Исторический английский фразеологический словарь

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

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

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

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

Carmelites. White Friars of the order of Mount Carmel.

Carnarvon. The fortress on the Arfon, or water.

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

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

Carpenter. Originally one who made only the body or wooden portion of a vehicle. So called from the Latin 55carpentum, waggon. An ordinary worker in wood was, and still is in the English provinces, a joiner.

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

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

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

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

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

Carthagena. From Carthago Novo, or New Carthage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

56Cat Call. A corruption of Cat Wail. When a theatre or music-hall audience is dissatisfied with the performance, and impatient for it to be brought to an end, the “Gods” indulging in “Mewing” like a chorus of cats on the roof by night.

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

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

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

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

Cavalier. From the French chevalier, a horseman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

57Chalk Farm. Originally “Chalcot Farm,” a noted resort for duellists of a past day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

58Charles Martel. See “Martel.”

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

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