Lorraine. Anciently Lotharingia, the duchy of Lotharius II., grandson of the Emperor Lewis I.

Los Angeles. Originally called by the Spaniards “Pueblo de los Angeles,” the city of the angels, on account of its delightful situation and climate.

Lo Spagnoletto. The surname of Guiseppe Ribera, the celebrated Spanish painter. It means “Little Spaniard.”

Lothbury. A corruption of “Lattenbury,” where the workers in latten ware, a species of bronze, had their shops in the Middle Ages. In the modern sense latten is a kind of sheet brass.

Loudoun Road. After the name of the builder on the estate.

Louis d’Or. A gold coin first struck in the reign of Louis XIII. of France. The name means a “Louis of gold.”

Louisiana. The name bestowed upon this State by M. de la Sale in 1682 in compliment to Louis XIV. of France.

Louvre. An adapted French word, from l’ouvert, “the opening,” which expressed a kind of turret on the roof of a building by way of a chimney to let out the smoke. A rude contrivance of this kind distinguished the ancient hunting seat of Dagobert, on the site of which Francis I. commenced the famous Parisian palace of this name in 1528, completed twenty years later by Henry II. A louvre window partakes of the same character.

Lower Berkeley Street. See “Berkeley Street.”

Lower Thames Street. The eastern portion of Thames Street, from London Bridge to the Tower.

Lowndes Square. After the ground landlord, lineally descended from William Loundes, secretary to the Treasury, temp. Queen Anne.

Low Sunday. Not only was this Sunday at the bottom of the Lenten or Easter Calendar, but prior to the alteration of New Year’s Day it was frequently also the last Sunday of the year.

Luciferians. A sect of Christians in the fourth century, under Lucifer, Bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia, who separated from the Orthodox Church on the ground that the reconverted “Arians” should not again be admitted to the fold.

Lucifer Matches. Early friction matches, so called from the Latin lucis, light, and ferre, to bring.

Lucullus Feast. A sumptuous banquet, so called after Licinius Lucullus, a famous Roman general, who in the days of his retirement was no less distinguished for the costly suppers he gave to the greatest men of the Empire. The sums expended on those entertainments were enormous. As an epicure he was unrivalled; he could also be a glutton on occasion. There is a story told that after the feast had been prepared no guests arrived. “Lucullus will sup to-night with Lucullus” was the explanation of the host.

Lud-a-massy. A corruption of the old exclamation “Lord, have mercy!”

Luddites. A name borne by the wilful destroyers of machinery in the manufacturing

districts

districts

; said to have been adopted from Ned Lud, an imbecile of Leicester, who being, chased by boys, took refuge in a house, and there broke a couple of stocking frames. These rioters caused great havoc during the second decade of the last century.

Ludgate Hill. The testimony of Old Stow notwithstanding, there is grave doubt whether King Lud, the reputed builder of the western gate of the city, ever existed. In much greater likelihood this gate received its name from its situation near the River Fleet, and meant simply Flood Gate. See “Fleet Street.”

Lug. Northern and Scottish for “ear.” In England generally this word is regarded as slang except when employed in connection with “Lugger” and “Luggage.”

Luggage. So called because it is lugged about in transit by the handles, as a Lancashire man would pull another by the lug or ear.

Lugger. A small craft having lugs, or drooping sails, like a dog’s ear.

Lumber. An Americanism for timber sawn into logs and sent floating down the rivers for eventual shipment.

Lumber-room. One set apart for odds and ends of no practical utility. The name is derived from “Lombard Room,” in which the Lombards, who were the first goldsmiths and money-lenders in England, stored the articles pledged with them.

Lunatic. From the Latin luna, the moon. The Romans persistently cherished the idea that a person’s mind was affected at the several changes of the moon.

Lupercalia. A Roman festival in honour of Lupercus, the god of fertility. This occurred on the 15th of February.

Lupus Street. This keeps alive the name of Henry Lupus, first Earl of Chester, from whom the Grosvenors, the ground landlords, are descended.

Lurid Waistcoat Banquet. The latest style of “Freak Dinner” in America, each guest disporting himself in a waistcoat of startling hue and design.

Lutherans. After Martin Luther, the German Reformer.

Luxembourg. This celebrated palace of the French capital stands on the site of that purchased and enlarged in 1583 by the Duke of d’Epinay, Luxembourg. The title of the Dukes of Luxembourg is very ancient, having been derived from a beautiful chateau called Luici burgum, which was acquired by Siegfried, Count of Ardennes, in 963.

Lyceum Theatre. Opened in 1834 as the English Opera House. This was originally a lyceum or academical establishment connected with the Society of Arts. The word Lyceum was correctly applied in this case from the academy formed by Aristotle in the temple of Apollo Lyceus, near the River Illissus.

Lych-Gate. A large gateway at the entrance to the churchyard where the coffin can be set down while the mourners await the arrival of the clergyman to lead the funeral service. The word comes from the Gothic leik, and German leiche, a corpse.

Lyddite. So called because experiments with this explosive were first made at Lydd in Kent.

Lying around Loose. An Americanism for being out of a situation, lounging about the town.

Lyme Regis. This little Dorsetshire seaport on the River Lym was honoured with a royal charter and the title of Regis because it furnished Edward III. with three ships to aid in the siege of Calais in 1346.

Lynch Law. The summary justice meted out to public offenders in the western states of North America. This term was derived from James Lynch, a farmer of Piedmont on the western frontier of Virginia. There being no Court of Law for many miles around he was always appealed to in cases requiring a legal decision, and his judgments were so sound and impartial that the people gave him the name of Judge Lynch. The death sentence was by hanging at the nearest tree. To “lynch a man,” however, in the modern sense is to dispense with legal formalities altogether.

Lynn Regis. See “King’s Lynn.”

Lyon King at Arms. The principal at Heralds’ College in Scotland, so called from the lion rampant on the armorial bearings of the Scottish kings.

Lyre Bird. So called from the resemblance of the sixteen feathers of its tail when spread erect to a lyre.

M

Ma’am. An Americanism for mother. See “Madam.”

Ma’am School. The American term for a young ladies’ seminary, or an infants’ school kept by a woman.

Macadamised Road. This system of road-making by means of broken stones pressed down by a heavy roller was introduced by John Loudon Macadam, a Scotsman, appointed Surveyor of Public Roads in 1827.

Macaroni. From the Italian macare, to crush, to bruise, through Macarone, a mixture, a medley. This confection originally consisted of cheese and bread paste squeezed into balls.

Macaronies. Fashionable dandies first heard of in London after the accession of George III. Their leaders hailed from France and Italy, where Macaroni Clubs abounded. These clubs arose out of Dilettante Societies, formed for the cultivation of what was styled Macaronic Verse, after a poetical rhapsody entitled “Liber Macaronicorum,” a jumble of Latin and other languages published by a monk of Mantua in 1520. Subsequently everything in dress or taste received the name of Macaroni.

Macaroon. A biscuit the name of which has the same etymology as “Macaroni.”

Macassar Oil. So called because it was first exported from Macassar, the Dutch capital of Celebes Island.

Macclesfield Street. After the Earl of Macclesfield, the landlord of the estate when it was laid out in 1697.

Macedonians. A fourth century sect of Christians founded by Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople.

Machinaw. A heavy blanket worn by Indians, and also nowadays in the western states used as a travelling rug and bed pallet. The term is derived from Machinac (pronounced Machinaw), the chief trading station with the Indians formerly. Western settlers also describe an overcoat as a Machinaw.

Machine. A bicycle is called a machine because it is a more or less complicated piece of mechanism made up of many parts. In the United States the term machine is applied both to a locomotive and a fire engine.

Mackenzie River. After Alexander Mackenzie, by whom it was first navigated in 1789.

Mackerel. From the Danish mackreel, “spots.”

Mackintosh. After the Scotsman who invented water-proofing material for over-garments.

Macklin Street. After Charles Macklin, the celebrated actor of Drury Lane Theatre. His name was really Maclaughlin shortened into Macklin.

Macmillanites. An offshoot of the Presbyterians under John Macmillan; also styled the “Reformed Presbytery.”

Madagascar. A corruption of the native name Malagasay, the island of the Malagese or Malays.

Madam. In New England the term applied to the deceased wife of a person of local distinction, such as the parson, doctor, etc. In the southern states it expresses the mistress or master’s wife universally among the Negroes. Elsewhere it is either Madam or Ma’am for a mother.

Mad Cavalier. Prince Rupert, so called on account of his rash courage and lack of self-control.

Mad Dog. A skull cap, from the old idea that keeping the head impervious to air was a remedy against the bite of a dog.

Mad Poet. Nathaniel Lee, who wrote some of his finest pieces while confined during four years at Bethlehem Hospital.

Mad as a Hatter. A corruption of “Mad as an atter.” Atter expressed the Saxon for a viper or adder. The word “Mad” was anciently used in the sense of venomous; hence this expression really meant “venomous as a viper.”

Mad as a March Hare. Being their rutting season, hares are very wild in March.

Made a bad Break. An Americanism for having made a silly slip of the tongue, a sad mistake, or a great blunder. The expression is, of course, derived from a game of billiards.

Made his Pile. Although a Californian phrase for having amassed a fortune, this originated at the gaming-tables throughout the States generally.

Madeira. Expresses the Portuguese for “timber.” This island was at the time of its discovery covered with forests. Also the name of a rich wine imported therefrom.

Madeleine. The church at Paris dedicated to Mary Magdalen or Mary of Magdala.

Maddox Street. After the name of the builder upon the land in 1720.

Madras. From the Arabic Madrasa, “university.” Originally Madrasa Pattan, the name expressed “University town.” Pattan is Sanscrit for town.

Madrid. In the tenth century this was simply a Moorish fortified outpost of Toledo, as expressed by its Arabic name, Majerit.

Maelstrom. Expresses the Norwegian for an eddy or whirlpool; literally “whirling stream.”

Maffiking. A word used to denote the madness which may seize upon an entire community on an occasion of great public rejoicing, as happened when news of the relief of Mafeking, during the South African War, reached England. Staid citizens--bankers, stockbrokers, and others--assembled in front of the Mansion House, cheering wildly, and losing all control over themselves to such a degree that they threw their hats high in the air. For the remainder of that day and far into the night all London went mad with joy.

Magazine. From the Arabic Makhzan, a depository for stores. In a literary sense this originally expressed a periodical whose contents were made up of elegant extracts from the best authors.

Magdalen Hospital. The old name of a penitentiary for fallen women, so called after Mary Magdalen. The French form of this name is Madeleine.

Magdalen Smith. The famous Dutch portrait painter, Gaspar Smitz, is usually known by this name on account of his many “Magdalens,” in which he excelled.

Magdeburg. German for “town on the plain.”

Magenta. This colour was so called because first produced after the battle of Magenta in 1859.

Magic City of the South. Birmingham in the state of Alabama. Since its foundation by the Elyton Land Company in 1871 it has bidden fair to rival Pittsburg as the Birmingham of America.

Magnolia. In honour of the eminent French botanist, Pierre Magnol.

Mahala. The Californian term for an Indian squaw, derived from the Spanish muger (pronounced muher), a woman.

Mahatma. A Hindoo term for a Buddhist gifted with what appear to be supernatural powers, as the result of the very highest intellectual development.

Mahogany. A vulgar term very frequently heard in the Midland counties for a man’s wife. This arose from the fact that the wood of the Mahogany-tree (West Indian Mahogan, but botanically Swietenia Mahogani) was for many years at first used exclusively for the manufacture of domestic dining-tables; hence a man would say: “I’ll discuss it with my wife over the Mahogany.” Eventually the phrase was corrupted into “I’ll talk to the Mahogany about it,” and so the term came to denote the man’s wife.

Mahrattas. The Hindoo term for “outcasts.” Although devout worshippers of Buddha, this powerful Hindoo family does not recognise that fine distinction of caste which obtains elsewhere.

Maida Vale. After the victory of Maida, 4th July 1806.

Maiden. An ancient instrument of capital punishment made in the form of a woman, the front of which opened like a door, and, the victim being imprisoned, sharp steel spikes pierced his body on every side. This name was also given to an early species of guillotine in Scotland. To be executed by its means was to “Kiss the Maiden,” because she clasped him in a death embrace.

Maidenland. A Virginian term for the land which comes to a man by marriage on his wife’s side, and which passes from him at her decease.

Maiden Assize. So called when there are no charges for the jury, which in the event of conviction merit capital punishment or the death sentence. On such an occasion the sheriffs present a pair of white gloves to the judges as the emblems of innocence.

Maiden Lane. Anciently skirting the garden of the Convent. This thoroughfare had at its western corner a statue of “Our Lady” let into the wall.

Maid Marian. So far from having any connection with Robin Hood and his merry men in Sherwood Forest, this term is derived from the “Morris Dance,” in which five men and a boy took part. On account of his antics and the ill-fitting morione, or helmet, that this boy wore, he came to be styled as the “Mad Morion,” of which Maid Marian was an easy corruption.

Maid of Orleans. Joan of Arc, who led her countrymen against the English, and effected the capture of the city of Orleans, 29th April 1429.

Maid of Saragossa. Augustina Zaragossa, who distinguished herself in the

heroic

heroic

defence of the city of Saragossa during its eight months’ siege by the French in 1808-9.

Maidstone. From the Anglo-Saxon Medwægeston, the town on the Medwæge, or Medway, which river runs through the middle of the county of Kent.

Mail. The American term for “post”--i.e. a letter. This word is, of course, derived from the mail bag in which letters are transmitted.

Mail Stage. The American form of “Stage-coach.”

Maine. The name given to the French settlement in the New World after the city so called in the Mother Country. Maine, from the Celtic man, expresses a district or region.

Majorca. Expresses the Latin for Greater, relative to the “Balearic Islands.”

Make Bricks without Straw. To make something without the needful materials. In the East bricks are made out of straw and mud dried in the sun. The expression comes from the burdens laid upon the Israelites in Egypt as related in Exodus v.: “Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.”

Make Money out of a Shoe-string. An Americanism for a capacity to make money out of nothing--that is, without working capital.

Make the Raise. An Americanism for to “raise the loan.”

Make the Sneak. An Americanism for to sneak or run away.

Make Tracks. Originally a Far West expression when a squatter deserted his claim and set out to explore an unknown region.

Make Trade hum. An Americanism for whipping up business by advertising or extraordinary energy.

Malaga. From the Phœnician malaca, salt. The wine of the same name is imported from this city of Spain.

Malmsey. Wine from Malvasia, an island in the Mediterranean historically famous for its vineyards.

Malta. From the Phœnician Melita, “a place of refuge.”

Mamelukes. From the Arabic mamluc, a slave. The original standing army of Egypt, composed of boy slaves purchased by the Sultan from the Tartar Khan in the Caucasus in the thirteenth century.

Mamma. Latin for “breast”; hence all animals that are suckled by the mother belong to the class of “Mammals.”

Mammon. From the Syriac mamona, “riches.”

Manchester. Expresses the Anglo-Saxon for a common on the site of a Roman camp. The Friesic man in this sense enters into many place names also on the Continent.

Manchester Square. After the Duke of Manchester, the owner of the estate.

Manchuria. The territory of the Manchus, the founders of the present ruling dynasty of China.

Mandarin. Although this title is borne by officers of every grade in China the word is really Portuguese, mandar, to command. It was applied by the early settlers of Macao to the Chinese officials of that colony, and has remained a European designation for a Chinaman of rank ever since.

Manhattan. From the Indian munnohatan, “the town on the island.”

Manicure. The American mode of “Manicurist,” which, from the Latin manus, hand, literally means one who undertakes the care of the finger-nails.

Manitoba. After Manitou, the “Great Spirit” of the Alonquin Indians. This name is pronounced Manitobar not Manitobar.

Man in the Street. A metaphorical expression for the average man, with no more than a superficial knowledge of matters in general. Not belonging to a club, he has small means of adding to his own store of knowledge by daily communion with those better informed than himself.

Manlius Torquatus. The Roman Consul Manlius received his surname “Torquatus” through having wrested the golden torque or collar from his adversary on the field of war.

Mannheim. German for “the home of men.” Until the Elector Palatine Frederick IV. built a castle here, and a town grew up around it in the seventeenth century, this was a village of refugees from religious persecution in the Netherlands.

Man of Kent. A native of the county of Kent east of the Medway.

Man of Ross. The name given by Pope to John Kyrle of Ross, Herefordshire. See “Kyrle Society.”

Man of Straw. One who, having nothing to lose, descends to mean practices for gain, well knowing that his victims rarely go to the expense of entering a prosecution against him, since they cannot obtain damages. This term was derived from the hangers-on at the Westminster Law Courts, who were ready to swear anything at the instruction of counsel for a bribe. They were known by displaying a wisp of straw in their shoes. If another witness was required while a case was being heard, counsel generally sent out to look for “a pair of straw shoes.”

Man-of-War. This term is a popular abbreviation of man-of-war ship--i.e. the floating home of a man-of-war’s-man. Our national prestige has from time immemorial been dependent on the supremacy of the seas, therefore an English sailor, more than a soldier, was regarded by our ancestors as a fighting man. Since the introduction of ironclads, however, it has become the custom to speak of a floating battery as a war vessel or battleship, and a sailor as a bluejacket.

Mansard Roof. After its inventor, François Mansard, the French architect of the seventeenth century.

Mansfield Street. From the town mansion of the Earls of Mansfield, which stood here.

Mansion House. Expresses the “house of houses,” the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, the representative in the city of the King, whose flag proudly waves in the breeze from the roof.

Mantua. A lady’s cloak or mantle, originally introduced from the Italian city of this name.

Maoris. The aborigines of New Zealand. In the native tongue this means “indigenous.”

Maraboo Feathers. Those plucked from the underside of the wings of the stork of the same name. The stork being held sacred by the Mohammedans, as it was by the ancient Egyptians, its name has the same meaning as that of the “Marabuts.”

Marabuts. The priestly order of the Arabs in North Africa; those who attend the mosques and call the people to prayers. Their name is derived from the Arabic Marabath, sacred or devoted to God.

Maraschino. A liqueur distilled from delicate and finely flavoured cherries, called Marazques, cultivated at Zara in Dalmatia.

March. In honour of Mars, the Roman god of war.

Marconigram. A wireless telegram, so called after Marconi, the inventor of the system.

Margate. From the Anglo-Saxon Mære, the sea; expresses the road or entrance to the Thames estuary from the sea. See “Gate.”

Margaret Street. After Lady Margaret Cavendish, wife of the second Duke of Portland, landlord of the estate.

Marigold. This, golden flower, indigenous to Mexico, was dedicated by the Spaniards to the Virgin. What are called “Marigold Windows,” having these flowers represented on them, appear in Lady Chapels.

Marine Store Dealer. The legal description of what is now a rag and bone merchant in a small way, because at one time old ships’ iron and cables were not allowed to be disposed of in any other manner save to such a registered dealer.

Market Street. The site of an ancient market on which at a later period the annual May Fair was held. This district is now one of the most fashionable in the West End of London.

Mark Lane. A corruption of “Mart Lane,” in which an ancient annual fair or mart of Flemish merchants was held.

Mark Twain. The literary pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, reminiscent of his early life as a pilot on a Mississippi steamboat. “Mark Twain” in nautical phraseology means “mark two fathoms of water.”

Marlborough House. This, the residence of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, was built by Sir Christopher Wren for John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, in 1709 at a total cost of a million of money.

Marlborough Road. This, like the square of the same name off the Fulham Road, was so called after the “Duke of Marlborough” at one end of it. At Peckham, after the one-time residence of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, before he removed to Pall Mall.

Maroons. Revolted Negroes in South America and the West Indies. The term was derived from the Morony River, between Dutch and French Guiana, where great numbers of these fugitives found a place of safety.

Marquee. Originally the tent of a marchioness.

Marquis. From the Italian and French Marchese, pursuant to the root mark, a boundary. Anciently expressive of an officer who had the guardianship of the marches or boundaries of a duchy. At a later period the owner of a slice of land bestowed upon him out of a duchy. Nowadays the title next below that of duke.

Marquis of Granby. A tavern sign in honour of John Manners, the British general during the Seven Years’ War in Germany, a soldier beloved by his men and esteemed by his country.

Marry. A perverted form of the oath “By Mary” in days when people were wont to swear by the Virgin.

Marsala. A light wine exported from Marsala in Sicily. This name was bestowed upon the town by the Arabs, Marsa Alla, “Port of God,” on account of its delightful situation.

Marseillaise. This was the composition of Rouget de Lisle, an artillery officer stationed with the French garrison at Strasburg. First sung at a banquet given by the mayor of that city, it became immensely popular; and when in 1792 the Marseilles volunteers were summoned to Paris, they sang it as they approached and entered the capital. The words and music at once struck the popular ear, so that “La Marseillaise” became the national war song.

Marshal. From the Teutonic mare, horse, and schalk, servant. This term, through the French maréchal, originally signified the groom of the horse; now it means in a civil sense the master of the horse and head of the ceremonies in devising pageants and processions. The Duke of Norfolk, as Earl Marshal of England, takes precedence over all other noblemen.

Marshal Forward. General Blucher, on account of his eagerness to make a dash in the campaign which terminated in the victory of Waterloo.

Marshalsea. The old Debtors’ Prison in Southwark, so called because the Court of the Knight Marshal, for the settlement of disputes between members of the Royal Household, was held within its walls. This edifice was demolished in 1842.

Marsham Street. From the ground landlord, Charles Marsham, Earl of Romney.

Martel. The surname of Charles, the son of Pepin d’Heristal, who signalised himself in battle against the Saracens when, according to the chronicler, “he knocked down the foe and crushed them between his axe, as a martel or hammer crushes what it strikes.” This exploit occurred during the attempted Saracenic invasion of France A.D. 732.

Martello Tower. Originally built near the sea as a watch-tower for protection of merchandise against pirates. The term arose from the custom of the sentry striking a bell with a martel, or hammer, as often as he discerned a pirate ship out at sea.

Martin. The common wall-swallow, corrupted from its Latin name Murten, from murus, a wall.

Martinet. From the name of a strict officer under Louis XIV. of France; hence the phrase “a regular martinet.”

Martin’s Lane. From St Martin’s Church in this lane.

Martlemas. A corruption of “Martinmas,” or Feast of St Martin, 4th November, the usual time for the hiring of servants in the rural districts of England.

Maryland. The name given by Lord Baltimore to the colony founded by him, in honour of Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I.

Maryland End. An Americanism for the hock of the ham, as distinguished from the other, the “Virginia End.”

Marylebone. A corruption of “St Mary of the Bourn”--i.e. the parish church of St Mary beside the bourn or stream which descended from near the hermitage at “Kilburn” to “Tyburn.”

Masaniello. The name of the leader of the Neapolitan insurrectionists of the seventeenth century was Tommaso Aniello, of which Masaniello is a corruption.

Masher. From the Romany or gipsy Masha, “to fascinate the eye.” Whether the overdressed fop, so designated in our day, really possessed this enviable quality is open to question.

Mason and Dixon’s Line. An American expression for the old-time boundary between the slave and the free states. This line was defended between Pennsylvania and Maryland and Virginia by two English surveyors, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, in 1763-7.

Massage. A Frenchised Hindoo word for rubbing. A male and female practitioner of this new curative mode of friction treatment are respectively styled a masseur and masseuse.

Mattan Diamond. This, the largest in the world, weighing 367 carats, is the property of the Rajah of Mattan in India.

Maudlin. A word expressive of sentimentality or an inclination to shed tears, more especially when in a state of intoxication. Old painters always represented Mary Magdalen with swollen eyes, the result of penitential tears; hence a corruption of “Magdalen.”

Maund. The Saxon for an alms-basket employed in the distribution of bread to the poor by the Lady of the Manor.

Maundy Thursday. So called from Maundé, the French form of Mandatum, the first word in the New Commandment or mandate given by our Lord to His disciples after washing their feet at the Last Supper. The essence of this mandate was to love one another; hence the washing of feet of poor persons and distribution of doles by the reigning sovereign on this day. See “Maund.”

Mauritius. A Dutch colony named in honour of Maurice, Prince of Orange.

Mausoleum. After the

magnificent

magnificent

sepulchral monument erected by his widow, Artemisia, to Mausolus, King of Caria, at Halicarnassus, 353 B.C.

May. The budding or shooting of plants in this month caused the Romans to give it the name of Magius, afterwards shortened into Maius, from the Sanskrit mah, to grow. Eventually this month was held sacred to Maia, the mother of Mercury, to whom sacrifices were offered on the first day.

Maydew

Cherries

Cherries

. A corruption of Medoc cherries, from the district in France where they are cultivated.

Mayfair. On the site of this fashionable district Edward III. established a six days’ fair in the month of May for the benefit of the leper hospital of St James the Less, where St James’s Palace now stands.

May Meetings. The annual meetings of the many religious, missionary, and philanthropic bodies of the United Kingdom are held in London, generally at Exeter Hall, during the month of May.

Mazarin Bible. A very rare edition of the Scriptures, being one of the earliest printed by Gutenberg with separate metal types, between 1450 and 1455. It received this name from the fact that a copy was discovered in the library of Cardinal Mazarin.

Mecklenburg Square. One of the many names about London which, when new streets were built upon, complimented the Hanoverian Succession.

Medina. Expresses the Arabic for “City.” Its full name is Medinat al Nabi, “City of the Prophet.”

Mediterranean Sea. The sea “in the middle of the earth” is that between the two great continents, Europe and Africa.

Medway. See “Maidstone.”

Meerschaum. Expresses the German for “sea foam,” the fine white clay out of which pipes are made being at one time thought to be the petrified scum or foam of the sea.

Meistersingers. Literal German for “Master Singers”; master craftsmen who in the Middle Ages revived the national minstrelsy, which had been allowed to fall into decay.

Melbourne. In honour of Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister in 1837, when this Australian colony was founded.

Melodrama. Modern drama, distinguished by incidental music as an accompaniment to the action.

Memorial Day. The United States mode of expressing a great commemorative occasion, such as Independence or Decoration Day.

Memorial Hall. This building, in Farringdon Road, commemorates the issue of the famous “Act of Uniformity,” whereby 2000 ministers of the Church of England were deprived of their livings on 24th August 1662. The site was formerly occupied by the old Fleet Prison.

Memory-Corner Thompson. The name borne by John Thompson of the parish of St Giles’s-in-the-Fields. Seated in a corner of a coffee-house, he was wont for the amusement of regular habitues to display his astounding powers of memory in regard to the topography of London.

Memory Woodfall. The sobriquet of William Woodfall, brother to the reputed author of the celebrated “Letters of Junius.” His mnemonical powers differed from that of “Memory-Corner Thompson” in that, after listening to a debate, Parliamentary or otherwise, overnight, he could repeat it word for word the next morning.

Mentor. A “guide, philosopher, and friend,” so called after Mentor, the faithful friend and counsellor of Ulysses.

Mercenaries. From the Latin mercer, wages, reward. These hired soldiers of antiquity figured largely in the Punic Wars.

Mercer. The old name for a dealer in silks and woollen fabrics, so called from the Latin mercis, wares, merchandise. Nowadays such a one styles himself a “Draper.”

Merino. A fabric of wool from the sheep of the same name, which expresses the Spanish for an inspector of sheep walks.

Merioneth. After Merion, an early British saint.

Merrimac. Indian for “swift water.”

Merry Andrew. A buffoon or clown, said to have been so called after Andrew Borde, a noted physician of the time of Henry VIII., whose witticisms were on a par with his medical skill. His sayings were widely repeated, and since it happened that Andrew was then the most common name for a man-servant, facetious fellows came to be dubbed Merry Andrews.

Merry Monarch. Charles II., who from the time of coming to the throne never knew care, but made his life one round of pleasure.

Mesopotamia. The ancient description of the region situate between the Tigris and the Euphrates. The name is Greek, from mesos, middle, and potamos, river.

Messe Rouge. Expresses the French for “Red Mass.” At the resumption of their duties at the Law Courts after the Long Vacation all the Catholic judges and barristers attend a Mass of the Holy Ghost to invoke the Spirit for the gift of wisdom. Like the masses of the Feast of the Holy Ghost, the vestment worn by the officiating priest is red, in allusion to the tongues of fire that descended upon the Apostles on Whit Sunday.

Methodists. This name was first given by a fellow-student of Christ Church, Oxford, to the Brothers Wesley and a few friends who were in the habit of meeting on certain evenings for religious conversation. They also visited the inmates of Oxford Jail at stated times, always faithfully kept their engagements, and acted up to their Christian principles in a strictly methodical manner. The new sect was afterwards styled by John Wesley “The First Methodist Society.”

Metz. This city was styled by the Romans Mettis, from the Medio matrici, the people of the country, whom they conquered.

Mexico. Expresses the seat or place of Mexitli, the Aztec god of war.

Michaelmas Day. The feast of St Michael, prince of the heavenly host, and patron saint of the Catholic Church. This is properly described as “St Michael and all Angels” (29th September).

Michaelmas Goose. Stubble geese being at their best about this time, the rural tenantry always brought their landlords a goose with their Michaelmas rent. Since the latter usually received more geese than they could consume themselves, they passed them over to friends, and thus the goose became a standing Michaelmas dish.

Michigan. Indian for “a weir for fish.”

Middlesex. Expresses the territory of the Middle Saxons, situate between that of the East and West Saxons under the Heptarchy.

Middling. North of England, and also American, for medium or passable in the sense of feeling well.

Mignonette. Expresses the diminutive of Mignon, the French for “darling.”

Mildmay Park. The estate of the Mildmays, whose ancestor, Sir Henry Mildmay, came, by marriage, into possession of Mildmay House and its park in the time of Charles I.

Mile End Gate. From a toll gate which at this point of the highroad marked the eastern limits of London town and the parish of Whitechapel, distant one mile from the city boundary at Aldgate.

Miles Lane. After Miles Coverdale, a famous preacher at the Weigh-House Chapel hard by in former days.

Milford Lane. From an old mill that stood here in the fields. The lane itself led to a ford across the river at low water.

Milking the Street. An Americanism for the operations of stockbrokers who, by alternately raising and depressing shares, capture all the floating money in the market. The allusion is, of course, to Wall Street, the financial centre of New York city.

Milk Street. The ancient milk and butter market in connection with Cheapside.

Millbank. From an old mill that stood on the Thames bank, on the site of which the Grosvenors built a mansion, subsequently displaced for the gloomy prison of the same name.

Millerites. An American religious sect, whose founder, William Miller, prophesied the millennium or first judgment of the world by Christ and His angels to take place on 23rd February 1843. Many of his followers went mad through excitement as this date approached. Subsequent days assigned for the fulfilment of the prophesy proved alike misleading.

Milliner. A corruption of Milaner, after the city of Milan, which at one time set the fashion throughout Europe for elegance and taste not only in matters of dress, but of art. A milliner is one who deals in hats, feathers, and ribbons. See “Mercer.”

Mill Street. From a mill that stood hereabouts when the scene was one of peaceful rusticity.

Milton Street. After the author of “Paradise Lost,” who resided here for a time, and was buried in the parish church of St Giles’s, Cripplegate. This was the famous Grub Street of tradition.

Milwaukee. Indian for “rich land.”

Mincing Lane. A corruption of “Mynchen Lane,” denoting the property of the Minchery, the Saxon term for a nunnery of St Helen’s in Bishopsgate Street.

Minden Boys. The 20th Foot, so called from the conspicuous bravery displayed by them at the battle of Minden.

Mind your P’s and Q’s. This had reference originally to the pints and quarts chalked up against a rustic at the village alehouse. When his score threatened to become too disproportionate to his prospective wages, the alehouse-keeper generally administered a timely warning in these set terms. It was a polite way of saying he would very soon decline to serve him with more until the next settling day.

Miniature. So called because this early species of hand-painted portraiture originated in the head of the Madonna or of a saint that formed the initial letter of the beautifully illuminated rubrics produced by the monks styled the “Miniatori,” because their paints were made out of minium, or red lead.

Minnesingers. Expresses the Old German for “love singers,” the troubadours of the Fatherland in the Middle Ages.

Minnesota. Indian for “smoky water.”

Minorca. Expresses the lesser of the “Balearic Islands.”

Minories. This thoroughfare was laid out across the lands belonging to the Minoresses or Nuns of St Clare after their priory had been demolished at the Reformation. The Order of the Minoresses corresponded to the Friars Minor of the Franciscans founded by St Francis de Paula.

Minster. The distinction between a minster and a cathedral lies in this: the former is the church in connection with a monastery, whereas the latter contains the kathedra, or chair, of a bishop.

Minstrel Boy. A favourite page whose duty it was to attend a knight in peace and war. On his return from “feats of arms” he recited the doughty deeds of his master to the accompaniment of a lute, harp, or lyre in the banqueting-hall. In times of peace his theme was the bravery of the knight in the lists at tournaments or his prowess in defence of fair maidens.

Minstrel of the Border. The name bestowed upon William Wordsworth by Sir Walter Scott.

Mint. On the spot where Manlius Capitolinus had built himself a sumptuous residence the Romans set up a temple to Juno Moneta, or “The Monitress,” since Manlius had been apprised of the Gallic invasion through the cackling of the sacred geese. Subsequently this temple of Moneta was converted into an establishment for the coinage of money. Both mint and money therefore come from Moneta.

Mint Street. From the old mint established at Suffolk House by Henry VIII. when that property was sequestered to the Crown.

Minuet. So called from the Latin minutus, small, on account of the short, graceful steps which distinguish this dance.

Miserere. The name given to a mediæval choir stall of which the seat could be turned up so as to form a ledge for the support of the aged monks while kneeling. Its name, miserere, “Have mercy,” was singularly appropriate.

Misluck. An Americanism for misfortune or ill luck.

Misses’ Tailors. An Americanism for “Ladies’ Tailors.”

Mississippi. Indian for “great and long river.”

Missouri. Indian for “muddy water.”

Mitre. An inn sign most generally to be met with in a cathedral city, having reference, of course, to the mitre worn by a bishop.

Mitre Court. So called after an ancient Fleet Street tavern hard by.

Mitre Square. From an old inn, “The Mitre.”

Mob. From the Latin mobile vulgus, “the vulgar crowd.”

Mobtown. The name given to the city of Baltimore on account of the lawlessness of a certain section of its inhabitants.

Mocha. Coffee brought from the district of the same name in Arabia.

Mocking Bird. A species of thrush that mocks or imitates the notes produced by other birds.

Moet and Chandon. A favourite brand of champagne from the vineyards of the French firm trading under the name of “Moet et Chandon.”

Molasses. The American term for syrup or treacle, derived from the French melasse, the root of which is the Latin mellis, honey.

Money. See “Mint.”

Mohair. From the Arabic Mukhayyar, “goatskin hair,” through the French moire, the fine silken hair of the Angora goat.

Mohawks. Night marauders who in the days of the “Old Charlies” terrorised peaceable London citizens, self-styled after the fierce Indian tribe of the same name. “Mohawk” means “man-eater” or “live-eater,” this term being applied to the Iroquois by the eastern Indians of North America.

Moire Antique. The French description of watered silk worked in the style of the olden times. See “Mohair.”

Moldavia. The country traversed by the River Moldau.

Moleskin. A superior fabric of fustian or strong cotton distinguished for a smoothness like the hair of the mole.

Molly Maguires. An Irish Secret Society in the United States, more especially Pennsylvania, composed of young men dressed in women’s clothes, and with blackened faces, who did not hesitate to murder in connection with the agrarian outrages that they committed. The execution of ten of the ringleaders in June 1877 at length put an end to their reign of terror.

Monastery. From the Greek monos, alone. This term expresses an establishment of monks, secluded from one another in cells except when at prayers or at meals; recluses who never go into the outer world at all. A Friary, on the contrary, is a convent whose inmates live in community and go forth to preach among the people.

Monday. A term derived from Scandinavian mythology when, after the first day of the week given up to sun-worship, the second was set apart for the worship of the moon.

Money makes Money. This is a truism which it were vain to deny. Without capital a man cannot possibly set up in business for himself, even as a costermonger. The command of money makes its possessor doubly rich.