Виктор Евгеньевич Никитин
Исторический английский фразеологический словарь
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.
20Auckland. 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 21one, 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 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.
22Back 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.”
23Balearic 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 24which 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, 25while 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.
26Bartholomew 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.
27Battle 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.”
28Beak. 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.
29Beauclerc. 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.
30Begum. 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 31unceasingly 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 32been 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.
33Big 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.
34Birrell. 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.
35Blackheath. 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.
36Blarney. 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.
37Bloomsbury. 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.
