Chapter Carludovica to Carry the Day of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Carludovica to Carry the Day

Carludovica A Panama hat, made of the Carludovica palmata; so called in compliment to Carlos IV. of Spain, whose second name was Ludovic.

Carmagnole (3 syl.). A red Republican song and dance in the first French revolution; so called from Carmagnola, in Piedmont, the great nest of the Savoyards, noted for street music and dancing. The refrain of “Madame Veto,” the Carmagnole song, is “Dansons la Carmagnole- vive le son du canon!” The word was subsequently applied to other revolutionary songs, such as Ça ira the Marseillaise, the Chant du Depart. Besides the songs, the word is applied to the dress worn by the Jacobins, consisting of a blouse, red cap, and tri-coloured girdlle; to the wearer of this dress or any violent revolutionist; to the speeches in favour of the execution of Louis XVI, called by M Barrière des Carmagnoles; and, lastly, to the dance performed by the mob round the guillotine, or down the streets of Paris.

Carmelites (3 syl.). An order of mendicant friars of Mount Carmel, the monastery of which is named Elias, from Elijah the prophet, who on Mount Carmel told Ahab that rain was at hand. Also called White Friars, from their white cloaks.

Carmilhan The phantom ship on which the Kobold of the Baltic sits when he appears to doomed vessels.

Carminative A charm medicine. Magic and charms were at one time the chief “medicines,” and the fact is perpetuated by the word carminative, among others. Carminatives are given to relieve flatulence. (Latin, carmen, a charm.)

Carmine (2 syl). The dye made from the carmës or kermës insect, whence also crimson, through the Italian cremisino.

Carnation “Flesh-colour.” (Latin, caro; genitive, carnis, flesh.)

Carney To wheedle, to keep caressing.

Carnival The season immediately preceding Lent; shrove-tide. Ducange gives the word carne-levale. (Modern Italian, carnovále; Spanish and French, carnaval.)
   Italis, carnevale, carnovale, carnaval. Quidam scriptores Itali “carne-vale” dictum putant, quasi carne vale (good-by meat); sed id etymon non probat Octav. Ferrarius. Cangius ... appellasse Gallos existimat, carn-a-val, quod sonat caro abscedit ... [We are referred to a charter, dated 1195, in which occurs the word carne-lcvamen, and a quotation is given in which occurs the phrase in carnis levamen ].- Ducange, vol. ii. p. 222.

Carotid Artery An artery on each side of the neck, supposed by the ancients to be the seat of drowsiness, brought on by an increased flow of blood through it to the head. (Greek, caroticos, inducing sleep.)

Carouse (2 syl.). Mr. Gifford says the Danes called their large drinking cup a rouse, and to rouse is to drink from a rouse; ca-rouse is gar-rouse, to drink all up, or to drink all- i.e. in company.

“The king doth wake to-night, and takes his
rouse.”Shakespeare: Hamlet, i. 4.

   Carouse the hunter's hoop. Drinking cups were anciently marked with hoops, by which every drinker knew his stint. Shakespeare makes Jack Cade promise his friends that “seven halfpenny loaves shall be sold for a penny; and the three-hooped pot have ten hoops.” Pegs or pins (q.v.) are other means of limiting the draught of individuals who drank out of the same tankard.

Carpathian Wizard Proteus (2 syl.), who lived in the island of Carpathos, between Rhodes and Crete. He was a wizard and prophet, who could transform himself into any shape he pleased. He is represented as carrying a sort of crook in his hand. Carpathos, now called Scarpanto.

“By the Carpathian wizard's hook.”
Milton: Comus, 893.

Carpe Diem Enjoy yourself while you have the opportunity. Seize the present day. (Horace: 1 Odes, xi. 8.) “Dum vivimus, vivamus.”