Chapter Calvary to Cambyses of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Calvary to Cambyses

Calvary [bare skull ], Golgotha [skull ]. The place of our Lord's crucifixion; so called from some fanciful resemblance which it bore to a human skull. The present church of “the Holy Sepulchre” has no claim to be considered the site thereof; it is far more likely that the “mosque of Omar,” or the dome of the rock, occupies the real site.
   A Calvary. A representation of the successive scenes of the Passion of Christ in a series of pictures, etc., in a church. The shrine containing the representations.

Calvary Clover said to have sprung up in the track made by Pilate when he went to the cross to see his “title affixed” [Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews]. It is a common trefoil, probably a native of India or Turkey. Each of the three round leaves has a little carmine spot in the centre. In the daytime the three leaves of the trefoil form a sort of cross; and in the flowering season the plant bears a little yellow flower, like a “crown of thorns.” Julian tells us that each of the three leaves had in his time a white cross in the centre, and that the centre cross lasts visible longer than the crosses of the other two leaves. (See Christian Traditions .)

Calvary Cross (A ). A Latin cross mounted on three steps (or grises).

Calvert's Entire The 14th Foot. Called Calvert from their colonel, Sir Harry Calvert (1806-1826), and entire, because three entire battalions were kept up for the good of Sir Harry, when adjutant-general. The term is, of course, a play on Calvert's malt liquor. The regiment is now called The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorks. Regiment).

Calves The inhabitants of the Isle of Wight are so called from a legendary joke which states that a calf once got its head firmly wedged in a wooden pale, and, instead of breaking up the pale, the farm-man cut off the calf's head.

Calves gone to Grass (His ). Said of a spindle-legged man. And another mocking taunt is, “Veal will be dear, because there are no calves.”

Calves' Head There are many ways of dressing a calf's head. Many ways of saying or doing a foolish thing; a simpleton has many ways of showing his folly; or, generally, if one way won't do we must try another. The allusion is to the great Calves' Head Club banquet, when the board was laden with calves' heads cooked in sundry ways and divers fashions.

Calves' Head Club Instituted in ridicule of Charles I. The great annual banquet was held on the 30th January, and consisted of a cod's head, to represent the person of Charles Stuart, independent of his kingly office; a pike with little ones in its mouth, an emblem of tyranny; a boar's head with an apple in its mouth to represent the king preying on his subjects; and calves' heads dressed in sundry ways to represent Charles in his regal capacity. After the banquet, the king's book (Icon Basilikë ) was burnt, and the parting cup was, “To those worthy patriots who killed the tyrant.”

Calvinism The five chief points of Calvinism are:
   (1) Predestination, or particular election.
   (2) Irresistible grace.
   (3) Original sin, or the total depravity of the natural man, which renders it morally impossible to believe and turn to God of his own free will.
   (4) Particular redemption.
   (5) Final perseverance of the saints.

Calydon A forest supposed, in the romances relating to King Arthur, to occupy the northern portion of England.

Calypso in Fénelon's Télémaque, is meant to represent Madame de Montespan. In fairy mythology, she was queen of the island Ogygia on which Ulysses was wrecked, and where he was detained for seven years.

Calypso's Isle Gozo, near Malta. Called in classic mythology Ogygia.