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Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

E. Cobham Brewer From The Edition Of 1894

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C

This letter is the outline of the hollow of the hand, and is called in Hebrew caph (the hollow of the hand).

C.

The French, c, when it is to be sounded like s, has a mark under it ; this mark is called a cedilla. (A diminutive of z; called zeta in Greek, ceda in Spanish.)

C

There is more than one poem written of which every word begins with C. For example: (1) One composed by HUEBALD in honour of Charles le Chauve. It is in Latin hexameters and runs to somewhat more than a hundred lines, the last two of which are

“Conveniet claras claustris componere cannas

Completur clarus carmen cantabile CALVIS.”

(2) One by HAMCONIUS, called “Certamen catholicum cum Calvinistis.” (3) One by HENRY HARDER, of 100 lines in Latin, on “Cats,” entitled: “Canum cum Catis certamen carmine compositum currente calamo C. Catulli Caninii.” The first line is—

“Cattorum canimus certamina clara canumque.”

Cats' canine caterwauling contests chant.

See M and P for other examples.

Ca Ira

(it will go). Called emphatically Le Carillon National of the French Revolution (1790). It went to the tune of the Carillon National, which Marie Antoinette was for ever strumming on her harpsichord.

“Ca Ira”

was the rallying cry borrowed by the Federalists from Dr. Franklin of America, who used to say, in reference to the American revolution, “Ah! ah! ca ira, ca ira!” ('twill be sure to do). The refrain of the carillon is—

Ha! ha! It will speed, it will speed, it will speed! Resistance is vain, we are sure to succeed.

Caaba

(3 syl.). The shrine of Mecca, said by the Arabs to be built on the exact spot of the tabernacle let down from heaven at the prayer of repentant Adam. Adam had been a wanderer for 200 years, and here received pardon. The shrine was built, according to Arab tradition, by Ishmael, assisted by his father Abraham, who inserted in the walls a black stone “presented to him by the angel Gabriel.”

Cab

A contraction of cabriolet (a little caperer), a small carriage that scampers along like a kid.

Cabal A junto or council of intriguers. One of the Ministries of Charles II. was called a cabal (1670), because the initial letters of its members formed this acrostic: Clifford, Ashley, B uckingham, Arlington, and

Lauderdale. This accident may have popularised the word, but, without doubt, we borrowed it from the French cabale, “an intriguing faction,” and Hebrew cabala, “secret knowledge.” A junto is merely an assembly; Spanish, junta, a council. (See Notarica; Tammany Ring .)

“In dark cabals and mighty juntos met.” Thomson

“These ministers were emphatically called the Cabal, and they soon made the appellation so infamous that it has never since ... been used except as a term of reproach.”— Macaulay: England, vol. i. chap. ii. p. 165.

Cabala

The oral law of the Jews delivered down from father to son by word of mouth. Some of the rabbins say that the angel Raziel instructed Adam in it, the angel Japhiel instructed Shem, and the angel Zedekiel instructed Abraham; but the more usual belief is that God instructed Moses, and Moses his brother Aaron, and so on from age to age.

N.B.— The promises held out by the cabala are: the abolition of sin and sickness, abundant provision of all things needful for our well—being during life, familiar intercourse with deity and angels, the gift of languages and prophecy, the power of transmuting metals, and also of working miracles.

Cabalist

A Jewish doctor who professed the study of the Cabala, a mysterious science said to have been delivered to the Jews by revelation, and transmitted by oral tradition. This science consisted mainly in understanding the combination of certain letters, words, and numbers, said to be significant.

Cabalistic

Mystic word—juggling. (See Cabalist .)

Caballero

A Spanish dance, grave and stately; so called from the ballad—music to which it was danced. The ballad begins—

“Esta noche le mataron al caballero.”

Cabbage

It is said that no sort of food causes so much thirst as cabbage, especially that called colewort. Pausanias tells us it first sprang from the sweat of Jupiter, some drops of which fell on the earth. Coelius, Rhodiginus, Ovid, Suidas, and others repeat the same fable.

“Some drops of sweat happening to light on the earth produced what mortals call cabbage.”—

R. ibelais: Pantagruel, book iv. (Prologue).

Cabbage

(To). To filch. Sometimes a tailor is called “cabbage,” from his pilfering cloth given him to make up. Thus in Motteux's Rabelais, iv. 52, we read of “Poor Cabbage's hair.” (Old French, cabas, theft, verb cabasser; Dutch, kabassen; Swedish, grabba; Danish, griber, our grab,)

“Your tailor, instead of shreds, cabbages whole yards of cloth.”— Arbuthnot's John Bull.

Cabbage is also a common schoolboy term for a literary crib, or other petty theft.

Cabinet Ministers

The chief officers of state in whom the administrative government is vested. It contains the First Lord of the Treasury (the Premier), the Lord High Chancellor, Lord President of the Council, Lord Privy Seal, Chancellor of the Exchequer, six Secretaries of State, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Chancellor of Ireland, President of the Board of Trade, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the President of the Board of Agriculture. The five Secretaries of State are those of the Home

Department, Foreign Affairs, Colonies, War, India, and Chief—Secretary to the Lord—Lieutenant of Ireland. Sometimes other members of the Government are included, and sometimes one or two of the above left out of the Cabinet. These Ministers are privileged to consult the Sovereign in the private cabinet of the palace.

Cabiri

Mystic divinities worshipped in ancient Egypt, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, and Greece. They were inferior to the supreme gods, (Phoenician, kabir, powerful.)

Cable's Length

100 fathoms.

Some think to avoid a difficulty by rendering Matthew xix. 24 “It is easier for a cable to go through the eye of a needle ...”, but the word is , and the whole force of the passage rests on the “impossibility” of the thing, as it is distinctly stated in Mark x. 24, “How hard is it for them that trust in [their] riches, epi toiz crhmasiu... “ It is impossible by the virtue of money or by bribes to enter the kingdom of heaven. (See page 205, col. 1, Camel.)

Cabochon

(En). Uncut, but only polished; applied to emeralds, rubies, and other precious stones. (French, cabochon.)

Cachecope Bell

A bell rung at funerals, when the pall was thrown over the coffin. (French, cache corps, cover over the body.)

Cachet

(pron. cahshay). Lettres de cachet (letters sealed). Under the old French régime, carte—blanche warrants, sealed with the king's seal, might be obtained for a consideration, and the person who held them might fill in any name. Sometimes the warrant was to set a prisoner at large, but it was more frequently for detention in the Bastille. During the administration of Cardinal Fleury 80,000 of these cachets were issued, the larger number being against the Jansenists. In the reigns of Louis XV. and XVI. fifty—nine were obtained against the one family of Mirabeau. This scandal was abolished January 15th, 1790.

Cacodæ'mon

An evil spirit. Astrologers give this name to the Twelfth House of Heaven, from which only evil prognostics proceed. (Greek, kakos daimon.)

“Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave the world,

Thou cacodemon.”

Shakespeare: Richard III., i.3.

Cacoethes

(Greek). A “bad habit.”

Cacoethes loquendi.

A passion for making speeches or for talking.

Cacoethes scribendi.

The love of rushing into print; a mania for authorship.

Cacus

A famous robber, represented as three—headed, and vomiting flames. He lived in Italy, and was strangled by Hercules. Sancho Panza says of the Lord Rinaldô and his friends, “They are greater thieves than Cacus.” (Don Quixote.)

Cad

A low, vulgar fellow; an omnibus conductor. Either from cadet, or a contraction of cadger (a packman). The etymology of cad, a cadendo, is only a pun. N.B.— The Scotch cadie or cawdic (a little servant, or

errand—boy, or carrier of a sedan—chair), without the diminutive, offers a plausible suggestion.

“All Edinburgh men and boys know that when sedan—chairs were discontinued, the old cadies sank into ruinous poverty, and became synonymous with roughs. The word was brought to London by James Hannay, who frequently used it.”— M. Pringle.

Caddice

or Caddis. Worsted galloon, crewel. (Welsh, cadas, brocade; cadach is a kerchief; Irish, cadan.)

“He hath ribands of all the colours i' the rainbow; ... caddisses, cambrics, lawns.”— Shakespeare: Winter's Tale, iv. 3.

Caddice—garter.

A servant, a man of mean rank. When garters were worn in sight, the gentry used very expensive ones, but the baser sort wore worsted galloon ones. Prince Henry calls Poins a “caddice—garter.” (1 Henry IV., ii. 4.)

“Dost hear,

My honest caddis—garter?”

Glapthorne: Wit in a Constable, 1639.

Caddy

A ghost, a bugbear. A caddis is a grub, a bait for anglers.

“Poor Mister Leviathan Addy!

Lo! his grandeur so lately a sun,

Is sinking (sad fall!) to a caddy.”

Peter Pindar: Great Cry and Little Wool, epistle 1.

Cade

Jack Cade legislation. Pressure from without. The allusion is to the insurrection of Jack Cade, an Irishman, who headed about 20,000 armed men, chiefly of Kent, “to procure redress of grievances” (1450).

“You that love the commons, follow me;

Now show yourselves men; 'tis for liberty.

We will not leave one lord, one gentleman:

Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon.”

Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI., iv. 2.

Cader Idris

or Arthur's Seat. If any man passes the night sitting on this “chair,” he will be either a poet or a madman.

Cadessia

(Battle of) gave the Arabs the monarchy of Persia. (A.D. 636.)

Cadet

Younger branches of noble families are called cadets, because their armorial shields are marked with a difference called a cadency.

Cadet

is a student at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, or in one of her Majesty's training ships, the Excellent and the Britannia. From these places they are sent (after passing certain examinations) into the army as ensigns or second lieutenants, and into the navy as midshipmen. (French, cadet, junior member of a family.)

Cadger

One who carries butter, eggs, and poultry to market; a packman or huckster. From cadge (to carry). Hence the frame on which hawks were carried was called “a cadge,” and the man who carried it, a “cadger.” A man of low degree.

“Every cadger thinks himself as good as an earl.”— McDonald: Malcolm, part ix. chap. xiv. p. 183.

Cadi

among the Turks, Arabs, etc., is a town magistrate or inferior judge. “Cadi Lesker” is a superior cadi. The Spanish Alcaydë is the Moorish al cadi. (Arabic, the judge.)

Cadmean Letters

(The). The simple Greek letters introduced by Cadmus from Phoenicia. (Greek myth.)

Cadmean Victory (Greek, Kadmeia nike; Latin, Cadmea Victoria). A victory purchased with great loss. The allusion is to the armed men who sprang out of the ground from the teeth of the dragon sown by Cadmus. These men fell foul of each other, and only five of them escaped death.

Cadmeans

The people of Carthage are called the Gens Cadmea, and so are the Thebans.

Cadmus

having slain the dragon which guarded the fountain of Dircë, in Boeotia, sowed the teeth of the monster, when a number of armed men sprang up and surrounded Cadmus with intent to kill him. By the counsel of Minerva, he threw a precious stone among the armed men, who, striving for it, killed one another. The foundation of the fable is this: Cadmus having slain a famous freebooter that infested Boeotia, his banditti set upon him to revenge their captain's death; but Cadmus sent a bribe, for which they quarrelled and slew each other.

Cadogan

(Ca—dug'—an). A club of hair worn by young French ladies; so called from the portrait of the first Earl of Cadogan, a print at one time very popular in France. The fashion was introduced at the court of Montbéliard by the Duchesse de Bourbon.

Caduceus

(4 syl.). A white wand carried by Roman officers when they went to treat for peace. The Egyptians adorned the rod with a male and female serpent twisted about it, and kissing each other. From this use of the rod, it became the symbol of eloquence and also of office. In mythology, a caduceus with wings is placed in the hands of Mercury, the herald of the gods; and the poets feign that he could therewith give sleep to whomsoever he chose; wherefore Milton styles it “his opiate rod” in Paradise Lost, xi. 133.

“So with his dread caduceus Hermës led

From the dark regions of the imprisoned dead;

Or drove in silent shoals the lingering train

To Night's dull shore and Pluto's dreary reign.” Darwin: Loves of the Plants, ii. 291.

Cadurci

The people of Aquitania. Cahors is the modern capital.

Cædmon

Cowherd of Whitby, the greatest poet of the Anglo—Saxons. In his wonderful romance we find the bold prototype of Milton's Paradise Lost. The portions relating to the fall of the angels are most striking. The hero encounters, defeats, and finally slays Grendel, an evil being of supernatural powers.

Cærite Franchise

(The). The franchise of a Roman subject in a præfecture. These subjects had the right of

self—government, and were registered by the Roman censor as tax—payers; but they enjoyed none of the privileges of a Roman citizen. Cære was the first community placed in this dependent position, whence the term Cærite franchise.

Caerleon

on the Usk, in Wales. The habitual residence of King Arthur, where he lived in splendid state, surrounded by hundreds of knights, twelve of whom he selected as Knights of the Round Table.

Caesar was made by Hadrian a title, conferred on the heir presumptive to the throne (A.D. 136). Diocletian conferred the title on the two viceroys, calling the two emperors Augustus (sacred majesty). The German Emperor still assumes the title of kaiser (q.v.).

“Thou art an emperor, Cæsar, keisar, and Pheezar.”— Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, i.3.

“No bending knees shall call thee Caesar now.”

Shakespeare Henry VI., iii. 1.

Caesar, as a title, was pretty nearly equivalent to our Prince of Wales and the French dauphin.

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. The name of Pompeia having been mixed up with an accusation against P. Clodius, Cæsar divorced her; not because he believed her guilty, but because the wife of Cæsar must not even be suspected of crime. (Suetonius: Julius Cæsar, 74.)

Cæsar.

(See page 76, 2, Aut Cæsar.)

Cæsar's sword.

Crocea Mors (yellow death). (See page 76, 2, Sword.) Julius Caesar won 320 triumphs.

Cæsarian Operation

or Cesarean Operation. The extraction of a child from the womb by cutting the abdomen (Latin, cæso, cut from the womb). Julius Caesar is said to have been thus brought into the world.

Cæ'sarism

The absolute rule of man over man, with the recognition of no law divine or human beyond that of the ruler's will. (See Chauvinism .)

Cæteris paribus

(Latin). Other things being equal; presuming all other conditions to be equal.

Caf

(Mount). In Mohammedan mythology is that huge mountain in the middle of which the earth is sunk, as a night light is placed in a cup. Its foundation is the emerald Sakhrat, the reflection of which gives the azure hue to the sky.

Caftan

A garment worn in Turkey and other Eastern countries. It is a sort of under—tunic or vest tied by a girdle at the waist.

“Picturesque merchants and their customers, no longer in the big trousers of Egypt, but [in] the long caftans and abas of Syria.”— B. Taylor. Lands of the Saracen, chap. ix. p. 122.

Cag Mag

Offal, bad meat; also a tough old goose; food which none can relish. (Gaelic and Welsh, cag magu. )

Cage

To whistle or sing in the cage. The cage is a jail, and to whistle in a cage is to turn Queen's evidence, or peach against a comrade.

Cagliostro

Conte de Cagliostro, or Giuseppe Balsamo of Palermo, a charlatan who offered everlasting youth to all who would pay him for his secret (1743—1795).

Cagots

A sort of gipsy race in Gascony and Bearne, supposed to be descendants of the Visigoths, and shunned as something loathsome. (See Caqueux, Colliberts .)

“Cagoti non fuerunt monachi, anachoritæ, aut leprosi; ... sed genus quoddam hominum cæteris odiosum. Vasconibus Cagots, nonnullis Capoti, Burdegalentibus Gaheti, Vascis et Navarris Agoti, dicuntur.”— Ducange: Glossarium Manuale, vol. ii. pp. 23, 24.

Cahors Usuriers de Cahors. In the thirteenth century there was a colony of Jewish money—lenders settled at Cahors, which was to France what Lombard Street was to London.

Caiaphas

The country—house of Caiaphas, in which Judas concluded his bargain to betray his Master, stood on “The Hill of Evil Counsel.”

Cain—coloured Beard

Yellow, symbolic of treason. In the ancient tapestries Cain and Judas are represented with yellow beards. (See Yellow .)

“He hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow heard, a Cain—coloured beard.”— Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, i. 4.

Cainites

(2 syl.). Disciples of Cain, a pseudo—Gnostic sect of the second century. They renounced the New Testament, and received instead The Gospel of Judas, which justified the false disciple and the crucifixion of Jesus. This sect maintained that heaven and earth were created by the evil principle, and that Cain with his descendants were the persecuted party.

Cairds

or Jockeys. Gipsy tribes. Halliwell tells us “Caird” in Northumberland = tinker, and gipsies are great menders of pots and pans. (Irish, ceard, a tinker; Welsh, cordd, art or craft.)

“Donald Caird's come again.” Popular Song.

Caius

(Dr. ). A French physician in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor.

“The clipped English of Dr. Caius.”— Macaulay.

Caius College (Cambridge). Elevated by Dr. John Key (Caius ), of Norwich, into a college, being previously only a hall called Gonville. Called Keys. (1557.)

Cake

A fool, a poor thing. (Cf. HALF—BAKED.)

Cake

To take the cake. To carry off the prize. The reference is to the prize—cake to the person who succeeded best in a given competition. In Notes and Queries (Feb. 27th, 1892, p. 176) a correspondent of New York tells us of a “cake walk” by the Southern negroes. It consists of walking round the prize cake in pairs, and umpires decide which pair walk the most gracefully. In ancient Greece a cake was the award of the toper who held out the longest.

In Ireland the best dancer in a dancing competition was rewarded, at one time, by a cake.

“A churn—dish stuck into the earth supported on its flat end a cake, which was to become the prize of the best dancer. ... At length the competitors yielded their claims to a young man ... who, taking the cake, placed it gallantly in the lap of a pretty girl to whom ... he was about to be married.”— Bartlett and Coyne: Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 64.

You cannot eat your cake and have it too.

You cannot spend your money and yet keep it. You cannot serve God and Mammon.

Your cake

[or my cake] is dough. All my swans are turned to geese. Occisa est res tua [or mea]. Mon affaire est manquée; my project has failed.

Cake ... Dough

I wish my cake were dough again. I wish I had never married. Bellenden Ker says the proverb is a corruption of Ei w'hissche my keke was d'how en geen, which he says is tantamount to “Something whispers within me— repentance, would that my marriage were set aside.”

Cakes Land of Cakes. Scotland, famous for its oatmeal cakes.

“Land o' cakes and brither Scots.” Burns.

Calabash

A drinking cup or waterholder; so called from the calabash nut of which it is made.

Calamanco Cat

(A ). A tortoise—shell cat. Calamanco is a glossy woollen fabric, sometimes striped or variegated. It is the Spanish word Calamáco.

Calamity

The beating down of standing corn by wind or storm. The word is derived from the Latin calamus (a stalk of corn). Hence, Cicero calls a storm Calamitosa tempestas (a corn—levelling tempest).

“Another ill accident is drought, and the spoiling of the corn; inasmuch as the word `calamity' was first derived from calamus (stalk), when the corn could not get out of the ear.”— Bacon.

Calandrino

A typical simpleton frequently introduced in Boccaccio's Decameron; expressly made to be befooled and played upon.

Calatrava

(Red Cross Knights of). Instituted at Calatrava, in Spain, by Sancho III. of Castile in 1158; their badge is a red cross cut out in the form of lilies, on the left breast of a white mantle.

Calauri'a

Pro Delo Calauria (Ovid: Metamorphoses, vii. 384). Calauria was an island in the Sinus Saronicus which Latona gave to Neptune in exchange for Delos. A quid pro quo.

Calceolaria

Little—shoe flowers; so called from their resemblance to fairy slippers. (Latin, calceolus.)

Calceos mutavit

He has changed his shoes, that is, has become a senator. Roman senators were distinguished by their shoes, which were sandalled across the instep and up the ankles.

Calculate

is from the Latin calculi (pebbles), used by the Romans for counters. In the abacus, the round balls were called calculi, and it was by this instrument the Roman boys were taught to count and calculate. The Greeks voted by pebbles dropped into an urn— a method adopted both in ancient Egypt and Syria; counting these pebbles was “calculating” the number of voters. (See page 2, col. 1, Abacus .)

I calculate.

A peculiarity of expression common in the western states of North America. In the southern states the phrase is “I reckon,” in the middle states “I expect,” and in New England “I guess.” All were imported from the mother country by early settlers.

“Your aunt sets two tables, I calculate; don't she?”— Susan Warner: Queechy (vol. i. chap.

xix.)

Calculators

(The Jedediah Buxton, of Elmeton, in Derbyshire. (1705—1775.) George Bidder and Zerah Colburn (an American), who exhibited publicly.

Inaudi exhibited “his astounding powers of calculatin' ” at Paris in 1880, his additions and subtractions were from left to right.

“Buxton, being asked `How many cubical eighths—of—an—inch there are in a body whose three sides are 23,145,786 yards, 5,642,732 yards, and 54,965 yards?' replied correctly without setting down a figure.”

“Colburn, being asked the square root of 106,929 and the cube root 268,336,125, replied before the audience had set the figures down.”— Price: Parallel History, vol. ii. p. 570.

Cale

[See Kale .]

Caleb The enchantress who carried off St. George in infancy.

Caleb,

in Dryden's satire of Absalom and Achitophel, is meant for Lord Grey of Wark (Northumberland), one of the adherents of the Duke of Monmouth.

“And, therefore, in the name of dulness, be

The well—hung Balaam [Earl of Huntingdon] and old Caleb free.” Lines 512—13.

Caleb Quotem

A parish clerk or jack—of—all—trades, in Colman's play called The Review, or Wags of Windsor, which first appeared in 1808. Colman borrowed the character from a farce by Henry Lee (1798) entitled Throw Physic to the Dogs.

“I resolved, like Caleb Quotem, to have a place at the review.”— Washington Irving.

Caledon

Scotland. (See next article.)

“Not thus, in ancient days of Caledon,

Was thy voice mute amid the festal crowd.”

Sir W. Scott.

Caledonia

Scotland. A corruption of Celyddon, a Celtic word meaning “a dweller in woods and forests.” The word Celt is itself a contraction of the same word (Celyd), and means the same thing.

“Sees Caledonia in romantic view.”

Thomson.

“O Caledonia, stern and wild,

Meet nurse for a poetic child”

Sir W. Scott: Lay of the Last Minstrel.

Calembour

(French). A pun, a jest. From the “Jester of Kahlenberg,” whose name was Wigand von Theben; a character introduced in Tyll Eulenspiegel, a German tale. Eulenspiegel (a fool or jester) means Owl's looking—glass, and may probably have suggested the title of the periodical called the Owl, the witty but satirical “looking—glass” of the passing follies of the day. The jester of Calembourg visited Paris in the reign of Louis XV., and soon became noted for his blunders and puns.

Calendar

The Julian Calendar, introduced B.C. 46. It fixed the ordinary year to 365 days, with an extra day every fourth year (leap year). This is called “The Old Style.”

The Gregorian Year.

A modification of the Julian Calendar, introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII., and adopted in Great Britain in 1752. This is called “the New Style.”

The Mohammedan Calendar,

used in Mohammedan countries, dates from July 16th, 622, the day of the Hegira. It consists of 12 lunar months (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes). A cycle is 30 years.

The Revolutionary Calendar

was the work of Fabre d'Eglantine and Mons. Romme.

Calendar

A Newgate Calendar or “Malefactors' Bloody Register,” containing the biography, confessions, dying speeches, etc., of notorious criminals. Began in 1700.

Calendars

(The ThreeArabian Nights.

Calends The first of every month was so called by the Romans. Varro says the term originated in the practice of calling together or assembling the people on the first day of the month, when the pontifex informed them of the time of the new moon, the day of the nones, with the festivals and sacred days to be observed. The custom continued till A.U.C. 450, when the fasti or calendar was posted in public places. (See Greek Calends)

Calepin

(A). A dictionary. (Italian, calepino.) Ambrosio Calepino, of Calepio, in Italy, was the author of a dictionary, so that “my Calepin,” like my Euclid, my Johnson, according to Cocker, etc., have become common nouns from proper names. Generally called Calepin, but the subjoined quotation throws the accent on the le.

“Whom do you prefer

For the best linguist? And I seelily

Said that I thought Calepine's Dictionary.”

Dr. Donne: Fourth Satire.

Caleys

(A Stock Exchange term). Caledonian Railway Ordinary Stock. A contraction of Cale—donians. (See Stock Exchange Slang .)

Calf—love

Youthful fancy as opposed to lasting attachment.

“I thought it was a childish besotment you had for the man—a sort of calf—love. ...”— Rhoda Broughton.

Calf—skin

Fools and jesters used to wear a calf—skin coat buttoned down the back. In allusion to this custom, Faulconbridge says insolently to the Archduke of Austria, who had acted most basely to Richard Coeur—de—Lion—

“Thou wear a lion's hide! Doff it, for shame,

And hang a calf—skin on those recreant limbs.” Shakespeare: King John, iii. 1.

Caliban

Rude, uncouth, unknown; as a Caliban style, a Caliban language. The allusion is to Shakespeare's Caliban (The Tempestnew creation, but also a new language.

“Satan had not the privilege, as Caliban, to use new phrases, and diction unknown.”— Dr. Bentley.

Coleridge says, “In him [Caliban], as in some brute animals, this advance to the intellectual faculties, without the moral sense, is marked by the appearance of vice.”

(Caliban is the “missing link” between brute animals and man.)

Calibre

[kal'i—ber]. A mind of no calibre: of no capacity. A mind of great calibre: of large capacity. Calibre is the bore of a gun, and, figuratively, the bore or compass of one's intelligence.

“The enemy had generally new arms ... of uniform caliber.”— Grant: Memoirs, vol. i. chap.

xxxix. p. 572.

“We measure men's calibre by the broadest circle of achievements.”— Chapin: Lessons of Faith, p. 16.

Caliburn Same as Excalibur, King Arthur's well—known sword. (See Sword .)

“Onward Arthur paced, with hand

On Caliburn's resistless brand.”

Scott: Bridal of Triermain.

Calico

So called from Calicut, in Malabar, once the chief port and emporium of Hindustan.

Calidore

(3 syl.). Sir Calidore is the type of courtesy, and hero of the sixth book of Spenser's Faërie Queene. He is described as the most courteous of all knights, and is entitled the “all—beloved.” The model of the poet was Sir Philip Sidney. His adventure is against the Blatant Beast, whom he muzzles, chains, and drags to Faërie Land.

“Sir Gawain was the Calidore of the Round Table.”— Southey.

Caligorant

An Egyptian giant and cannibal who used to entrap strangers with a hidden net. This net was made by Vulcan to catch Mars and Venus, Mercury stole it for the purpose of catching Chloris, and left it in the temple of Anubis; Caligorant stole it thence. At length Astolpho blew his magic horn, and the giant ran affrighted into his own net, which dragged him to the ground. Whereupon Astolpho made the giant his captive, and despoiled him of his net. This is an allegory. Caligorant was a great sophist and heretic in the days of Ariosto, who used to entangle people with his talk; but being converted by Astolpho to the true faith, was, as it were, caught in his own net, and both his sophistry and heresy were taken from him. (Ariosto: Orlando Furioso .)

Caligula

A Roman emperor; so called because he wore a military sandal called a caliga, which had no upper leather, and was used only by the common soldiers. (12, 37—41.)

“ `The word caligæ, however,' continued the Baron ... `means, in its primitive sense, sandals; and Caius Cæsar ... received the cognomen of Caligula, a caligis, sive caligis levio'—ribus, quibus adolescentior non fuerat in exercitu Germanici patris sui. And the caligoe were also proper to the monastic bodies; for we read in the ancient Glossarium, upon the rule of St. Benedict ... that caligoe were tied with latchets.”— Scott: Waverley. xlviii.

Caligula's Horse

Incitatus. It was made a priest and consul, had a manger of ivory, and drank wine from a golden goblet. (See Horse.)

Caliph

or Calif. A title given to the successors of Mahomet. Among the Saracens a caliph is one vested with supreme dignity. The caliphat of Bagdad reached its highest splendour under Haroun al Raschid, in the ninth century. For the last 200 years the appellation has been swallowed up in the titles of Shah, Sultan, Emir, and so on. (Arabic, Khalifah, a successor; khalafa, to succeed.)

Calista

The heroine of Rowe's Fair Penitent.

Calisto and Arcas

Calisto was an Arcadian nymph metamorphosed into a she—bear by Jupiter. Her son Arcas having met her in the chase, would have killed her, but Jupiter converted him into a he—bear, and placed them both in the heavens, where they are recognised as the Great and Little Bear.

Calixtines

(3 syl.). A religious sect of Bohemians in the fifteenth century; so called from Calix (the chalice), which they insisted should be given to the laity in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, as well as the bread or wafer.

Call

(A ). A “divine” summons or invitation, as “a call to the ministry.”

A call before the curtain.

An applause inviting a favourite actor to appear before the curtain, and make his bow to the audience.

A Gospel call.

The invitation of the Gospel to men to believe in Jesus to the saving of their souls. A morning call. A short morning visit.

A call on shareholders.

A demand to pay up a part of the money due for shares allotted in a company. Payable at call. To be paid on demand.

Call Bird

(A ). A bird trained as a decoy.

Call—boy

(The ). A boy employed in theatres to “call” or summon actors, when it is time for them to make their appearance on the stage.

Call of Abraham

The invitation or command of God to Abraham, to leave his idolatrous country, under the promise of being made a great nation.

Call of God

An invitation, exhortation, or warning, by the dispensations of Providence (Isa. xxii. 12); divine influence on the mind to do or avoid something (Heb. iii. 1).

Call of the House

An imperative summons sent to every Member of Parliament to attend. This is done when the sense of the whole House is required. At the muster the names of the members are called over, and

defaulters reported.

Call to Arms

(To ). To summon to prepare for battle. “Ad arma vocare. “

Call to the Bar

The admission of a law student to the privileges of a barrister. The names of those qualified are called over. (See page 94, col. 1, Bar.)

Call to the Pastorate

An invitation to a minister by the members of a Presbyterian or Nonconformist church to preside over a certain congregation.

Call to the Unconverted

An invitation accompanied with promises and threats, to induce the unconverted to receive the gospel. Richard Baxter wrote a book so entitled.

Call

(To). I call God to witness. I solemnly declare that what I state is true.

To call.

To invite: as, the trumpet calls.

“If honour calls, where'er she points the way,

The sons of honour follow and obey.”
Churchill: The Farewell, stanza 7.

To call

[a man] out. To challenge him; to appeal to a man's honour to come forth and fight a duel. To call in question. To doubt the truth of a statement; to challenge the truth of a statement. “In dubium vocare. “

To call over the coals.

(See Coals.)

To call to account.

To demand an explanation; to reprove.

Called

He is called to his account. He is removed by death. Called to the judgment seat of God to give an account of his deeds, whether they be good, or whether they be evil. (See page 202, col. 1, Calling.)

Callabre

or Calaber. A Calabrian fur. Ducange says, “At Chichester the `priest vicars' and at St. Paul's the `minor canons' wore a calabre amyce;” and Bale, in his Image of Both Churches, alludes to the “fair rochets of Raines (Rennes), and costly grey amicës of calaber and cats' tails.”

“The Lord Mayor and those aldermen above the chair ought to have their coats furred with grey amis, and also with changeable taffeta; and those below the chair with calabre and with green taffeta.”— Hutton: New View of London.

Caller Herrings

Fresh herrings. Hence “caller air.” (Anglo—Saxon, calian, to cool.)

Calligraphy

(The art of ). Writing very minutely and yet clearly. Peter Bale, in the sixteenth century, wrote in the compass of a silver penny the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, two Latin prayers, his own name, the day of the month and date of the year since the accession of Queen Elizabeth, and a motto. With a glass this writing could be read. By photography a sheet of the Times newspaper has been reduced to a smaller compass. (Greek, calos—grapho, I write beautifully.)

Callimachos

The Italian Callimachos. Filippo Buonaccorsi (1437—1496).

Calling

A vocation, trade, or profession. The allusion is to the calling of the apostles by Jesus Christ to follow Him. In the legal profession persons must still be called to the bar before they can practise.

Effectual calling.

An invitation to believe in Jesus, rendered effectual by the immediate operation of the Holy Ghost.

Calliope [Kal'—li—o—pe, 4 syl., Greek, kaloz, py beautiful voice ]. The muse of epic or heroic poetry. Her emblems are a stylus and wax tablets. The painting of this Muse by Ercolana Ercolanetti (1615—1687) and her statue by Clementi (who died in 1580) are very celebrated.

The Greek word is Kallioph, in which the i is short. Erroneously called “Calilope.”

Callipolis

A character in the Battle of Alcazar (1594) by George Peele. It is referred to by Pistol in 2 Henry IV., act ii. 4; and Sir W. Scott uses the word over and over again as the synonym of lady—love, sweetheart, charmer. Sir Walter always spells the word Callipolis, but Peele calls it Calipolis. The drunken Mike Lambourne says to Amy Robsart —

“Hark ye, most fair Callipolis, or most lovely countess of clouts, and divine duchess of dark corners.”— Kenilworth, chap. xxxiii.

And the modest Roland Græme calls the beautiful Catherine his “most fair Callipolis.” (The Abbot, chap. xi.)

Callippic Period

The correction of the Metonic cycle by Callippos. In four cycles, or seventy—six years, the Metonic calculation was seven and a—half in excess. Callippos proposed to quadruple the period of Meton, and deduct a day at the end of it: at the expiration of which period Callippos imagined that the new and full moons returned to the same day of the solar year.

Callirrhoe

(4 syl.). The lady—love of Chæ'reas, in Chariton's Greek romance, entitled the Loves of Chæ'reas and Callirrhoë, written in the eighth century.

Calomel

Hooper says—

“This name, which means `beautiful black,' was originally given to the Æthiop's mineral, or black sulphuret of mercury. It was afterwards applied in joke by Sir Theodore Mayerne to the chloride of mercury, in honour of a favourite negro servant whom he employed to prepare it. As calomel is a white powder, the name is merely a jocular misnomer.”— Medical Dictionary.

Greek, kaloz beautiful ,melaz black.

Caloyers

Monks in the Greek Church, who follow the rule of St. Basil. They are divided into cenobites, who recite the offices from midnight to sunrise; anchorites, who live in hermitages; and recluses, who shut themselves up in caverns and live on alms. (Greek, kaloz and gerwu, beautiful old man.)

Calpe

(2 syl.). Calpë and Abyla. The two pillars of Hercules. According to one account, these two were originally only one mountain, which Hercules tore asunder; but some say he piled up each mountain separately, and poured the sea between them.

“Heaves up huge Abyla on Afric's sand,

Crowns with high Calpë Europe's salient strand, Crests with opposing towers the splendid scene, And pours from urns immense the sea between. Darwin: Economy of Vegetation.

Calumet

[the peace — pipe ]. When the North American Indians make peace or form an alliance, the high contracting parties smoke together to ratify the arrangement.

The peace—pipe is about two and a—half feet long, the bowl is made of highly—polished red marble, and the stem of a reed, which is decorated with eagles' quills, women's hair, and so on.

“The Great Spirit at an ancient period called the Indian nations together, and standing on the precipice of the red pipe—stone rock, broke off a piece which he moulded into the bowl of a pipe, and fitting on it a long reed, filled the pipe with the bark of red willow, and smoked over them, turning to the four winds. He told them the red colour of the pipe represented their flesh, and when they smoked it they must bury their war—clubs and scalping—knives. At the last whiff the Great Spirit disappeared.”

To present the calumet to a stranger is a mark of hospitality and good—will; to refuse the offer is an act of hostile defiance.

“Wash the war—paint from your faces,

Wash the war—stains from your fingers,

Bury your war—clubs and your weapons; ...

Smoke the calumet together,

And as brothers live henceforward.”
Longfellow: Hiawatha, i.

Calvary

[bare skull ], Golgotha [skull ]. The place of our Lord's crucifixion; so called from some fanciful resemblance which it bore to a human skull. The present church of “the Holy Sepulchre” has no claim to be considered the site thereof; it is far more likely that the “mosque of Omar,” or the dome of the rock, occupies the real site.

A Calvary.

A representation of the successive scenes of the Passion of Christ in a series of pictures, etc., in a church. The shrine containing the representations.

Calvary Clover

said to have sprung up in the track made by Pilate when he went to the cross to see his “title

affixed” [Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews]. It is a common trefoil, probably a native of India or Turkey. Each of the three round leaves has a little carmine spot in the centre. In the daytime the three leaves of the trefoil form a sort of cross; and in the flowering season the plant bears a little yellow flower, like a “crown of thorns.” Julian tells us that each of the three leaves had in his time a white cross in the centre, and that the centre cross lasts visible longer than the crosses of the other two leaves. (See Christian Traditions .)

Calvary Cross

(A ). A Latin cross mounted on three steps (or grises).

Calvert's Entire

The 14th Foot. Called Calvert from their colonel, Sir Harry Calvert (1806—1826), and entire, because three entire battalions were kept up for the good of Sir Harry, when adjutant—general. The term is, of course, a play on Calvert's malt liquor. The regiment is now called The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorks. Regiment).

Calves

The inhabitants of the Isle of Wight are so called from a legendary joke which states that a calf once got its head firmly wedged in a wooden pale, and, instead of breaking up the pale, the farm—man cut off the calf's head.

Calves gone to Grass

(His ). Said of a spindle—legged man. And another mocking taunt is, “Veal will be dear, because there are no calves.”

Calves' Head

There are many ways of dressing a calf's head. Many ways of saying or doing a foolish thing; a simpleton has many ways of showing his folly; or, generally, if one way won't do we must try another. The allusion is to the great Calves' Head Club banquet, when the board was laden with calves' heads cooked in sundry ways and divers fashions.

Calves' Head Club

Instituted in ridicule of Charles I. The great annual banquet was held on the 30th January, and consisted of a cod's head, to represent the person of Charles Stuart, independent of his kingly office; a pike with little ones in its mouth, an emblem of tyranny; a boar's head with an apple in its mouth to represent the king preying on his subjects; and calves' heads dressed in sundry ways to represent Charles in his regal capacity. After the banquet, the king's book (Icon Basilikë ) was burnt, and the parting cup was, “To those worthy patriots who killed the tyrant.”

Calvinism The five chief points of Calvinism are: (1) Predestination, or particular election.

(2) Irresistible grace.

(3) Original sin, or the total depravity of the natural man, which renders it morally impossible to believe and turn to God of his own free will.

(4) Particular redemption.

(5) Final perseverance of the saints.

Calydon

A forest supposed, in the romances relating to King Arthur, to occupy the northern portion of England.

Calypso

in Fénelon's Télémaque, is meant to represent Madame de Montespan. In fairy mythology, she was queen of the island Ogygia on which Ulysses was wrecked, and where he was detained for seven years.

Calypso's Isle

Gozo, near Malta. Called in classic mythology Ogygia.

Cam and Isis

The universities of Cambridge and Oxford; so called from the rivers on which they stand.

“May you, my Cam and Isis, preach it long, `The right divine of kings to govern wrong.' “
Pope: Dunciad; iv. 187.

Cama

The God of love and marriage in Indian mythology.

Camacho

“richest of men,” makes grand preparations for his wedding with Quiteria, “fairest of women”; but, as the bridal party were on their way, Basilius cheats him of his bride by pretending to kill himself. As he is supposed to be dying, Quiteria is given to him in marriage as a mere matter of form; but, as soon as this is done, up jumps Basilius, and shows that his wounds were a mere pretence. (Cervantes: Don Quixote, pt. ii. bk. 2, ch. 3,4.)

Camal dolites

(4 syl.). A religious order of great rigidity of life, founded in the vale of Camaldoli, in the Tuscan Apennines, by St. Romuald, a Benedictine. (Eleventh century.)

Camaralzaman

(Prince) fell in love with Badoura, Princess of China, the moment he saw her. (Arabian Nights Prince Camaralzaman.)

Camarilla

(Spanish). A clique; the confidants or private advisers of the sovereign. It literally means a small private chamber, and is in Spain applied to the room in which boys are flogged.

“Encircled with a dangerous camarilla.” — The Times.

Camarina

Ne moveas Camarinam (Don't meddle with Camarina). Camarina was a lake in Sicily, which, in time of drought, yielded a pestilential stench. The inhabitants consulted an oracle about draining it, and Apollo replied, “Don't meddle with it.” Nevertheless, they drained it, and ere long an enemy marched an army over the bed of the lake and plundered the city. The proverb is applied to those who remove one evil, but thus give place to a greater. The Channel may be an evil to those who suffer sea—sickness, but it is a million times better to endure this evil than to make it a high road to invaders. The application is very extensive, as: Don't kill the small birds, or you will be devoured by insects. One pest is a safeguard against a greater one.

A similar Latin phrase is Anagyrin movëre.

“When the laird of Ellangowan drove the gipsies from the neighbourhood, though they had been allowed to remain there undisturbed hitherto, Dominie Sampson warned him of the danger by quoting the proverb. `Ne moveas Camarinam.' ” — Sir IV. Scott: Guy Mannering, chap. vii.

Cambalo's Ring

Given him by his sister Canacë. It had the virtue of healing wounds. (See Cambel .) (Spenser: Faërie Queene, bk. iv.)

“Well mote ye wonder how that noble knight,

After he had so often wounded been,

Could stand on foot now to renew the fight ...

All was through virtue of the ring he wore:

The which, not only did not from him let

One drop of blood to fall, but did restore

His weakened powers, and dulled spirits whet.” Spenser: Faërie Queene, iv. 3.

Cambel

Called by Chaucer, Cambalo; brother of Canacë, a female paragon. He challenged every suitor to his sister's hand, and overthrew all except Triamond, who married the lady. (Spenser: Faërie Queene, book iv.)

(See Canace .)

Camber

Second son of King Brute, to whom Wales was left, whence its name of Cambria. (British fable.)

Cambria

The ancient name of Wales, the land of the Cimbri or Cymry.

“Cambria's fatal day.”

Gray: Bard.

Cambrian

Pertaining to Wales; Welsh. (See above.)

“The Cambrian mountains, like far clouds,

That skirt the blue horizon, dusky rise.”

Thomson: Spring, 961—62.

Cambrian Series

(in geology). The earliest fossiliferous rocks in North Wales. So named by Professor Sedgwick.

Cambric

A kind of very fine white linen cloth, so named from Cambray or Cameryk, in Flanders, where it is still the chief manufacture.

“He hath ribbons of all the colours of the rainbow; inkles, caddises, cambricks, and lawns.” — Shakespeare: Winter's Tale, iv. 3.

Cambuscan'

King of Sarra, in the land of Tartary; the model of all royal virtues. His wife was Elfeta; his two sons, Algarsife and Cambalo; and his daughter, Canacë. On her birthday (October 15th) the King of Arabia and India sent Cambuscan a “steed of brass, which, between sunrise and sunset, would carry its rider to any spot on the earth.” All that was required was to whisper the name of the place in the horse's ear, mount upon his back, and turn a pin set in his ear. When the rider had arrived at the place required, he had to turn another pin, and the horse instantly descended, and, with another screw of the pin, vanished till it was again required. This story is told by Chaucer in the Squire's Tale, but was never finished. Milton ( Il Penseroso ) accents the word Cambus'—can.

“Him that left half—told

The story of Cambuscan bold.”

(See Canace.)

Cambyses

(3 syl.). A pompous, ranting character in Preston's lamentable tragedy of that name.

“Give me a cup of sack, to make mine eyes look red: for I must speak in passion, and I will do it in King Cambyses' vein.” — Shakespeare: I Henry IV., ii. 4.

Camden Society

for the publication of early historic and literary remains, is named in honour of William Camden, the historian.

Camel

The name of Mahomet's favourite camel was Al Kaswa. The mosque at Koba covers the spot where it knelt when Mahomet fled from Mecca. Mahomet considered the kneeling of the camel as a sign sent by God, and remained at Koba in safety for four days. The swiftest of his camels was Al Adha.

Camel.

The prophet Mahomet's camel performed the whole journey from Jerusalem to Mecca in four bounds, for which service he had a place in heaven with Alborak (the prophet's “horse"), Balaam's ass, Tobit's dog, and Ketmir (the dog of the seven sleepers). (Curzon.)

Camel.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matt. xix. 24). In the Koran we find a similar expression: “The impious shall find the gates of heaven shut; nor shall he enter till a camel shall pass through the eye of a needle.” In the Rabbinical writings we have a slight variety which goes to prove that the word “camel” should not be changed into

“cable,” as Theophylact suggests: “Perhaps thou art one of the Pampedithians, who can make an elephant pass through the eye of a needle.” (See Cable.)

“It is as hard to come, as for a camel

To thread the postern of a needle's eye.”

Shakespeare: Richard II., v. 5.

Camellia

The technical name of a genus, and the popular name of the species of evergreen shrubs; so named in honour of G. J. Kamel (Latin Camellius), a Spanish Jesuit. Introduced into England in 1739.

Camelot

(Somersetshire), where King Arthur held his court. (See Winchester .)

Camelote

(2 syl.). Fustian, rubbish, trash. The cloth so called ought to be made of goats' hair, but is a mixture of wool and silk, wool and hair, or wool, silk, and hair, etc. (French, camelot; Arabic, camlat.) (See page 206, Camlet .)

Cameo

An anaglyph on a precious stone. The anaglyph is when the figure is raised in relief; an intaglio is when the figure is hollowed out. The word cameo means an onyx, and the most famous cameo in the world is the onyx containing the apotheosis of Augustus. These precious stones have two layers of different colours, one serving for the figure, and the other for the ground.

Cameron Highlanders

The 79th Regiment of Infantry, raised by Allan Cameron, of Errock, in 1793. Now called “The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.”

Cameronian Regiment

The 26th Infantry, which had its origin in a body of Cameronians (q.v.), in the Revolution of 1688. Now the 1st Battalion of the Scottish Rifles; the 2nd Battalion is the old No. 90.

Cameronians The strictest sect of Scotch Presbyterians, organised in 1680, by Richard Cameron, who was slain in battle at Aird's Moss in 1680. He objected to the alliance of Church and State. In 1876 most of the Cameronians were merged in the Free Church. In history the Cameronians are generally called the Covenanters.

Camilla

Virgin queen of the Volscians. Virgil (AEneid, vii. 809) says she was so swift that she could run over a field of corn without bending a single blade, or make her way over the sea without even wetting her feet.

“Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain,

Flies o'er the unbending corn and skims along the main.” Pope: Essay on Criticism, 372—3.

Camillus

five times Dictator of Rome, was falsely accused of embezzlement, and went into voluntary exile; but when the Gauls besieged Rome, he returned and delivered his country.

“Camillus, only vengeful to his foes.”

Thomson: Winter.

Camisard

In French history, the Camisards are the Protestant insurgents of the Cevennes, who resisted the violence of the dragonnades, after the revocation of the edict of Nantes. Their leader was Cavalier, afterwards Governor of Jersey.

Camisarde

or Camisado. A night attack; so called because the attacking party wore a camise or peasant's smock over their armour, both to conceal it, and that they might the better recognise each other in the dark.

Camisole

(3 syl.). A loose jacket worn by women when dressed in negligée (French).

Camisole de Force

A strait—waist—coat. Frequently mentioned in accounts of capital punishments in France.

Camlan

(Battle of, Cornwall), which put an end to the Knights of the Round Table. Here Arthur received his death wound from the hand of his nephew Modred. (A.D. 542.)

Camlet

is not connected with the word camel; it is a fine cloth made of goats' hair, called Turkish yarn, and is from the Arabic word camlat, which Littré says is so called from seil el camel (the Angora goat).

Cammock

As crooked as a cammock. The cammock is a piece of timber bent for the knee of a ship; a hockey—stick; a shinny—club. (Anglo—Saxon.)

“Though the cammock, the more it is bowed the better it is; yet the bow, the more it is bent the weaker it waxeth.” — Lily.

Camorra

A secret society of Italy organised early in the nineteenth century. It claimed the right of settling disputes, etc.

Camorrist

One of the desperadoes belonging to the Camorra. “Camorrism,” the gospel of the league.

Camp Candlestick

(A). A bottle, or a soldier's bayonet.

Camp—followers

Non—combatants (such as servants, carriers, hostlers, suttlers, laundresses, and so on), who follow an army. We are told that in 1859 as many as 85,000 camp—followers were in attendance on 15,000 combatants in a Bengal army.

Campaign Wig (A), imported from France. It was made very full, was curled, and was eighteen inches in length in the front, with drop locks. In some cases the back part of the wig was put in a black silk bag. Of course the campaign referred to the victories of Marlborough. (Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, chap.

xii.)

There were also campaign coats, campaign lace, campaign shoes, campaign shirts, campaign gowns, campaign waistcoats, etc.

Campania

Properly the Terra di Lavoro of Italy, i.e. the plain country about Capua.

“Disdainful of Campania's gentle plains.”

Thomson: Summer.

Campaspe

(3 syl.). A beautiful harlot, whom Alexander the Great handed over to Apellês. Apelles drew her in the nude.

“When Cupid and Campaspe played

At cards for kisses, Cupid paid.”

Lily.

Campbells are Coming

(The). This soul—stirring song was composed in 1715, when the Earl of Mar raised the standard for the Stuarts against George I. John Campbell was Commander—in—Chief of his Majesty's forces, and the rebellion was quashed. The main interest now attached to the famous song is connected with the siege of Lucknow in the Indian rebellion, 1857. Nana Sahib had massacred women and children most foully, and while the survivors were expecting instant death, a Scotch woman lying ill on the ground heard the pibroch, and exclaimed, “Dinna ye hear it? Dinna ye hear it? The pipes o' Havelock sound.” And soon afterwards the rescue was accomplished. The first verse runs thus:—

“The Campbells are coming, O—ho! O—ho!

The Campbells are coming, O—ho!

The Campbells are coming to bonnie Loch Leven,

The Campbells are coming, O—ho!

Campbellite

(3 syl.). A follower of John McLeod Campbell, who taught the universality of the atonement, for which, in 1831, he was deposed.

Campceiling

A ceiling sloping on one side from the vertical wall towards a plane surface in the middle. A corruption of cam (twisted or bent) ceiling. (Halliwell gives cam, “awry.”)

Campeador

(cam—pa'—dor). The Cid (q.v.).

Canace

(3 syl.). A paragon of women, the daughter of King Cambuscan', to whom the King of Arabia and India sent as a present a mirror and a ring. The mirror would tell the lady if any man on whom she set her heart would prove true or false, and the ring (which was to be worn on her thumb) would enable her to understand the language of birds and to converse with them. It would also give the wearer perfect knowledge of the medicinal properties of all roots. Chaucer never finished the tale, but probably he meant to marry Canacë to some knight who would be able to overthrow her two brothers, Cambalo and Algarsife, in the tournament. (Squire's Tale.) (See below.)

Canacë was courted by a crowd of suitors, but her brother, Cambalo or Cambel, gave out that anyone who pretended to her hand must encounter him in single combat and overthrow him. She ultimately married Triamond, son of the fairy Agapë. (Spenser: Faërie Queene, bk. iv. 3.) (See Cambel.)

Canache (3 syl.). One of Actæon's dogs. (Greek, “the clang of metal falling.”)

Canada Balsam

Made from the Pinus balsamea, a native of Canada.

Canaille

(French, can—nay'e). The mob, the rabble (Italian, canaglia, a pack of dogs, from Latin canis, a dog).

Canard

A hoax. Cornelissen, to try the gullibility of the public, reported in the papers that he had twenty ducks, one of which he cut up and threw to the nineteen, who devoured it greedily. He then cut up another, then a third, and so on till nineteen were cut up; and as the nineteenth was gobbled up by the surviving duck, it followed that this one duck actually ate nineteen ducks — a wonderful proof of duck voracity. This tale had the run of all the papers, and gave a new word to the language. (French, cane, a duck.) (Quetelet.)

Canary

(A). Slang for “a guinea” or “sovereign.” Gold coin is so called because, like a canary, it is yellow.

Canary—bird

(A). A jail—bird. At one time certain desperate convicts were dressed in yellow; and jail was the cage of these “canaries.”

Cancan

To dance the cancan. A free—and—easy way of dancing quadrilles invented by Rigolboche, and adopted in the public gardens, the opera comique, and the casinos of Paris. (Cancan familiarity, tittle—tattle.)

“They were going through a quadrille with all those supplementary gestures introduced by the great Rigolboche, a notorious danseuse, to whom the notorious cancan owes its origin.” — A. Egmont Hake: Paris Originals (the Chiffonier).

Cancel

to blot out, is merely “to make lattice—work.” This is done by making a cross over the part to be omitted. (Latin, cancello, to make trellis.) (See Cross It Out .)

Cancer

(the Crab) appears when the sun has reached his highest northern limit, and begins to go backward towards the south; but, like a crab, the return is sideways (June 21st to July 23rd). According to fable, Cancer was the animal which Juno sent against Hercules, when he combated the Hydra of Lernê. Cancer bit the hero's foot, but Hercules killed the creature,. and Juno took it up to heaven, and made it one of the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Candaules

(3 syl.). King of Lydia, who exposed the charms of his wife to Gy'gës; whereupon the queen compelled Gyges to assassinate her husband, after which she married the murderer, who became king, and reigned twenty—eight years. (716—678.)

Candidate

(3 syl.) means “clothed in white.” Those who solicited the office of consul, quæstor, prætor, etc., among the Romans, arrayed themselves in a loose white robe. It was loose that they might show the people their scars, and white in sign of fidelity and humility. (Latin, candidus, whence candidati, clothed in white, etc.)

Candide (2 syl.). The hero of Voltaire's novel so called. All sorts of misfortunes are heaped upon him, and he bears them all with cynical indifference.

Candle

Bell, Book, and Candle. (See page 120, col 1, Bell , etc.)

Fine

(or Gay) as the king's candle. “Bariolé comme la chandelle des rois,” in allusion to an ancient custom of presenting, on January 6th, a candle of various colours to the three kings of Cologne. It is generally applied to a woman overdressed, especially with gay ribbons and flowers. “Fine as five—pence.”

The game is not worth the candle

(Le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle). Not worth even the cost of the candle that lights the players.

To burn the candle at both ends.

In French, “Brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts.” To indulge in two or more expensive luxuries or dissipated habits at the same time; to haste to rise up early and late take rest, eating the bread of carefulness.

To hold a candle to the devil.

To aid or countenance that which is wrong. The allusion is to the practice of Roman Catholics, who burn candles before the image of a favourite saint, carry them in funeral processions, and place them on their altars.

When Jessica (in the Merchant of Venice, ii. 6) says to Lorenzo: “What, must I hold a candle to my shame?” she means, Must I direct attention to this disguise, and blazon my folly abroad? Why, “Cupid himself would blush to see me thus transformed to a body.” She does not mean, Must I glory in my shame?

To sell by the candle.

A species of sale by auction. A pin is thrust through a candle about an inch from the top, and bidding goes on till the candle is burnt down to the pin, when the pin drops into the candlestick, and the last bidder is declared the purchaser. This sort of auction was employed in 1893, according to the Reading Mercury (Dec. 16), at Aldermaston, near Reading.

“The Council thinks it meet to propose the way of selling by `inch of candle,' as being the most probable means to procure the true value of the goods.” — Milton: Letters, etc.

To smell of the lamp

(or candle). To betray laborious art, but the best literary work is the art of concealing art; to manifest great pains and long study by night.

To vow a candle to the devil.

To propitiate the devil by a bribe, as some seek to propitiate the saints in glory by a votive candle.

What is the Latin for candle?— Tacë.

Here is a play of words: tace means hold your tongue, don't bother me. (See Goose.)

Candles

used by Roman Catholics at funerals are the relic of an ancient Roman custom.

Candle—holder

An abettor. The reference is to the practice of holding a candle in the Catholic Church for the reader, and in ordinary life to light a workman when he requires more light.

“I'll be candle—holder and look on.”— Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, i. 4.

Candles of the Night

The stars are so called by Shakespeare, in the Merchant of Venice, v. 1. Milton has improved upon the idea:—

“Else, O thievish Night,

Why shouldst thou, but for some felonious end, In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars

That Nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps With everlasting oil, to give due light

To the misled and lonely traveller?”

Comus,

200—206.

Candlemas Day The feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary, when Christ was presented by her in the Temple. February 2nd, when, in the Roman Catholic Church, there is a candle procession, to consecrate all the candles which will be needed in the church during the year. The candles symbolise Jesus Christ, called “the light of the world,” and “a light to lighten the Gentiles.” It was the old Roman custom of burning candles to the goddess Februa, mother of Mars, to scare away evil spirits.

“On Candlemas Day

Candles and candlesticks throw all away.”

Candour

(Mrs.). A type of female backbiters. In Sheridan's comedy of The School for Scandal.

“The name of `Mrs. Candour' has become one of those formidable by—words, which have had more power in putting folly and ill—nature out of countenance than whole volumes of remonstrance.”— T. Moore.

Canens

A nymph, wife of Picus, King of the Laurentes. When Circê had changed Picus into a bird, Canens lamented him so greatly that she pined away, till she became a vox et prætorca nihil. (Ovid: Metamorphoses, 14 fab. 9.)

Canephorae

(in architecture). Figures of young persons of either sex bearing a basket on their head. (Latin, canephoræ, plural; singular, Greek, kaghjoroz.) The English singular is “canephor” (3 syl.).

Canicular Days

The dog—days, corresponding with the overflow of the Nile. From the middle of July to the beginning of the second week in September. (Latin, canicula, diminutive of canis, a dog.)

Canicular Period

A cycle of 1461 years or 1460 Julian years, called a “Sothic period.” When it was supposed that any given day had passed through all the seasons of the year.

Canicular Year

The ancient Egyptian year, computed from one heliacal rising of the Dog—star (Sirius) to the next.

Canidia

A sorceress, who could bring the moon from heaven. Alluded to by Horace. (Epodes, v.)

“Your ancient conjurors were wont

To make her [the moon] from her sphere dismount, And to their incantations stoop.”

Butler: Hudibras,

part ii. 3.

Canister

The head (pugilistic term). “To mill his canister” is to break his head. A “canister cap” is a covering for the head, whether hat or cap. A “canister” is a small coffer or box, and the head is the “canister” or coffer of man's brains.

Canker

The briar or dog—rose.

“Put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose,

And plant this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke.” Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., i. 3.

Cannæ

The place where Hannibal defeated the Romans under L. Æmilius Paulus. Any fatal battle that is the turning point of a great general's prosperity is called his Cannæ. Thus, we say, “Moscow was the Cannæ of Napoleon Bonaparte.”

Cannel Coal A corruption of candle coal, so called from the bright flame, unmixed with smoke, which it yields in combustion.

Cannibal

A word applied to those who eat human flesh. The usual derivation is Caribbee, corrupted into Canibbee, supposed to be man—eaters. Some of the tribes of these islands have no r.

“The natives live in great fear of the canibals (i.e. Caribals, or people of Cariba).”— Columbus.

Cannon

(in billiards). A corruption of carrom, which is short for carambole. A cannon is when the player's ball strikes the adversary's ball in such a way as to glance off and strike a second ball.

Canoe'

(2 syl.). A boat. (Spanish, canóa, a canoe; Dutch, cano; German, kahn, a boat; Old French, cane, a ship, and canot, a boat; Latin, canna, a hollow stem or reed; our cane, can = a jug; cannon, canal, etc.)

Canon

The canons used to be those persons who resided in the buildings contiguous to the cathedral, employed either in the daily service, or in the education of the choristers. The word is Greek, and means a measuring rod, the beam of a balance; then, a roll or register containing the names of the clergy who are licensed to officiate in a cathedral church.

Canon.

A divine or ecclesiastical law.

“Or that the Everlasting had not flxed

His canon 'gainst self—slaughter.”

Shakespeare: Hamlet, i. 2.

Canon Law

A collection of ecclesiastical laws which serve as the rule of church government. (See below.)

Canonical

Canon is a Greek word, and means the index of a balance, hence a rule or law. (See above.) The sacred canon means the accepted books of Holy Scripture, which contain the inspired laws of salvation and morality; also called The Canonical Books.

Canonical Dress

The costume worn by the clergy according to the direction of the canon. Archdeacons, deans, and bishops wear canonical hats.

Canonical Epistles

The seven catholic epistles, i.e. one of James, two of Peter, three of John, and one of Jude. The epistles of Paul were addressed to specific churches or to individuals.

“The second and third epistles of John are certainly not catholic. One is to a specific lady and her children; and the other is to Gaius. If the word “canonical” in this phrase means appointed to be read in church, then the epistles of Paul are canonical. In fact there are only five canonical epistles.

Canonical Hours

The times within which the sacred offices may be performed. In the Roman Catholic Church they are seven— viz. matins, prime, tierce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline. Prime, tierce, sext, and nones are the first, third, sixth, and ninth hours of the day, counting from six in the morning. Compline is a corruption of completorium (that which completes the services of the day). The reason why there are seven canonical hours is that David says, “Seven times a day do I praise thee” (Psalm oxix. 164).

In England the phrase means the time of the day within which persons can be legally married, i.e. from eight in the morning to three p m.

Canonical Obedience The obedience due by the inferior clergy to the superior clergy set over them. Even bishops owe canonical obedience to the archbishop of the same province.

Canonical Punishments

are those punishments which the Church is authorised to inflict.

Canonicals

The pouch on the gown of an M.D., designed for carrying drugs. The coif of a serjeant—at—law, designed for concealing the tonsure.

The lamb—skin on a B A hood, in imitation of the toga candida of the Romans. The strings of an Oxford undergraduate, to show the wearer is still in leading strings. At Cambridge, however, the strings are the mark of a graduate who has won his ribbons.

The tippet on a barrister's gown, meant for a wallet to carry briefs in. The proctors' and pro—proctors' tippet, for papers— a sort of sabretache.

Canopic Vases

Used by the Egyptian priests for the viscera of bodies embalmed, four vases being provided for each body. So called from Canopus, in Egypt, where they were first used.

Canopus

The Egyptian god of water. The Chaldeans worshipped fire, and sent all the other gods a challenge, which was accepted by a priest of Canopus. The Chaldeans lighted a vast fire round the god Canopus, when the Egyptian deity spouted out torrents of water and quenched the fire, thereby obtaining the triumph of water over fire.

Canopy

properly means a gnat curtain. Herodotus tells us (ii. 95) that the fishermen of the Nile used to lift their nets on a pole, and form thereby a rude sort of tent under which they slept securely, as gnats will not pass through the meshes of a net. Subsequently the tester of a bed was so called, and lastly the canopy borne over kings. (Greek, kwuwy, a gnat; kwiwpeiou, a gnat—curtain; Latin, conopeum, a gnatcurtain.)

Canossa

Canossa, in the duchy of Modena, is where (in the winter of 1076—7) Kaiser Heinrich IV. went to humble himself before Pope Gregory VII. (Hildebrand).

Has the Czar gone to Canossa?

Is he about to eat humble pie?

When, in November, 1887, the Czar went to Berlin to visit the Emperor of Germany, the Standard asked in a leader, “Has the Czar gone to Canossa?”

Cant

A whining manner of speech; class phraseology, especially of a religious nature (Latin, canto, to sing, whence chant). It is often derived from a proper name. We are told that Alexander and Andrew Cant maintained that all those who refused the “Covenant” ought to be excommunicated, and that those were cursed who made use of the prayer—book. These same Cants, in their grace before meat, used to “pray for all those who suffered persecution for their religious opinions.” (Mercurius Publicus, No. ix., 1661.)

The proper name cannot have given us the noun and verb, as they were in familiar use certainly in the time of Ben Jonson, signifying “professional slang,” and “to use professional slang.”

“The doctor here,

When he discourses of dissection,

Of vena cava and of vena porta ...

What does he do but cant? Or if he run

To his judicial astrology,

And trowl out the trine, the quartile, and the sextile, Does he not cant?”

Ben Jonson

(1574—1637): Andrew Cant died 1664.

Cantabrian Surge

The Bay of Biscay. So called from the Cantabri who dwelt about the Biscayan shore. Suetonius tells us that a thunderbolt fell in the Cantabrian Lake (Spain) “in which twelve axes were found.”

(Galba, viii.)

“She her thundering army leads

To Calpê [Gibraltar] ... or the rough

Cantabrian Surge.”

Akenside: Hymn to the Naiades.

Cantate Sunday

Fourth Sunday after Easter. So called from the first word of the introït of the mass: “Sing to the Lord.” Similarly “Laetate Sunday" (the fourth after Lent) is so called from the first word of the mass.

Canteen'

means properly a wine—cellar. Then a refreshment—house in a barrack for the use of the soldiers. Then a vessel, holding about three pints, for the use of soldiers on the march. (Italian, cantina, a cellar.)

Canterbury

Canterbury is the higher rack, but Winchester the better manger. Canterbury is the higher see in rank, but Winchester the one which produces the most money. This was the reply of William Edington, Bishop of Winchester, when offered the archbishopric of Canterbury (1366). Now Canterbury is 6,500.

Canterbury Tales

Chaucer supposed that he was in company with a party of pilgrims going to Canterbury to pay their devotions at the shrine of Thomas à Becket. The party assembled at an inn in Southwark, called the Tabard, and there agreed to tell one tale each, both in going and returning. He who told the best tale was to be treated with a supper on the homeward journey. The work is incomplete, and we have none of the tales told on the way home.

A Canterbury Tale.

A cock—and—bull story; a romance. So called from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Canting Crew

(The). Beggars, gipsies, and thieves, who use what is called the canting lingo.

Canucks

The Canadians. So called in the United States of America.

Canvas

means cloth made of hemp. To canvas a subject is to strain it through a hemp strainer, to sift it; and to canvass a borough is to sift the votes. (Latin, cannabis, hemp.)

Canvas City

(A). A military encampment.

“The Grand Master assented, and they proceeded accordingly, ... avoiding the most inhabited parts of the canvas city.”— Sir W. Scott: The Talisman, chap. x.

“In 1851, during the gold rush, a town of tents, known as Canvas Town, rose into being on the St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. Several thousand inhabitants lived in this temporary settlement, which was laid out in streets and lasted for several months.”— Cities of the World; Melbourne.

Caora

A river, on the banks of which are a people whose heads grow beneath their shoulders. Their eyes are in their shoulders, and their mouths in the middle of their breasts. (Hakluyt: Voyages, 1598.) Raleigh, in his Description of Guiana, gives a similar account of a race of men. (See Blemmyes .)

“The Anthropophagi and men whose heads

Do grow beneath their shoulders.”

Shakespeare: Othello, i. 3.

Cap

Black cap (See page 140, Black Cap .)

Cater cap.

A square cap or mortar—board. (French, quartier.)

College cap. A trencher like the caps worn at the English Universities by students and bachelors of art, doctors of divinity, etc.

Fool's cap.

A cylindrical cap with feather and bells, such as licensed Fools used to wear. Forked cap. A bishop's mitre. For the paper so called, see Foolscap.

John Knox cap

(A). A cap made of black silk velvet.

“A cap of black silk velvet, after the John Knox fashion.”— Edinburgh University Calendar.

Monmouth cap (A). (See Monmouth.)

Phrygian cap

(A). Cap of liberty (q.v.).

Scotch cap. A cloth cap worn commonly in Scotland. Cap and bells. The insignia of a professional fool or jester. A feather in one's cap. An achievement to be proud of; something creditable. Square cap. A trencher or “mortar—board,” like the University cap.

Statute cap

A woollen cap ordered by statute to be worn on holidays by all citizens for the benefit of the woollen trade. To a similar end, persons were obliged to be buried at death in flannel.

“Well, better wits have worn plain statute caps.”— Shakespeare: Love's Labour Lost, v 2.

Trencher cap,

or mortar—board. A cap with a square board, generally covered with black cloth. I must put on my considering cap. I must think about the matter before I give a final answer. The allusion is to a conjurer's cap.

If the cap fits, wear it.

If the remark applies to you, apply it to yourself. Hats and caps differ very slightly in size and appearance, but everyone knows his own when he puts it on.

Setting her cap at him.

Trying to catch him for a sweetheart or a husband. The lady puts on the most becoming of her caps, to attract the attention and admiration of the favoured gentleman.

To gain the cap.

To obtain a bow from another out of respect.

“Such gains the cap of him that makes them fine,

But keeps his book uncrossed.”

Shakespeare: Cymbeline,

iii. 3.

To pull caps.

To quarrel like two women, who pull each other's caps.

Your cap is all on one side.

The French have the phrase Mettre son bonnet de travers, meaning “to be in an ill—humour.” M. Hilaire le Gai explains it thus: “La plupart des tapageurs de profession portent ordinairement le chapeau sur l'oreille. ” It is quite certain that workmen, when they are bothered, push their cap on one side of the head, generally over the right ear, because the right hand is occupied.

Cap

(the verb).

I cap to that, i.e.

assent to it. The allusion is to a custom observed in France amongst the judges in deliberation. Those who assent to the opinion stated by any of the bench signify it by lifting their toque from their heads.

To cap.

To excel.

“Well, that caps the globe.”— C. Bronte: Jane Eyre.

Cap Verses

(To). Having the metre fixed and the last letter of the previous line given, to add a verse beginning with the given letter (of the same metre or not, according to prearrangement) thus:

English.

The way was long, the wind was cold (D).

Dogs with their tongues their wounds do heal(L). Like words congealed in northern air(R).

Regions Caesar never knew (W).

With all a poet's ecstasy(Y).

You may deride my awkward pace, etc. etc.

Latin.

Nil pictis timidus navita puppibus(S).

Sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum(M). Myrtoum pavidus nauta secet mare(E).

Est qui nec veteris pocula Massici(I).

Illum, si proprio condidit horreo(O).

O, et presidium ... (as long as you please).

It would make a Christmas game to cap proper names: as Plato, Otway, Young, Goldsmith, etc., or to cap proverbs, as: “Rome was not built in a day”; “Ye are the salt of the earth”; “Hunger is the best sauce”;

“Example is better than precept”; “Time and tide wait for no man”; etc.

Cap and Bells

Wearing the cap and bells. Said of a person who is the butt of the company, or one who excites laughter at his own expense. The reference is to licensed jesters formerly attached to noblemen's establishments. Their headgear was a cap with bells.

“One is bound to speak the truth ... whether he mounts the cap and bells or a shovel hat [like a bishop].”— Thackeray.

Cap and Feather Days

The time of childhood.

“Here I was got into the scenes of my cap—and—feather days.”— Cobbett.

Cap and Gown The full academical costume of a university student, tutor, or master, worn at lectures, examinations, and after “hall" (dinner).

“Is it a cap and gown affair?”— C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Cap in Hand

Submissively. To wait on a man cap in hand is to wait on him like a servant, ready to do his bidding.

Cap of Fools

(The). The chief or foremost fool; one that exceeds all others in folly.

“Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.”

Shakespeare: Timon of Athens,

iv. 3.

Cap of Liberty

When a slave was manumitted by the Romans, a small red cloth cap, called pileus, was placed on his head. As soon as this was done, he was termed libertinus (a freedman), and his name was registered in the city tribes. When Saturninus, in 263, possessed himself of the capitol, he hoisted a cap on the top of his spear, to indicate that all slaves who joined his standard should be free. When Marius incited the slaves to take up arms against Sylla, he employed the same symbol; and when Caesar was murdered, the conspirators marched forth in a body, with a cap elevated on a spear, in token of liberty (See Liberty .)

Cap of Maintenance

A cap of dignity anciently belonging to the rank of duke; the fur cap of the Lord Mayor of London, worn on days of state; a cap carried before the British sovereigns at their coronation. Maintenance here means defence.

Cap of Time

They wear themselves in the cap of time. Use more ceremony, says Parolles, for these lords do “wear themselves in the cap of time,” i.e. these lords are the favours and jewels worn in the cap of the time being, and have the greatest influence. In the cap of time being, they are the very jewels, and most honoured. (Shakespeare: All's Well, etc., ii. 1.)

Cap—acquaintance

(A), now called a bowing acquaintance. One just sufficiently known to bow to.

Cap—money

Money collected in a cap or hat; hence an improvised collection.

Cap—a—pie

The general etymology is the French cap à pied, but the French phrase is de pied en cap.

“Armed at all points exactly cap—a—pie.”

Shakespeare: Hamlet,

i. 2.

“I am courtier, cap—a—pe.”

Shakespeare: Winter's Tale,

iv. 3.

We are told that cap à pie is Old French, but it would be desirable to give a quotation from some old French author to verify this assertion. I have hunted in vain for the purpose. Again, is pie Old French for pied? This is not a usual change. The usual change would be pied into pie. The Latin might be De capi te ad pedem.

Capfull of Wind

Olaus Magnus tells us that Eric, King of Sweden, was so familiar with evil spirits that what way soever he turned his cap the wind would blow, and for this he was called Windy Cap. The Laplanders drove a profitable trade in selling winds; but, even so late as 1814, Bessie Millie, of Pomona (Orkney Islands), helped out her living by selling favourable winds to mariners for the small sum of sixpence. (See Mont St. Michel .)

Cape Spirit of the Cape. (See page 14, col. 1, Adamastor .)

Cape of Storms

(See Storms .)

Capel Court

A speculation in stocks of such magnitude as to affect the money market. Capel Court is the name of the place in London where transactions in stocks are carried on.

Caper

The weather is so foul, not even a caper would venture out. A Manx proverb. A caper is a fisherman of Cape Clear in Ireland, who will venture out in almost any weather.

Caper Merchant

A dancing—master who cuts “capers.” (See Cut Capers .)

Capet

(Cap—pay). Hugues, the founder of the French monarchy, was surnamed Capetus (clothed with a capot or monk's hood), because he always wore a clerical costume as abbot of St. Martin de Tours. This was considered the family name of the kings of France; hence, Louis XVI. was arraigned before the National Convention under the name of Louis Capet.

Capital

Money or money's worth available for production.

“His capital is continually going from him [the merchant] in some shape, and returning to him in another.”— Adam Smith: Wealth of Nations, vol. i. book ii. chap. i. p. 276.

Active capital.

Ready money or property readily convertible into it.

Circulating capital.

Wages, or raw material. This sort of capital is not available a second time for the same purpose.

Fixed capital.

Land, buildings, and machinery, which are only gradually consumed. Political capital is something employed to serve a political purpose. Thus, the Whigs make political capital out of the errors of the Tories, and vice versâ.

“He tried to make capital out of his rival's discomfiture.”— The Times.

Capital Fellow

(A). A stock—jobber, in French called Un Capitaine, par allusion aux capitaux sur lesquels un agiote habituellement. A good—tempered, jovial, and generous person.

Capitals

To speak in capitals. To emphasise certain words with great stress. Certain nouns spelt with a capital letter are meant to be emphatic and distinctive.

Capite Censi

The lowest rank of Roman citizens; so called because they were counted simply by the poll, as they had no taxable property.

Capitulars

The laws of the first two dynasties of France were so called, because they were divided into chapters. (French, capitulaire.)

Capon

Called a fish out of the coop by those friars who wished to evade the Friday fast by eating chickens instead of fish. (See Yarmouth .)

Capon

(A). A castrated cock.

A Crail's capon.

A dried haddock.

A Severn capon.

A sole.

A Yarmouth capon.

A red herring.

We also sometimes hear of a Glasgow capon, a salt herring.

Capon

(A). A love—letter. In French, poulet means not only a chicken but also a love—letter, or a sheet of

note—paper. Thus Henri IV., consulting with Sully about his marriage, says: “My niece of Guise would please me best, though report says maliciously that she loves poulets in paper better than in a fricasee.”

“Boyet ... break up this capon [i.e. open this

love—letter].”— Shakespeare. Love's Labour's Lost, iv. 1.

Capricorn

Called by Thomson, in his Winter, “the centaur archer.” Anciently, the winter solstice occurred on the entry of the sun into Capricorn; but the stars, having advanced a whole sign to the east, the winter solstice now falls at the sun's entrance into Sagittarius (the centaur archer), so that the poet is strictly right, though we vulgarly retain the ancient classical manner of speaking. Capricornus is the tenth, or, strictly speaking, the eleventh sign of the zodiac. (Dec. 21—Jan. 20.) According to classic mythology, Capricorn was Pan, who, from fear of the great Typhon, changed himself into a goat, and was made by Jupiter one of the signs of the zodiac.

Captain

Capitano del Popolo, i.e. Garibaldi (1807—1882). The Great Captain (el gran capitano). Gonzalvo di Cordova (1453—1515.) Manuel Comnenus of Trebizond (1120,1143—1180)

Captain Cauf's Tail

The commander—in—chief of the mummers of Plough Monday.

Captain Copperthorne's Crew

All masters and no men.

Captain Podd

A showman. So called from “Captain” Podd, a famous puppet—showman in the time of Ben Jonson.

Captain Stiff

To come Captain Stiff over one. To treat one with cold formality.

“I shouldn't quite come Captain Stiff over him.”— S. Warren: Ten Thousand a Year.

Captious

Fallacious, deceitful; now it means ill—tempered, carping. (Latin, captiosus.)

“I know I love in vain, strive against hope;

Yet in this captious and intenible sieve

I still pour in the waters of my love.”

Shakespeare: All's Well that Ends Well, i. 3.

Capua

Capua corrupted Hannibal. Luxury and self—indulgence will ruin anyone. Hannibal was everywhere victorious over the Romans till he took up his winter quarters at Capua, the most luxurious city of Italy. When he left Capua his star began to wane, and, ere long, Carthage was in ruins and himself an exile.

Capua was the Cannæ of Hannibal.

As the battle of Cannæ was most disastrous to the Roman army, so was the luxury of Capua to Hannibal's army. We have a modern adaptation to this proverb: “Moscow was the Austerlitz of Napoleon.”

Capuchin

A friar of the order of St. Francis, of the new rule of 1528; so called from their “capuce” or pointed cowl.

Capulet

A noble house in Verona, the rival of that of Montague (3 syl.); Juliet is of the former, and Romeo of the latter. Lady Capulet is the beau—ideal of a proud Italian matron of the fifteenth century. The expression so familiar, “the tomb of all the Capulets,” is from Burke. (Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet.)

Caput Mortuum

Latin for head of the dead, used by the old chemists to designate the residuum of chemicals, when all their volatile matters had escaped. Anything from which all that rendered it valuable has been taken away. Thus, a learned scholar paralysed is a mere caput mortuum of his former self. The French Directory, towards its close, was a mere caput mortuum of a governing body.

Caqueux

A sort of gipsy race in Brittany, similar to the Cagots of Gascony, and Colliberts of Poitou.

Carabas

He is a Marquis of Carabas. A fossil nobleman, of unbounded pretensions and vanity, who would fain restore the slavish foolery of the reign of Louis XIV.; one with Fortunatus's purse, which was never empty. The character is taken from Perrault's tale of Puss in Boots.

“Prêtres que nous vengeons

Levez la drine et partageons;

Et toi, peuple animal,

Porte encor le bât feodal. ...

Chapeau bas! Chapeau bas!

Gloire au marquis de Carabas!”
Béranger, 1816.

Caracalla

[long—mantle ]. Aurelius Antoninus was so called because he adopted the Gaulish caracalla in preference to the Roman toga. It was a large, close—fitting, hooded mantle, reaching to the heels, and slit up before and behind to the waist. Aurelius was himself born in Gaul, called Caracal in Ossian. (See Curtmantle)

Caracci

(pron. Kar—rah'—che). Founder of the eclectic school in Italy. Luis and his two cousins Augustin and Annibale founded the school called Incamminati (progressive), which had for its chief principle the strict observance of nature. Luis (1554—1619), Augustin (1558—1601), Annibale (1560—1609).

The Caracci of France.

Jean Jouvenet, who was paralysed on the right side, and painted with his left hand.

(1647—1707.)

The Annibale Caracci of the Eclectic School.

Bernardino Campi, the Italian, is so called by Lanzi (1522—1590).

Carack

or Carrack. A ship of great bulk, constructed to carry heavy frieghts. (Spanish, caraca.)

“The rich—laden carack bound to distant shores.”

Pollok: Course of Time, book vii. line 60.

Caradoc

A Knight of the Round Table, noted for being the husband of the only lady in the queen's train who could wear “the mantle of matrimonial fidelity.” Also in history, the British chief whom the Romans called Caractacus.

Caraites

A religious sect among the Jews, who rigidly adhered to the words and letters of Scripture, regardless of metaphor, etc. Of course, they rejected the rabbinical interpretations and the Cabala. The word is derived from Caraïm, equivalent to scripturarii (textualists). Pronounce Carry—ites.

Caran D'Ache

The pseudonym of M. Emanuel Poirié, the French caricaturist.

Carat of Gold

So called from the carat bean, or seed of the locust tree, formerly employed in weighing gold and silver. Hence the expressions “22 carats fine,” “18 carats fine,” etc., meaning that out of 24 parts, 22 or 18 are gold, and the rest alloy.

“Here's the note

How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat.” Shakespeare: Comedy of Errors, iv. 1.

Caraway

Latin, carum, from Caria in Asia Minor, whence the seeds were imported.

“Nay, you shall see my orchard, where in an arbour we will eat a last year's pippin of my own graffing, with a dish of caraways.”— Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., v. 3 (Justice Shallow to Falstaff).

Carbineer

or Carabineer. Properly a skirmisher or light horseman, from the Arabic carabine. A carbine is the light musket used by cavalry soldiers.

“He ... left the Rhinegrave, with his company of mounted carbineers, to guard the passage.” Motley: Dutch Republic (vol. i. part i. chap. ii. p. 179).

Carbonado

A chop; mince meat. Strictly speaking, a carbonado is a piece of meat cut crosswise for the gridiron. (Latin, carbo, a coal.)

“If he do come in my way, so; if he do not— if

I come in his willingly, let him make a carbonado of me.”— Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., v. 3.

Carbonari

means charcoal—burners, a name assumed by a secret political society in Italy (organised 1808—1814). Their place of muster they called a “hut;” its inside, “the place for selling charcoal;” and the outside, the “forest.” Their political opponents they called “wolves.” Their object was to convert the kingdom of Naples into a republic. In the singular number, Carbonaro. (See Charbonnerie.)

Carbuncle of Ward Hill (The). A mysterious carbuncle visible enough to those who stand at the foot of the hill in May, June or July; but never beheld by anyone who has succeeded in reaching the hill top.

“I have distinguished, among the dark rocks, that wonderful carbuncle, which gleams ruddy as a furnace to them who view it from beneath, but has ever become invisible to him whose daring foot has scaled the precipice from which it darts its splendour.”— Sir W. Scott: The Pirate, chap. xix.

Dr. Wallace thinks it is water trickling from a rock, and reddened by the sun.

Carcanet

A small chain of jewels for the neck. (French, carcan, an iron collar.)

“Like captain jewels in a carcanet.”

Shakespeare: Sonnets.

Carcass

The shell of a house before the floors are laid and walls plastered; the skeleton of a ship, a wreck, etc. The body of a dead animal, so called from the Latin caro—cassa (lifeless flesh). (French, carcasse.)

“The Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcases of many a tall ship lie buried.”— Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, iii. 1.

Carcasses

Shells with three fuzeholes. They are projected from mortars (q.v.), howitzers (q.v.), and guns. They will burn furiously for eight or ten minutes, do not burst like shells, but the flames, rushing from the three holes, set on fire everything within their influence.

“Charlestown ... having been fired by carcass from Copp's Hill, sent up dense columns of smoke.”— Lessing: United States

Card

That's the card. The right thing; the ticket. The reference is to tickets of admission, cards of the races, and programmes.

“10s. is about the card.”— Mayhew: London Labour, etc.

A queer card. An eccentric person, “indifferent honest.” A difficult lead in cards to play to. A knowing card. A sharp fellow, next door to a sharper. The allusion is to card—sharpers and their tricks.

“Whose great aim it was to be considered a knowing card.”— Dickens: Sketches, etc.

A great card. A big wig; the boss of the season; a person of note. A big card. A leading card. A star actor. A person leads from his strongest suit.

A loose card.

A worthless fellow who lives on the loose.

“A loose card is a card of no value, and, consequently, the properest to throw away.”— Hoyle: Games, etc.

A sure card. A person one can fully depend on; a person sure to command success. A project to be certainly depended on. As a winning card in one's hand.

He is the card of our house.

The man of mark, the most distingué. Osric tells Hamlet that Laertës is “the card and calendar of gentry” (v. 2). The card is a card of a compass, containing all its points. Laertës is the card of gentry, in whom may be seen all its points. We also say “a queer card,” meaning an odd fish.

That was my best trump card.

My best chance. The allusion is to loo, whist, and other games played with cards.

To play one's best card.

To do that which one hopes is most likely to secure success. To speak by the card. To speak by the book, be as precise as a map or book, be as precise as a map or book. A merchant's expression. The card is the document in writing containing the agreements made between a merchant and the captain of a vessel. Sometimes the owner binds himself, ship, tackle, and furniture for due performance, and the captain is bound to deliver the cargo committed to him in good condition. To speak by the card is to speak according to the indentures or written instructions. In some cases the reference is to the card of a mariner's compass.

“Law ... is the card to guide the world by.”— Hooker: Ecc. Pol., part ii. sec. 5.

“We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us.”— Shakespeare: Hamlet, v. 1.

Cards

It is said that there never was a good hand of cards containing four clubs. Such a hand is called “The Devil's Four—poster.”

Lieuben, a German lunatic, bet that he would succeed in turning up a pack of cards in a certain order stated in a written agreement. He turned and turned the cards ten hours a day for twenty years, and repeated the operation 4,246,028 times, when at last he succeeded.

In Spain, spades used to be columbines; clubs, rabbits; diamonds, pinks; and hearts, roses. The present name for spades is espados (swords); of clubs, bastos (cudgels); of diamonds, dineros (square pieces of money used for paying wages), of hearts, copas (chalices).

The French for spades is pique (pikemen or soldiers); for clubs, trèfle (clover, or husbandmen); of diamonds, carreaux (building tiles, or artisans); of hearts, choeur (choir—men, or ecclesiasties)

The English spades is the French form of a pike, and the Spanish name; the clubs is the French trefoil, and the Spanish name; the hearts is a corruption of choeur into coeur. (See Vierge.)

Court cards.

So called because of their heraldic devices. The king of clubs originally represented the arms of the Pope; of spades, the King of France; of diamonds, the King of Spain; and of hearts, the King of England. The French kings in cards are called David (spades), Alexander (clubs), Caesar (diamonds), and Charles (hearts)— representing the Jewish, Greek, Roman, and Frankish empires. The queens or dames are Argine— i.e. Juno (hearts), Judith (clubs), Rachel (diamonds), and Pallas (spades) — representing royalty, fortitude, piety, and wisdom. They were likenesses of Marie d'Anjou, the queen of Charles VII., Isabeau, the queen—mother; Agnes Sorel, the king's mistress, and Joan d'Arc, the dame of spades, or war.

He felt that he held the cards in his own hands.

That he had the whip—end of the stick; that he had the upper hand, and could do as he liked. The allusion is to games played with cards, such as whist.

He played his cards well.

He acted judiciously and skilfully, like a whistplayer who plays his hand with judgment. To play one's cards badly is to manage a project unskilfully.

The cards are in my hands.

I hold the disposal of events which will secure success. The allusion is obvious.

“The Vitelli busied at Arezzo; the Orsini irritating the French; the war of Naples imminent;— the cards are in my hands.”— Caesar Borgia, xxix.

On the cards.

Likely to happen, projected, and talked about as likely to occur. On the programme or card of the races; on the “agenda.”

To count on one's cards.

To anticipate success under the circumstances. The allusion is to holding in one's hand cards likely to win.

To go in with good cards.

To have good patronage; to have excellent grounds for expecting success. To throw up the cards. To give up as a bad job; to acknowledge you have no hope of success. In some games of cards, as loo, a player has the liberty of saying whether he will play or not, and if one's hand is hopelessly bad he throws up his cards and sits out till the next deal.

Cardinal Humours

Blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.

Cardinal Numbers

Such numbers as 1, 2, 3, etc. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc., are ordinal numbers.

Cardinal Points of the Compass

Due north, west, east, and south. So called because they are the points on which the intermediate ones, such as N.E., N.W., N.N.E., etc., hinge or hang. (Latin, cardo, a hinge.)

Cardinal Signs

[of the Zodiac]. The two equinoctial and the two solsticial signs, Aries and Libra, Cancer and Capricornus.

Cardinal Virtues Justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, on which all other virtues hang or depend.

Cardinal Winds

Those that blow due East, West, North, and South.

Cardinals

Hinges. (Latin, cardo.) The election of the Pope “hinges” on the voice of the sacred college, and on the Pope the doctrines of the Church depend; so that the cardinals are in fact the hinges on which the Christian Church turns. There may be six cardinal bishops, fifty cardinal priests, and fourteen cardinal deacons, who constitute the Pope's council, and who elect the Pope when a vacancy occurs.

Cardinal's Red Hat

Some assert that Innocent IV. made the cardinals wear a red hat “in token of their being ready to lay down their life for the gospel.”

Carduel

or Kartel. Carlisle. The place where Merlin prepared the Round Table.

Care—cloth

(The). The fine linen cloth laid over the newly—married in the Catholic Church. (Anglo—Saxon, cear, large, as cear wúnd (a big wound), cear sorh (a great sorrow), etc.)

Care killed the Cat

It is said that “a cat has nine lives,” yet care would wear them all out.

Care Sunday

(the fifth Sunday in Lent). Professor Skeat tells us (Notes and Queries, Oct. 28th, 1893), that

“care” means trouble, suffering; and that Care—Sunday means Passion—Sunday. In Old High German we have Kar—woche and Kar—fritag.

The Latin cura sometimes meant “sorrow, grief, trouble,” as “Curam et angorem animl levare.”— Cicero: Att. i. 15.

Careme

(2 syl.). Lent; a corruption of quadragesima.

Car—goose

(A) or Gargoose. The crested diver, belonging to the genus Colymbus. (Anglo—Saxon, gar and gos.)

Caricatures

mean “sketches overdrawn.” (Italian, caricatura,) from carica'rë, to load or burden.

Carillons

in France, are chimes or tunes played on bells; but in England the suites of bells that play the tunes. Our word carol approaches the French meaning nearer than our own. The best chimes in the world are those in Les Halles, at Bruges.

Carinae

Women hired by the Romans to weep at funerals; so called from Caria, whence most of them came.

Carle

or Carling Sunday [Pea Sunday ]. The octave preceding Palm Sunday; so called because the special food of the day was carling— i.e. peas fried in butter. The custom is a continuation of thee pagan bean—feast. The fifth Sunday in Lent.

Carlovingian Dynasty

So called from Carolus or Charles Martel.

Carludovica

A Panama hat, made of the Carludovica palmata; so called in compliment to Carlos IV. of Spain, whose second name was Ludovic.

Carmagnole

(3 syl.). A red Republican song and dance in the first French revolution; so called from Carmagnola, in Piedmont, the great nest of the Savoyards, noted for street music and dancing. The refrain of “Madame Veto,” the Carmagnole song, is “Dansons la Carmagnole— vive le son du canon!” The word was subsequently applied to other revolutionary songs, such as Ça ira the Marseillaise, the Chant du Depart. Besides the songs, the word is applied to the dress worn by the Jacobins, consisting of a blouse, red cap, and

tri—coloured girdlle; to the wearer of this dress or any violent revolutionist; to the speeches in favour of the execution of Louis XVI, called by M Barrière des Carmagnoles; and, lastly, to the dance performed by the mob round the guillotine, or down the streets of Paris.

Carmelites

(3 syl.). An order of mendicant friars of Mount Carmel, the monastery of which is named Elias, from Elijah the prophet, who on Mount Carmel told Ahab that rain was at hand. Also called White Friars, from their white cloaks.

Carmilhan

The phantom ship on which the Kobold of the Baltic sits when he appears to doomed vessels.

Carminative

A charm medicine. Magic and charms were at one time the chief “medicines,” and the fact is perpetuated by the word carminative, among others. Carminatives are given to relieve flatulence. (Latin, carmen, a charm.)

Carmine

(2 syl). The dye made from the carmës or kermës insect, whence also crimson, through the Italian cremisino.

Carnation

“Flesh—colour.” (Latin, caro; genitive, carnis, flesh.)

Carney

To wheedle, to keep caressing.

Carnival

The season immediately preceding Lent; shrove—tide. Ducange gives the word carne—levale. (Modern Italian, carnovále; Spanish and French, carnaval.)

Italis, carnevale, carnovale, carnaval. Quidam scriptores Itali “carne—vale” dictum putant, quasi carne vale (good—by meat); sed id etymon non probat Octav. Ferrarius. Cangius ... appellasse Gallos existimat, carn—a—val, quod sonat caro abscedit ... [We are referred to a charter, dated 1195, in which occurs the word carne—lcvamen, and a quotation is given in which occurs the phrase in carnis levamen ].— Ducange, vol. ii. p. 222.

Carotid Artery

An artery on each side of the neck, supposed by the ancients to be the seat of drowsiness, brought on by an increased flow of blood through it to the head. (Greek, caroticos, inducing sleep.)

Carouse (2 syl.). Mr. Gifford says the Danes called their large drinking cup a rouse, and to rouse is to drink from a rouse; ca—rouse is gar—rouse, to drink all up, or to drink all— i.e. in company.

“The king doth wake to—night, and takes his rouse.”Shakespeare: Hamlet, i. 4.

Carouse the hunter's hoop.

Drinking cups were anciently marked with hoops, by which every drinker knew his stint. Shakespeare makes Jack Cade promise his friends that “seven halfpenny loaves shall be sold for a penny; and the three—hooped pot have ten hoops.” Pegs or pins (q.v.) are other means of limiting the draught of individuals who drank out of the same tankard.

Carpathian Wizard

Proteus (2 syl.), who lived in the island of Carpathos, between Rhodes and Crete. He was a wizard and prophet, who could transform himself into any shape he pleased. He is represented as carrying a sort of crook in his hand. Carpathos, now called Scarpanto.

“By the Carpathian wizard's hook.”

Milton: Comus, 893.

Carpe Diem

Enjoy yourself while you have the opportunity. Seize the present day. (Horace: 1 Odes, xi. 8.) “Dum vivimus, vivamus.”

Carpenter

is from the Low Latin carpentarius, a maker of carpenta (two—wheeled carts and carriages). The carpentum was used for ladies; the carpentum funebre or carpentum pompaticum was a hearse. There was also a carpentum (cart) for agricultural purposes. There is no Latin word for our “carpenter”; the phrase faber lignarius is used by Cicero. Our forefathers called a carpenter a “smith” or a “wood—smith.” (French, charpentér.)

Carpet

The magic carpet of Tangu. A carpet to all appearances worthless, but if anyone sat thereon, it would transport him instantaneously to the place he wished to go. So called because it came from Tangu, in Persia. It is sometimes termed Prince Housain's carpet, because it came into his hands, and he made use of it. (Arabian Nights: Prince Ahmed.) (See below.)

Solomon's carpet.

The Eastern writers say that Solomon had a green silk carpet, on which his throne was placed when he travelled. This carpet was large enough for all his forces to stand upon; the men and women stood on his right hand, and the spirits on his left. When all were arranged in order, Solomon told the wind where he wished to go, and the carpet, with all its contents, rose in the air and alighted at the place indicated. In order to screen the party from the sun, the birds of the air with outspread wings formed a canopy over the whole party. (Sale: Koran.) (See above.)

Such and such a question is on the carpet.

The French sur le tapis (on the table—cloth)— i.e. before the house, under consideration. The question has been laid on the table—cloth of the house, and is now under debate.

Carpet—bag Adventurer

(A). A passing adventurer, who happens to be on the road with his travelling or carpet—bag.

Carpet—bag Government

The government of mere adventurers. In America, a state in the South reorganised by “carpet—baggers,” i.e. Northern political adventurers, who sought a career in the Southern States after the Civil War of 1865. [It may be noted that in America members of Congress and the State legislatures almost invariably reside in the district which they represent.]

Carpet Knight

One dubbed at Court by favour, not having won his spurs by military service in the field. Mayors, lawyers, and other civilians knighted as they kneel on a carpet before their sovereign. “Knights of the

Carpet,” “Knights of the Green Cloth,” “Knights of Carpetry.”

“The subordinate commands fell to young patricians, carpet—knights, who went on campaigns with their families and slaves.”— Froude: Caesar, chap. iv. p. 91.

Carpocratians

Gnostics; so called from Carpocrates, who flourished in the middle of the second century. They maintained that the world was made by angels,— that only the soul of Christ ascended into heaven,— and that the body will have no resurrection.

Carriage Company

Persons who keep their private carriage

“Seeing a great deal of carriage company”— Thackeray.

Carriages

Things carried, luggage.

“And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.”— Acts xxi. 15.

Carronades

(3 syl.). Short, light iron guns. As they have no trunnions they differ in this respect from guns and howitzers (q.v.). They were invented in 1779 by Mr. Gascoigne, director of the Carron foundry, in Scotland, whence the name. Carronades are fastened to their carriages by a loop underneath, and are chiefly used in the arming of ships, to enable them to throw heavy shot at close quarters, without overloading the decks with heavy guns. On shore they are used as howitzers.

Carry Arms!

Hold your gun in the right hand, the barrel nearly perpendicular, and resting against the hollow of the shoulder, the thumb and forefinger embracing the guard. (A military command.) (See Carry Swords .)

Carry Coals

(See Coals .)

Carry Everything before One

(To). To be beyond competition; to carry off all the prizes. A military phrase. Similarly, a high wind carries everything before it.

Carry Fire in one Hand and Water in the other

(To). To say one thing and mean another; to flatter, to deceive; to lull suspicion in order the better to work mischief.

“Altera manu fert aquam, altera ignem. Altera manu fert lapidem, altera panem ostentat.” Plautus.

Carry One's Point

(To). To succeed in one's aim. Candidates in Rome were balloted for, and the votes were marked on a tablet by points. Hence, omne punctum ferre meant “to be carried nem. con., ” or to gain every vote; and “to carry one's point” is to carry off the points at which one aimed.

Carry Out

(To) or Carry through. To continue a project to its completion.

Carry out one's Bat

(To). A cricketer is said to carry out his bat when he is not “out” at the close of the game.

Carry Swords!

Hold the drawn sword vertically, the blade against the shoulder (A military command.) (See above, Carry Arms .)