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Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—C

Charles's Wain

The constellation called the Great Bear, which forms the outline of a wheelbarrow or rustic wagon. “Charles” is a corruption of the word churles, the farmer's wagon. (Anglo-Saxon, ceorles wan.)

Sometimes still further corrupted into “King Charles's wain.”

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

Charles and the Oak

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More on Charles's Wain from Infoplease:

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Charles's Wain - Charles's Wain The constellation called the Great Bear, which forms the outline of a ...
Northern Wagoner - Northern Wagoner (The). Ursa Major, called “Charles's wain,” or wagon. The ...
Ursa Major and Ursa Minor - Ursa Major and Ursa Minor Ursa Major and Ursa Minor [Lat.,=the great bear; the little bear], two ...
William Shakespeare: Henry IV (Pt 1), Act II - Heigh-ho! an it be not four by the day, I'll be hanged: Charles' wain is over the new chimney, and yet our horse not packed. What, ostler!

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