Chapter Montezuma's Realm to Monumental Effigies of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

to July 18th).
   August. So called in honour of Augustus Cæsar; not because it was his birth-month, but because it was the month in which he entered upon his first consulship, celebrated three triumphs, received the oath of allegiance from the legions which occupied the Janiculum, reduced Egypt, and put an end to the civil wars. He was born in September. The old Dutch name for August was Oost-maand (harvest- month); the old Saxon, Weod-monath (weed-month, where weed signifies vegetation in general. In the French Republican calendar it was called Ther-midor (hot-month, July 19th to August 17th).
   September. The seventh month from March, where the year used to commence. The old Dutch name was Herst- maand (autumn-month); the old Saxon, Gerst-monath (barley-monath), or Hærfest-monath; and after the introduction of Christianity Halig-monath (holy-month, the nativity of the Virgin Mary being on the 8th, the exaltation of the Cross on the 14th, Holy-Rood Day on the 26th, and St. Michael's Day on the 29th). In the French Republican calendar it was called Fructidor (fruit-month, August 18th to September 21st).
   October. The eighth month of the Alban calendar. The old Dutch name was Wyn-maand; the Old Saxon, Win-monath (wine-month, or the time of vintage); it was also called Teo-monath (tenth-month), and Winter-fylleth (winter full-moon). In the French Republican calendar it was called Vendé-miaire (time of vintage, September 22nd to October 21st).
   November. The ninth Alban month. The old Dutch name was Slaght-maand (slaughter-month, the time when the beasts were slain and salted down for winter use); the old Saxon, Wind-monath (wind-month, when the fishermen drew their boats ashore, and gave over fishing till the next spring); it was also called Blot-monath - the same as Slaght-maand. In the French Republican calendar it was called Brumaire (fog-month, October 22nd to November 21st).
   December. The tenth month of the old Alban calendar. The old Dutch name was Winter-maand (winder-month); the old Saxon, Mid-winter-monath (mid-winter-month); whereas June was Mid-sumor-monath. Christian Saxons called December Se ura geóla (the anti-yule). In the French Republican calendar it was called Frimaire (hoar-frost month, from November 22nd to December 20th).

Monthawi (Al), [the destroyer]. One of Mahomet's lances, confiscated from the Jews when they were exiled from Medina.

Montjoie St. Denis The war-cry of the French. Montjoie is a corruption of Mons Jovis, as the little mounds were called which served as direction-posts in ancient times; hence it was applied to whatever showed or indicated the way, as the banner of St. Denis, called the Oriflamme. The Burgundians had for their war-cry, “Montjoie St. André;” the dukes of Bourbon, “Montjoie Notre Dame;” and the kings of England used to have “Montjoie St. George.” There seems no sufficient reason to suppose that Montjoie St. Denis is a corruption of “St. Denis mon joie”- i.e. “St. Denis is my hope.”
   Montjoie. The cry of the French heralds in the ancient tournaments; and the title of the French king-of-arms.

Montrognon (Baron of), Lord of Bourglastie, Tortebesse, and elsewhere. A huge mass of muscle, who existed only to eat and drink. He was a descendant of Esau on his father's side, and of Gargantua on his mother's. He once performed a gigantic feat- he killed six hundred Saracens who happened to get in his way as he was going to dinner. He was bandy-legged, could lift immense weights, had an elastic stomach, and four rows of teeth. In Croquemitaine he is made one of the paladins of Charlemagne, and was one of the four knights sent in search of Croquemitaine and Fear-fortress.

Montserrat The Catalonians aver that this mountain was riven and shattered at the Crucifixion. Every rift is filled with evergreens. Similar legends exist with regard to many other mountains. (Latin, mons serratus, the mountain jagged like a saw.)

Monumental City Baltimore, U.S., is so called because it abounds in monuments: witness the obelisk, the 104 churches, etc.

Monumental Effigies In the age of chivalry the woman in monumental brasses and effigies is placed on the man's right hand; but when chivalry declined she was placed on his left hand.