Исторический английский фразеологический словарь

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

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

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

Agap?. Love feasts of the Romans, from the Greek agape, love.

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

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

6Agar Town. A now vanished district covered by St Pancras Railway Station, the lease of which was acquired by William Agar in 1840 for building purposes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alabama. Indian for “here we rest.”

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

7A la Watteau. The name given to a stage ballet in which the pretty rustic costumes are after the style of those ever present in the pastoral paintings of Antoine Watteau, the famous French artist. Reproductions of his pictures frequently also figure on expensive furniture–screens in particular.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8Aldersgate Street. From the ancient city gate near which grew several fine alder-trees.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alibi. Latin for “elsewhere.”

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

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

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

9All Bosh. The introduction of the term “Bosh” into our vocabulary must be accredited to James Morier, in whose Oriental romances, “The Adventures of Haiji Baba of Ispahan” and “Ayesha,” it frequently appears. Bosh is Persian and Turkish, signifying rubbish, nonsense, silly talk.

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

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

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