Chapter Hankey Pankey to Hard as the Nether Millstone of H by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Hankey Pankey to Hard as the Nether Millstone

Hankey Pankey Jugglery; fraud.

Hanoverian Shield This escutcheon used to be added to the arms of England; it was placed in the centre of the shield to show that the House of Hanover came to the crown by election, and not by conquest. Conquerors strike out arms of a conquered country, and place their own in lieu.

Hans von Rippach [rip-pak ]. Jack of Rippach, a Monsieur Nong-tong-pas - i.e. someone asked for who does not exist. A gay German spark calls at a house and asks for Herr Hans von Rippach. Rippach is a village near Leipsic.

Hansards The printed records of Bills before Parliament, the reports of committees, parliamentary debates, and some of the national accounts. Till the business was made into a company the reports commanded a good respect, but in 1892 the company was wound up. Luke Hansard, the founder of the business came from Norwich, and was born in 1752.
    Other parliamentary business was printed by other firms.

Hanse Towns The maritime cities of Germany, which belonged to the Hanseatic League (q.v.).

"The Hanse towns of Lübeck, Bremen, and Hamburg are commonwealths even now (1877)." - Freeman: General Sketch, chap.x. p. 174.

Hanseatic League The first trade union; it was established in the twelfth century by certain cities of Northern Germany for their mutual prosperity and protection. The diet which used to be held every three years was called the Hansa, and the members of it Hansards. The league in its prosperity comprised eighty-five towns; it declined rapidly in the Thirty Years' War; in 1669 only six cities were represented; and the last three members of the league (Hamburg, Lübeck, and Bremen) joined the German Customs Unions' in 1889. (German, am-see, on the sea; and the league was originally called the Am-see-staaten, free cities on the sea.)

Hansel A gift or bribe, the first money received in a day. Hence Hansel Monday, the first Monday of the year. To "hansel our swords" is to use them for the first time. In Norfolk we hear of hanselling a coat - i.e. wearing it for the first time. Lemon tells us that superstitious people will spit on the first money taken at market for luck, and Misson says, "Ils le baisent en le recevant, craschent dessus, et le mettent dans une poche apart. " (Travels in England, p. 192.)

Hansel Monday The Monday after New-Year's Day, when "hansels," or free gifts, were given in Scotland to servants and children. Our boxing-day is the first weekday after Christmas Day. (Anglo-Saxon, handselen; hand and sellan, to give.)

Hansom (A). A light two-wheeled cab, in which the driver sits behind the vehicle, and communicates with the passenger through a trap-door in the roof. Invented by Aloysius Hansom of York (1803-1882). Hansom was by trade an architect at Birmingham and at Hinckley in Leicestershire.

Hapmouche (2 syl.). The giant flycatcher. He invented the art of drying and smoking neats' tongues. (Duchat: Œuvres de Rabelais.)

Happy Arabia A mistranslation of the Latin Arabia felix, which means simply on the right hand - i.e. to the right hand of Al-Shan (Syria). It was Ptolemy who was the author of the threefold division Arabia Petræa, miscalled "Stony Arabia," but really so called from its chief city Petra; Arabia Felix (or Yemen), the south-west coast; and as for Arabia deserta (meaning the interior) probably he referred to Nedjaz.

Happy Expression (A). A well-turned phrase; a word or phrase peculiarly apt. The French also say "Une heureuse expression, " and "S'exprimer heureusement. "

Happy-go-lucky (A). One indifferent to his interests; one who looks to good luck to befriend him.