Phrases and Names, Their Origins and Meanings. Trench H. Johnson
Stands on part of the site of the practising ground of the London Artillery Company, temp. Henry VIII., and later of the Tower Gunners, when all the land towards the north hereabouts was open fields.
Arundel. The dale of the River Arun.
Arundel Street. That in the Strand from the town mansion and extensive grounds of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel and Surrey. That in the Haymarket after the ground landlord, Lord Arundel of Wardour.
Ascension Island. Discovered by the Portuguese on the Feast of the Ascension, 1501.
As Cross as Two Sticks. Two sticks held together in the centre like the letter X form a cross.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The home among the ash-trees of the De La Zouches. By expresses the Anglo-Saxon for a dwelling.
Asia. From the Sanskrit Ushas, “land of the dawn.” By the Western nations Asiatics were anciently styled “the people of the sun.”
Asia Minor. Lesser Asia, called by the Turks and Greeks “Anatolia.”
Aspasia. A flower named after Aspasia of Miletus, the mistress of Pericles.
As Poor as a Church Mouse. A church is one of the very few buildings that contain neither kitchen nor larder. Church mice, therefore, have a hungry time of it.
As Rich as a Jew. The Jews in England were the first usurers, bankers, and bill-brokers. They only had the command of ready money, the wealth of the nobility consisting in the possession of broad lands.
Assumptionists. A modern religious Order, founded fifty years ago, whose full title is the Augustinians of the Assumption.
Astoria. From the fur-trading station established in 1811 by John Jacob Astor of New York.
Astrakhan. Fur brought from Astrakhan, which name signifies the country or district ruled by a khan of the Tartar or Mogul Empire.
Asturia. From the Basque asta, rock, and ura, water, denoting a region of mountains and estuaries.
Atlantic Ocean. Called by the Greeks Atlantikos pelagos, from the Isle of Atlantis, imagined by Homer and Plato to be beyond the Strait of Gibraltar.
Athanasian Creed. Opinions affecting the doctrine of the Trinity, ascribed to St. Athanasius of Alexandria, adopted and formally compiled by St. Hilary, Bishop of Arles in the fifth century.
Athens. From the Temple of Athene, or Minerva, the tutelary goddess of the city.
Athens of America. The city of Boston, considered the chief seat of learning in the New World.
Athens of the South. Nashville, Tennessee, on account of the number of its scholastic institutions.
Athelney. The “Royal Island” or “Isle of the Nobles,” where Alfred the Great founded a Benedictine monastery.
Atlas. Since the publication of “Mercator’s Projections,” with the figure of Atlas bearing the globe on his shoulders as a frontispiece, in 1560, all books of maps have received this name.
At Loggerheads. See “Loggerhead.”
Auburn. From the Anglo-Saxon Auld Bourne, old bourn, or stream.
Auckland. The capital of New Zealand, named in honour of Lord Auckland, a famous politician of his time, who became Governor-General of India, and after his retirement was elected President of the Asiatic Society. His ancestor, the first Lord Auckland, took his title from Auckland in Durham, which name was originally Oakland.
Audley Street (North and South). Perpetuate the memory of Hugh Audley, a barrister of the Middle Temple, whose landed estates hereabouts were computed at his death in 1662 to be worth a million of money.
Augsburg Confession. The Lutheran Confession of faith drawn up by Melancthon, and presented by Martin Luther to Charles V. during the sitting of the German Diet at Augsburg in 1530.
August. After Augustus Cæsar, who regarded this as his lucky month. Its original name was Sextilis, the sixth month of the Roman year.
Augustan Age. The best literary age of any country, because Rome in the time of Augustus Cæsar produced the finest examples of Latin literature.
Augustin Friars. The religious Order said to have been founded by St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury. See “Austin Friars.”
Auld Reekie. The name given to the old part of Edinburgh, from the cloud of reek or smoke which usually caps it.
Austin Friars. Part of the site of the priory of the Augustin Friars, whose church still remains.
Australasia. Southern Asia.
Australia. From the Latin Australis, southern.
Austria. From Oesterreich, or Eastern Empire, as distinguished from the Western Empire founded by Charlemagne.
Autocar. The name first given to a motor car; incorrectly, however, since so far from being automatic such a one, like all mechanically propelled vehicles, requires a guiding intelligence.
Autun. The Augustodunum, or Town of Augustus, of the Romans.
Auvergne. From the Auverni, who overran it in the time of the Cæsars.
Avoca. Gaelic for “the meeting of the waters.”
Ave Maria Lane. Where the monks of old chanted the “Ave Maria” on their way to St. Paul’s. See “Amen Corner.”
Avon. From Arfon, the Celtic for river or stream, which enters into many place-names.
Axminster. The monastery town on the Axe.
Ayah. Hindustani for waiting-woman or nurse.
Aye-Vye. An animal found in Madagascar, so called from its cry.
Aylesbury Street. From the town house and garden of the Earls of Aylesbury.
Azores. The Portuguese named this group of islands Acores, the plural of acor, hawk, on account of the great number of hawks there.
Azov. A Russianised form of Asak, the name given to it by the Tartars.
B
Bacchanalia. Roman festivals in honour of Bacchus, the god of wine.
Bacchus Verses. Verses writtenwritten in praise or dispraise of Bacchus, and affixed to the doors of the College at Eton on “Collop Monday.”
Bachelor Girl. One who lives in her own rooms, belongs to a woman’s club, and considers herself superior to what is called home influence--a distinctly modern creation.
Backgammon. From the Saxon Bac and gamen, “back-game,” because the pieces have at times to go back and be moved up afresh.
Back a Man. To have full confidence in him.