Chapter 27

"You speak as if a manShould know what fowl is coffin'd in abak'd meatAfore it is cut up."

"You speak as if a man

Should know what fowl is coffin'd in abak'd meat

Afore it is cut up."

In Cotgrave's Dict. it is rendered bypâtisserie, Fr.

Bate(T. Sh. iv. 1, R. and J. iii. 2), in falconry, flapping the wings, apparently frombattre, Fr. It is not easy to see the difference between it andbeat, with which it is joined in the first of these passages.Beat, however, may be only a misprint forbaterepeated.

Bat-fowling(Temp. ii. 1), taking birds by night with a light and a net. It is fully described in Joseph Andrews, ii. 10.

Bear in hand, amuse with false hopes, and so keep in one's power. The phrase seems taken from themanége.

Benedicite, the first word of the Canticle called The Song of the Three Children, in the Liturgy. It was generally used merely as an interjection.

Bias, a weight inserted in one side of a bowl, which of course would sway it on one side, and prevent its going straight to themistress, or jack, at bowls.

Bill on neck(As Y. L. i. 2), "With his sword by his side, a forestbill on his neck, and a chopping-knife under his girdle" (Arcadia, i.).

Bird-bolt(M. Ado, i. 1), a short thick arrow with an obtuse head used for shooting at birds.

Bite the thumb(Rom. and Jul. i. 1) seems to have been making thefigoor fig, by putting the thumb between the first and second fingers, and then biting it. It was an expression of contempt or defiance.

Black Monday(M. of Ven. ii. 5), said to be Easter Monday, from the severity of that day, April 4, 1360, by which Edw. III. lost numbers of his men in France.

Block, the mould on which the crown of a hat was formed, hence the hat itself (Lear, iv. 6, M. Ado, i. 1).

Bob, a sudden tap on the face; hence a stroke of satire (As. Y. L. ii. 7). As a verb, to cheat, do out of (Othel. v. 1).

Bolting-hutch(in a mill), the machine by which the flour is bolted or separated from the bran.

Bombast, wadding, padding, frombombaxcotton, the usual material.

Books.To be in one's books (M. Ado, i. 1), to be in favour with. It seems to be taken from the giving credit of tradesmen.

Boots.Give the boots (Two Gent. i. 1) seems to be equivalent to the presentgive the sack,i.e.turn away.

Brach."A mannerly name for all hound-bitches" (Gentleman's Recreation, p. 27). "Abracheorbiche, canicula, petite chienne," Baret, Dict. This seems to be its meaning everywhere in Shakespeare, except perhaps Lear, iii. 6, and everywhere else that it occurs. Jonson and Massinger use it, asbitchis still used by the vulgar, of a low common woman. Its substitution for that term may have been caused by the similarity of sound.Braque, Fr. (braccoIt.), is a setting-dog; and in the work just quoted we are told the Scotch called a dog that ran by scentrache, "the female thereof in England is called abrache." The Icelandic name of this dog at the present day israkkr. "Here is a leysche ofratchesfor to run a hare" (Skelton, Interl. of Mag.). Golding (Ov. Met. p. 33) usesbrachandbitchas synonymous and of hounds. Alady-brach(Lear, i. 4, 1 Hen. IV. iii. 1?) seems to have been what we now call a parlour-dog; females being preferred, probably on account of their greater gentleness. The above derivation ofbrachis, however, not quite satisfactory.

Break across(As Y. L. iii. 4), used of a spear, in tilting, when in the charge its handle was broken by the awkwardness of the tilter. The mode of doing it, however, is not easy to conceive. Perhapsbreakwas not used in its usual sense.

Break up, carve. It is used (L. L. L. iv. 1) of a love-letter, called in Frenchpoulet.

Breast(Tw. N. ii. 3), voice—containing for contained.

Bribed buck(M. W. v. 5), "a buckcut upto be given away in portions. In O. Fr.bribeswere portions of meat which were given away." So Singer explains it; but I rather suspect it may be astolenbuck. See Richardson,v.Bribe.

Breathe in watering(1 H. IV. ii. 4), to take breath while drinking. It seems to be taken from horses.

"We also do enactThat all hold up their hands, and laugh aloud,Drink much at one draught,breathe not in their drink."

"We also do enact

That all hold up their hands, and laugh aloud,

Drink much at one draught,breathe not in their drink."

Old Play of Timon, ii. 5.

Brief, letter, short writing of any kind, even a verbal promise, contract, or agreement (All's Well, ii. 3). It may be an adj., with an ellipsis of the subst.

Brown paper(M. for M. iv. 3). This was one of the useless commodities which usurers compelled unlucky borrowers to take in lieu of ready money. Rosini, in his Monaca di Monza, notices it in Italy in the 16th century; Molière, in L'Avare, in France; and it has continued in England down to present times.

Bucklers."Give the bucklers" (M. Ado, v. 2) seems to be a term taken from prize-fighting, signifying to yield, give up. It is supposed that the bucklers were the prize; but that is not likely. There may be a use of the plur. for the sing., and the phrase may merely mean lay the buckler down or aside in token of defeat.

Budge(bouger, Fr). In Cor. i. 6 and elsewhere it means to give back, retire.

Bulk, breast, chest, not body, as is usually given. In Spanishbulto, a kindred term, is used in the same sense.

But(A.S.buton, i.e.be out), without, unless, save, except. It also (it is not easy to say how) took the place of A.S.ac, yet, however; and it became a mere inceptive particle likenowandwhy. When, as it often does, it signifiesthat ... not, as in "Not a manbutwas slain," there seems to be merely an ellipsis of the personal pronoun. So when it signifiesonlythere is an ellipsis of the negative; for "We havebutfive loaves" (Matt. xiv. 17) is in A.S. "Wenabbð herbutonfif hlafas;" and at the present day a peasant would say "We haven'tbutfive loaves." I therefore, in 1 H. IV. v. 3, read in my Edition for "There is not" "There is notbut." To my great surprise I have not been able to meet an exact parallel in any play or other work. We say "There isnota manbutone," etc., and "I cannotbutsay," etc.; but these are not precisely parallel.

Buttons."It is in his buttons" (M. W. ii. 2), seems to mean it is in his doublet which is buttoned on him;i.e.it is in him, he is able to accomplish it.

By.This prep. sometimes occurs (likebei, Germ.) in the sense of beside, near, in contact with, a sense it still retains, chiefly in poetry. But by the position given it in our poet it often causes ambiguity. See Two Gent. ii. 4, As Y. L. iii. 5, and

"If thou be foundbyme thou art but dead."

2 H. VI. iii. 2.

"To diebythee were but to die in jest."

Ib.

Cade of herrings(2 H. VI. iv. 3), a barrel ofredherrings containing 600,i.e.five hundreds of six score to the hundred. See Notes and Queries, 3 S. ix. 324.

Calipolis(2 Hen. IV. ii. 4), one of the characters in Peele's Battle of Alcazar.

Callat, a term of reproach for a woman. Perhaps it is merely a corruption of the Irishcailleach, old woman, learned from the Irish costermongers in London.

Callinó castorè me(Hen. V. iv. 4) misprintedcalmie custore me; but restored by Boswell from the Handful of Pleasant Delights, 1584, where it forms the burden of a song beginning with

"When as I view your comely grace,A callinò castoré me,Eva, eva, ee, loo, loo, loo, loo, loo, lee,"

"When as I view your comely grace,

A callinò castoré me,

Eva, eva, ee, loo, loo, loo, loo, loo, lee,"

of which the last line seems to be unmeaning, and the second to be the IrishA colleen óg, astore mo chree(A caılín óʒ anɼtóր mo cրoiðe) 'Young girl, the treasure of my heart.' The last two words, it will be seen, are conjectural; and were it good Irish we might read, An mín 'the gentle one.'

Camelot(Lear, ii. 2), a town in Somerset, where King Arthur was said to have kept his court. Its site was on a hill, near South Cadbury.

Candles' ends,butsof candles. It was rather a disgusting feat of gallants to swallow them for flap-dragons in honour of their mistresses. 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4.

Canvas(2 H. IV. ii. 4, 1 H. VI. i. 3), to shake and toss in a sieve, of which the bottom was then as now made of canvas. The use of it in those places is figurative.

Card(1 H. IV. iii. 2), to debase by mixture, as when fine and coarse wool werecardedtogether, and so mingled in the cloth thence woven. "Youcardyour beer—if you see your guests begin to get drunk—half small, half strong," etc. (Green's Quip, etc.).

Card of ten, the ten of the suits in a pack of cards. To "face with a card of ten" (T. Sh. ii. 1) seems to mean simply to turn up, play, a ten, the highest except the coat-cards and aces.

Careires."Pass the careires" (M. W. i. 1), a term of themanége, signifying to go at full speed.

Carouse, a drinking-bout, a large draught. It is usually derived from Germ.gar aus, 'all out,' which seems to be confirmed by "boirecarausetalluz" (Rabelais, iii. Prol.). In GermanRauschis intoxication; and thismaybe the origin ofcarouse.

Carpet-knight(Tw. N. iii. 4), civilian knight, as opposed to the military knight; so named probably from thecarpetwhich covered the table—not the floor—in the room in which the ceremony of conferring knighthood took place.

Carraways(2 Hen. IV. v. 3) in the form of comfits, with apples, were used at the dessert.

Carry coals, a term of reproach, because fetching charcoal, firewood, etc., was the office of the lowest servants in a household.

Carve.This verb, beside its ordinary sense, seems to have that of talking agreeably, jesting, etc. (L. L. L. v. 2, Mer. W. i. 3). In Herbert's Prophecy of Cadwallader, 1604, we have

"There might you Caius Mariuscarvingfind,And martial Sylla courting Venus kind."

"There might you Caius Mariuscarvingfind,

And martial Sylla courting Venus kind."

It may be only a form of the oldcarpe:—

"In fellowship well could she laugh andcarpe."

Cant. Tales, Prol.

"So gone they forthcarpendefastOn this and that."

"So gone they forthcarpendefast

On this and that."

Gower, Conf. Am. vii.

It is of constant occurrence in Piers Ploughman.

Castle(Tr. and Cr. v. 2), a kind of strong helmet, "and break the strongestcastlethat thou hast upon thy head" (Hist. of Prince Arthur, ch. clviii.).

Cataian(M. W. ii. 1), a Chinese. It seems, however, to be used here without any particular meaning.

Ceremony.Besides its ordinary sense of state, pomp, parade, this word is used for a sacred pledge (Mer. of Ven. v. 1), ornament of state (Jul. Cæs. i. 1), prodigy (ib. ii. 2).

Chamber(2 H. IV. ii. 4), a kind of cannon. It was properlya small mortar, hence its name; for it stood almost erect.

Charact(M. for M. v. 1), an abbreviation ofcharacter. We meet it in Piers Ploughman,v. 7600 et alibi.

Chase.SeeTennis.

Cherry-pit(Tw. N. iii. 4), a game played by children. It consisted in throwing cherry-stones into a small hole.

Christendom(K. John, iv. 1), baptism, (All's Well, i. 1) name given in baptism. It answers tohalidom, and to the Spanishsantiguada.

Christom-child(H. V. ii. 3). The proper word ischrisom; for it was, says Blount, "the white cloth which is set by the minister of baptism upon the head of a child newly anointed withchrismafter his baptism." When the use of the chrism was abolished, it came to signify "the white cloth put about or upon a child newly christened, wherewith the women used to shroud the child if dying within the month," and such was called achrisom-child.

Cinque pace.SeeGalliard.

Circumvention(Cor. i. 2). The only meaning this word can have in this place is, apparently, secret information obtained by stratagem, the enemy being, as it were, circumvented. A curious instance of the liberties the poet took with language!

Cling(Macb. v. 5), fromclinganA.S., to shrink, pine, wither. "Orclyngestfor-drye" (Vis. of P. P. 9011). In this place of Macbeth it is used in a causative sense, as in "Clingsnot his guts with niggish fare, to heap his chest withal" (Surrey, Eccles. ch. v.).

Clock."A German clock" (L. L. L. iv. 1). Clocks, it appears, were then, as now, imported from Germany, and were of a very inferior order.

Cloud in his face(Ant. and Cl. iii. 2). This, we are told, was said of a horse when he had a dark spot between his eyes.

Clown.This term for a licensed jester, and as such nearly synonymous withFool, is peculiar to Shakespeare. The Fool in Lear hardly differs from the Clowns of the other plays. It probably comes fromcolonus.

Clubs(H. VIII. v. 3, As Y. L. v. 2), the cry to the London apprentices to come forth with the clubs or bludgeons which they always kept by them to keep, or as often to break the peace.

Coast(H. VIII. iii. 2), to proceed cautiously, keeping, asit were, along the shore, a figure taken from navigation. The Italianpiaggiareis used in the same manner. Sohedgein this same passage is figurative—keeping, as it were, inside of the hedge.

Cock-a-hoop."You will set cock-a-hoop!" (R. and J. i. 5). By this some understand taking the cock out of the barrel, and letting the liquor run to waste. Nares quotes

"The cock on hoop is setHoping to drink their lordships out of debt."

"The cock on hoop is set

Hoping to drink their lordships out of debt."

But perhaps the original expression may have beenCock on heap, i.e. on his dunghill, boastful and triumphant.

Cock-shut(R. III. v. 3), a large net stretched across a glade in a wood, in order to catch woodcocks when flying in the twilight, thence called "cock-shut time."

Codpiece, a cod (i.e.pouch or pocket) set in the front of the hose. It seems to have answered to the present breeches-pockets.

Colours."Fear no colours" (Tw. N. i. 5) would seem to have been a military expression, denoting no fear of any banners,i.e.troops or enemies.

Concolinel(L. L. L. iii. 1), the commencement of a song, usually supposed to be Italian. But there is nothing like it in that language. It was mooted in Notes and Queries if it were not rather Irish, like so many other airs at that time; and among the conjectures given, the best was by "Eirionnach" that it may have beenCan colleen yal(Cán cailín ʒeal). 'Sing, fair girl.' But no such song is known.

Condition(Tim. i. 1), art, profession, as in French.

Control(Temp. i. 2), confute, bring to order.

"Stephano, is all this true that thou hast told me?—Sir, for lies hitherto you nevercontroll'dme."

"Stephano, is all this true that thou hast told me?—

Sir, for lies hitherto you nevercontroll'dme."

Dam. and Pith.

"A trespass that my father made in peaceIs nowcontroll'dby fortune of the war."

"A trespass that my father made in peace

Is nowcontroll'dby fortune of the war."

Span. Tragedy.

As a subst. determination, decision.

Cony-catch, one of the terms for cheating or taking in. It was evidently derived from the practice of catching rabbits by setting nets before their holes, into which they were driven by ferrets.

Cooling-card(1 H. VI. v. 4), a card so high as to cool the courage of the opponent.

"My lord, lay down acooling-card; this game is gone too far."

True Trag. of Rich. III. 1594.

Copetain, T. of Sh. v. 1 (fromcop, i.e. top), high-crowned, coned, or sugar-loaf. It seems to be a corruption ofcoppletankt,coppintank, orcoptankt, all signifying the same—"Galerus acuminatus," Junius: "Upon their heads they wore felt hatscopple-tanked, a quarter of an ell high or more" (Comines, by Danet).

Cophetua(L. L. L. iv. 1, 2 Hen. IV. v. 3), the name of an African King, in the ballad, who married a beggar-girl.

Coranto(H. V. iii. 5), a lively, gliding kind of dance, in which the dancer had, as Davies says, "with best order all order to shun," and "wantonly range everywhere."

Corporal of his field(L. L. L. iv. 1). Singer remarks, from Lord Strafford's Letters (ii. 199), that this was a kind of aide-de-camp employed "in taking and carrying to and fro the directions of the general or other higher officers of the field." The ordinary corporal was, as now, the lowest officer. See Nares,v.Gentlemen of the Round.

Cotsall(M. W. i. 1), Cotswold-downs in Gloucestershire, where there used to be various sports at Whitsuntide. They were instituted by Mr. Robert Dover, an attorney in the reign of James I., and continued till after the Revolution. "The sports were football, skittles, quoits, shovel-board, cudgel, and single-stick; bull-baiting, cock-fighting, bowling, wrestling, leaping, dancing, pitching the bar, horse-racing, ringing of bells, jumping in sacks," etc. See Notes and Queries, 3 S. ix. 80, 100, 353.

Counter(C. of Err. iv. 2). Hounds were said to run counter (contra) when they ran back, instead of forward, on the scent.

Counterfeit, likeness, portrait; also same asslip, false coin: R. and J. ii. 4, Tr. and Cr. ii. 3.

Court-cupboard(R. and J. i. 5), a moveable state cupboard, on the receding shelves of which the family-plate was arranged and displayed on festive occasions, as on our side-boards.

Court-holy-water(Lear, iii. 2),eau bénite de la cour, flattery, or rather words without deeds, as plentiful and as lavishly used in courts as holy water in churches.

Cousin.This word was used, in its primitive sense ofconsanguineus, of any one that was akin.

Creep.Creeping to the Cross was an act of devotion in Popish times. It is alluded to in Tr. and Cr. iii. 3.

Cross-row(R. III. i. 1),i.e.Christ-cross-row, the alphabet, because the sign of the Cross was placed at the head of it.

Cuckoo-bud(L. L. L. v. 2), probably the cowslip, which Singer tells us, from Lyte's Herbal (1578), was called in Frenchcoquu primevère, brayes de coquu, and Herbe à coquu.

Cue."Q., a note of entrance for actors; because it is the first letter ofquando, when, showing when to enter and speak" (Buller, the English Grammar, 1634). This, however, seems a very forced and pedantic derivation, and the ordinary one, fromqueue, Fr., seems preferable. Florio, however, says, "a prompter, one who keeps the books for the players and teacheth them, or scholars theirkue."

Cupid's flower(M. N. D. iv. 1). SeeLove in Idleness.

Curate(curé, Fr.), the incumbent of a parish; not whatisnow so termed.

Curiosity(Lear, i. 2), scrupulousness, affected delicacy, or niceness.Curious(T. of Sh. iv. 4) has the same sense.

Curst(T. of Sh. i. 1), shrewish, snappish, ill-tempered. It is usually supposed to becursed; and it may be so, taking this part actively. But I rather think it is a metathesis ofcrosswith a paragogict, or ofcrossed.

Curtal-axe(As Y. L. i. 3), a corruption ofcutlass(coutelasFr.,coltellaccioIt.), a short strong sword: "Hiscurtlaxby his thigh, short, hooked, fine" (Fairf. G. of B. ix. 82), whence it might be inferred that it was curved.

Cut."Draw cuts" (Com. of Err. v. 1), to draw lots of paper or straws cut in different lengths. He who drew the longest was the winner.

Cut bowstrings(M. N. D. i. 2). When a match was made to shoot at butts, each said that if he did notholdhis promise they mightcut his bowstringand exclude him from their society.

Damn.This word had not its present restricted sense; likedamno, it meant simply to condemn, or even merely disapprove of. Sodamnedanddamnableoften signified merely reprehensible.

Dancing-horse(L. L. L. i. 2), a celebrated horse belonging to one Bankes, who had taught him to dance, to count, and perform various other feats. He travelled over the Continent exhibiting him; and it is said, but probably with littletruth, that both master and horse were burnt at Rome for witchcraft.

Dare(H. VIII. iii. 2) had the sense of terrify—whence derived it is hard to say—when used of taking larks in a net, by means of a hawk, or mirrors on a piece of scarlet cloth.

Day-bed(Tw. N. ii. 5, R. III. iii. 7), a couch or sofa; for it was not confined to bed-chambers.

Day-woman(L. L. L. i. 2) is generally said to be a dairy-maid; for aday-house, in the old dictionaries, is where cheeses are made. As, however,day-womanoccurs only in this place, andday's-manhas quite a different sense, it may be only a printer's error for 'dairy-woman.'

Defy(K. John, iii. 4, 1 H. IV. i. 3), renounce, reject, cast off—asdéfier, Fr., is distrust, put no trust in.

Devil rides on a fiddle-stick(1 H. IV. ii. 4), a proverbial expression denoting something strange, unexpected. Its origin is not known.

Dian's-bud(M. N. D. iii. 1), the flower of the Agnus castus. "The virtue of this herb is that it will keep man and womanchaste" (Maur, by Lynacre).

Diffused(M. W. iv. 4), obscure, strange, as it wereconfusedand jumbled. "Speak Welsh to him. I doubt not but thy speech will be morediffuseto him than his French shall be to thee" (Cav. Life of Wolsey).

Dole, share, part (Theil, Germ). "Happy man be his dole" (W. T. i. 2, 1 H. IV. ii. 2) is, Be it his part to be called Happy man.

Dough."My cake is dough" (T. Sh. v. 1) means things are not going well with me. It is a figure taken from bread baked on a girdle, still in use in America.

Drum."John Drum's Entertainment" (All's Well, v. 1). There was a dramatic piece so named (1601), in which Jack Drum, a servant, was continually foiled in his intrigues.

Ducdamè(As Y. L. ii. 6) would appear to be meant for Italian (duc da me, 'bring to me?').

Dudgeon(Macb. ii. 1), the handle of a dagger, properly a handle made of the wood of the box-root, of which this is the name, as given by Bp. Wilkins, Gerard, and others.

Dun."To draw Dun out of the mire" (R. and J. i. 4). Gifford, who says he had often played at this game, thus describes it:—"A log of wood is brought into the midst of the room; this isDun(the cart-horse), and a cry is raised that he is stuck in the mire. Two of the company advance,either with or without ropes, to draw him out. After repeated efforts they find themselves unable to do it, and call for more assistance. The game continues till all the company take part in it, whenDunis extricated of course; and the merriment arises from the awkward and affected efforts of the rustics to lift the log, and sundry arch contrivances to let the ends of it fall on one another's toes."

Dun's the mouse(R. and J. i. 4), an apparent allusion to the colour of the mouse, which, however, is not dun. The phrase was probably made for the sake of a play ondone. It is similar to "The cat is gray" (Lear, iii. 6).

Durance."Robe of durance" (1 H. IV. i. 2). "The jerkin-man is come, but yourrobe of duranceis yet not finished" (Letter of Thomas Winter, of the Gunpowder Plot, in Notes and Queries, 3 S. i. 342). "Let me live, but I will give thee a goodsuit of durance" (Westward Ho!). "I refuse to wearbufffor the lasting, and shall be content to apparel my brain indurance" (Cornwalleys, Essays). It thus appears thatdurancewas a strong kind of cloth.

Each."At each" (Lear, iv. 6),i.e.the end of one being joined to that of the other. The text seems to be right.

Eggs for money(W. T. i. 2) seems to mean cheating, bullying, giving little or no value for money.

Element,par excellencethe air, as that by which we breathe and exist (Tw. N. i. 1, J. C. i. 3, Temp. v.ad fin.). It was believed that man was composed of the four elements (Tw. N. ii. 3, Ant. and Cl. v. 2).

'Em.This is notthemby aphæresis; it is the oldhemof Chaucer, etc. In Marston's plays it is printed'hem.

End.This word was used in a variety of ways in conjunction with others. Thus we have "there an end" (Two Gent. ii. 1, T. Sh. v. 2); "still an end" (ib. iv. 4); "for an end," in fine (Cor. ii. 1); also "word and end" (Chauc. Monk's Tale, Tr. and Cr. iii.); "tale and end" (Gower, C. Am. v). "Most an end," perpetually (Mass. Very Woman, iii. 1), used also by Milton, and even by Warburton. See Gifford on Mass,ut sup.In most of these casesanisand.

Enew(M. for M. iii. 1). "How presently upon the landing of the fowl she [the falcon] came down like a stone andenew'dit, and suddenly got up again, and suddenly upon a second landing came down again, and, missing of it in thedowncome, recovered it beyond expectation, to the admiration of the beholder, at a long flight" (Nash, Quaternio, etc., 1633).Enewis therefore to teaze, worry, terrify, and probably comes fromennuyer, Fr.

Entrance.In 1 H. IV. i. 1, this word is most abusively employed formouth. A most remarkable instance of the liberties the poet took with the Queen's English.

Ephesian(M. W. iv. 5, 2 H. IV. ii. 2) apparently means jovial companion, toper; but why, it is hard to say.

Extent(As Y. L. iii. 1) "Anextentorextendi faciasis so called because the sheriff is to cause the land, etc., to be appraised to their fullextendedvalue before he delivers them to the plaintiff" (Blackstone).

Eye(Temp. ii. 1), what we now call a shade of colour. "Red with aneyeof blue makes a purple" (Boyle). As it elsewhere (R. and J. v. 1) signifies glance, look, that may be a general sense of it.

Fading(W. T. iv. 3), the name of an Irish dance, perhaps theRinka fadha(րinʒceFaða), long dance. It was also used as the burden of a song.

Fan(M. W. ii. 2, R. and J. ii. 4). The fan of those times was quite different from the present one. It was composed of feathers set in a round handle of ivory, and even of silver or gold, so as to be sometimes of the value of £40.

Fancy, love, as being frequently the creation of imagination. The termfancy-manseems to be a relic of this sense. It was also (2 H. IV. iii. 2) the name of an air or tune, as Such a one's Fancy,i.e.favourite.

Fashions(T. Sh. iii. 2), fromfarcins, Fr., the farcy in horses.

Fast and loose(Ant. and Cl. iv. 11. L. L. L. iii. 1, K. John, iii. 1), the trick still played at fairs, and calledPrick in the garter, the belt, the loop. It was well known to the ancients, by whom it was namedἱμαντελιγμὸς, under which name it is accurately described by Julius Pollux (ix. 7); and that it was known in the Middle Ages is proved by this line in the Roman de la Rose—which, by the way, none of the critics have understood—"C'est li gieu deboute-en-corroie," 6882.

Feature, form, person, make,faiture, O. Fr. It was very rarely, if at all, restricted to the countenance as now, or used in the plural. In As Y. L. iii. 3 there is perhaps a printer's error.

Fern-seed(1 H. IV. ii. 1). As the seed of the fern is nearly invisible, it was believed to render so those who carried it. As Brown (Brit. Past. ii. 2) terms itone-night-seeding, it would appear that there was a mystery and a difficulty about obtaining it.

Fig(2 H. IV. v. 3, H. V. iii. 6). It was a mode of insulting to put the thumb between two of the fingers, and hold it out to a person. It was chiefly practised in Spain and Italy.

Fights(M. W. ii. 2), "the waist-cloths which hang round about the ship to hinder men from being seen in fight" (Phillips, World of Words).

First."Two of the first, like coats in heraldry" (M. N. D. iii. 2). The shield was divided in nine different forms; of which thefirstwas an equal division from top to bottom, as when the arms of a man and his wife were united. In this case there was only one crest, that of the husband.

First-born of Egypt(As Y. L. ii. 5). This is supposed to mean high-born persons. But as it only occurs in this place, it may be nothing more than a humorous expression without any definite meaning.

Fives(T. Sh. iii. 2),avivesFr., the strangles in horses; "an inflammation of the kernels, between the chap and the neck of the horse" (Markham, Way to get W. i. 39).

Flap-dragon(L. L. L. v. 1), "a small combustible body set on fire, and put afloat in a glass of liquor" (Nares). "Raisins in hot brandy were the commonest flap-dragons" (Id.). As raisins are not combustible, I rather think it was the liquor that was set on fire, and the feat was getting the flap-dragon out of the flame that enveloped it.

Flaw(2 H. IV. iv. 4, 2 H. VI. iii. 1), a sudden blast of wind. Warburton, who appears to be right, says it was the idea of some philosophers that it was vapour condensed by the cold of night, which, being liberated by the heat of the sun in the morning, caused theflawor sudden burst of wind.

Flibbertigibbet(Lear, iii. 4). This, and all the succeeding names of fiends in this play, was taken by the poet from Harsnet's Declaration, etc., 1603.

Flights(M. Ado, i. 1), long light-feathered arrows for shooting at a mark.

Flirt-gill(R. and J. ii. 4), alsogill-flirt. It is a compound of Gillian, a very common woman's name at the time, andflirt, which was perhaps a corruption offleer itorfleer at.

Florentius(T. Sh. i. 2), the hero of a tale in Gower'sConfessio Amantis, similar to The Wife of Bath's Tale in Chaucer.

Fool's Paradise(R. and J. ii. 4), a state of deceptive happiness. The exact origin of the phrase is not known.

Foot-cloth(2 H. VI. iv. 7), a cloth or housing covering a saddle-horse, and reaching nearly to the ground at each side. Its object was to protect the feet and legs from dirt and mire.

For(Oth. i. 3, Cymb. iv. 2), with an ellipsis ofthat, because. It was also used with an ellipsis offear of.

Forfeits in a barber's shop(M. for M. ii. 2). As barbers' shops were places of common resort, to keep order in them rules were made and hung up declaring the forfeit or penalty for each transgression, which, however, could only be enforced by public opinion.

Formal(C. of Err. v. 1, Tw. N. ii. 5, R. III. iii. 1), in form, regular, ordinary, (T. of Sh. iv. 2, A. Y. L. ii. 7) precise.

Fox(H. V. iv. 4), a name for a sword; possibly so called from the maker's name, like Andrew Ferrara.

French crown(M. for M. i. 2), the crown of a Frenchman's head; a French coin; a bald head caused by the French disease. Hence, as in this place, it is frequently played on.

Galliard(Tw. N. i. 3, H. V. i. 2), a lively springing kind of dance. Davies styles it "swift and wandering," with "passages uncertain to and fro," and "with lofty turns and caprioles in the air." As it had "five paces," it is said to have been the same with the Cinque Pace; but that hardly accords with the mentions we have of the latter, also corruptly called Sink apace (M. Ado, ii. 1, Tw. N. i. 3).

Gallimaufry(W. T. iv. 3, M. W. ii. 1),galimafrée, Fr., a kind of hash or ragout. In these places it is used abusively as applied to persons, meaning mixture or jumble. Its origin is not known.

Gallowglas.SeeKerne.

Gaskins(Tw. N. i. 5), same asgallygaskins, loose breeches or trousers. The derivation is uncertain.

Generous(M. for M. iv. 6, Oth. iii. 3), noble-minded,generosus.

Gentle, noble, of good birth (gentilis); thence, brave, gallant, worthy; and finally, courteous, kind, mild, sweet-tempered,—such qualities being most usually found amongthe well-born. This last sense is the least usual in the dramatists.

Gentry(Ham. ii. 2), courtesy, good manners.

Gig(L. L. L. iv. 3), a whipping-top.

Giglot(M. for M. v. 1, 1 H. VI. v. 1, Cymb. iii. 1), a female wanton. It is perhaps connected withgiggle.

Gillian, the English form of Juliana, a name so common in former times thatJack and Jillwas a usual phrase to denote two persons of the opposite sexes. St. Juliana was a Florentine, who was not canonized till 1729, so that the name could hardly have come from her. In Ireland Julia (in Irish Sheelah—Sila) is a common name among the peasantry. There was a Saint Julia, virgin martyr, who was put to death in the fifth century.

Gillyvor(W. T. iv. 3), of whichgillyfloweris a corruption, is the flower namedcaryophyllum, whence is formed the Frenchgiroflée.

Gongorian(M. W. i. 3), supposed to be a corruption ofHungarian; but that is uncertain.

Good-night(2 H. IV. iii. 2), likeFancy, a kind of song or ballad. Thus there was Johnny Armstrong's Good Night.

Good year(Much Ado, i. 3, 2 H. IV. ii. 4), a more delicate form ofgougère, the French disease.

Gourd and fullam(M. W. i. 3), names of uncertain origin for false dice; called in the same placehigh and low, sc. men. They were of course hollowed and leaded internally so as to turn up the numbers required.

Greek."Merry Greek" (Tr. and Cr. i. 2, iv. 4). In the Latin Classics the Greeks were always represented as lively and cheerful (seeMerry), as compared with the more sombre Romans; and hence the phrase "Merry as a Greek" may have come into use in England. Still the original may have been "as merry as a grig," the grig or young eel being so lively and vivacious.

Green-sleeves(M. W. ii. 1, v. 5), a celebrated air. The song of "Since laws were made for every degree" in the Beggar's Opera is to this air.

Groundling(Ham. iii. 2), one who stood on the ground in the pit of the theatre, where there were no seats, and the price of admittance was only a penny.

Guard(M. Ado, iii. 4, L. L. L. iv. 3), an edging or binding on clothes, so named, probably, as securing themfrom tearing. It then came to signify any trimming etc. on dress.

Guinever(L. L. L. iv. 1), the queen of King Arthur in the romances.

Gull(1 H. IV. v. 1, Tim. ii. 1), an unfledged bird; still used of goslings. It then came to signify a dupe, one imposed on (Tw. N. iii. 2, v. 1), also a trick, imposition (M. Ado, ii. 3).

Gumm'd velvet(1 H. IV. ii. 2), velvet stiffened with gum, whence it was apt tofretor fray.

Halcyon(Lear, ii. 2). "A little bird, called the king's-fisher, being hanged up in the air by the neck, his neb or bill will be always direct or straight against the wind."—Book of Notable Things.

Half-face(K. John, i. 1, 2 H. iv. iii. 1), in profile, as showing but half the face.

Halidom(Two Gent. iv. 2), and corruptlyholy dame(H. VIII. v. 1, R. and J. i. 3), same aschristendom, christening, consecrating by the rite of baptism.

Hall."A hall, a hall!" (R. and J. i. 5), a cry to clear the room, and make a space for the dancers.Ringis still used in a somewhat similar sense.

Hangers(Ham. v. 2), the short straps by which a sword was hung from the belt.

Hatch(Tr. and Cr. i. 3), adorn, ornament. It is properly to engrave or work with lines—hacher, Fr.

Have, take. This sense is frequent in the Pilgrim's Progress, and we still speak ofhavinga person before a magistrate. The expressionshave at youandhave with youare elliptical; andhaveis there, I take me.

Hazard.SeeTennis.

Head(1 H. IV. iv. 3, v. 1, 2 H. IV. i. 3, ii. 2), army, forces. "To make head," to raise an army.

Hell(C. of Er. iv. 2), the worst part of a prison. Marot has a poem on a prison, calledL'enfer.

Hermit.In "We rest your hermits" (Macb. i. 6) the proper word would bebeadsmen; but as the speaker is a woman, the poet ventured to use 'hermit' in a sense it never has had before or since. SeeEntrance.

Hide fox, and all after(Ham. iv. 2, M. Ado, ii. 3), a play of children. It was probably what is now called Hide-and-Seek.

Hip."Have on the hip" (M. of V. i. 3, Oth. ii. 1) seems to be taken from wrestling, and to signify getting the opponent across one's hip, and thus being able to give him a severe fall.

"To getthe Paganon the hip;And having caught him right, he doth him liftBy nimble slight, and in such wise doth tripThat down he threw him."

"To getthe Paganon the hip;

And having caught him right, he doth him lift

By nimble slight, and in such wise doth trip

That down he threw him."

Harr. Or. Fur. xlvi. 117.

Hiren."Have we not Hiren here?" (2 H. IV. ii. 4). It is a corruption of the Greek proper name of Irene, made by Peele in his play of The Turkish Mahomet and the fair Greek Hiren.

Hob.This, likeBob,Dob, was merely a short form of Robert. It andDobare still preserved in proper names, as in Hobbs,Hobson. Hob-goblin answers to the GermanKnecht-Ruprecht.

Hob-nob(Tw. N. iii. 4), ishab-nab, i.e. 'have or no have,' hit or miss.

Hobby-horse(L. L. L. iii. 1, Ham. iii. 2). This was an essential character in the morris-dance. It was the figure of a horse fastened round the waist of a man, whose legs were concealed by the horse's long footcloth, outside of which hung a pair of artificial legs and thighs. The man, of course, gave motion to the horse, prancing about, neighing, etc. It may still be seen at the booths in fairs and at minor theatres. The Puritans were bitter enemies to the Hobby-horse, which was therefore frequently left out, whence the cry of

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