PHRASES AND NAMES
THEIR ORIGINS AND
MEANINGS

Not many words are needed to introduce this work to the reader. It functions like an encyclopedia, with the important note that the information it presents is limited to straightforward facts. Flowery language has been deliberately avoided. Those looking for more information can easily find it from commonly available sources. The author's only aim has been to explain the origins of popular phrases and names. To the best of his knowledge, no other work like this exists. Drawing from his extensive knowledge gained through years of extensive reading, careful inquiry, and research, he has been able to compile an Mixed stew which should help meet a need.

The origin of place names is fascinating because it reveals the history of people and the civilizing influences, if you could call it that, of conquest. London street names, in particular, convey as much meaning in one word to someone with a taste for history as "a volume of forgotten lore." Regarding phrases and expressions, the author has conducted a special study on the topic. Many Americanisms have been included, but since the number is increasing daily, it would take a monthly publication of such locally coined phrases to keep fully updated. To ensure nothing is lacking in terms of completeness, it has been deemed wise to incorporate a number of slang terms and expressions that we hear every day. For the author, compiling this volume has been a pleasurable diversion during breaks from more demanding literary work. If the reader finds it contains an abundance of interesting content, they will, of course, take it in small doses.

London, 1906.

A1. A term that means “top quality.” It comes from Lloyd’s “Registry of Shipping,” where letters indicate the condition of a ship’s hull, and numbers indicate the quality of its equipment. A vessel registered as A1 is first-class in every way.

Abbey Laird. A broke debtor who once sought refuge in the grounds of Holyrood Abbey to avoid being arrested.

Abbey Road. From the old abbey of the Holy Virgins of St John the Baptist in St John’s Wood.

Abbotsford. The name Sir Walter Scott chose for his home by the banks of the Tweed, based on the poetic idea that the abbots of Melrose must have crossed the river here in ancient times.

A.B.C. Girls. Waitresses at the depots of the Aerated Bread Company Limited.

Aberdeen. From the Celtic aber, meaning estuary or confluence; the town at the mouth of the Dee.

Abernethy Biscuits. Named after the baker who created them. The famous physician, Dr. Abernethy, denied any association with them.

Aberystwith. The town located at the mouth of the Ystwith River.

Abigail. A common name for a maid, referring to the handmaid who presented herself to David (1 Sam. xxv. 23). Its popularity in the latter half of the seventeenth century can be explained by the fact that Mrs. Masham, who served as a waiting-woman for Queen Anne, had the maiden name Abigail Hill. 2

Abingdon. A variation of Abbendon, the town of abbeys, known for its religious houses dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.

Abingdon Street. From the historic home of the Earls of Abingdon.

Abney Park. From Abney House, which is now a Conservative Club, the home of Sir Thomas Abney, Lord Mayor of London. Dr. Isaac Watts died at Abney House in 1748.

Home of Love. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Abolitionists. The group committed to the complete and instant elimination of slavery in the United States.

Above Board. Open, not playing a deceitful game. The owners of the gaming tables at a racetrack secretly controlled the spinning hand on the board using a foot pedal.

Abraham Newlands. Bank of England notes, named after the signature they had early in the last century.

Absinthe. From Greek apsnithion, wormwood.

Absquatulate. A term from the American West. A squatter who suddenly left their claim was said to have absquatulated.

Abyssinia. The country of the Abassins, or “mixed races.”

Academy. From the garden of Academus, where Plato taught his students; called this because of the Academics, or Academic School of Philosophy.

According to Cocker. Absolutely correct. After Edward Cocker of Paul's Chain, who published a very popular arithmetic book.

According to Gunter. A phrase commonly used in America to describe anything done correctly and methodically. It refers to Edmund Gunter, the famous mathematician who created a chain and scale for measuring.

3Achilles Tendon. The tendon reaching from the calf of the leg to the heel. See “Heel of Achilles.”

Acknowledge the Corn. This is a popular American saying. Its origin is explained by The Pittsburg Commercial Advertiser: “Some years ago, a naive guy from the countryside decided to try his luck in New Orleans. He set out with two flatboats—one loaded with corn and the other with potatoes—and floated down the river. The night after he arrived, he went uptown to a gambling house. Naturally, he started betting, and when luck wasn’t on his side, he lost. Once his money was gone, he started betting his ‘stuff’; soon the corn and potatoes were part of the gamble too. Eventually, after being completely cleaned out, he made his way back to his boats at the wharf, where he faced yet another misfortune. Due to some accident, the flatboat with the corn had sunk, resulting in a total loss. Trying to console himself, he fell asleep, dreaming of gamblers, potatoes, and corn. However, he was barely awake at sunrise when a ‘child of chance’ showed up to claim the two boats as his winnings. As he slowly came to, rubbing his eyes and looking the man in the face, he replied: ‘Stranger, I acknowledge the corn—take them; but you can’t have the potatoes, by thunder!’ Since then, it has become common for someone who openly admits they’ve been tricked or beaten to say: ‘I acknowledge the corn.’”

Acropolis. From the Greek akros, meaning highest, and polis, meaning city. A citadel or fortress that overlooks a city, like in Athens.

Acton. Anglo-Saxon for “Oak Town,” built near a large oak forest.

Actors’ Day. A day—the third Thursday in October—designated for performances in all the theaters of the United Kingdom to support various theatrical charities. Actors agree to volunteer their services, playwrights waive their fees, and managers dedicate all ticket sales to the cause.

4Adam Street. Named after the Adam Brothers, who created the streets known collectively as the “Adelphi.”

Adam’s Needle. A plant named for its long, pointed leaves. It’s uncertain whether he and his partner used it to tie their aprons together.

Adam’s Wine. Drinking water, because Adam didn’t know about the fermented juice of the grape.

Ada Rehan. This American actress is of Irish descent, her name being "Regan," but when she started her acting career, she changed it to "Rehan."

Addison of the North. The literary nickname of Henry Fielding, author of “The Man of Feeling,” because of the clarity and sophistication of his writing.

Addison Road. Named after the famous English essayist who married the Dowager Countess of Warwick and lived out his days at Holland House in Kensington.

Addled Parliament. A notable session during the reign of James I that, despite running from April 5, 1614, to June 7, 1615, didn't pass any new legislation at all.

Adelaide. The capital of South Australia, an island, and also a famous hotel on Haverstock Hill, named in honor of the wife of William IV.

Adelphi. The common name for several streets and an elegant terrace on the south side of the Strand, constructed by the Brothers Adam. Adelphi means "brothers" in Greek.

Goodbye. Originally a popular expression of trust in God's care--To God!

Adonis. The name given to a handsome young man, and also to the anemone, named after Adonis, who was adored by Venus. The flower is said to have emerged from his blood when he was killed by a wild boar during a hunt.

Admirable Crichton. The title of someone skilled in all the arts. “Admirable” Crichton was a famous Scottish prodigy from the sixteenth century.

Admiral. From the Arabic emir-el-bahr, which means Lord of the Sea.

Adrianople. The city established by Emperor Hadrian.

Adriatic Sea. After Emperor Hadrian.

Adullamites. Those who broke away from the Reform Party in 1866. John Bright remarked that they had gone to the Cave of Adullam, where they collected all the dissatisfied people. The reference was to David's escape from Saul (1. Sam. xxii. 1, 2).

Ad valorem. A Customs term for duties charged based on the declared value of imported goods. The duty on different grades of the same goods may therefore vary.

Aediles. Civil officials of Rome responsible for the upkeep of the streets and aedēs, or public buildings.

Æolian Harp. A lute set among the trees for the gentle winds to play, named after Æolus, the god of the winds.

Æsculapius. The general term for a doctor, named after the one of this name mentioned by Homer, who was later turned into a god in Greek mythology.

Afghanistan. Following the Persian stan, the land of the Afghans.

Africa. Originating from the Phoenician afer, meaning a black man, and the Sanskrit ac, meaning earth, land, or country. This vast continent is the natural home of black people—the African Americans and those from the West Indies are descendants of slaves brought from the west coast of Africa since the time of the first slave trader, Sir John Hawkins, in 1562.

Agapæ. Love feasts of the Romans, from the Greek agape, meaning love.

Agapemonites. An old term that has recently regained popularity. Agapemone is Greek for “home of love.” There was a place like this in the early nineteenth century at Charlynch, Somerset, where the Agapemonists or Agapemonites lived, followers of Henry James Prince, a former clergyman.

Agar Street. After William Agar, a wealthy lawyer, who resided in it. See “Agar Town.”

6Agar Town. A now-gone neighborhood that was once underneath St Pancras Railway Station, the lease for which was obtained by William Agar in 1840 for construction purposes.

Agate. From Achates, the Greek name for a river in Sicily, where this gem was found in large quantities.

Agnostic. From the Greek a, meaning without, and gnomi, meaning to know. Someone who believes only in what they know or can find out for themselves. Literally a “know-nothing.”

Agony Column. Initially, this newspaper column was limited to desperate requests for information about missing relatives and friends. Recently, it has turned into an unspoken way for people who, for various reasons, can't send letters through the mail to communicate with each other.

Hey. From Aoi, the battle cry of the Norsemen as they charged their ships at the enemy.

Aigrette. A French word that refers to the tall white plume of a heron. Originally describing a feather headdress, the term has now been used for a gem ornament worn by a woman on her head when she is dressed in full evening wear.

Air of a Gentleman. In this sense, the word "air" means the same as "manner" and "behavior."

Air Street. When it was planned and constructed in 1659, this was the westernmost street in London. The reference to fresh air is clear.

Aix-la-Chapelle. The Aquis Granum of the Romans, known for its baths. This is where the German name Aachen comes from, reflecting the numerous springs in the area. The town is also famous for its many churches; the cathedral, which developed from the original chapel, houses the shrine of Charlemagne.

Alabama. Native American for “here we rest.”

At the Guillotine. The name given in France after the Revolution to the trend of wearing hair very short, as a tribute to friends and family who had become victims of the “Guillotine.”

7A la Watteau. This refers to a stage ballet featuring charming rustic costumes that reflect the style found in the pastoral paintings of Antoine Watteau, the renowned French artist. His artwork is often reproduced on high-end furniture—especially screens.

Albania. From the Latin albus, meaning white, “the country of snowy mountain ranges.”

Albany. A spacious set of bachelor apartments in Piccadilly, once the home of Frederick, son of George III, who was made Duke of York and Albany.

Albany Street. Named after the Duke of York and Albany, during the reign of George III.

Albemarle Street. On this West End street lived Christopher Monk, the second Duke of Albemarle. The other one in Clerkenwell was developed when General Monk, the first Duke of Albemarle, was at the peak of his popularity.

Albert. After the Prince Consort, to whom the jewelers of Birmingham gave a short gold watch chain during his visit to the city in 1849.

Albert Gate. Named after Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. The Albert Bridge, Albert Memorial, and Royal Albert Hall also keep his memory alive.

Albigensis. Christian heretics from the twelfth century, originating from the Albigeois, with their capital in Albi, located in Languedoc.

Albion. The name the Romans gave to Britain because of its (white) white cliffs when viewed from the sea.

Alcantara. From the Arabic Al-kantarah, “the bridge,” referring to the impressive stone bridge constructed by Trajan.

Alcove. From the Arabic El-kauf through the Spanish alcoba, meaning a tent.

Aldermanbury. The bury or enclosed area where the first Guildhall was located before the reign of Henry IV.

Alderney. In French Aurigny, from the Latin Aurinia, Isle of Light.

8Aldersgate Street. Named after the old city gate where several beautiful alder trees once grew.

Aldgate. From the Old Gate of Saxon London, the earliest of the city gates.

Aldine Editions. Early editions of the classics created and shared with the world by Aldo Manuzio, the famous printer from Venice, in the sixteenth century.

Aldwych. An old name for a stunning new street that has replaced the charming, outdated Wych Street, once known as Auld Wych, which used to lead to the old village with its parish church, St Giles’s in the Fields.

Ale-stake. The pole that was historically placed in front of a pub. It was originally topped with a bush, similar to a wine bush; later, it was replaced by a sign.

Ale-wife. An old term for the wife of a bar owner.

Alexandra Limp. When our current Queen, as Princess of Wales, suffered a knee injury and started walking with a limp, it became trendy to copy her way of walking.

Alexandria. The city started by Alexander the Great, BCE 332.

Aleutian Islands. From the Russian aleut, “bald rock.”

Alfreton. Officially Alfred’s Town, associated with Alfred the Great.

Algiers. From the Arabic Al Jezair, “the peninsula.”

Alhambra. From the Arabic Kal-at-al-hamra, “the red castle.”

Alibi. Latin for "somewhere else."

A Little too Previous. An American term for being in too much of a hurry; jumping to conclusions; saying or doing something without enough justification.

All Abroad. Provincial for scattered minds; “all over the place.”

Allahabad. Arabic and Persian for "City of God."

9All Nonsense. The term “Nonsense” in our vocabulary can be traced back to James Morier, who often used it in his Oriental romances, “The Adventures of Haiji Baba of Ispahan” and “Ayesha.” Nonsense comes from Persian and Turkish, meaning rubbish, nonsense, or silly talk.

Alleghany. A distorted version of Alligewi, which is the name of an Indian tribe.

Allemanni. Teutonic for "All Men"; referring to a coalition.

All-fired. An American expression for “great”--e.g. “He came in a huge hurry.”

All-Halloween. The vigil of “All Saints' Day.”

All-hallows’-Barking. This historic church, dedicated to All the Saints, was part of the Abbey at Barking, Essex.

All-hallows’ Day. The old-fashioned name for All Saints’ Day, from Anglo-Saxon halig, meaning holy.

All Moonshine. Just like the light of the moon reflects the sun, a wild claim passed along from someone else is called “all moonshine.”

All my Eye and Betty Martin. This is a twist on Ah mihi, blessed Martin (Woe to me, Blessed Martin), which was once used by beggars in Italy to call on their patron saint. The tale goes that a sailor who stumbled into a church in that country, upon hearing these words, later told his friends that all he understood from the service was: “All my eye and Betty Martin.”

All Saints’ Bay. Discovered by Amerigo Vespucci on All Saints' Day, 1503.

All Saints’ Day. The day designated by the Church for honoring all canonized saints.

All Serena. From the Spanish serena, used by guards as a code for “All's good.”

All Souls’ College. Founded at Oxford by Henry Chichely, Archbishop of Canterbury, to continually offer prayers for the souls of those who died in the wars of Henry V in France.

10All Souls’ Day. A day dedicated to special prayers for freeing the suffering souls in Purgatory. The French make it a priority to visit the graves of their deceased loved ones on this day.

All the Go. Originally a term used by fabric merchants, meaning that a particular line of products is selling quickly and will soon be out of stock. A publisher also believes a book should resonate with the reading audience.

All There. A term used in American English to describe someone who is fully aware and mentally sharp.

Almack’s. Trendy gathering place on King Street, St James’s, opened on February 12, 1765, by MacCall, a Scotsman, who changed his name to hide his background. The next owner named it Willis’s Rooms, after himself. In 1890, it was turned into a restaurant.

Almighty Dollar. We owe this phrase to Washington Irving, who in his piece "The Creole Village" (1837) referred to it as "the main focus of universal devotion across our country."

Alnwick. The wick, or village, by the Alne.

Alpaca. Fabric made from the wool of the Peruvian sheep of the same name, similar to the llama.

Alps. From the Latin albus, meaning white, the mountains are forever topped with snow.

Alsace. Teutonic for “the other seat,” referring to the home of their own people west of the Rhine. With the Celtic suffix, the name evolved to “Alsatia.”

Alsatia. Once known as the district of Whitefriars, which served as a safe haven for lawbreakers, earning the nickname of the Rhine province infamous for being a common refuge for those in revolt.

Alter Ego. This means “my other self” or “double” in Latin.

Amadeus. The last name of the House of Savoy, derived from its motto: “Love God.”

11Amain. A nautical term meaning suddenly, all at once—e.g. “Strike suddenly,” “Lower immediately.”

Amateur Casual. The pen name of Mr. James Greenwood, who in 1866 spent a night at the Lambeth Workhouse and shared his experiences in The Pall Mall Gazette. Recently, he has taken on a similar modern assignment for The Tribune.

Amati. A violin of exceptional quality created by Andrea Amati from Cremona.

Amazon. The Spaniards originally named this river the Orellana, after their fellow countryman who explored it, but after hearing stories about the warrior women living along its shores, they renamed it after the legendary African tribe of fierce women who removed or burned off their right breast to aim their bows better. The word Amazon comes from Greek, with a meaning without, and maza meaning breast.

Ambrosian Chant. Attributed to St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan in the 4th century.

Ambush. From the Italian ambush, hidden in a forest.

Amen. Hebrew for “Yes,” “Really,” “Let it be.”

Amen Corner. Old Stow tells us this lane was suddenly blocked off in his time, so people would say "Amen" upon discovering they had to turn back. This might have some truth to it; however, it's more likely that this is where the monks completed the recitation of the Paternoster before they began the Ave Maria while solemnly processing to St Paul’s during the major church festivals.

America. After Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine adventurer, who happened to be in Seville when Columbus was getting ready for his second voyage to the West. Along with Ojeda, Vespucci set out on his own expedition. Later on, he took more trips on Portuguese ships and discovered the Bay of All Saints. He spent the rest of his life working for the King of Spain, creating maps and routes to the New World. Even though these official publications had his name on them, Vespucci never claimed to have discovered the vast Western Continent. However, a remarkable account of his voyages, which was said to have been written by Vespucci, ended up in the hands of Martin Waldseemuller from Freiburg, Baden. He translated it and had it published by a bookseller in St Die, Lorraine, in 1507. In his preface to the work, Waldseemuller proposed that the newly discovered land should be named America, after the author who had visited it. So, the name actually originated in Germany.

Native Americans. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Americanism. A term or phrase that originated in the United States, which, when frequently used, appeals to people's attention and quickly becomes a part of the national vocabulary. Many Americanisms are now as commonly used in England as they are in the U.S. The term can also refer to American differences from British customs, such as using "Depot" instead of "Railway Station," "News-stand" instead of "Bookstall," "On the street" instead of "In the street," and so on.

Amiens. From the Latin ambient, meaning surrounded by water. Three branches of the River Somme flow through the city.

Ammonites. The descendants of Ben-ammi, the son of Lot (Gen. 29:38).

Among the Gods. When the phrase was first used, the ceiling of Drury Lane Theatre featured classical gods enjoying themselves among the clouds in a blue sky.

Among the Missing. A term used in America for someone who is not present. When someone wants to avoid a visitor, they tell the servant that they’d rather be “among the missing.”

Amorica. The land of the Armorici, “people who live by the sea.”

Ampthill Square. From Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire, one 13 of the properties owned by the Duke of Bedford.

Amsterdam. The city built on the dam of the Amstel.

Amwell Street. After one of the wells in Hertfordshire, whose waters were used by Sir Hugh Myddleton for the New River.

Anabaptists. In line with the Greek ana, meaning twice, this term refers to the original Baptists, who were baptized at birth and then underwent the ceremony again upon reaching adulthood.

Anacreon Moore. The nickname of Thomas Moore, who translated the Odes of Anacreon and wrote his own poems using the same classic style.

Anatolia. The Turkish and Greek term for Asia Minor, derived from anatolie, meaning east--i.e. of Constantinople.

Ancient. Iago is referred to as Othello’s “ancient.” Even in Shakespeare’s time, this term was a variation of ensign, or standard-bearer.

Ancient Lights. After enjoying the light from a window on their property for twenty uninterrupted years, a person may, by showing the notice "ancient lights," prevent that light from being blocked by any other building.

Ancona. From the Greek agkon, meaning elbow, referring to its location at an angle of the coast.

Andalusia. Technically Vandalusia, the land of the Vandals.

Andes. From the Peruvian anta, copper.

Andrea Ferrara. A globally renowned Italian sword blade crafted by Andrea from the city of Ferrara.

Angel. An inn sign, originally the “Angel and Salutation,” depicting the visit of the angel who told the Virgin that she was going to be the mother of the Redeemer.

Angelic Doctor. One of the nicknames of St. Thomas Aquinas, widely known as “The Angel of the Schools.” He is also said to have written extensively on the nature of angels.

14Anglesea. More accurately, Anglesey, which means, from the perspective of the Celtic people of Wales, the ey, or island of the Angles.

Anglesea Morris. After William Morris, who caught this type of fish off the Isle of Anglesea.

Angola. Wool transported from Angola on the West Coast of Africa.

Angostura Bitters. Made from the famous medicinal bark found by Capuchin monks in the Venezuelan city of Angostura, which means a strait.

Anguilla Island. West Indian for “Little Snake,” because of its shape.

Anisette. An anise-flavored liqueur.

Annunciator. A term used in America for a bell or gong.

Antarctic Ocean. That is located anti, opposite to, the Arctic Ocean.

Antelope State. Nebraska, named for the number of antelopes found there.

Anthem. A song sung by the whole congregation, as opposed to Antiphone, which refers to a series of choral responses.

Antigua. This is the Spanish word for an ancient city.

Antwerp. In French, Anvers, the Antverpia of the Romans.

Any. An American expression for “at all”--e.g. “It didn’t bother me any.”

Apache State. Arizona, the site of many violent clashes with the fierce Apaches.

Apennines. The Pennine Alps, from the Celtic ben, which is the same as the Welsh pen, meaning summit or mountain head.

Apollinaris Water. Sourced from the well-known mineral spring in the Ahor Valley of the Rhine province. The place got its name from the ruins of a temple dedicated to Apollo.

Pharmacist. The old term for someone who dispenses medications. The Greek word actually means a storehouse or a place to store things; 15 it combines apo, meaning to put away, and theke, meaning chest or box. Unlike today’s pharmacists and druggists, licensed members of the Apothecaries’ Company can visit patients and prescribe medication for them, as well as prepare doctors’ prescriptions.

Appian Way. The building of this well-known road stretching from Rome to Capua was started by Appius Claudius.

Apostle of Temperance. Father Mathew, the relentless opponent of drinkers in Ireland during his time.

Apostles’ Creed. A complete summary of the Christian Faith, based on the teachings of the Apostles.

Apostolic Fathers. Those early leaders of the Church who, living in the first century after Christ, learned from His disciples, even if they didn't have direct contact with the Apostles.

Apricot. From the Latin præcoqus, early-ripening.

April. The month when the buds start to bloom, from aperio, to open.

April Fish. The French version of “April Fool,” because, like a fish, the unsuspecting target of a prank is easily caught.

April Fool. The tradition of April Fool's Day started in France, which was the first country to move the New Year celebration from what is now Lady Day to January 1st. This change happened in 1564. From the earliest days, people exchanged gifts with their neighbors for the New Year, but since March 25th often fell during Holy Week, sometimes on Good Friday, the Church regularly pushed the New Year celebration to the octave—specifically, April 1st. So, when New Year’s Day was shifted to January 1st, people began making prank visits to their friends on April 1st, trying to trick them into thinking nothing had changed. This custom came to England with the change in our calendar in 1762. April Fools’ Day is thought to end at 16 twelve o’clock, as the New Year’s visits and gift-giving always happened before noon.

Apsley House. The home of the Duke of Wellington, built by Henry Apsley, who was Lord Chancellor and later became Lord Bathurst.

Aquarians. A Christian group from the fourth century that replaced wine with water in Communion.

Aqua Tofana. A clear poison created by a Sicilian woman named Tofana towards the end of the seventeenth century. Her secret dealings with this substance were so widespread among young married women eager to get rid of their husbands that when, at an old age, Tofana was pulled from the convent where she had taken shelter and executed, she confessed to having caused the deaths of 600 people.

Arabia. The land of the Arabs, or “people of the desert.”

Arbor Day. A special day in America dedicated to planting trees.

Arbroath. Originally Aberbrothockwick, the village at the mouth of the Brothock.

Arcadian. An ideal farmer or a rural landscape; named after the Arcadians, who were mainly a pastoral people.

Arcadian Poetry. Pastoral poetry, referencing the Arcadians.

Archangel. A town in Russia named after a significant monastery dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.

Archerfish. A fish that has the ability to shoot water at insects, making them an easy target.

Archway Road. Leads to the contemporary replacement of the famous Highgate Archway that was opened in 1813.

Arctic Ocean. From the Greek arktos, meaning bear, relating to the prominent northern constellation.

Ardennes. The vast forest on the high ground.

Argand Lamp. Named after its inventor, Aimé Argand.

Argentine Republic. The current name of Argentina, where the La Plata, or River of Silver, flows through. 17While keeping the original name of the river, the Spaniards adapted the name of the country to Latin.

Argosy. A ship filled with valuable goods, named after the Argo, the vessel on which Jason and his companions, the Argonauts, traveled to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece, B.C.E. 1263.

Argyll. From Garra Ghaidhael, the land of the West Gaels.

Argyll Street. From the historic mansion of the Dukes of Argyll. The famous Argyll Rooms, now the Trocadero Restaurant, were a long way from the other end of Regent Street.

Sharp-eyed. After the legendary Argus, who had a hundred eyes.

Arians. The supporters of the first Christian heretic, Arius, a priest from the Church of Alexandria in the fourth century.

Arizona. Native American for “sand hills.”

Arkansas. Similar to Kansas, meaning “smoky water,” with the French suffix arc, which means a bow.

Arkansas Toothpick. The term used in the Far West for a “Bowie Knife,” which has a blade that folds into the handle as used by the people of this state.

Arlington Street. From the town house of Henry Bennett, Earl of Arlington.

Arminians. The anti-Calvinists from Holland, led by James Harmensen using the Latinized name Jacobus Arminius.

Arras. Medieval tapestry, for which the town of Arras in the French Netherlands was renowned.

Arrowroot. Named because the indigenous people of tropical America believed the root of this plant was effective in treating arrow wounds.

Artemus Ward. The pen name of Charles Farrar Browne, the American comedic lecturer. This was, 18however, the real name of a quirky showman he had met during his travels.

Artesian Well. From Artois, where these wells were first drilled.

Arthur’s Seat. It's said to have gotten its name from King Arthur, but no one knows how he became connected to the city of Edinburgh.

Artichoke. From the Arabic ardischauki, earth thorn.

Artillery Lane. Stands on part of the site of the training ground of the London Artillery Company, temp. Henry VIII., and later of the Tower Gunners, when all the land to the north was open fields.

Arundel. The valley of the River Arun.

Arundel Street. This one in the Strand leads from the town house and large grounds of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel and Surrey. This one in the Haymarket is named after the landowner, Lord Arundel of Wardour.

Ascension Island. Found by the Portuguese on the Feast of the Ascension, 1501.

As Cross as Two Sticks. Two sticks joined in the middle like the letter X create a cross.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The home among the ash trees of the De La Zouches. By is the Anglo-Saxon word for a home.

Asia. From the Sanskrit Ushas, “land of the dawn.” Western nations used to refer to Asiatics as “the people of the sun.”

Asia Minor. Lesser Asia, known as “Anatolia” by the Turks and Greeks.

Aspasia. A flower named after Aspasia of Miletus, the partner of Pericles.

As Poor as a Church Mouse. A church is one of the very few buildings that lacks both a kitchen and a pantry. Church mice, therefore, have a pretty tough time finding food.

19As Rich as a Jew. The Jews in England were the first moneylenders, bankers, and bill brokers. They primarily dealt in cash, while the wealth of the nobility was tied up in large estates.

Assumptionists. A contemporary religious Order, established fifty years ago, officially called the Augustinians of the Assumption.

Astoria. From the fur trading post set up in 1811 by John Jacob Astor from New York.

Astrakhan. Fur from Astrakhan, which name means the region or area governed by a khan of the Tartar or Mogul Empire.

Asturia. From the Basque asta, meaning rock, and ura, meaning water, referring to a region filled with mountains and estuaries.

Atlantic Ocean. Known by the Greeks as Atlantikos pelagos, from the mythical Isle of Atlantis, which Homer and Plato believed was located beyond the Strait of Gibraltar.

Athanasian Creed. Views regarding the doctrine of the Trinity, attributed to St. Athanasius of Alexandria, were adopted and formally organized by St. Hilary, Bishop of Arles, in the fifth century.

Athens. From the Temple of Athena, or Minerva, the guardian goddess of the city.

Athens of America. Boston, regarded as the leading center of education in the New World.

Athens of the South. Nashville, Tennessee, because of the number of its educational institutions.

Athelney. The “Royal Island” or “Isle of the Nobles,” where Alfred the Great established a Benedictine monastery.

Atlas. Since the release of “Mercator’s Projections,” featuring the image of Atlas holding the globe on his shoulders as a frontispiece in 1560, all map books have been referred to by this name.

At Odds. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Auburn. From the Old English Auld Bourne, meaning old stream.

20Auckland. The capital of New Zealand, named after Lord Auckland, a notable politician of his era who served as Governor-General of India and, after retiring, became President of the Asiatic Society. His ancestor, the first Lord Auckland, got his title from Auckland in Durham, which originally was called Oakland.

Audley Street (North and South). Remember Hugh Audley, a lawyer from the Middle Temple, whose land holdings in this area were estimated to be worth a million dollars at the time of his death in 1662.

Augsburg Confession. The Lutheran statement of faith created by Melancthon and presented by Martin Luther to Charles V during the session of the German Diet in Augsburg in 1530.

August. Named after Augustus Caesar, who considered this his lucky month. Its original name was Sextilis, the sixth month of the Roman year.

Augustan Age. The greatest literary period of any country, because Rome during the time of Augustus Caesar produced the best examples of Latin literature.

Augustin Friars. The religious Order said to have been founded by St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury. See “Austin Friars.”

Auld Reekie. The name for the historic area of Edinburgh, originating from the cloud of smoke that typically hangs over it.

Austin Friars. This is part of the location of the Augustin Friars' priory, and the church is still there.

Australasia. South Asia.

Australia. From the Latin Australis, meaning southern.

Austria. From Oesterreich, or Eastern Empire, as set apart from the Western Empire established by Charlemagne.

Autocar. The term originally used for a car; however, it's not accurate, because far from being automatic, this 21 vehicle, like all motorized vehicles, needs a driver to operate it.

Autun. The Augustodunum, or City of Augustus, of the Romans.

Auvergne. From the Auverni, who took it over during the time of the Caesars.

Avoca. Gaelic for “the place where the waters meet.”

Ave Maria Lane. Where the monks of old chanted the “Ave Maria” on their way to St Paul’s. See “Amen Corner.”

Avon. From Arfon, the Celtic word for river or stream, which appears in many place-names.

Axminster. The town of the monastery by the Axe River.

Ayah. Hindi for caregiver or nurse.

Aye-Vye. An animal found in Madagascar, named after its cry.

Aylesbury Street. From the townhouse and garden of the Earls of Aylesbury.

Azores. The Portuguese named this group of islands Acores, which is the plural of acor, meaning hawk, because of the large number of hawks found there.

Azov. A Russianized version of Asak, the name it was given by the Tartars.

Bacchanalia. Roman festivals celebrating Bacchus, the god of wine.

Bacchus Verses. Verses writtenwritten in praise or dispraise of Bacchus, and affixed to the doors of the College at Eton on “Collop Monday.”

Bachelor Girl. A woman who lives on her own, is a member of a women’s club, and views herself as above what is known as the influence of home—a truly modern idea.

Backgammon. From the Saxon Bac and gamen, “back-game,” because the pieces sometimes have to move back and be played again.

22Support a Man. To have complete trust in him. From supporting or endorsing a proposal for someone else.

Badajoz. Known by the Moors as Beledaix, “Land of Health.”

Bad Egg. A person who is ethically or financially unreliable, and is therefore someone best avoided.

Badger State. Wisconsin, named after the early miners who created winter homes underground, similar to a badger.

Badminton. A drink of spiced claret, and also a game of tennis played with shuttlecocks instead of balls, introduced by the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton, his country estate.

Baffin’s Bay. Named after William Baffin, the pilot of an expedition sent to explore this area in 1616.

Bagatelle. From the Italian bagetella, a magician's trick.

Baggage. A term often used for a woman, since the wives of soldiers on foreign duty travel with the supplies and luggage in general. In the United States, this word is the same as the English term “Luggage.”

Bagman. The old term for a sales representative, who carried his samples in a bag.

Bag o’ Nails. A well-known twist on the old inn sign, “The Bachannals,” which refers to Pan and the Satyrs.

Bag of Tricks. Referring to the big bag that a traveling magician used to carry his tricks.

Bakers’ Dozen. In the past, when bread was sold in open markets instead of stores, women sold bread from door to door. They got thirteen loaves from the bakers for the price of twelve, with the extra loaf being their profit.

Baker Street. Named after Sir Edward Baker, a close friend of the Portmans from Dorsetshire, the property owners.

Tip. A Persian word for “gratuity.”

Balaklava. When the Genoese settled here, they named it Bella-chiava, which means “Fair Haven.”

23Balearic Islands. From the Greek ballein, meaning to throw, it refers to the Island of Slingers.

Ball. A dance party got this name mainly from the interesting old Ball Play in church performed by the Dean and choir boys of Naples during the “Feast of Fools” at Easter. While singing an antiphon, the boys would catch the ball thrown by the Dean as they danced around him. At private dance parties, dancers would always throw a ball to each other while spinning around in groups, trying to catch it in time with their own voices. Eventually, the ball was set aside, but the dance time still took on the name of a Ballad, from the Latin ballare, meaning to dance.

Ballad. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Ballet. Expresses the French diminutive of bal, a dance. See “Ball.”

Ball’s Pond. From an inn, the “Salutation,” run by John Ball, whose dog and duck playing in a large pond drew a lot of visitors in the past.

Balsover Street. From Balsover, Derbyshire, the home of the Fitzroys, Dukes of Grafton, the landowners.

Baltic Sea. A sea with belts or straits. Bält is Norse for strait.

Baltimore. Named after Lord Baltimore, the founder of the nearby state of Maryland.

Baltimore Bird. Although it can be found nearly everywhere in the United States, it is believed to have gotten its name because its colors match those featured in the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, the Governor of Maryland.

Bancroft Road. Named after Francis Bancroft, the founder of the Drapers’ Almshouses, located on this road.

Bandana. The Hindu term for silk goods in general, but now used to refer to cotton handkerchiefs with white or yellow spots on a blue background.

Chat with You. From the old game of Bandy, in 24which the ball was hit back and forth to opposite sides.

Bangor. From Ban-choir, “The White Choir” of the Abbey, established by St Cungall in the sixth century.

Banjo. Also known as Bandore, which comes from the Greek Pandoura, a stringed instrument named after Pan. The term was brought to North America from Europe.

Banker Poet. Samuel Rogers, the writer of “The Pleasures of Memory,” spent his entire life as a banker.

Banshee. From the Gaelic bean sidhe, meaning woman fairy.

Bantam. A type of chicken that is believed to have been brought to Europe from Bantam in Java.

Banting. After William Banting, a cabinetmaker in London, who in 1863 lost his excess fat through a diet plan that was uniquely his own.

Bar. In the past, when there wasn’t a proper counter, drinks had to be placed on benches or the ends of barrels, a bar would separate the customers of a tavern from the servers or bartenders. Likewise, in courtrooms, the Bar was a railing behind which a lawyer or counselor had to represent their client's case.

Barbados. From the strands of moss, looking like a beard, hanging from the tree branches.

Barbarians. The term used by the Romans to describe wandering or warlike tribes that were messy and unshaven.

Barbarossa. The nickname of Frederick the First of Germany, because of his red beard.

Barbary. The land of the Berbers, the Arabic term for the people of this area before the Saracen Conquest.

Barber. From the Latin barba, meaning beard.

Barber-surgeons. Hairdressers who, until the sixteenth century, also performed “cupping” or blood-letting, which is why we have the modern Barber’s Pole. The red and white stripes on the pole represented the bandages, 25and instead of the gold knob at the top, there used to be a basin that hung under the chin of the patient being treated.

Barbican. That part of the Roman wall surrounding the city of London where there was likely a watchtower facing north. Barbacana is a Persian term for a watchtower associated with a fortified location.

Barcelona. Formerly known as Barcino, named after Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, who rebuilt the city.

Baring Island. Named by Captain Penny after Sir Francis Baring, the first Lord of the Admiralty.

Barley Mow. An old sign for a bar related to the Mow or place where the barley was kept for brewing. Mowe is Saxon for “heap.”

Barmecide’s Feast. An imaginary banquet. From the story of the Barber’s Sixth Brother, in “The Arabian Nights.” Barmecide invited a starving man to a feast but served him nothing to eat.

Barnsbury. Formerly known as Berners’ Bury, the estate was owned by Lady Berners, the abbess of St Albans.

Barnstormer. A traveling actor. Back in the day, outside of the usual circuits, there weren't any provincial theaters or venues allowed for stage plays. As a result, a group of traveling performers got permission to put on shows in a barn. Edmund Kean confessed, at the peak of his fame, that he honed his skills “by barnstorming.”

Lawyer. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Barrow Road. This, along with Barrow Hill Place, indicates the location of a burial mound for the Britons and Romans who were killed in battle.

Barry Cornwall. The anagram-based pen name of Bryan Waller Procter, the poet.

Bar Tender. A term used in America for a bartender or someone who serves drinks at a bar.

Bartholomew Close. The location of the old cloisters of St Bartholomew’s Priory, linked to the nearby church, which is the oldest in London.

26Bartholomew Fair. The well-known fair that has lasted for centuries, originating from the medieval market in the nearby street still called Cloth Fair, took place on the Feast of St. Bartholomew.

Barton Street. A street in Westminster created by Barton Booth, the famous actor from Drury Lane Theatre.

Bashaw. Properly “Pashaw.” See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Basinghall Street. From the mansion and grounds of the Basings, whose ancestor, Solomon Basing, was the Lord Mayor of London in 1216.

Bassano. The more well-known, and really to most people the only real, name of the famous Italian artist, Jacopa da Ponte, who signed all his works “Il Bassano,” was born in Bassano in the Venetian state.

Bass’s Straits. Discovered by Matthew Flinders. He named these straits after a young ship's surgeon who, along with a crew of just six men in a small boat, joined him on the expedition.

Bath Chair. First introduced in Bath, the famous health resort of the past.

Bath Street. From a bagnio, or Turkish bath, set up here in the seventeenth century.

Battersea. Formerly known as Patricesy, or St Peter’s-ey, the manor was part of the abbey of St Peter’s in Westminster. The suffix ey indicated not just an island, but also a creek.

Battle-born State. Nevada, admitted into the American Union during the Civil War.

Battle Bridge Road. In this neighborhood, the Iceni, led by Boadicea, faced their complete defeat at the hands of the Romans, A.D. 61.

Battle of all the Nations. The battle of Leipzig, from October 16 to 18, 1813, is named as such because it led to the liberation of Europe from the control of Napoleon Bonaparte.

27Battle of the Giants. The Battle of Marignano, where 1,200 Swiss Guards, allies of the Milanese, were defeated, took place on September 13, 1515.

Battle of the Herrings. From the attack by the Orleaners to intercept a shipment of salted herrings heading to the English, who were besieging their city, February 12, 1429.

Battle of the Standard. From the tall crucifix carried as a banner on a wagon by the English at Northallerton, August 29, 1138.

Battle of the Spurs. That of Guinnegate, August 16, 1513, when the French were completely defeated due to a panic; they relied on their spurs instead of their weapons for defense.

Battle of the Spurs of Gold. From the large number of gold spurs collected on the battlefield after the French knights were defeated at Courtray on July 11, 1302.

Bavaria. The land of the Boii, once known as Boiaria.

**Baynard’s Castle.** See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Bayonet. Not named after the town of Bayonne, but because a Basque regiment in the area of Bayonnetta in 1647, caught off guard by the Spaniards, fixed their knives to the ends of their muskets, and, charging forward, forced the enemy back with heavy casualties.

Bay State. Massachusetts, from the original name of this colony in the New England Commonwealth—specifically, Massachusetts Bay.

Bayon State. Mississippi, from the French bayon, meaning watercourse, connects to its great river.

Bayswater. Originally called “Baynard’s Watering,” this area was a manor created by Ralph Baynard, a favorite of William the Conqueror and the owner of Baynard’s Castle, located where Thames Street is today, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

B. D. V. A tobacco ad that means “Best Dark Virginia.”

28Beak. A slang term for a judge, referring to the beag or gold collar that they wear.

Beak Street. This name has a playful reference to the magistrate at the nearby police court on Great Marlborough Street.

Beanfeast. Named after the Bean-goose (so called because the shape of its bill's nail is similar to a bean), which used to be the traditional dinner dish.

Bear. Whenever this appears in the name of a tavern sign (with the one exception of “The Bear and Ragged Staff”), it indicates a place that originally had a bear garden.

Bear and Ragged Staff. A popular inn sign in Warwickshire, based on the heraldic symbol of Warwick the King Maker.

Bear Garden. This name at the corner of Sumner Street, Southwark, evokes the old Paris Garden, a well-known bear-baiting venue established by Robert de Paris during the reign of Richard I in English history. Today, a “Bear Garden” is synonymous with a hangout for troublemakers or rowdies.

Bear State. Arkansas, based on how its people are described in the West. “Does Arkansas really have so many bears that it should be called the Bear State?” a Western man was once asked. “Yes, it does,” he replied; “because I’ve never met a man from that state who wasn’t a bar, and honestly, the people are all pretty barish to some extent.”

Bearward. The custodian of the bear at public and private bear-baiting gardens. Most English towns anciently retained a bearward. See “Congleton Bears.”

Beats a Philadelphia Lawyer. An American expression implying that lawyers from Philadelphia are known for their cleverness and expertise.

Beauchamp Tower. Named after Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who Richard II had imprisoned here for encouraging the barons to get rid of the King’s favorite, Sir Simon de Burley.

29Beauclerc. The last name of Henry I, due to his achievements in a time when education was uncommon.

Beckenham. The home near streams or brooks. The Saxon suffix en indicates the plural.

Bedad. An Irishman’s exclamation, derived from the English “Begad” or “By Gad.”

Bedford. From the Anglo-Saxon Bedican-ford, the safe crossing over the Ouse.

Bedfordbury. The bury or enclosed land of the Duke of Bedford. Bedford Street and Bedford Square also refer to the major landowner.

Bedlam. Short for Bethlehem Hospital, a “Lazar House” in South London which in 1815 was converted into an asylum for lunatics. See “Bethlehem.”

Bedouins. From the Arabic badawiy, “people who live in the desert.”

Beech Street. Believed to have been owned by Nicholas de la Beech, Lieutenant of the Tower, temp. Edward III.

Beefeaters. Even though it's been shown that the term Buffetier doesn’t appear in any old texts, the Yeomen of the Guard, established by Henry VII, definitely served at the royal table. Since this king was heavily influenced by French customs, it makes sense that his personal attendants got their nickname from the Buffet, or sideboard.

Beer Bible. From the words “the beer” instead of “strong drink” (Isaiah xxiv. 9).

Before the Mast. The front part of a ship, where, in the forecastle, the sailors have their living space. This is why a common seaman is said to “Serve before the Mast.”

Seriously. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Begorra. An Irish version of the English corrupted oath Begad or “By Gad.”

Beguines. A group of nuns in France, named after the French beguin, which means a linen cap. These nuns are recognized by their unique head covering.

30Begum. A woman of high status in the East, a princess in India, or the wife of a Turkish beg (usually altered to bey) or Governor.

Beldame. From the French Belle-dame, “fine lady.” The meaning has now changed from a woman deserving the utmost respect due to her age or status to an unattractive old woman.

Belgium. From the Belgæ, the name used by Caesar for the warrior tribe that invaded this part of Gaul.

Belgravia. The trendy area centered around Belgrave Square, named after one of the titles of the Duke of Westminster, who owns the land.

Bell. A tavern sign, originally indicating a place for sports enthusiasts, where a silver bell was the award.

Bell, Book, and Candle. The tools used by the Church to carry out a sentence of excommunication. The bell informed all good Christians of what was about to happen, the serious sentence was read from the book, and the extinguishing of the candle represented the spiritual darkness that the excommunicated person would live in from that point on.

Belleisle. French for "beautiful island."

Beloochistan. According to the Persian stan, the land of the Belooches.

Below Par. Not meeting the standard in terms of health. This refers to government bonds that are not worth their stated value of £100.

Belvedere. A pub sign, taken from the Italian word for a pavilion built on a rooftop that offers a great view.

Ben. Theatrical slang for "benefit."

Bench. The basic seat for judges and magistrates before the modern throne-like chair came into use. Barristers of the Inns of Court are called “Benchers” because of the wooden seats that were once provided for them.

Benedict. A confirmed bachelor, named after St. Benedict, who 31constantly preached the benefits of celibacy. Also a newly-married man who, like Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, after years of rejecting marriage, finally gave in to true love.

Benedictine. A liqueur produced at the Benedictine monastery in Fécamp.

Benedictines. The monastic order established by St. Benedict in the sixth century.

Bengal Tigers. The Leicester Regiment, which as the old 17th Foot provided excellent service in India at the start of the last century, was given a royal tiger as its badge.

Bennett Street. From the town house of Henry Bennett, Earl of Arlington.

Bentinck Street. Named after William Bentinck, the second Duke of Portland, who was the landlord of the land.

Bergen. From the Danish bierg, meaning mountain, the port tucked at the base of tall hills.

Berkeley Square. The entire area around here was owned by Lord Berkeley of Stratton, one of the officers under Charles I.

Berkeley Street (Upper and Lower). Named after Edward Berkeley Portman, who owns the land. There’s also a Berkeley Street in Clerkenwell, which was the location of the home of Sir Maurice Berkeley, the standard-bearer for Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Elizabeth.

Berkshire. The Beoric, or “woodland county,” of the Saxons.

Berlin. From the Slavic Berle, indicating its location in the middle of a sandy plain.

Bermondsey. The ey, or creek land, owned by the Saxon lord Beomund.

Bermuda Islands. After Juan Bermudas, who found them in 1522.

Bernardine Hospice. This distinguished institution in the Alps wasn’t started by St. Bernard, nor has it ever been staffed by monks from his Order. It’s named after Bernard de Menthon, a wealthy man from Savoy, who in 962 set up this place of refuge for pilgrims crossing the Alps on their journey to the Holy Land. The monks who operate the Hospice are Augustinians.

Bernardines. The monastic order established by St. Bernard in 1115.

Berne. From the German Bären, which means bears in plural. The image of a bear is prominent on public buildings, fountains, and so on.

Berners Street. Named after Lady Berners, the original owner of this land.

Best Man at a Wedding. A remnant from feudal times, when the close friends of the "Groom" would try to stop a rival who was determined to kidnap the bride before the wedding could happen. In Sweden, weddings used to happen under the cover of darkness. Behind the high altar of the ancient church at Husaby, in Gothland, you can still see a collection of long lances with holders for torches. These were handed out to the groomsmen during these events, serving both as protection and for lighting. The groomsmen were the bravest and best men who volunteered their help.

Bethlehem. In Hebrew, it means “house of bread.” That's why it was called Bethlehem Hospital, the original name for a leper house or poor house.

Bethnal Green. Formerly Bednal Green, but altered from the family name of the Bathons, who lived here during the time of Edward I.

Bevis Marks. More accurately, Bury’s Marks, from the posts that outline the boundaries of the property owned by the town house of the Abbots of Bury.

Bideford Postman. The nickname of Edward Capern, the poet, who worked as a mail carrier in Bideford, Devon.

Big Ben. Named after Sir Benjamin Hall, Bart., M.P., who was one of the designers of the new Houses of Parliament and served as Chief Commissioner of Works.

33Big Bend State. Tennessee, a name that comes from the Indian words meaning “river of the great bend.”

Bilbo. The old term for a Spanish sword blade made in Bilbao.

Bilboes. The metal restraints used to chain together rebellious sailors. Named after their place of origin, Bilboa, Spain.

Bilker. A twisted version of Balker, someone who dodges or outsmarts another person. Nowadays, we mostly hear about the “cab bilker”; in the past, the “tavern bilker” was just as despicable.

Billingsgate. After Belin, a Saxon lord, who had a home next to the ancient Roman water-gate on the north bank of the Thames.

Billiter Street. A corrupted version of Belzettar, the name of the first builder on this land.

Billycock. The slang term for a “bowler” hat that William Coke always wore at the Holkham shooting parties.

Bingham’s Dandies. One of the nicknames for the 17th Lancers, inspired by their Colonel and their stylish uniforms.

Bioscope. Moving or living images projected onto a screen, named after the Greek bios, meaning life, and skopein, meaning to view.

Birchin Lane. Technically, it’s Birchover Lane, named after the builder.

Birdcage Walk. From the Royal Aviary of the Restoration, located along the southern wall of St James’s Park.

Bird of Passage. A hotel term used for a guest who arrives at specific times of the year.

Bird’s Eye Tobacco. Named for the oval shape of the stalks when chopped up with the leaves.

Birkbeck Institute. The leading Mechanics’ Institute, founded by Dr. Birkbeck in 1824.

Birmingham. Known as Bremenium by the Romans and Birmingeham in the Domesday Book. Given this, it cannot be misinterpreted as “Broom-place town,” as some authors suggest.

34Birrell. To write, speak, or do anything like Mr. Augustine Birrell, M.P., who is the President of the Board of Education.

Birrelligion. A term created by Dr. Casterelli, Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, who, while discussing Mr. Birrell’s New Education Bill, mentioned that it wasn’t truly a matter of irreligion, but rather of Birrelligion, which was acceptable to no party or denomination.

Bishopsgate Street. From the old city gate that was rebuilt by Bishop Irkenwald, the son of King Offa, and fixed up by Bishop William during the time of the Conqueror.

Biz. A theatrical term for “business” or stage action.

Black Brunswickers. A famous regiment of seven hundred volunteers formed in Bohemia in 1809 by Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick, who took up arms against Napoleon because he had blocked his claim to his father's dukedom. Their uniform was black, symbolizing mourning for the late Duke. Realizing they couldn't withstand the might of France, they joined the English forces. This led to the Black Brunswickers fighting at the Battle of Waterloo, where their brave leader lost his life. After that, they were never heard from again.

Black Bull. An inn sign based on the coat of arms of the House of Clare.

Black Country. The name for the vast coalfield in the Midlands. It stretches from Birmingham to Wolverhampton on one side and from Lyle Waste to West Bromwich on the other.

Black Friars. The Order of the Dominicans, named after their distinctive robes. The large monastery was located in the Blackfriars area.

Blackguards. A contemptuous term originally used for the kitchen workers of the Royal Household, referring to their dirty looks compared to the neatness of the Guards of Honour.

Blackheath. A corruption of Bleak Heath.

Blackleg. After players of a low character, who always wore black gaiters or high boots.

Blackmail. Originally a tax or tribute paid to robbers or pirates as a settlement for protection. “Black” suggested the Gaelic term for security, while mal was Anglo-Saxon for tribute.

Black Maria. Slang for a prison van. Many years ago, a strong African American woman named Maria Lee ran a sailor's lodging house in Boston. Everyone feared her, and she frequently helped the police capture unruly prisoners before they could be handcuffed, so "Send for Black Maria!" became a common phrase among them. Because of this, the earliest vehicles used to transport criminals, especially since they were painted black, were named after her.

Black Museum. A collection of criminal artifacts kept at the Metropolitan Police headquarters in New Scotland Yard.

Black Prince. The nickname of Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Edward III, not because he wore black armor, as is commonly thought, but, according to Froissart, “by terror of his arms,” and again, Strutt, “for his martial deeds.”

Black Sea. From its many dark rocks, which make navigation risky.

Blackwall. A corrupted version of Bleak Wall.

Black Watch. Soldiers originally assigned to patrol the Highlands of Scotland. They got their name from their black tartans.

Blandford Square. From Blandford, Dorset, close to Bryanstone, the home of the prominent landowner, Viscount Portman.

Blankets. First created by the Blanket Brothers from Bristol in 1337.

36Blarney. Smooth talk meant only to stall for time. When Cormack Macarthy was surrounded by the English at Blarney Castle in 1662, he negotiated a temporary ceasefire with the intention of surrendering after a few days. Instead of surrendering, he sent out vague, soft-spoken messages, until Lord Carew and his soldiers had to admit they had been tricked. This is where the phrase "None of your Blarney" comes from.

Blenheim Oranges. First grown at Blenheim, the home of the Duke of Marlborough.

Blenheim Street. Named in honor of the Duke of Marlborough after the Battle of Blenheim.

Blind Man’s Buff. Named this way because if anyone playing the game let the blind man bump into them, they had to be blindfolded in their spot.

Blood. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Bloody. The tendency of people to use this word all the time has made it cheap and contemptible. However, in the past, it was used in a very respectful way, referring to the Blood of Christ—e.g. the “Bloody Sacrifice of the Mass.”

Bloody Assizes. Those conducted by Judge Jeffreys in 1685 for punishing everyone involved in the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion. Three hundred people were executed, and over a thousand were sent to the colonies.

Bloody Butcher. The nickname of the Duke of Cumberland, son of George II, because of his mass killing of supporters of Prince Charles Stuart, the Young Pretender, after the battle of Culloden.

Bloody Eleventh. The 11th Foot, in remembrance of the horrific losses suffered by this regiment at Salamanca.

Bloody Tower. This is where the young princes were killed on the orders of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Bloomers. After Mrs. Ann Bloomer of New York, who introduced the original ambiguous style of "New Woman" in 1849.

37Bloomsbury. A twist on “Lomesbury,” the name of a manor house and its grounds that used to be where the current square is located. “Lomesbury village” developed around the old church of St Giles’s in-the-Fields.

Bluchers. After Field-Marshal von Blucher, who popularized this style of military half-boot.

Blue. A scandalous story is called “blue” because prostitutes in the old Bridewell, and in more contemporary correctional facilities or prisons, wore blue gowns.

Blue Boar. A pub sign taken from the emblem of Richard III.

Blue Grass State. Kentucky, named for the type of orchard grass found in this rich limestone area.

Blue Hen’s Chickens. A nickname for the people of Delaware. The Delaware State Journal thus accounts for its origin: “At the beginning of the Revolutionary War there lived in Sussex county of that colony a gentleman of fortune named Caldwell, who was a sportsman, and breeder of fine horses and game-cocks. His favourite axiom was that the character of the progeny depends more on the mother than on the father, and that the finest game-cocks depended on the hen rather than on the cock. His observation led him to select a blue hen, and he never failed to hatch a good game-cock from a blue hen’s egg. Caldwell distinguished himself as an officer in the First DelawareDelaware Regiment for his daring spirit. The high state of its discipline was conceded to its exertions, so that when officers were sent on recruiting service it was said that they had gone home for more of Caldwell’s game-cocks; but as Caldwell insisted that no cock could be truly game unless its mother was a blue hen, the expression Blue Hen’s Chickens was substituted for game-cocks.”

Blue Law State. An outdated name for Connecticut, whose original settlers, like the Puritans back in the mother country, were disgusted by the immorality of the Restoration Court, and for this reason were said to support “Blue” Laws. 38

Blue Noses. A nickname given to the people of Nova Scotia, based on the type of potato they grow and assert is the best in the world.

Blue Peter. The flag raised at the top of the mast to signal that a ship is about to leave. Its name comes from a twist on the French “Bleu Partir,” meaning blue departure signal.

Blue Pig. A pub sign, altered from the “Blue Boar.”

Blue Stocking. From the well-known club of literary women established by Mrs. Montague in 1840, where Benjamin Stillingfleet, known for always wearing blue stockings, was a regular attendee. Blue stockings, as a result, became the recognized symbol of membership. However, there was a similar club of ladies and gentlemen in Venice as early as 1400, called Della Calza, named after the color of the stockings worn.

Blunderbuss. A distortion of the Dutch donderbus, “thunder tube.”

Board of Green Cloth. The steward of the Royal Household leads this so-called court, which has a green cloth on its table.

Boar’s Head. The sign of the old tavern in Eastcheap made famous by Shakespeare. This, like all others with the same name, came from the emblem of the Gordons, the first of whom killed a boar that had long been a menace in the forest.

Bob Apple. A classic childhood game. Standing on tiptoe, with their hands behind their backs, they tried to catch an apple in their mouths as it swung back and forth on a string hanging from the ceiling. A variation of this game involved lying across a bench and dipping their heads into a big tub of water, where the apple waited at the bottom.

Bobby. The nickname for a police officer, named after Sir Robert 39Peel, who was responsible for introducing the modern police system.

Bobs. The popular nickname for Lord Roberts during the South African War. He’s also referred to as “Lord Bobs.”

Boer. This is the Dutch word for a farmer. It's similar to the English term "boor," which refers to an uncultured person, a cultivator of the land.

Bogtrotter. An Irishman, known for how effortlessly he navigates the local bogs, which is quite surprising to anyone unfamiliar.

Bogus. In a report about a legal trial, The Boston Courier in 1857 provided the following authoritative origin: “The word 'Bogus' is a corruption of the name Borghese, a very corrupt individual who, over twenty years ago, was heavily involved in supplying the Midwest and parts of the Southwest with counterfeit money and fake banknotes. People in the West started shortening Borghese to 'Bogus,' and his bills, along with all similar ones, were commonly referred to as 'bogus currency.'” So, the word is genuinely American.

Bohea. Low-quality tea, grown in the hilly region of Wu-i; pronounced by the Chinese Vooy.

Bohemia. Named after the Bohii, the original people of the region.

Bohemian. A person who lives a precarious life, relying on writing or other unstable jobs, who avoids the usual expectations of society, and seeks the approval of their peers. The term originally referred to a “Gypsy,” because the first nomadic groups that spread across Western Europe came through Bohemia.

Boiled Shirt. A term from America, originally used in the western states, meaning a starched white shirt.

Bolivia. After General Simon Bolivar, known as "The Liberator of Peru."

40Bologna. A settlement of the Boii, which the Romans named Bononia.

Bomba. The nickname of Ferdinand, King of Naples, due to his bombardment of Messina in 1848.

Bonanza State. Nevada, because of its rich mines, is called Bonanza mines. Bonanza is Spanish for "prosperity."

Bond Street (Old and New). Constructed on land owned by Sir Thomas Bond, who was the Comptroller of the Household for Charles I.

Bone of Contention. Referring to two dogs fighting over a bone.

Bone-shaker. The original kind of bicycle, with wooden wheels, where the rims were made from small curved pieces glued together. Compared to a modern bike, it was far from easy to ride.

Boniface. The common term for an innkeeper—not because St. Boniface was the patron saint of bartenders, but because one of the Popes with this name established what was known as “St. Boniface’s Cup,” by giving an indulgence to anyone who toasted his health, or that of his successors, right after saying grace at meals.

Booking Office. Back in the days of stagecoaches, passengers had to reserve their seats for a journey several days ahead at an office in the inn yard where the coaches departed. When railways were introduced, they kept the name, even though there was never any actual “booking.” Almost all the old coaching inns have been turned into railway goods and parcel receiving depots.

Bookmaker. From the way in which hehe adjusts his clients’ bets, so that, ordinarily, he cannot lose on the issue of a day’s racing.

Boot-jack. A wooden tool that allowed the wearer to take off his high-top boots without needing help from a servant. That's why it was called a jack, which is a general term for a male servant or young helper.

41Border Eagle State. Mississippi, named for the Border Eagle featured in the state’s emblem.

Bore. This term was originally used by the “Macaronies” to describe anyone who looked down on being overly fashionable or pretentious. Nowadays, it refers to someone whose conversation is dull, making their company undesirable.

Borneo. A European adaptation of the Sanskrit boorni, meaning land.

Born in the Purple. Since purple was the imperial color of the Caesars and the emperors of the East, the sons of the reigning monarch were said to be born in it. This phrase had a literal truth because the bedding was covered in purple.

Born with a Silver Spoon in his Mouth. This refers to the silver spoon that used to be given to a baby by their godfather during baptism. For a child born into wealth or good fortune, this type of gift was expected right from the start of life.

Borough. The Burgh or town that developed on the south side of Old London Bridge, long before the City of London became densely filled with streets and houses.

Borough English. A Saxon custom where the youngest son of a town dweller inherited everything from his father, instead of the eldest, like in Norman tradition.

Bosh. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Bosphorus. From the Greek bos-porus, meaning cow strait, in line with the legend that Io, turned into a white cow, swam across it.

Boss. A term that comes from the Dutch settlers of New York, where the word baas (pronounced like the a in all) meant overseer or master.

Boston. Short for St Botolph’s Town. “The stump” of the church can be seen from far away across the Boston Deeps.

Botany Bay. Named by Captain Cook because of the variety of new plants he discovered along its shores. This area of New South Wales was the first British Convict Settlement; therefore, Botany Bay became a term synonymous with punishment and hard labor. 42

Botolph Lane. From the church of St Botolph, located in it.

Bottle of Hay. A twist on “bundle of hay,” from the French botte, which means a bundle; the word bottle is a smaller version of that.

Bottom Dollar. A term used in America to refer to one’s last coin.

Bovril. A blend of bovis, meaning ox, and vril, meaning strength—the latter being a term created by Lord Lytton in “The Coming Race.”

Bow. From the ancient stone bridge over the Lea, which was the first ever built in this country using a bow or arch.

Bow Church. Officially called St Mary-le-Bow, located in Cheapside, it's the first church in this country to be constructed on arches.

Bowdlerise. In 1818, Thomas Bowdler published a cleaned-up edition of Shakespeare’s Plays; therefore, a “Bowdlerised Edition” of any work is one that has been unjustifiably altered from the original text.

Bowie Knife. Named after Colonel Jim Bowie, a well-known fighter from the western states, who was the first to use this weapon.

Bow Street. From its curved shape when it was first established.

Bow Street Runners. Early detectives dispatched from their base in Bow Street during the era of highwaymen.

Bowyer Tower. Historically, this was the home of the bowyer or bowmaker. According to tradition, this is where the Duke of Clarence drowned in a barrel of “Malmsey.”

Boxing Day. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Box Office. At one time, only the private boxes in a theater could be reserved in advance; that's where the term comes from.

43Box the Compass. To be able to list all thirty-two degrees or points of the mariner’s compass; a mental exercise around the compass box.

Boycott. To exclude someone from social and commercial interactions. This term emerged in 1881, after Captain Boycott of Lough Mark Farm, County Mayo, was isolated from his neighbors for the offense of being an Irish landlord.

Boy King. Edward VI, who became king of England at the age of ten and died at sixteen.

Boz. Under this pen name, Charles Dickens published his earliest “Sketches” of London life and character in The Morning Chronicle. He has told us himself that this was the nickname of a younger brother, after Moses Primrose in “The Vicar of Wakefield.” The younger members of the family pronounced the name “Bozes,” and eventually shortened it to “Boz.”

Bradford. From the Anglo-Saxon Bradenford, “wide crossing.”

Braggadocio. After Braggadochio, a boastful character in Spenser’s “Faery Queene.”

Brahma Fowl. Originally from the area around the Brahmaputra River in India. Pootra is Sanskrit for Son; so the river's name means “The Son of Brahma.”

Brandy. From the German Brantwein, meaning burnt wine. A distilled alcoholic beverage made from wine.

Brazenose College. Despite the bold nose on the college gate, this name comes from the fact that there used to be an ancient brasenhuis, or “brew-house,” here. Oxford has always been known for the great quality of its beer.

Bravo. In Italy one who is always boasting of his courage and prowess; generally a hired assassinassassin.

Brazil. From braza, the name the Portuguese gave to the red dye wood found in the country.

44Bread Street. Where the bakers had their stalls linked to the Old Chepe, or market.

Break Bread. To accept hospitality. In the East, bread is baked as large cakes that are broken apart, not cut with a knife. Sharing bread with a stranger guarantees the latter protection as long as they stay under the host's roof.

Breakfast. The morning meal, when you break the fast from the previous night’s dinner.

Break the Bank. Especially at the gaming tables of Monte Carlo. With some incredible luck, this can happen from time to time; however, the winner’s excitement is fleeting because the bank’s resources are limitless. If they keep playing after new supplies of money have been replenished, they will ultimately lose.

Brecon. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Brecknock. The capital (also known as Brecon) of one of the counties in Wales, originally Breckineauc, named after Brychan, a well-known Welsh prince. Brecknock Road is named after Lord Camden, the Earl of Brecknock, who is the ground landlord.

Breeches Bible. From the word “breeches” meaning “aprons” (Genesis iii. 7).

Brentford. The crossing over the Brent.

Breviary. The term used for a shortened version of the daily prayers, designed for priests, used during the Seven Canonical Hours, created by Pope Gregory VII in the 11th century.

Brevier. The type style originally used in the layout of the Catholic “Breviary.”

Bridegroom. The word groom comes from the Gothic and Anglo-Saxon guma, which means man, and is related to the Latin homo, also meaning man. It still refers to a male servant who takes care of or looks after his master’s horse.

Bride Lane. From the church of St. Bride or Bridget.

45Bride of the Sea. Venice, referring to the old tradition of “The Marriage of the Adriatic.”

Bridewell. The name once used for a women's prison, originally derived from the establishment near the well of St. Bride or Bridget in the Blackfriars area. The name is still used in Bridewell Police Station.

Brigadier. The head of a brigade.

Bridge. Twenty years ago, two families in Great Dalby, Leicestershire, visited each other on alternate nights to play a game they called Russian whist. Their path led them over a rickety bridge, which was quite dangerous after dark. “Thank goodness, it’s your turn on the bridge tomorrow night!” they would say when saying goodbye. This is how the game got its name.

Bridge of Sighs. The bridge is a covered walkway over the canal in Venice, connecting the state prisons on one side and the Doge's Palace on the other. Prisoners were taken to the palace to hear their death sentences, and then from there to execution. No state prisoner was ever known to cross this bridge again; that's why it got its name.

Bridgewater Square. From the townhouse of the Earls of Bridgewater.

Brief. A short summary of all the details of a client’s case prepared by a lawyer for the guidance of the attorney.

Bristol. Known by the Anglo-Saxons as “Brightstow,” meaning a nice, protected place.

Britain. This country was known to the Phoenicians as Barat-Anac, “the land of time.” The Romans called it Britannia.

British Columbia. The only part of North America that pays tribute to Christopher Columbus by using his name as a place name.

Brittany. The region that was once owned by the kings of Britain.

Brixton. Originally Brigestan, the stone bridge.

46Broadside. A big sheet printed horizontally instead of in columns.

Broker. From the Anglo-Saxon brucan, through the Old English brocour, to use for profit.

Brompton. Historically known as Broom Town, or the area where the broom plant grows.

Brook Street. From a stream winding through the fields from Tyburn.

Brooke Street. From the townhouse of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke. In this street, the young poet Chatterton took his own life.

Brother Jonathan. Named after Jonathan Turnbull, the advisor to General Washington in all military emergencies. “We should ask Brother Jonathan” was always his response to any suggestion made to him.

Brougham. Originally made for Lord Brougham.

Brought under the Hammer. Offered for sale at a public auction. The reference is, of course, to the auctioneer’s hammer.

Bruce Castle. The home of Robert Bruce after he lost to John Baliol in the fight for the Scottish crown.

Bruges. From its numerous bridges.

Brummagem. The slang term for cheap jewelry made in Birmingham. In local language, this city is called “Brummagem,” and its residents are referred to as “Brums.”

Brunswick Square. Developed and constructed during the rise of the House of Brunswick.

Bruton Street. From the Berkeley family's residence in Bruton, Somerset.

Bryanstone Square. From the seat near Blandford, Dorset, of Viscount Portman, the landowner.

Bucephalus. A horse, named after the legendary steed of Alexander the Great.

47Buckeye State. Ohio, named after the buckeye trees that grow abundantly in this state. Its residents are known as "Buckeyes."

Buckingham. The Anglo-Saxon Boccenham, or "beech tree village."

Buckingham Palace. After the residence of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, was located on this site.

Buckingham Street. From the older mansion of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. The water gate is still visible.

Buckle up. A phrase that comes from the days of chivalry, when a knight strapped on his armor for the tournament.

Bucklersbury. Originally the bury or walled area of a rich grocer named Buckle or Bukerel.

Budge Row. From the sellers of “Budge” or lambskin fur who gather here.

Bug Bible. From the word “bugges”--i.e. bogies--instead of “the terror” (Psalm 91:5).

Buggy. From bâghi, the Hindustani term for a one-horse carriage.

Bull. A papal decree, named after the bulla, or seal.

Bull and Gate. An inn sign, changed from “Boulogne Gate,” referencing the siege of Boulogne and its harbor by Henry VIII in 1544.

Bulgaria. A variation of Volgaria, the land of the Volsci.

Bull-dog. A dog originally used in the cruel sport of bull-baiting. The term is also used to refer to one of the two attendants of the proctor at a university while he makes his rounds at night.

Bullion State. Missouri, named after Thomas Hart Benton, who earned the nickname “Old Bullion” while serving in Congress for his passionate support of a gold and silver currency instead of “Greenbacks” or paper money.

Bullyrag. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Bullyruffian. A twist on the Bellerophon, the ship where Napoleon gave up after the battle of Waterloo.

Bungalow. From the Bengali bangla, a single-story wooden house with a porch around it.

Bunhill Fields. Not from the Great Plague pit in Finsbury, but from the loads of human bones dumped here when the charnel-house of St Paul’s Churchyard was torn down in 1549.

Bunkum. Originally a Congressman’s speech, “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” An oratory performance not meant to put forward a proposal, but to earn popular applause. The representative from Buncombe, North Carolina, took up the House's time in Washington with such a pointless speech that many members walked out. When asked why he delivered such a display of meaningless words, he replied: “I wasn't speaking to the House, but to Buncombe.”

Bureau. French for a writing desk, from buro, a type of fabric that it was always covered with.

Burgess Roll. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Burgundy. A wine made in the French region of the same name.

Burke. To stop or silence—e.g. to burke a question. After an Irishman of this name, who quietly and secretly took the lives of many innocent people by covering their mouths with a pitch plaster, in order to sell their bodies to doctors for dissection. He was executed in 1849. His crimes were referred to as “Burking.”

Burleigh Street. Near the home of Lord Burleigh in Exeter Street.

Burlington Street (Old and New). Named after Richard Boyle, the Earl of Burlington and Cork, who also gave his name to Burlington House, which he remodeled.

49Burmah. From the locals, who say they are descendants of Brahma, the supreme god of the Hindus.

Burton Crescent. Named after its creator.

Bury St Edmunds. A distortion of the Borough of St Edmund, where the Saxon king and martyr was crowned on Christmas Day in 856. After being captured and killed by the Danes, he was buried here. Canute built a Benedictine monastery over the site of his grave.

Bury Street. Actually named Berry Street, after its creator.

Bury the Hatchet. When Native Americans discuss war, the hatchet is always present, but when they pass around the calumet, or peace pipe, the symbol of conflict is carefully concealed.

Busking. Theatrical slang for an al fresco performance to earn a few coppers. To “go busking on the sands” is the least refined aspect of a Pierrot Entertainment. See “Sock and Buskin.”

Buy a Pig in a Poke. A man naturally wants to see what he’s getting into. “Poke” is an old term for a sack or large bag, which is what pocket means in a smaller form.

By God. A twist on the old saying “By God.”

By George. Originally, this oath referred to the patron saint of England. In more recent times, it got changed to “By Jove,” to connect it to Jupiter; then, during the Hanoverian Succession, the original form returned.

By Hook or by Crook. The final word here is a twist on Croke. Over a hundred years ago, two well-known lawyers named Hook and Croke were commonly hired by people involved in legal disputes. This led to the saying: “If I can’t win my case by Hook, I’ll win by Croke.”

By Jingo. This expression comes from the Basque mountaineers who were brought to England by Edward I to help him conquer Wales during the time when the Plantagenets controlled the Basque regions. “Jainko” referred to the supreme deity of these mountain people.

By gosh. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

By the Holy Cross. The most serious oath of the crusaders. “Cross,” from the Anglo-Saxon rod, was the Old English name for Cross.

By the Mass. A popular oath during the time of our Catholic ancestors, when disputes were usually resolved by the parties attending Mass together.

By the Peacock. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

By the Skin of my Teeth. A phrase that comes from Job xix. 20: “My bone clings to my skin and my flesh, and I've barely escaped by the skin of my teeth.”

Byward Tower. A variation of Bearward Tower, the home of the Tower's “Bearward.” The bear-house at our national fortress during the era of James I is referenced in Nichol’s “Progresses and Processions.”

Cab. Short for “Cabriolet,” or little caperer, from cabriole, a goat’s leap. See “Capri.”

Cabal. A political term derived from the initials of the fascinating ministry of 1670—specifically: Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale.

Cabinet. The title of Ministers of State, who initially held their discussions in a cabinet, comes from the Italian gabinetto, meaning a small room. A picture or photograph of this size got its name from the space it was most appropriate for.

Cabin Girls. Waitresses at the “Cabin” Restaurants Ltd.

Cablegram. An American term for telegram.

Cadiz. Known as Gades by the Romans, from the Phoenician Gadir, meaning enclosed, shut in.

51Cadogan Square. Named after the Earl of Cadogan, the lord of the Chelsea area.

Cahoot. A term used in American English meaning partnership or company, derived from the French capute, which means hut or cabin. Men who share a cabin or shanty are said to be “in cahoot.”

Caitiff. An old term of disdain for a despicable person, coming from the Latin captivis, meaning a captive or slave.

Caius College. The name assigned to Gonville College, Cambridge, after it was refounded by Dr. Caius through a royal charter in 1558.

Cake Walk. A musical walking competition around a cake, very popular among the Black communities in the southern states. The couple deemed to walk most gracefully receives the cake as a prize.

Calcutta. From Kalikutta, “the village of Kali,” the goddess of time.

Caledonia. The land of the Caels or Gaels; Gadhel in the native language meant a “hidden cover.”

Caledonian Road. From the Royal Caledonian Asylum for Scottish orphans, which is no longer there.

Calico. First brought from Calicut in the East Indies.

California. Named by Cortez Caliente Fornalla, or “hot furnace,” because of its climate.

Caliph. From the Arabic Khalifah, a leader.

Called over the Coals. A variation of “Hauled over the Coals.”

Camberwell. From the ancient holy well near the church of St Giles, the patron saint of the disabled. Cam is Celtic for “crooked.”

Cambria. The land of the Cimbri or Cymri, who ultimately made their home in Wales.

Cambric. Originally made in Cambray, Flanders.

Cambridge. From the bridge over the Cam, or “crooked” river. See “Cantab.”

52Camden Town. Named after the Earl of Camden, the landowner.

Camellia. Brought to Europe by G. J. Camelli, the German missionary botanist.

Camera Obscura. Literally a dark room.

Cameron Highlanders. The Scottish infantry regiment established by Allan Cameron in 1793.

Camisard. A military term for a nighttime attack, named after the Camisards, Protestant rebels from the seventeenth century, who, wearing a camise, or peasant’s smock, carried out their raids under the cover of darkness.

Camomile Street. From the plants that grew in the unused land north of the city.

Campania. A large flat area outside Rome, where the “Appian Way” was built. The name comes from the Latin campus, meaning a field.

Campden Square. From the home of Sir Baptist Hicks, who was made Viscount Campden.

Canada. From the Indian kannatha, a village or group of huts.

Canary. A type of wine and a singing bird that come from the Canary Islands, named after the Latin canis, referencing the large dogs found there.

Candia. Previously known as Crete, referred to by the Arabs as Khandæ, meaning “island of trenches.”

Candy. An American term for sweets. The Arabic quand, meaning sugar, led to the French word candi.

Canned Meat. An American term for tinned meat.

Cannibal. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Cannon Row. The historic home of the Canons of St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

Cannon Street. A distorted version of Candlewick Street, where the candle-makers gathered.

Canucks. See __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.

53Canonbury. From the manor house of the priors of St Bartholomew Church, Clerkenwell, the old tower still stands.

Cant. After Alexander and Andrew Cant, a pair of prejudiced Covenanters who relentlessly persecuted their religious opponents while simultaneously praying for those suffering because of their beliefs.

Cantab. Of Cambridge University. The River Cam was once known as the Granta; that’s why the Saxon name for the city was Grantabrycge, meaning the bridge over the Granta, which later became Cantbrigge.

Canterbury. The fortified town or main city of “Kent.”

Canterbury Music Hall. This, the first of the London music halls, opened in 1848. It evolved from the old-fashioned popular “free-and-easy,” or “sing-song,” that took place in an upper room of a tavern that used to display the arms of the city of Canterbury and was called the “Canterbury Arms.”

Cantlowes Road. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Canvas Back. A type of sea duck, considered a delicacy because of its tender meat. It's named for the color of the feathers on its back.

Cape Finisterre. Adapted by the French from the Latin finis terra, “the end of the land.”

Capel Court. The Stock Exchange, named after the home of Sir William Capel, who was Lord Mayor in 1504.

Cape of Good Hope. Named by John II, King of Portugal, after Diaz reached this point in Africa, as a good sign for the journey around the world.

Cape Horn. Named Hoorn after his birthplace by Schouten, the Dutch navigator who was the first to sail around it.

Capri. From the Latin caper, meaning a male goat, reflects the island's population of wild goats.

54Capuchin Friars. Named after the pointed hood or capuce they wear.

Carat Gold. It's called that because gold and gemstones were once measured using carat seeds or seeds from the Abyssinian coral flower.

Carbonari. Italian for charcoal-burners, where this secret society gathered in their huts for meetings.

Carburton Street. From the Northamptonshire village on the duke's estate of the landowner.

Cardiff. From Caer Taff, the fort on the Taff.

Cardigan. Named after Ceredog, a famous chieftain.

Caribbean Sea. From the Caribbs, which is a West Indian term meaning “cruel men.” This term was altered through the Spanish Caribal, from which we get the word “Cannibal,” referring to someone who eats human flesh.

Carlton House Terrace. From Carlton House, constructed by Lord Carlton, which later became the home of Frederick, Prince of Wales, the father of George III.

Carmagnole. A lively song and dance that gained popularity during the French Revolution. It got its name from Carmagnolas, a town in Piedmont, where the Savoyard boys brought the tune to the south of France.

Carmarthen. A distorted version of Caer-merlin, or the fortress created by Merlin, where he was born nearby.

Carmelites. White Friars from the order of Mount Carmel.

Carnarvon. The fortress by the Arfon, or water.

Carolina. After Carollus, the Latin version of Charles II., who gave a charter for colonization to eight of his favorites.

Caroline Islands. Named after Charles I of Spain.

Carpenter. Originally someone who made only the body or wooden part of a vehicle. The term comes from the Latin 55carpentum, meaning wagon. A general worker in wood was, and still is in the English countryside, called a joiner.

Carpet Knight. A civilian awarded a knighthood by the king or queen. One who has not earned their knighthood through battle, unlike the knights of the past.

Carry Coals to Newcastle. To do something that is completely unnecessary. It would be silly to bring coal to a place where there’s plenty of it.

Cartaret Street. Named after John Cartaret, Earl of Granville, Secretary of State, and one of the most well-liked ministers during the reign of George II.

Business Card Photos. Photographs got this name because the Duke of Parma in 1857 had his picture printed on the back of his large business cards.

Carthage. From the Phoenician Karth-hadtha, New Town.

Carthagena. From New Carthage.

Carthusians. Monks from La Chartreuse, near Grenoble. This term is also used for former students of the “Charter House.”

Carthusian Street. Even though it’s located a bit to the west, this street takes you to the “Charter House.”

Caspian Sea. From the Caspii, who inhabited its shores.

Castile. In Spanish Castilla, named after the castles or forts established for defense against the Moors.

Castle. An inn sign indicating a wine house, inspired by the castle in the coat of arms of Spain.

Catacombs. The Italian word Catacomba is derived from the Greek kata, meaning downward, and kumbe, meaning a hollow or cavity.

Cat and Fiddle. A distorted version of “Caton le Fidele,” referring to the loyal Caton, Governor of Calais, whose name was celebrated by many inn signs.

Cat and Wheel. A twisted version of the old inn sign “Catherine Wheel,” which refers to the device used in the martyrdom of St. Catherine.

56Cat Call. A variation of Cat Wail. When a theater or music-hall audience is unhappy with the performance and eager for it to end, the "Gods" engage in "Mewing" like a chorus of cats on the roof at night.

Catch a Weasel asleep. No one has ever caught a weasel napping because he hides in a hole out of sight from people.

Catchpenny. Short for “Catnach Penny,” referring to the penny dying speeches and collection of songs printed by James Catnach in Seven Dials and sold on the streets. The “Catnach Press” was as influential in its time as the low-quality “Bits” literature is in ours.

Cathedral. From the Greek kathedra, a seat--i.e. the chair of a bishop. See “City.”

Caucus. From the Caulkers of Boston, U.S., who shortly before the Revolution openly clashed with the British soldiers. Meetings were held in the calk houses, and a Caulkers’ Club was formed. Since then, a political meeting of American citizens has been called a Caucus.

Cavalier. From the French chevalier, a knight.

Cavendish. Tobacco packed into blocks for chewing, named after the first manufacturer.

Cavendish Square. Named after Henrietta Cavendish, the second wife of Lord Harley, who owns the land.

Centennial State. Colorado, joined the United States one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence.

Ceylon. Known by the Portuguese as Selen, a shortened form of the Sanskrit Sinhaladwipa, meaning “Island of Lions.”

Chadwell Street. Named after the source of the New River in Hertfordshire. The well was traditionally dedicated to St. Chad.

Chaff. A variation of chafe, meaning to make someone angry, similar to how heat is generated through friction.

57Chalk Farm. Originally “Chalcot Farm,” a well-known spot for duellists in the past.

Record it. This refers to the drink score marked on a slate for a customer at a rural tavern.

Champagne. A sparkling wine from the French region of the same name, which comes from the Latin word campus, meaning field.

Champs de Mars. Refers to the large open area or “Plain of Mars” in Paris, designated for military parades.

Chancery Lane. A twist on “Chancellor’s Lane,” named after the townhouse of the Bishops of Chichester, later the home of the Lord High Chancellor of England.

Chandos Street. From the home of James Bridges, Duke of Chandos.

Chap. Originally short for “Chapman,” a person who sold goods at a chepe, or market.

Chap Book. A small book or pamphlet sold by vendors. See “Chap.”

Chapel. A meeting of printers that takes place in the composing room, named because Caxton established the first English press in an old chapel at Westminster Abbey. The leading worker is referred to as “The Father of the Chapel.”

Chapel of Ease. A secondary place of worship, for the convenience of people who lived far from the parish church.

Charing Cross. The notion that this location got its name from the “good Queen” Eleanor, whose coffin was placed here one last time on its journey to Westminster Abbey, has been debunked. It was already known as the village of Charing, in honor of La Chère Reine, the Blessed Virgin, as this was a common stop between London and the historic Abbey.

Charlatan. From the Italian ciarlatano, a fraud, a chatterbox, a talkative wanderer who sold potions in a public square.

Charles Martel. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Charles Street. Developed during the reign of Charles II.

Charlies. The old night watchmen were reorganized by Charles I. These were the only civic protectors until the introduction of the modern police system by Sir Robert Peel.

Charlotte Street. Named after the queen of George III.

Charter House. A twist on La Chartreuse, one of the English houses of the Order of monks from the place of the same name in France.

Chartreuse. The liqueurs made at the La Chartreuse monastery, located near Grenoble.

Chauffeur. The French word for a car driver; there’s no direct English equivalent.

Cheap Jack. A modern equivalent for “Chap-man.” Jack is a common name for a servant or someone of lower status.

Cheapside. The main street of the city of London, directly adjoining the chepe, or market-place.

Cheese it. A shorter way of saying “Choose it better,” or, basically, “Give me something I can trust.”

Chef. French for head or master. Used on its own, the word refers to the head cook.

Chelmsford. The river crossing at Chelmer.

Chelsea. Anciently “Chevelsey,” or “Shingle Island.” See “Chiswick.”

Chequers. An inn sign taken from the coat of arms of the Fitzwarrens, one of whom was responsible for granting licenses to winemakers.

Cherry Bob. An old summer activity for boys. A bunch of cherries hanging from a beam or tree branch was kept swinging back and forth, while the boys, with their hands behind their backs, tried to catch the fruit with their mouths.

Cherry Gardens Pier. A name that brings to mind a well-known resort from the past, linked to the 59 “Jamaica”, where fresh rum from the West Indies was unloaded.

Cherry Pickers. The 11th Hussars, because when they were captured by the French during the Peninsular War, some members of the regiment were stealing from an orchard.

Chesapeake. Native term for “great waters.”

Chester. The city built on the Roman castra, or military camp.

Chestnut. Edwin Abbey, the artist behind the Coronation painting, is said to have coined the term “Chestnut” to describe a stale joke. While he was a member of a club in Philadelphia, he always shared a story about a guy who owned a chestnut farm but never made any money from it because he just gave his chestnuts away. Abbey always started this story in different ways so that his fellow club members wouldn’t recognize it, but they quickly interrupted him by shouting “Chestnuts!”

Chestnut Sunday. The first Sunday in June, when the chestnut trees in Bushey Park at Hampton Court are flowering.

Cheyne Walk. Named after Lord Cheyne, who was the lord of the manor of Chelsea in the 17th century.

Chicago. Native American for “wild onion.”

Chichester. The Roman camp town captured by Cissa, King of the South Saxons, which was thereafter named Cissanceaster.

Chichester Rents. The location of the town house of the Bishops of Chichester.

Chili. Peruvian for "land of snow."

China. After Tsin, the founder of a major dynasty. High-quality earthenware was first produced in China; that's where the name comes from.

Chin Music. A term used in American slang to refer to mocking laughter.

Chip off the Old Block. A saying referring to the "Family Tree."

Chippendale. Furniture with stylish design, named after its renowned creator.

60Chiswick. Originally called “Cheoselwick,” meaning the village of shingles, derived from the Anglo-Saxon ceosal, which means sand or gravel.

Chocolat-Menier. The ultimate chocolate, created by M. Menier of Paris, who passed away in 1881.

Choke Him off. This refers to holding a dog by the throat to make him loosen his grip.

Christiania. Rebuilt by Christian IV of Denmark.

Christian Scientists. A contemporary branch of the Peculiar People, or Faith Healers, who believe that illness and pain can be healed through faith and prayer without the use of medicine.

Christmas-box. A remnant of Catholic traditions, when a box was put in every church to collect Christmas donations for the needy. These donations were given out the day after.

Christmas Island. Captain Cook arrived here on Christmas Day in 1777.

Christ’s College. Founded at Cambridge by Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond and mother of Henry VII, for a master and twelve fellows, reflecting Christ and His apostles, to whom it was dedicated.

Christy Minstrels. After Charles Christy, who brought Negro Minstrel Entertainment to England.

Church Ale. This refers to the ale made by the church wardens for celebrators on the village green during Whitsuntide and other major holidays. Eventually, the gathering itself became known as a “Church Ale.”

Chute. The French word for “a fall,” used by Americans to refer to a drop of water. The thrilling activity of boating over such a waterfall is called “Shooting the Chutes.”

Cicerone. After Cicero, the master of speakers. The comparison between the famous orator and the “Roman Guide” mocked by Mark Twain is quite uncomfortable.

61Cigar. From the Spanish Cigarro, the original name for a specific type of Cuban tobacco.

Cinderella Dance. This dance ends at midnight, referencing the heroine from the fairy tale.

Circumlocution Office. A term first used to describe the indirect and roundabout ways of doing things at our public offices, coined by Charles Dickens in “Little Dorrit.”

Cistercians. An order of monks founded at Cistercium, or Citeau, close to Dijon.

City. The clear and historical difference between a city and a town is that a city is where a bishop is based, which means it has a cathedral. Nowadays, many towns have been given city status because of their economic significance. However, these are cities in name only.

City Leaders. Council members of the city of London.

City Golgotha. Old Temple Bar, with the heads of rebels spiked on top. Golgotha means “the place of skulls” in Hebrew.

Claim. A squatter’s term for a piece of land that they have marked off and settled on while waiting to legally acquire it from the government. During the gold rush, the term also referred to the land assigned to each miner.

Clare Market. The location of Clare House, the home of the Earl of Clare.

Clarence. A carriage named after the Duke of Clarence, who later became William IV.

Clarges Street. From the mansion of Sir Walter Clarges, later taken over by the Venetian ambassador.

Clarendon. The bold type first used at the Clarendon Press, Oxford, was established thanks to the profits from Lord Clarendon’s “History of the Rebellion,” which he donated to the University.

62Claude Lorraine. The name used by the famous landscape painter Claude Galée, who came from Lorraine.

Cleaned Out. Pockets emptied of cash. The reference is to a saucepan or other kitchen utensil that is washed after use.

Clerkenwell. The sacred well where the parish clerks put on their miracle plays during festival days.

Clifford Street. Named after Elizabeth Clifford, the wife of the Earl of Burlington.

Closure. A current parliamentary term that means the Speaker's authority to end a pointless debate. Closure was first used on February 24, 1884.

Cloth Fair. The big yearly market for selling cloth brought in by Flemish traders.

Club. From the German kleben, meaning to stick, hold on to, or associate.

Clyde. The powerful river, from the Gaelic clyth, meaning strong.

Coast is Clear. Originally a smugglers’ phrase related to coastguards.

Coat of Arms. In the days of knights, when they were fully armored and the visor of their helmet covered their face, the only way to tell them apart was by the embroidered design of their coat of arms on a sleeveless tunic worn in tournaments. In battle, the tunic was not used, but they were recognized by a symbol on the crest of their helmet.

Cobbler. An American drink made with spirits, beer, sugar, and spice, reportedly created by a shoemaker from the West.

Coblentz. From the Latin name, Confluentia, located at the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.

63Cockade. From the party badge originally displayed on a cocked hat. See “Knocked into a Cocked Hat.”

Cockade State. Maryland, named after the bright cockades worn by the courageous Old Maryland Regiment during the War of Independence.

Cockney. From “Cockayne,” a Fools’ Paradise, where there’s nothing but eating and drinking, described in a satirical poem from the thirteenth century. The word clearly came from coquere, meaning to cook, and referred to London, where the fountains sometimes flowed with wine, and a good life was enjoyed by many.

Cock-penny. A penny charged by the teacher to each of the boys for allowing the cruel game of cock-throwing in school on Shrove Tuesday in the past. The teacher himself provided the bird.

Cocktail. According to tradition, one of Montezuma’s nobles sent a drink made from the cactus plant to the Emperor through his daughter Xochitl. The Aztec ruler smiled, tasted it, eagerly drank it, and it’s said that he later married her; from that point on, this drink became the local favorite, known for centuries as Octel. The transformation of Octel into Cocktail by American soldiers during General Scott's invasion of Mexico about sixty years ago was a simple change.

Coger. A slang term that comes from the members of the well-known Cogers’ Club in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. They called themselves “Cogers” based on the Latin cogito, meaning to think deeply.

Cohees. Natives of Western Pennsylvania, due to their habit of saying “Quoth he,” softened into Quo’he.

Coin Money. To make money as quickly as it is produced at the Mint. Not many people are that fortunate.

Coke Hat. Named after William Coke, who made it popular. See “Billycock.”

64Coldbath Fields. A neighborhood in Clerkenwell that has been developed for a long time, but is known for a cold bath; the location is indicated by the current Bath Street.

Colchester. The town by the Colne River.

Coldstream Guards. The regiment established by General Monk in Coldstream, Berwickshire, in 1660.

Coleman Street. It’s believed to have been established by someone named Coleman; however, well before his time, coalmen or charcoal merchants gathered in this area.

Colleen. Irish for girl. “Colleen Bawn” refers to a blonde girl.

College Hill. From the college established by Sir Richard Whittington, three-time Lord Mayor of London.

College Port. An inferior port made specifically for the older students at college. It's said to be specially crafted for this audience.

Collop Monday. The day before Shrove Tuesday, when home cooks chop up all their meat into large pieces or collops to salt for Lent.

Cologne. The Colonia Agrippina of the Romans, named after Nero's mother, who was born here.

Colonel. A title of respect in the Far West given to anyone who owns a breeding stallion.

Colorado. The Spaniards named this state after its colorful mountain ranges.

Colosseum. Greek for "large theater."

Combine. An American term for “Combination.” Used in a financial or business context, this term is now widely recognized in our country.

Step up to the Scratch. A boxing term. A line was drawn on the ground with a stick, and the fighters were expected to stand on it with their left foot.

Commonwealth. In theater terms, it refers to dividing the profits from the week's performances after all expenses have been paid. This usually occurs when the manager has run off with all the money, leaving the cast stranded. 65

Compton Street (Old and New). Developed by Sir Richard Compton and Bishop Compton respectively.

Conduit Street. From a spring water pipe that was established here before the area was developed.

Confidence Man. An American term for someone who in this country is known to take money from strangers using the “confidence trick.”

Confounded Liar. Literally someone who is overwhelmed with confusion when confronted with the truth.

Congleton Bears. A nickname for the residents of Congleton, Cheshire. According to local tradition, the bear meant for baiting at the holiday festivities died, and to get another one, the authorities took the money that had been raised for a new Church Bible.

Congregationalists. Independent Nonconformists who are neither Baptists nor Wesleyans and assert the right to “call” their own ministers, with each congregation handling its own matters.

Connecticut. From the Native American word Quinnitukut, meaning “land of the long river.”

Conscience Money. Money sent anonymously to the Treasury for Income Tax after the realization of having cheated the Revenue has troubled the individual's conscience.

Constance. Established by Constantine, the father of Constantine the Great; it is one of the oldest cities in Germany.

Constantinople. The city named after Constantine.

Constitution Hill. This is where John Sheffield, the Duke of Buckingham, took his daily walk while living at Buckingham House, which he built in 1703. George IV. built the current structure, Buckingham Palace, on the site of that mansion in 1825.

66Cook your Goose. An old chronicler explains this saying: “The King of Sweden arrived in a town of his enemies with a very small group. To distract him from his forces, his enemies hung out a goose for him to shoot at. But noticing before nightfall that these few soldiers had invaded and set their main strongholds on fire, they asked him what his intentions were, to which he replied, ‘To cook your goose.’”

Coon. Short for raccoon, an American animal highly valued for its fur.

Cooper. A publican’s term for half ale and half porter. See “Entire.”

Copenhagen Street. From Copenhagen Fields, where there was a famous tea house started by a Dane.

Copper. A police officer, derived from the thieves’ slang cop, meaning to take or catch.

Copperheads. A political group in North America during the Civil War, seen as hidden enemies, named after the copperhead snake, which silently attacks its prey.

Cordeliers. Franciscan Friars set apart from the main Order by their knotted waist cord.

Corduroy. In French Cord du Roy, “King’s cord,” because ribbed or corded fabric was originally worn only by the Kings of France.

Cordwainer. The old term for a shoemaker, because the leather he worked with was Cordwain, a variation of Cordovan, brought from the city of Cordoba.

Cork. From the Gaelic corroch, a marsh.

Cork Street. From the home of Lord Cork, one of the four brothers from the Boyle family.

Corncrackers. The people of Kentucky, named after a local bird from the crane family known as the Corncracker.

Corner. The establishment of a price monopoly for natural products or manufactured goods. This refers to speculators who privately agreed, often near the Exchange, to purchase the entire market. 67

Cornhill. The historic city corn market.

Cornwall. According to the Saxon Wahl, it is a territory inhabited by outsiders.

Corpus Christi College. At Cambridge, established by the combined guilds or brotherhoods of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin.

Corsica. A Phoenician term for "wooded island."

Cossack. The Russian version of the Tartar term kasake, meaning a horseman.

Costa Rica. Spanish for "rich coast."

Costermonger. In Shakespeare’s time, a costermonger was a trader in a well-known type of apple called a costard.

Cottonopolis. Manchester, the city known for English cotton production.

Cotton Plantation State. Alabama, known for its main industry.

Cotton to. An American phrase meaning to stick to a man like cotton sticks to his clothes.

Counter-jumper. The mocking nickname for a draper's assistant, due to his quickness in jumping over the counter as a shortcut between departments.

Country Dance. A variation of the French contre danse, named for the opposite positions of the dancers.

Coup de Grace. The merciful final blow from the executioner after a criminal had been tortured by having all his bones broken on a wheel. One strike to the head then ended his suffering.

Court Cards. Properly Coat Cards, because of their heraldic designs.

Court of Arches. The ecclesiastical Court of Appeal for the Archbishopric of Canterbury which in ancient times was held in the crypt of St Mary-le-Bow, or St Mary of the Arches at Cheapside. See “Bow Church.”

68Court Plaster. The adhesive that women at court used to create their decorative face patches.

Covenanters. Those who made a formal agreement in 1638 to oppose the religious and political actions of Charles I.

Covent Garden. A distortion of Convent Garden, the place that was turned into a market, temp. Charles II. The convent and garden were owned by the Abbey at Westminster.

Coventry. A variation of Conventry—i.e. Convent town. Before the Reformation, it was well-known for the number of its convents. The suffix try comes from Celtic and means “dwelling.”

Coventry Street. From the home of Henry Coventry, Secretary of State, temp. Charles II.

Cowcross Street. Where cattle used to cross the stream back when this now busy neighborhood was nice pasture land, fed by the “River of Wells.”

Coxcomb. A vain, superficial person. This term comes from the cock’s comb worn on the hat by licensed jesters, who were permitted to boast over their superiors.

Cracker. While the origin of this term when referring to a small firework seems obvious, it actually comes from Cracque, the Norman word for “Greek Fire.”

Crackers. The people of Georgia, supposedly because their speech is hard to understand.

Cranbourn Street. From the long, narrow stretch of this name, when the entire area was just open fields.

Crank. Someone whose ideas are unconventional, odd, or distorted. Their thoughts don't follow a straightforward path.

Cravat. Brought to Western Europe by the Croatians in the seventeenth century.

69Craven Street. From the home of Lord Craven before he moved to Drury House on Drury Lane.

Cream City. Milwaukee, made from the cream-colored bricks that its houses are constructed from.

Credit Draper. The current term for a “Tallyman.”

Cree Church. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Creed Lane. Where the monks recited the Credo in procession to St Paul’s. See “Ave Maria Lane.”

Cremorne Gardens. Designed on the site of the mansion and grounds belonging to Thomas Dawson, Lord Cremorne.

Creole State. Louisiana. In New Orleans especially, a Creole is someone of French descent.

Crescent City. New Orleans, shaped like a crescent.

Crimea. From the Kimri or Cymri who settled in the peninsula.

Cripplegate. From the city gate where beggars with disabilities gathered for donations, with the nearby church dedicated to St. Giles, their patron saint.

Crokers. Potatoes, because they were first grown in Croker’s Field at Youghal, Ireland.

Cromwell Road. From the mansion and grounds of Richard Cromwell, son of the Lord Protector.

Crop Clubs. Clubs created to avoid Mr. Pitt's tax on hair powder. The Times highlighted one of the first in its issue from April 14, 1795: “A large Club has been established in Lambeth called the ‘Crop Club,’ where every member must have their hair cut as short as the Duke of Bridgewater’s old bay horses. This group is formed to oppose, or rather escape, the tax on powdered hairstyles.”

Cross Keys. A popular pub sign across Yorkshire, inspired by the coat of arms of the Archbishop of York.

70Crowd. Theatrical slang for the members of a company as a group.

Crow over him. A rooster always crows over a defeated opponent in a fight.

Crutched Friars. Friars of the Holy Trinity, named for the embroidered cross on their robes (Latin, cruciati, crossed). Their house in London was situated on the street named after them.

Cuba. The island's original name when Columbus found it.

Cully. A slang term for a man, buddy, or friend. Its origin is the Romany cuddy, derived from the Persian gudda, meaning donkey.

Cumberland. The land of the Welsh.

Cabinet. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Curaçao. A liqueur originally made on the Caribbean island of the same name.

Currants. First brought from Corinth.

Cursitor Street. Named after the Cursitors’ Office that was located here. The Cursitors were clerks of Chancery, but in ancient times choristers, just as the Lord Chancellor himself was a church official.

Curtain Road. From the “Curtain Theatre,” where Ben Jonson’s “Every Man in his Humor” was performed.

Curzon Street. Named after George Augustus Curzon, who was made Viscount Howe, the owner of the land.

Cuspidor. The American term for a spittoon, derived from the Spanish escupidor, which means a spitter.

Cut me to the Quick. The quick of one’s fingers when cut into is most alive or sensitive to pain. See “Quicksilver.”

Cutpurse. A thief who, before pockets became popular, had no problem cutting the strings that held a purse from the belt.

71Cut the Line. A printer’s term for stopping work. In the past, typesetters would finish the line they were working on; these days, union rules have made them so strict that they stop right in the middle of a line at the first sound of the bell.

Cypress. A tree brought to Western Europe from the island of Cyprus.

Cyprus. From kupras, the Greek name for a plant that grew abundantly on the island.

Dachshund. German for “badger dog.”

Daffodil. An English version of the French d’Asphodel.

Dagonet. The pen name of Mr. George R. Sims in The Referee, named after the fool at the Court of King Arthur.

Daguerreotype. An early photography technique invented by L. J. M. Daguerre.

Dahlgreen Gun. Named after its inventor, an officer in the United States Navy.

Dahlia. Brought to Europe from Mexico in 1784 by Andrew Dahl, the Swedish botanist.

Daisy. From the Anglo-Saxon dæges eye, or “day’s eye,” because of its sunlike look.

Dakota. Named after the Dacoits, a tribe of Native Americans that lived in that area.

Dale Road. From the home of Canon Dale, poet, and Vicar of St Pancras.

Dalmatian. A type of dog that was originally bred in Dalmatia.

Dalston. The town in the valley when the northern part of London was mostly covered in trees.

Damage. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__”

Damascenes. From Damascus, known for its plums.

Damascus. From the Arabic name of the city, Dimiskesh-Shâm.

72Damascus Blade. From Damascus, a city renowned worldwide for the quality of its sword blades.

Damask. Originating from Damascus, Syria.

Damask Rose. Brought to Europe from Damascus.

Damassin. A Damask fabric woven with gold or silver flowers.

Dame School. The former name for a girls’ school run by an unmarried woman or dame.

Damsons. Actually Damascenes, from Damascus.

Dancing Chancellor. Sir Christopher Hatton impressed Queen Elizabeth with his dancing at a court masque so much that she made him a Knight of the Garter; later, he became Lord Chancellor of England.

Dandelion. A variation of the French dent de lion, based on its imagined likeness to a lion’s tooth.

Dandy. From the French dandin, a foolish person, simpleton.

Dantzic. Refers to the town established by the Danes.

Danvers Street. From Danvers House, where Sir John Danvers lived, who was responsible for bringing the Italian style of gardening to England.

Darbies. A pair of handcuffs, referring to Darby and Joan, who were always together.

Dardanelles. Named after the city on the Asian side that was established by Dardanus, the ancestor of Priam, the last king of Troy.

Dark and Bloody Ground. Kentucky, the major battleground for both Native Americans and white settlers, as well as for the various savage tribes among themselves.

Darmstadt. The stadt, or town, on the Darm.

Dartford. From the Saxon Darentford, the fort on the Darent.

Dartmoor. The moor where the River Dart begins.

Dartmouth. At the mouth of the River Dart.

73Dauphin. The title held by the eldest son of the King of France until 1830, derived from the emblem of a delphinus, or dolphin.

Davenport. After the original creator.

Davies Street. Named after Mary Davies, the heiress of the Ebury manor in Pimlico.

Davis Strait. Named after the explorer who found it.

Davy Jones’s Locker. Actually “Duffy Jonah’s Locker.” Duffy represents the spirit of the West Indian Black people; Jonah, the prophet thrown into the ocean; and “locker” refers to the typical sailor's chest.

**D. D. Cellars.** See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Dead as a Door Nail. The thought that if a person got hit on the head as often as the “nail” that a door knocker rests on, they wouldn't have much life left, explains this saying pretty well.

Dead Beat. Exhausted from fatigue, unable to exert any more effort. It’s also the name of an American drink made with whiskey and ginger soda after a long night of partying.

Deadheads. In America, this term refers to people who enjoy the privilege of traveling on public railways at no cost; in this country, it also applies to actors and so-called “professionals” who enter entertainment venues without paying. The origin of the term is as follows: Over sixty years ago, all the main roads in the city of Delaware led to a toll gate at the entrance to Elmwood Cemetery Road. Since the cemetery was established well before the plank road was built beyond the toll gate, funerals were allowed to pass through without paying the toll. One day, when Dr. Price, a well-known physician, stopped to pay his toll, he said to the gatekeeper, “Given the generous nature of my profession, I think you should let me pass for free.” “No, no, doctor,” the man replied; “we can’t do that. You send way too many deadheads through here as it is!” The story spread, and the term “Deadheads” became established.

74Dead Reckoning. Figuring out a ship’s location at sea using the logbook, without any help from the stars.

Dead Sea. Traditionally believed to be the location of the city of Sodom. Its waters are extremely salty, and no fish live in them.

Dean Street. After Bishop Compton, who, before he became Dean of the Savoy Chapel, served at St Anne’s, Soho.

Dean’s Yard. Provides access to the home of the Dean of Westminster, which, along with the cloisters, was owned by the abbots before the Reformation.

Death or Glory Men. The 17th Lancers, represented by their badge, which features a skull over the words “Or Glory.”

De Beauvoir Town. From the estate of the De Beauvoir family.

Deccan. From the Sanskrit Dakshina, meaning the south, referring to the area of Hindustan located south of the Vindhya Mountains.

December. The tenth month of the Roman Calendar when the year started in March.

Decemvir. One of the ten lawmakers in Rome chosen to create a set of laws.

Decoration Day. May 30th, observed in the United States for decorating the graves of soldiers who died in the conflict between the North and South.

Judge. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Dehaley Street. From the home of the Dehaleys.

Delaware. After the Governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord Delaware, who died on his ship while visiting the bay in 1610.

Del Salviati. The adopted name of the renowned Italian painter Francesco Rossi, in honor of his patron, Cardinal Salviati, who was born in the same year as him.

Demijohn. A variation of Damaghan, a town in Persia that was historically known for its glassware.

75Democracy. From the Greek demos, meaning people, and kratein, meaning to rule. Government by the people.

Denbigh. From Dinbach, the Celtic for “a small fort.”

Denmark. Correctly Danmark, the boundary or border of the land of the Danes.

Depot. The American word for a train station.

Deptford. The deep crossing over the Ravensbourne.

Derby. Saxon for “deer village.” The Derby stakes at Epsom were established by Edward Smith Stanley, Earl of Derby, in 1780.

Derrick. The old term for a gallows and now for a tall crane. It's named after a 17th-century executioner at Tyburn.

Derry Down. The opening words of the Druid chorus as they made their way to the sacred grove to collect mistletoe at the winter solstice. Derry means “grove” in Celtic.

Dessborough Place. From Dessbrowe House, where the brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell lived.

Detroit. French for “straight.”

Deuteronomy. A Greek word that means the second giving of the Law by Moses.

Devereaux Court. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Devil’s Sonata. One of Tartini’s most famous compositions. He dreamed that the Devil came to him, playing a sonata on the violin. When it ended, his visitor asked, “Tartini, can you play this?” Waking up with the bizarre music still in his mind, Tartini played it again and then wrote it down for good.

Devil to Pay. When money was lost due to failed lawsuits, it ended up with lawyers, who were believed to spend it where they spent a lot of their time—at the Devil Tavern in Fleet Street. So, the money effectively went to the Devil.

76Devizes. From the Latin Devisæ, referring to the location where the ancient Roman road entered the Celtic region.

Devon. Named after the Celtic tribe, the Damnonii.

Devonshire House. The city residence of the Duke of Devonshire.

Devonshire Square. From the home of William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire, who passed away here in 1628.

Diamond King. The late Mr. Alfred Beit, the South African financier, whose wealth was on par with that of the Rothschilds.

Dickey. A shirt front that often serves as a stand-in for a clean shirt. Named after the German decken, meaning to hide.

Diddler. A manipulator, a clever trickster. After Jeremy Diddler, the main character in the classic play, “Raising the Wind.”

Die Hards. The 57th Foot. When the regiment was surrounded at Albuera, their Colonel shouted: “Fight hard, my men; fight hard!” And with that, they fought bravely until the end.

Digger Indians. Tribes of the lowest social class who mainly survive on roots. They have never been known to hunt.

Diggings. A Bohemian term for “lodgings.” It's not derived from the California gold diggings, as many believe, but from the Galena lead miners in Wisconsin, who referred to both their mines and their underground winter homes as “diggings.”

Dime. A ten-cent coin, from the French dixme, or dîme, tenth--i.e. of a dollar.

Dimity. First brought from Damietta, Egypt.

Dine with Duke Humphrey. An old saying for those who found themselves without dinner plans. When the “Good Duke Humphrey,” son of Henry IV, was buried at St Albans, a monument in his honor was to be built in St Paul’s Cathedral. At that time, as for a long while after, the nave of our national church was a popular place to stroll. When the strollers headed off for dinner, those without dinner invites would say they were sticking around to search for the Good Duke’s monument.

Dining-room Servant. A term used in America for a waiter or male household staff member.

Diorama. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Dirty Dick’s. The famous pub in Bishopgate, rumored to be linked to Nathaniel Bentley, the miser who never bathed. In reality, Dirty Dick was an ironmonger on Leadenhall Street. After he died, his belongings were purchased and displayed at the Bishopgate pub, along with his portrait as a sign.

Dirty Shirts. The 101st Foot, who were heavily involved in the battle of Delhi in their shirt sleeves.

Dissenters. Another term for Nonconformists. These are the people who disagreed with the beliefs of the Church of England and those who, later on, broke away from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Distaffs’ Day. The old name for January 7th, when, after Christmas and Twelfth Night, women went back to using their distaffs or spindles.

Divan. A Turkish word meaning a Council of State, because the Turkish Council Chamber has low couches placed around its walls, generously filled with cushions. The term has been adopted in Western Europe specifically to refer to a low-cushioned sofa or couch.

Dixie’s Land. The Black people’s paradise during slavery. Dixie owned a piece of land on Manhattan Island. He treated his enslaved people fairly, but as their numbers grew, he sold many of them to other masters. They always remembered Dixie’s Land as a perfect place, linked to heaven, and when one of them passed away, their family would say they had gone to Dixie’s Land.

Dizzy. The nickname of Benjamin Disraeli, later 78the Earl of Beaconsfield, who was a major political rival of Mr. Gladstone.

Doctor. There are three types of Doctors—Law, Medicine, and Theology. The first and last are primarily University degrees, which most people are not familiar with. They only recognize one “Doctor,” the medical professional, and because he wears a dress coat and a top hat, he receives all the respect they can give him.

Doctors’ Commons. Originally a college for professors of canon and civil law, where they had communal meals on specific days each term, similar to how students at the Inns of Court dine before being called to the Bar.

Dog and Duck. A tavern sign that represents the old sport of duck hunting with spaniels in a pond.

Dog-cart. Originally a vehicle used by sports enthusiasts to transport their pointers and setters to the field.

Dog his Footsteps. To follow right behind him like a dog.

Dog in the Manger. From the old story about the dog who didn’t need the hay for himself but wouldn’t let the ox get close to it.

Dog Rose. Based on the old belief that the root of this rose plant could counteract the bite of a rabid dog.

Dog Watch. A twist on “Dodge Watch,” it’s a watch that lasts only two hours instead of four, allowing dodging sailors to gradually change their watch over successive days.

Dolgelley. Celtic for "hazel valley."

Dollar. From the German Thaler, originally Joachims-Thaler, the silver from which this coin was made was discovered in the Thal or Valley of St Joachim in Bohemia.

Dollars and Dimes. An Americanism for money generally. See “Dime.”

Dolly Shop. The old name for a rag shop that had a 79black doll hanging over the door as a sign. At one point, used clothes were sent to the Black community in the southern states of America.

Dolly Varden. The name of a patterned skirt, matching the description of the one worn by Dolly Varden in Dickens’s “Barnaby Rudge.” This fabric became really popular after the book was released. It also inspired a song, with the chorus being: “Dressed in a Dolly Varden.”

Dolphin. A gold coin created by Charles V of France, who was also the Dauphin of Vienne.

Dominica. This is the Spanish word for Sunday, the day when Columbus discovered this island.

Dominicans. Members of the Order of St. Dominic; also known as Black Friars, due to their robes.

Dominoes. A game created by two French monks, who entertained themselves with square, flat pieces marked with dots. The winner announced his victory by reciting the first line of the Vesper service: “Dixit Dominus Domino Meo.” When, later on, the game became a pastime for the entire convent, the Vesper line was shortened to “Domino,” and the pieces themselves were named “Dominoes.”

Don. A variation of the Celtic tain, meaning river.

Donatists. A group from the fourth century, followers of Donatus, Bishop of Numidia.

Doncaster St Leger. The stakes at Doncaster races were established by Colonel Anthony St Leger in 1776.

Donegal. Gaelic for the “fortress of the west”--that is, Donegal Castle, which was held by the O’Donnells of Tyrconnel.

Donet. The old name for a grammar book, named after Donatus, the grammarian and teacher of St. Jerome.

Donkey. An ass, noted for its dun color.

Don't care a damn. When this expression first became popular, a damn was the smallest Hindu coin, not worth an English farthing.

Don’t care at all. See “__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.”

Doomster. The official in the Scottish High Court who sentenced the prisoner and also served as the executioner. In Jersey and the Isle of Man, a judge is referred to as a “Deemster.”

Dope Habit. An American term for the morphine addiction. “Dope” comes from the Chinese word for opium. In the United States, it now refers to all kinds of strong drugs or bromides made from opium.

Dorcas Society. From the passage in Acts 9:39: “And all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them.”

Dorchester. The Roman camp in the district of the Dwr-trigs or water dwellers. See “Dorset.”

Dorset. The Anglo-Saxon Dwrset, meaning water settlement, named after the British tribe the Dwr-trigs, “water dwellers,” who inhabited it.

Dorset Square. After Viscount Portman, the landowner, who, before he became a peer, served for many years as the Member of Parliament for Dorsetshire.

Dorset Street. Named after the mansion and grounds of the Earl of Dorset from the Restoration period. The Dorset Gardens Theatre also used to be located here.

Doss. Slang for a sleep, a quick nap. It's derived from the old word dossel, meaning a bundle of hay or straw, which gave rise to Doss, referring to a straw bed.