Phrases and Names, Their Origins and Meanings. Trench H. Johnson
West Indian for “Little Snake,” from its shape.
Anisette. A cordial prepared from aniseed.
Annunciator. An Americanism for bell or gong.
Antarctic Ocean. That situate anti, opposite to, the Arctic Ocean.
Antelope State. Nebraska, from the number of antelopes found there.
Anthem. A hymn sung by the entire congregation, as distinguished from Antiphone, which term expresses a series of choral responses.
Antigua. Expresses the Spanish for an ancient city.
Antwerp. In French Anvers, the Antverpia of the Romans.
Any. An Americanism for “at all”--e.g. “It didn’t trouble me any.”
Apache State. Arizona, the scene of many bloodthirsty encounters with the wild Apaches.
Apennines. The Pennine Alps, from the Celtic ben, which is the same as the Welsh pen, summit or mountain head.
Apollinaris Water. Brought from the famous mineral spring in the valley of the Ahor of the Rhine province. The ruins of a temple of Apollo gave the name to the spot.
Apothecary. The old name for a dispenser of medicines. The Greek word really implies a storehouse or depository; it is compounded out of apo, to put away, and theke, chest, box. Differing from modern chemists and druggists, licentiates of the Apothecaries’ Company may visit the sick and prescribe for them, as well as make up physicians’ prescriptions.
Appian Way. The construction of this famous road leading from Rome to Capua was commenced by Appius Claudius.
Apostle of Temperance. Father Mathew, the inveterate enemy of tipplers in the Emerald Isle of his time.
Apostles’ Creed. The whole summary of Christian Faith, according to the Apostles.
Apostolic Fathers. Those early doctors of the Church who, living in the first century after Christ, received their teaching from His disciples, if they did not actually enjoy personal communion with the Apostles.
Apricot. From the Latin præcoqus, early ripe.
April. The month in which the buds begin to shoot, from aperio, to open.
April Fish. The French equivalent of “April Fool,” since, like a fish, the unsuspecting victim of a practical joke is easily caught.
April Fool. The custom of April Fooling originated in France, which country took the lead in shifting the New Year from what is now Lady Day to the 1st of January. This occurred in 1564. From the earliest periods of history people bestowed gifts upon their neighbours at the New Year, but as the 25th of March so often fell in Holy Week, even on Good Friday itself, the Church uniformly postponed the celebration of the New Year until the octave--viz. the 1st of April. When, therefore, New Year’s Day had been transferred to the 1st of January, people paid mock visits to their friends on the 1st of April with the object of fooling them into the belief that matters remained as they were. The like custom was introduced into England on the alteration of our calendar in 1762. April Fools’ Day is supposed to be over at twelve o’clock, since the New Year’s visitation and bestowal of gifts always took place before noon.
Apsley House. The residence of the Duke of Wellington, built by Henry Apsley, Lord Chancellor, afterwards Lord Bathurst.
Aquarians. A Christian sect of the fourth century who substituted water for wine in the Communion.
Aqua Tofana. A colourless poison invented by a Sicilian woman named Tofana towards the close of the seventeenth century. So extensive was her secret traffic with this liquid among young married women who were anxious to rid themselves of their husbands that when, at a great age, Tofana was dragged from the convent where she had taken refuge, and executed, she admitted to having caused the deaths of 600 persons.
Arabia. The country of the Arabs, or “men of the desert.”
Arbor Day. A day set apart in America for planting trees.
Arbroath. Originally Aberbrothockwick, the village at the mouth of the Brothock.
Arcadian. An ideal farmer or a rustic scene; after the Arcadians, who were essentially a pastoral race.
Arcadian Poetry. Pastoral poetry, in allusion to the Arcadians.
Archangel. A town in Russia which derived its name from a great monastery of St. Michael the Archangel.
Archer-fish. A fish endowed with the power of shooting water at insects, which thus become an easy prey.
Archway Road. Leads to the modern successor of the famous Highgate Archway opened in 1813.
Arctic Ocean. From the Greek arktos, bear, having reference to the great northern constellation.
Ardennes. The great forest on the heights.
Argand Lamp. After its inventor, Aimé Argand.
Argentine Republic. The modern name of Argentina, through which runs the La Plata, or River of Silver. While preserving their original designation of the river, the Spaniards Latinised that of the country.
Argosy. A vessel laden with rich merchandise, from the Argo, in which Jason and his fellow-adventurers, the Argonauts, sailed to Colchis in quest of the Golden Fleece, B.C. 1263.
Argyll. From Garra Ghaidhael, the country of the West Gaels.
Argyll Street. From the old town mansion of the Dukes of Argyll. The celebrated Argyll Rooms, now the Trocadero Restaurant, were a far cry from the other extreme of Regent Street.
Argus-eyed. After the fabled Argus, who had a hundred eyes.
Arians. The followers of the first Christian heretic, Arius, a presbyter of the Church of Alexandria in the fourth century.
Arizona. Indian for “sand-hills.”
Arkansas. The same as Kansas, “smoky water,” with the French suffix arc, a bow.
Arkansas Toothpick. The Far-West designation of a “Bowie Knife,” the blade of which, as used by the people of this state, shuts up into the handle.
Arlington Street. From the town mansion of Henry Bennett, Earl of Arlington.
Arminians. The anti-Calvinists of Holland, led by James Harmensen under the Latinised name of Jacobus Arminius.
Arras. Mediæval tapestry, for the production of which the town of Arras, in the French Netherlands, was famous.
Arrowroot. So called because the Indians of tropical America regarded the root of the plant as efficacious against arrow wounds.
Artemus Ward. The pseudonym of Charles Farrar Browne, the American humorous lecturer. This was, however, the actual name of an eccentric showman whom he had encountered on his travels.
Artesian Well. From Artois, where such wells were first bored.
Arthur’s Seat. Said to have derived its name from King Arthur, but how his association with the city of Edinburgh arose no man can tell.
Artichoke. From the Arabic ardischauki, earth thorn.
Artillery