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Brewer's: Gruel
To give him his gruel. To kill him. The allusion is to the very common practice in France, in the sixteenth century, of giving poisoned possets—an art brought to perfection by Catherine de…Brewer's: Guitar
(Greek, kithara; Latin, cithara; Italian, chitarra; French, guitare. The Greek kithar is the Hindu cha-tar (six-strings). Guitar. The best players on this instrument have been Guiliani,…Brewer's: Barcarole
(3 syl.) A song sung by Venetian barcaroli, as they row their gondolas. (Italian, barcarolo, a boatman.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894BarcelonaBarbier A…Brewer's: Barley-mow
A heap of barley housed, or where it is housed. (Anglo-Saxon, mowe, a heap; Italian, mucchio; Spanish, mucho.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Barley…Brewer's: Base
The basis, or that on which an animal walks (Greek, baino, to go, and basis, a footstep). The foot is the foundation- hence, base of a pillar, etc. It is also the lowest part, and hence…Brewer's: Baste
(1 syl.). I'll baste your jacket for you, i.e. cane you. I'll give you a thorough basting, i.e. beating. (Spanish, baston, a stick; Italian, bastone; French, bâton.) Source: Dictionary…Brewer's: Bastinado
A beating (Italian, bastone; French, baston, now bâton, a stick). The Chinese, Turks, and Persians punish offenders by beating them on the soles of the feet. The Turks call the punishment…Brewer's: Belladonna
(Italian, beautiful lady ). This name was given to the Deadly Nightshade, from a practice once common among ladies of touching their eyes with it to make the pupils large and lustrous.…Brewer's: Belvedere
[bel-ve-dear]. A sort of pleasure-house or look-out on the top of a house. The word is Italian, and means a fine prospect. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer,…Brewer's: Infantry
Foot soldiers. Said to be first applied to a body of men collected by the Infante or heir-apparent of Spain for the purpose of rescuing his father from the Moors. The success of the…Trending
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