Chapter Mary Magdalene to Matamore of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Massacre of the Innocents (The), in parliamentary phraseology, means the withdrawal at the close of a session of the bills which time has not rendered it possible to consider and pass. The phrase was so used in The Times, 1859.

“If the secretarial M.P. is to be condemned for ... voting against the Miner's Eight Hours Bill, he is equally censurable if he ... does not support the numerous ... reforms which get the sanction of the Congress during the Massacre of the Innocents at the close of the sitting.”- Nineteenth Century, October, 1892, p. 619.

Massamore (3 syl.) or Massy More. The principal dungeon of a feudal castle. A Moorish word.

“Proximus est carcer subterraneus, sine ut Mauri appellant `Mazmorra.”- Old Latin Itinerary.

Mast (See Before The Mast .)

Master Humphrey Narrator of the story called The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens.

Master Leonard Grand-master of the nocturnal orgies of the demons. He is represented as a three- horned goat, with black human face. He marked his novitiates with one of his horns. (Middle Age demonology.)

Master Magrath The dog which won the Waterloo Cup for three successive years, and was introduced to the Queen. “Waterloo” is on the banks of the Mersey, about three miles north of Liverpool.

Master of Sentences Pierre Lombard, author of a work called Sentences, a compilation from the fathers of the leading arguments, pro and con., bearing on the hair-splitting theological questions of the Middle Ages. (1100-1164.)

Master of the Mint A punning term for a gardener.

Master of the Rolls A punning term for a baker.

Mastic A tonic which promotes appetite, and therefore only increases the misery of a hungry man.

“Like the starved wretch that hungry mastic chews,
But cheats himself and fosters his disease.”
West: Triumphs of the Gout (Lucian).

Matadore (3 syl.). In the game of Ombre, Spadille (the ace of spades), Manille (the seven of trumps), and Basto (the ace of clubs), are called “Matadores.”

“Now move to war her sable Matadore ...
Spadillo first, unconquerable lord,
Led off two captive trumps, and swept the board.
As many more Manillo forced to yield.
And marched a victor from the verdant field.
Him Basto followed ...”
Pope: Rape of the Lock, canto iii.

Matamoras Mexicans or savages.

Matamore (3 syl.). A poltroon, a swaggerer, a Major Bobadil (q.v.). A French term composed of two Spanish words, matar-Moros (a slayer of Moors.)

“Your followers ... must bandy and brawl in my court ... like so many Matamoros.”- Sir. W. Scott: Kenilworth, chap. xvi.