Money given to free-booters by way of exempting property from depredation. (Anglo-Saxon, mal, “rent-tax;” French, maille, an old coin worth .083 farthing). Grass mail was rent paid for…
(Encyclopedia) Selznick, David O., 1902–65, American film producer, b. Pittsburgh. He worked for studios in Hollywood before founding Selznick International Pictures in 1936. Selznick's most famous…
Moslem soldiers. The banner of the Abbasides (3 syl.) is black; that of the Fatimites (3 syl.) green; and that of the Ommiades (3 syl.) white. Hence the banner of the Kalif of Bagdad is…
The black van which conveys prisoners from the police courts to jail. The French call a mud-barge a “Marie-salope.” The tradition is that the van referred to was so called from Maria Lee,…
Easter Monday, April 14th, 1360, was so called. Edward III. was with his army lying before Paris, and the day was so dark, with mist and hail, so bitterly cold and so windy, that many of…
The 7th Dragoon Guards, or “the Princess Royal's D.G.” Their “facings” are black. Also called “Strawboots,” “The Blacks.” Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer,…
The Gothic or German type. So called because of its black appearance. The initial items of this book are now called “black letter,” sometimes called “Clarendon type.” Source: Dictionary…
Looks of displeasure. To look black. To look displeased. The figure is from black clouds indicative of foul weather. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Black…
The black ox has trod on his foot- i.e. misfortune has come to him. Black oxen were sacrificed to Pluto and other infernal deities. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham…
i.e. “Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod,” so called from his staff of office- a black wand surmounted by a lion. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Black Rood…
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