Chapter Catual to Cave of Adullam of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Catual to Cave of Adullam

Catual Chief minister of the Zamorin or ancient sovereign of India.

“Begirt with high-plumed nobles, by the flood
The first great minister of India stood,
His name `the Catual' in India's tongue.”
Camoens: Lusiad, book vii.

Catum (Al) [the strong ]. A bow which fell into the hands of Mahomet when the property of the Jews of Medina was confiscated. In the first battle the prophet drew it with such force that it snapped in two.

Catwater The estuary of the Plym (Plymouth). A corruption of château (chat-eau); as the castle at the mouth of the Plym used to be called.

Caucasians according to Blumenbach's ethnological system, represent the European or highest type of the human race, so called from Caucasus, the mountainous range. Whilst the professor was studying ethnology, he was supplied with a skull from these regions, which he considered the standard of the human type.

Caucus A meeting of citizens in America to agree upon what members they intend to support, and to concert measures for carrying out their political wishes. The word arose from the caulkers of Boston, who had a dispute with the British soldiers a little before the Revolution. Several citizens were killed, and meetings were held at the caulkers' house or calk-house, to concert measures for redress of grievances.

“The whole Fenian affair is merely a caucus in disguise.”- The Times.

“This day the caucus club meets ... in the
garret of Tom Dawes, the adjutant of the Boston
regiment.”- John Adams: Diary, vol. ii. p. 164,
February, 1763.

Caudine Forks A narrow pass in the mountains near Capua, now called the Valley of Arpaia. It was here that the Roman army, under the consuls T. Veturius Calvinus and Sp. Postumius fell into the hands of the Samnites, and were made to pass under the yoke.

“Hard as it was to abandon an enterprise so very dear to him ... he did not hesitate to take the more prudent course of passing under (sic) the Caudine Forks of the Monroe doctrine, and leave Maximilian and the French bondholders to their fate.”- Standard, Nov. 17th, 1866.

Caudle is any sloppy mess, especially that sweet mixture given by nurses to gossips who call to see the baby during the first month. The word simply means something warm. (Latin, calidus; French, chaudeau, Italian, caldo.)

Caudle (Mrs.). A curtain lecturer. The term is derived from a series of papers by Douglas Jerrold, which were published in Punch. These papers represent Job Caudle as a patient sufferer of the curtain lectures of his nagging wife.

Caught Napping (To be). To suffer some disadvantage while off one's guard. Pheasants, hares, and other animals are sometimes surprised “napping.” I have myself caught a cock-pheasant napping.

Caul The membrane on the heads of some new-born infants, supposed to be a charm against death by drowning.
   To be born with a caul was with the Romans tantamount to our phrase, “To be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth,” meaning “born to good luck.” M. Francisque-Michel, in his Philologie- Comparée, p. 83, 4, says: “Calle, espéce de coiffure, est synonyme de coiffé, ” and quotes the proverb, “Ste. Migorce! nous sommes nées coiffées. ” (La Comédie des Proverbes, act ii. 4.)

Cauld-lad (The) of Hilton Hall. A house-spirit, who moved about the furniture during the night. Being resolved to banish him, the inmates left for him a green cloak, and hood, before the kitchen-fire, which so delighted him that he never troubled the house any more; but sometimes he might be heard singing-

“Here's a cloak, and here's a hood,
The cauld-lad of Hilton will do no more good.”

Cauline (Sir) (2 syl.). A knight who lived in the palace of the King of Ireland, and “used to serve the wine.” He fell in love with