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Brewer's: Chevaux de Frise

(French). Horses of Friesland. A beam filled with spikes to keep off horses, so called from its use in the siege of Groningen, Friesland, in 1594. A somewhat similar engine had been used…

Brewer's: Cure de Meudon

—i.e. Rabelais, who was first a monk, then a leech, then prebend of St. Maur, and lastly curé of Meudon. (1483-1653.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer,…

Brewer's: De Bonne Grace

(French). Willingly; with good grace. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894De Die in DiemDaystar A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V…

Brewer's: De Die in Diem

From day to day continuously, till the business is completed. “The Ministry have elected to go on de die in diem.” —Newspaper paragraph, December, 1885. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and…

Brewer's: Constable de Bourbon

Charles, Duc de Bourbon, a powerful enemy of Francois I. He was killed while heading the assault on Rome. (1527.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer,…

Brewer's: Corps de Garde

(French). The company of men appointed to watch in a guard-room; the guard-room. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Corps DiplomatiqueCorporation A B C D E…

Brewer's: Couleur de Rose

(French). Highly coloured; too favourably considered; overdrawn with romantic embellishments, like objects viewed through glass tinted with rose pink. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and…

Brewer's: Coup de Grace

The finishing stroke. When criminals were tortured by the wheel or otherwise, the executioner gave him a coup de grâce, or blow on the head or breast, to put him out of his misery. “The…

Brewer's: Coup de Main

(French). A sudden stroke; a stratagem whereby something is effected suddenly. Sometimes called a coup only, as “The coup [the scheme] did not answer.” “London is not to be taken by a coup…

Brewer's: Coup de Soleil

(French). A sun-stroke, any malady produced by exposure to the sun. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Coup de TheatreCoup de Pied de l'Ane A B C D E F G…