Chapter June to Juveniles of J by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

June to Juveniles

June (1 syl.). The sixth month. Ovid says, "Junius a juvenum nomine dictus." (Fasti, v. 78.)

June Marriages Lucky "Good to the man and happy to the maid." This is an old Roman superstition. The festival of Juno moneta was held on the calends of June, and Juno was the great guardian of the female sex from birth to death.

Junior Optime A Cambridge University term, meaning a third-class "honour" man - i.e. in the mathematical "honour" examination.

Junior Soph A man of the second year's standing is so called in the University of Cambridge (See Soph.)

Junius Letters of Junius. In 1871 was published a book entitled The Handwriting of Junius Professionally Investigated by Mr. Charles Chabot, expert. The object of this book is to prove that Sir Philip Francis was the author of these letters. On the 22nd May, 1871, appeared an article in the Times to show that the case is "not proven" by Mr. Chabot. Mr. Pitt told Lord Aberdeen that he knew who wrote the Junius Letters, and that it was not Francis. Lady Grenville sent a letter to the editor of Diaries of a Lady of Quality to the same effect.

Junk Latin, juncus, from jungo, to join: used for binding, making baskets, mats. The juncus maritimus is useful in binding together the loose sands of the sea-shore, and obstructing the incursions of the sea. The juncus conglomeratus is used in Holland for giving stability to river-banks and canals. ( See Rush.)

Junk Salt meat supplied to vessels for long voyages; so called because it is hard and tough as old rope- ends so called. Ropes are called junks because they were once made of bulrushes. Junk is often called salt horse. (See Harness Cask.)

Junket Curded cream with spice, etc.; any dainty. The word is the Italian giuncata (curd or cream cheese), so called because carried on junk or bulrushes (giúneo).

"You know there wants no junkets at the feast."
Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, iii. 2.

Junner A giant in Scandinavian mythology, said in the Edda to represent the "eternal principle." Its skull forms the heavens; its eyes the sun and moon; its shoulders the mountains; its bones the rocks, etc.; hence the poets call heaven "Junner's skull;" the sun, "Junner's right eye;" the moon, "Junner's left eye;" the rivers, "the ichor of old Junner." (See Giants.)

Juno The "venerable ox-eyed" wife of Jupiter, and queen of heaven. (Roman mythology.)
    The famous marble statue of the Campana Juno is in the Vatican.

Junonian Bird The peacock, dedicated to the goddess-queen.

Junto A faction consisting of Russell, Lord-Keeper Somers, Charles Montague, and several other men of mark, who ruled the Whigs in the reign of William III. for nearly twenty years, and exercised a very great influence over the nation. The word is a corruption of the Spanish junta (an administrative assembly), but is in English a term of censure.

Jupiter is the Latin form of Zeuz pathr. Verospi's statue of Jupiter is in the Vatican; but one of the seven wonders of the world was the statue of Olympian Jove, by Phidias, destroyed by fire in Constantinople A.D. 475.
   This gigantic statue was nearly sixty feet high, though seated on a throne. The statue was made of ivory; the throne of cedar-wood, adorned with ivory, ebony, gold, and precious stones. The god holds in his right hand a golden statue of Victory, and his left hand rested on a long sceptre surmounted with an eagle. The robe of the god was of gold, and so was the footstool supported by golden lions. This wonderful work of art was removed to Constantinople by Theodosius I.
   Jupiter. With the ancient alchemists designated tin.