Chapter Mosen to Motion of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Mosen to Motion

Mosen (Spanish). A corruption of Mio Señor, corresponding to the Castilian Don.

Moses' Horns Exodus xxxiv. 30, “All the children of Israel saw Moses, and the skin of his face shone, ” translated in the Vulgate, “Cornuta esset facies sua. ” Rays of light were called horns. Hence in Habakkuk (iii. 4) we read of God, “His brightness was as the light, and He had horns [rays of light ] coming out of His hand.” Michel Angelo depicted Moses with horns, following the Vulgate.
   The French translation of Habacuc, iii. 4 is:- “Sa splendeur etait comme la lumière meme, et des rayons sortaient de sa main. '

Moses' Rod So the divining-rod was usually called. The divining-rod was employed to discover water or mineral treasure. In Blackwood's Magazine (May, 1850) we are told that nobody sinks a well in North Somersetshire without consulting the jowser (as the rod-diviner is called). The Abbé Richard is stated in the Monde to be an extremely expert diviner of water, and amongst others discovered the “Christmas Fountain” on M. de Metternich's estate, in 1863. In the Quarterly Review (No. 44) we have an account of Lady Noel's divining skill. (See World of Wonders, pt. ix. p. 283.)

Moses Slow of Speech The account given in the Talmud (vi.) is as follows:- Pharaoh was one day sitting on his throne with Moses on his lap, when the child took off the king's crown and put it on his own head. The “wise men” tried to persuade the king that this was treason, for which the child ought to be put to death; but Jethro, priest of Midian, replied, “It is the act of a child who knows no better. Let two plates” (he continued) “be set before him, one containing gold and the other red-hot coals, and you will readily see he will prefer the latter to the former.” The experiment being tried, the little boy snatched up the live coal, put it into his mouth, and burnt his tongue so severely that he was ever after “heavy or slow of speech.”

Moses Primrose Son of the Rev. Dr. Primrose, very green, and with a good opinion of himself. He is chiefly known for his wonderful bargain with a Jew at the neighbouring fair, when he gave a good horse in exchange for a gross of worthless green spectacles, with copper rims and shagreen cases, ( Goldsmith: Vicar of Wakefield.)

Moslem or Moslemin. Plural of Mussulman, sometimes written Mussulmans. The word is Turkish, and means true believer.

Mosse Napping, as Mosse took his mare. Wilbraham says Mosse took his mare napping, because he could not catch her when awake.

“Till day come, catch him as Mosse his grey mare, napping.”- Christmas Prince.

Mosstrooper A robber, a bandit. The marauders who infested the borders of England and Scotland were so called because they encamped on the mosses.

Mote and Beam (Matt. vii. 3-5). In alio pediculum video, in te ricinum non vides (Petronius). Here pediculum means a louse, and ricinum a tyke.

Moth Page to Don Adriano de Armado, all jest and playfulness, cunning and versatile. (Shakespeare: Love's Labour's Lost.)

Mother Mother and Head of all Churches. So is St. John Lateran of Rome called. It occupies the site of the splendid palace of Plantius Lateranus, which escheated to the Crown from treason, and was given to the Church by the Emperor Constantine. From the balcony of this church the Pope blesses the people of the whole world.

Mother Ann Ann Lee, the “spiritual mother” of the Shakers. (1735-1784.)

Mother Bunch (1) Mother Bunch whose fairy tales are notorious. These tales are in Pasquil's Jests, with the Merriments of Mother Bunch. (1653.)
   (2) The other Mother Bunch is called Mother Bunch's Closet newly Broke Open, containing rare secrets of art and nature, tried and experienced by learned