Chapter Alderman to Alexandrian School of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Alderman to Alexandrian School

Alderman One of the seniors or elders. Now applied to a class of magistrates in corporate towns. In London an alderman is the chief magistrate in a ward appointed by election. There are also aldermen of the Country Council.

A turkey is called an alderman, both from its presence in aldermanic feast, and also because of its red and purple colours about the head and neck, which make it a sort of poultry alderman.

An alderman in chains, by a similar effort of wit, is a turkey hung with sausages.

Alderman (An) A burglar's tool; a crowbar for forcing safes. So called from the high rank it holds with burglars.

Alderman (An) A cant term for half-a-crown. An alderman as chief magistrate is half a king in his own ward; and half a crown is half a king.

Aldgate Pump A draught on Aldgate Pump. A cheque with no effects. A worthless bill. The pun is on the word draught, which means either an order on a bank for money or a sup of liquor.

Aldibo-ronte-phosco-phornio A courtier in Henry Carey's farce called Chronon-hoton-thologos.

Aldiger (in Orlando Furioso). Buovo's son, of the house of Clarmont, who lived in Agrismont Castle. He was brother of Malgigi and Vivian; all Christians.

Aldine (2 syl.) Leader of the second squadron of Arabs who joined the Egyptian armament against the Crusaders. - Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered.

Aldine Editions Editions of the Greek and Latin classics, published and printed under the superintendence of Aldo Manuzio, his father-in-law Andrea of Asolo, and his son Paolo (1490--1597); most of them in small octavo, and all noted for their accuracy. The father invented the type called italics , once called Aldine, and first used in printing Virgil , 1501.

Aldingar (Sir) Steward of Queen Eleanor, wife of Henry II. He impeached her fidelity, and submitted to a combat to substantiate his charge; but an angel, in the shape of a child, established the queen's innocence. - Percy's Reliques.

Ale is the Scandinavian öl, called ealo in our island. Beer, written bere, even in the reign of James I, is the Anglo-Saxon beor, from bere (barley). A beverage made from barley is mentioned by Tacitus and even Herodotus. Hops were introduced from Holland and used for brewing in 1524, but their use was prohibited by Act of Parliament in 1528 - a prohibition which soon fell into disuse. Ale is made from pale malt, whence its light colour; porter and stout from malt more highly dried. Beer is the general word, and in many parts of England includes ale, porter, and stout. The word ale was introduced by the Danes, and the word beer by the Teutons. Among London brewers beer means the dark form, called also stout or porter.

"Called ale among men; but by the gods called beer." - The Alvismal.

Aleberry a corruption of ale-bree. A drink made of hot ale, spice, sugar, and toast. Burns speaks of the barley bree (Anglo-Saxon brin, broth).

"Cause an aleberry to be made for her, and put into it powder of camphor." - The Pathway to Health.

Ale-dagger (An) A dagger used in self-defence in ale-house brawls.

"He that drinkes with cutlers must not be without his ale-dagger." (1589). (See N.E.D.)
Pierce Pennilesse says: - "All that will not ... weare ale-house daggers at your backes [should abstain from taverns]."
See Shakespeare Society, p.55.