Brewer's: Bis

Bis dat, qui cito dat (he gives twice who gives promptly)— i.e. prompt relief will do as much good as twice the sum at a future period (Publius Syrus Proverbs.)

Purple and bis, i.e.
purple and fine linen (Latin, byssus, fine flax). The spelling is sometimes biss, bys, etc.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content