Исторический английский фразеологический словарь. Виктор Евгеньевич Никитин
His apostles, to whom it was dedicated.
Christy Minstrels. After Charles Christy, who introduced the Negro Minstrel Entertainment to England.
Church Ale. Specifically the ale brewed by the church-wardens for merrymakers on the village green at Whitsuntide and other high holidays. Later the assemblage itself came to be styled a “Church Ale.”
Chute. The French for “a fall,” applied by the Americans to a declivity of water. The exciting diversion of boating on such a waterfall is styled “Shooting the Chutes.”
Cicerone. After Cicero, the prince of speakers. The comparison between the celebrated orator and the “Roman Guide” befooled by Mark Twain is rather painful.
61Cigar. From the Spanish Cigarro, the original name of a particular kind of Cuban tobacco.
Cinderella Dance. Because it is brought to an end at twelve o’clock, in allusion to the heroine in the fairy story.
Circumlocution Office. A term first applied to the shuttle-cock methods in vogue at our public offices by Charles Dickens in “Little Dorrit.”
Cistercians. An Order of monks established at Cistercium, or Citeau, near Dijon.
City. The proper and historic distinction between a city and a town lies in the fact that the former is the seat of a bishop, and accordingly contains a cathedral. In modern times many burghs or towns have been advanced to the dignity of a city on account of their commercial importance. These are, however, cities only in name.
City Fathers. Aldermen of the city of London.
City Golgotha. Old Temple Bar, from the heads of rebels spiked on its top. Golgotha is Hebrew for “the place of skulls.”
Claim. A squatter’s term for a piece of land which he has marked off and settled upon pending its legal acquisition from the Government. During the gold fever the name also came to be applied to the land parcelled out to each digger.
Clare Market. The site of Clare House, the residence of the Earl of Clare.
Clarence. A carriage named after the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV.
Clarges Street. From the mansion of Sir Walter Clarges, afterwards taken over by the Venetian ambassador.
Clarendon. The black type first used at the Clarendon Press, Oxford, which owed its foundation to the profits of Lord Clarendon’s “History of the Rebellion,” presented to the University.
62Claude Lorraine. The assumed name of the celebrated landscape painter Claude Galée, who was a native of Lorraine.
Cleaned Out. Pockets emptied of cash. The allusion is to a saucepan or other domestic cooking utensil which is cleansed after use.
Clerkenwell. The holy well beside which the parish clerks performed their miracle plays on festival days.
Clifford Street. After Elizabeth Clifford, wife of the Earl of Burlington.
Closure. A modern parliamentary term signifying the right of the Speaker to order the closing of a useless debate. The Closure was first applied 24th February 1884.
Cloth Fair. The great annual mart for the sale of cloth brought over by Flemish merchants.
Club. From the German kleben, to adhere, cleave to, associate.
Clyde. The strong river, from the Gaelic clyth, strong.
Coast is Clear. Originally a smugglers’ phrase relative to coastguards.
Coat of Arms. During the days of chivalry, when a knight was completely encased in armour and the vizor of his helmet was drawn over his face, his sole mode of distinction was by the embroidered design of his armorial bearings on a sleeveless coat that he wore in the lists at tournaments. In warfare the coat was dispensed with, but he was known to his comrades by another device on the crest of his helmet.
Cobbler. An American drink of spirits, beer, sugar, and spice, said to have been first concocted by a Western shoemaker.
Coblentz. From the Latin name, Confluentia, being situated at the confluence of the Rivers Rhine and Moselle.
63Cockade. From the party badge originally displayed on a cocked hat. See “Knocked into a Cocked Hat.”
Cockade State. Maryland, from the brilliant cockades worn by the brave Old Maryland Regiment during the War of Independence.
Cockney. From “Cockayne,” a Fools’ Paradise, where there is nothing but eating and drinking, described in a satiric poem of the thirteenth century. The word was clearly derived from coquere, to cook, and had reference to London, where the conduits on occasion ran with wine, and good living fell to the lot of men generally.
Cock-penny. A penny levied by the master on each of the boys for allowing the brutal sport of cock-throwing in school on Shrove Tuesday formerly. The master himself found the bird.
Cocktail. Tradition has it that one of Montezuma’s nobles sent a draught of a new beverage concocted by him from the cactus plant to the Emperor by his daughter Xochitl. The Aztec monarch smiled, tasted it, gulped it down with a relish, and, it is said, afterwards married the girl; thenceforward this drink became the native tipple, and for centuries it bore the softened name of Octel. The corruption of Octel into Cocktail by the soldiers of the American Army when, under General Scott, they invaded Mexico, about sixty years ago, was easy.
Coger. A slang term derived from the members of the celebrated Cogers’ Club in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. They styled themselves “Cogers” from the Latin cogito, to think deeply.
Cohees. Natives of Western Pennsylvania, owing to their addiction to the phrase “Quoth he,” softened into Quo’he.
Coin Money. To make money as fast as it is turned out at the Mint. Few men are so fortunate.
Coke Hat. After William Coke, who popularised it. See “Billycock.”
64Coldbath Fields. A district of Clerkenwell now long built over, but famous for a cold bath; the site is marked by the present Bath Street.
Colchester. The camp town on the Colne.
Coldstream Guards. The regiment raised by General Monk at Coldstream, Berwickshire, in 1660.
Coleman Street. Said to have been built upon by one Coleman; but long before his time the coalmen or charcoal merchants congregated here.
Colleen. Irish for girl. “Colleen Bawn” expresses a blonde girl.
College Hill. From a collegiate foundation of Sir Richard Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London.
College Port. Inferior port served up to the older students at college. It is said to be specially prepared for this market.
Collop Monday. The day preceding Shrove Tuesday, when housewives cut up all their meat into large steaks or collops for salting during Lent.
Cologne. The Colonia Agrippina of the Romans, so called after the mother of Nero, who was born here.
Colonel. A Far-West title of courtesy bestowed upon anyone who owns a stud horse.
Colorado. The Spaniards gave this name to the state in allusion to its coloured ranges.
Colosseum. Greek for “great amphitheatre.”
Combine. An Americanism for “Combination.” Applied in a financial or commercial sense, this term is now well understood in our own country.
Come up to the Scratch. A prize-fighting expression. A line was scratched on the ground with a stick, and the combatants were expected to toe it with the left foot.
Commonwealth. In theatrical parlance, a sharing out of the proceeds of the week’s performances after all expenses have been deducted. This generally happens 65when the manager has decamped with the entire takings, and left his company stranded.
Compton Street (Old and New). Built upon by Sir Richard Compton and Bishop Compton respectively.
Conduit Street. From a conduit of spring water set up here before the land was built over.
Confidence Man. An Americanism for one who in this country