Chapter Manger to Many a Mickle makes a Muckle of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Mano'a The fabulous capital of El Dorado, the houses of which city were said to be roofed with gold.

Manon Lescaut A novel by the Abbé Prevost. It is the history of a young man possessed of many brilliant and some estimable qualities, but, being intoxicated by a fatal attachment, he is hurried into the violation of every rule of conduct, and finally prefers the life of a wretched wanderer, with the worthless object of his affection, to all the advantages presented by nature and fortune.

Manor, Demesne. “Demesne land” is that near the demesne or dwelling (domus) of the lord, and which he kept for his own use. Manor land was all that remained (manco), which was let to tenants for money or service.
   In some manors there was common land also, i.e. land belonging in common to two or more persons, to the whole village, or to certain natives of the village.

Mansard Roof also called the curb roof. A roof in which the rafters, instead of forming a , are broken on each side into an elbow. It was devised by Francois Mansard, the French architect, to give height to attics. (1598-1666.)

Mansfield The Miller of Mansfield. Henry II. was one day hunting, and lost his way. He met a miller, who took him home to his cottage, and gave him a bed with his son Richard. Next morning the courtiers tracked the king to the cottage, and the miller discovered the rank of his guest. The king, in merry mood, knighted his host, who thus became Sir John Cockle. On St. George's Day, Henry II. invited the miller, his wife and son to a royal banquet, and after being amused with their rustic ways, made Sir John “overseer of Sherwood Forest, with a salary of £300 a year.” (Percy: Reliques.)

Mansion The Latin mansio was simply a tent pitched for soldiers on the march; and, hence a “day's journey” (Pliny, xii. 14). Subsequently the word was applied to a roadside house for the accommodation of strangers. (Suetonius Tit. 10).

Mantaccini A charlatan who professed to restore the dead to life.

Mantalini (Madame). A fashionable milliner near Cavendish Square. Her husband, noted for his white teeth, minced oaths, and gorgeous morning gown, is an exquisite man-milliner, who lives on his wife's earnings. (Dickens: Nicholas Nickleby.)

Mantel-piece (A). A shelf over a fire-place, originally used for drying clothes.

“Around the spacious cupola, over the Italian fire-places, is a ledge to which are affixed pegs, on which postillions hung their wet clothes to dry. We call the shelves over the fire-places `mantel-pieces,' but we no longer hang our mantles on them to dry.”- Memoirs of Col. Macaroni.

Mantible (Bridge of) consisted of thirty arches of black marble, and was guarded by “a fearful huge giant,” slain by Sir Fierabras.

Mantiger An heraldic monster, having a tiger's body, and the head of an old man with long spiral horns.

Mantle of Fidelity (The). A little boy one day presented himself before King Arthur, and showed him a curious mantle, “which would become no wife that was not leal.” Queen Guinever tried it, but it changed from green to red, and red to black, and seemed rent into shreds. Sir Kay's lady tried it, but fared no better; others followed, but only Sir Cradock's wife could wear it. (Percy: Reliques.) (See Chastity .)

Mantra or Mintra (Persian mythology). A spell, a talisman, by which a person holds sway over the elements and spirits of all denominations. (Wilford.)

Mantuan Swain, Swan or Bard (The). Virgil, a native of Mantua, in Italy. Besides his great Latin epic, he wrote pastorals and Georgics.