Chapter Maundrel to May-pole of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Maundrel to May-pole

Maundrel A foolish, vapouring gossip. The Scotch say, “Haud your tongue, maundrel.” As a verb it means to babble, to prate. In some parts of Scotland the talk of persons in delirium, in sleep, and in intoxication is called maundrel. The term is from Sir John Mandeville, the traveller, who published an account of his travels, full of idle gossip and most improbable events.
    There is another verb, maunder (to mutter, to vapour, or wander in one's talk). This verb is from maund (to beg). (See Maundy Thursday.)

Maundy Thursday The day before Good Friday is so called from the Latin dies mandati (the day of Christ's great mandate). After He had washed His disciples' feet, He said, “A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another” (St. John xiii. 34).
   Spelman derives it from maund (a basket), because on the day before the great fast all religious houses and good Catholics brought out their broken food in maunds to distribute to the poor. This custom in many places gave birth to a fair, as the Tombland fair of Norwich, held on the plain before the Cathedral Close.

Mauri-gasima An island near Formosa, said to have been sunk in the sea in consequence of the great crimes of its inhabitants. (Kempfer.)

Mauritania Morocco and Algiers, the land of the ancient Mauri or Moors.

Mausoleum One of the seven “wonders of the world;” so called from Mausolus, King of Caria, to whom Artemisia (his wife) erected at Halicarnassos a splendid sepulchral monument B.C. 353. Parts of this sepulchre are now in the British Museum.
   The chief mausoleums, besides the one referred to above, are: the mausoleum of Augustus; that of Hadrian, now called the castle of St. Angelo, at Rome; that erected in France to Henry II. by Catherine de Medicis; that of St. Peter the Martyr in the church of St. Eustatius, by G. Balduccio in the fourteenth century; and that erected to the memory of Louis XVI.

Maut gets abune the Meal (The). malt liquor or drink gets more potent than the food eaten- that is, when men get heady or boosy.

“If the maut gets abune the meal with you, it is time for me to take myself away; and you will come to my room, gentlemen, when you want a cup of tea.”- Sir. W. Scott: Redgauntlet.

Mauthe Dog A “spectre hound” that for many years haunted the ancient castle of Peel town, in the Isle of Man. This black spaniel used to enter the guard-room as soon as candles were lighted, and leave it at day-break. While this spectre-dog was present the soldiers forebore all oaths and profane talk. One day a drunken trooper entered the guard-house alone out of bravado, but lost his speech and died in three days. Scott refers to it in his Lay of the Last Minstrel, vi. stanza 26.
    For the legend, see a long note at the beginning of Scott's Peveril of the Peak, chapter xv.

Mauvais Ton (French). Bad manners. Ill-breeding, vulgar ways.

Mauvaise Honto (French). Bad or silly shame. Bashfulness, sheepishness.

Mauvaise Plaisanterie (A). A rude or ill-mannered jest; a jest in bad taste.

Mavournin Irish for darling. Erin mavournin = Ireland, my darling; Erin go bragh = Ireland for ever!

“Land of my forefathers. Erin go bragh! ...
Erin mavournin. Erin go bragh!”
Campbell: Exile of Erin.

Mawther (See Morther .)

Mawworm A vulgar copy of Dr. Cantwell, the hypocrite, in The Hypocrite, by Isaac Bickerstaff.

Max A huntsman, and the best marksman in Germany. He was betrothed to Agatha, who was to be his bride if he obtained the prize in the annual trial-shot. Having been unsuccessful in his practice for several days, Caspar induced him to go to the wolf's glen at midnight and obtain seven charmed balls from Samiel the Black Huntsman. On the day of contest, the prince bade him shoot at a dove. Max