Chapter Macklin to Magellan of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Macklin to Magellan

Macklin The real name of this great actor was Charles M'Laughlin, but he changed it on coming to England. (1690-1797.)

Macmillanites (4 syl.). A religious sect of Scotland, who succeeded the Covenanters; so named from John Macmillan, their leader. They called themselves the “Reformed Presbytery.”

Macsycophant (Sir Pertinax). In The Man of the World, by Charles Macklin, Sir Pertinax “bowed, and bowed, and bowed,” and cringed, and fawned, to obtain the object of his ambition.

Mace Originally a club armed with iron, and used in war. Both sword and mace are ensigns of dignity, suited to the times when men went about in armour, and sovereigns needed champions to vindicate their rights.

Macedon is not Worthy of Thee is what Philip said to his son Alexander, after his achievement with the horse Bucephalos, which he subdued to his will, though only eighteen years of age.
   Edward III., after the battle of Crecy, in which the Black Prince behaved very valiantly, exclaimed, “My brave boy, on as you have begun, and you will be worthy of England's crown.”

Macedonian (The). Julius Polyaenus, author of Stratagemata, in the second century.

Macedonian Madman (The). (See Madman .)

Macedonians A religious sect, so named from Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, in the fourth century. They denied the divinity of the Holy Ghost, and that the essence of the Son is the same in kind with that of the Father.

Macedonicus Æmilius Paulus, conqueror of Perseus. (230-160 B.C.)

Mackerel Sky (A). A sky spotted like a mackerel. (Mackerel from the Latin, macula, a spot whence the French maquereau. German mackrele, Welsh macrell, etc.)

Macon Mahomet, Mahoun, or Mahound.

“Praised (quoth he) be Macon whom we serve.”
Fairfax: Tasso, xii. 10.

   Macon. A poetical and romance name of Mecca, the birthplace of Mahomet.

Macreons The island of the Macreons. Great Britain. The word is Greek, and means long-lived. Rabelais describes the persecutions of the reformers as a terrible storm at sea, in which Pantagruel and his fleet were tempest-tossed, but contrived to enter one of the harbours of Great Britain, an island called “Long life,” because no one was put to death there for his religious opinions. This island was full of antique ruins, relics of decayed popery and ancient superstitions.

Macrocosm (Greek, the great world), in opposition to the microcosm (the little world). The ancients looked upon the universe as a living creature, and the followers of Paracelsus considered man a miniature representation of the universe. The one was termed the Macrocosm, the other the Microcosm (q.v.)

Mad as a March Hare (See Hare .) The French say, “Il est fou comme un jeune chien. ”

Mad Cavalier (The). Prince Rupert, noted for his rash courage and impatience of control. (1619-1682.)

Mad Parliament (The). The Parliament which assembled at Oxford in 1258, and broke out into open rebellion against Henry III. The king was declared deposed, and the government was vested in the hands of twenty-four councillors, with Simon de Montfort at their head.

Mad Poet (The). Nathaniel Lee, who was confined for four years in Bedlam. (1657-1690.)