Chapter Moussali to Mugwump of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Much Ado about Nothing The plot is from a novel of Belleforest, copied from one by Bandello (18th vol., vi.). There is a story resembling it in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, bk. v., another in the Geneura of G. Turberville, and Spenser has a similar one in the Faërie Queene, book ii. canto iv.
   Much Ado about Nothing. After a war in Messina, Claudio, Benedick, and some other soldiers went to visit Leonato the governor, when the former fell in love with Hero, the governor's daughter; but Benedick and Beatrice, being great rattle-pates, fell to jesting, and each positively disliked the other. By a slight artifice their hatred was converted into love, and Beatrice was betrothed to the Paduan lord. In regard to Hero, the day of her nuptials was fixed; but Don John, who hated Claudio and Leonato, induced Margaret, the lady's maid, to dress up like her mistress, and to talk familiarly with one Borachio, a servant of Don John's; and while this chit-chat was going on, the Don led Claudio and Leonato to overhear it. Each thought it to be Hero, and when she appeared as a bride next morning at church, they both denounced her as a light woman. The friar, being persuaded that there was some mistake, induced Hero to retire, and gave out that she was dead. Leonato now challenged Claudio for being the cause of Hero's death, and Benedick, urged on by Beatrice, did the same. At this crisis Borachio was arrested, and confessed the trick; Don John fled, the mystery was duly cleared up, and the two lords married the two ladies.

Muciana Cautio A law-quirk, so called from Mucius Scaevola, a Roman pontifex, and the most learned of jurists.

Mucklebackit Elspeth Mucklebackit, mother of Saunders
   Little Jennie Mucklebackit. Child of Saunders.
   Maggie Mucklebackit. Wife of Saunders.
   Saunders Mucklebackit. The old fisherman at Musslecrag.
   Steenie Mucklebackit. Eldest son of Saunders (drowned). (Sir Walter Scott: The Antiquary.)

Mucklewrath Habakkuk Mucklewrath. A fanatic preacher. (Sir Walter Scott: Old Mortality.)
   John Mucklewrath. Smith at Cairnvreckan village. Dame Mucklewrath, his wife, is a perfect virago. (Sir Walter Scott: Waverley.)

Mud-honey So Tennyson calls the dirty pleasures of men-about-town. (Maud.)

Mudarra Son of a Moorish princess and Goncalo Bustos de Salas de Lara, who murdered his uncle Rodrigo, while hunting, to avenge the death of his seven half-brothers. (See Lara , The seven infants of Lara.)

Muff (A). A dull, stupid person. Sir Henry Muff, one of the candidates in Dudley's interlude, called The Rival Candidates (1774), is a stupid, blundering dolt. He is not only unsuccessful in his election, but he finds that his daughter has engaged herself during his absence.

Muffins and Crumpets Muffins is pain-moufflet. Du Cange describes the panis mofletus as bread of a more delicate nature than ordinary, for the use of prebends, etc., and says it was made fresh every day. Crumpets is crumple-ettes, cakes with little crumples.

Muffled Cats catch no Mice (In Italian, “Catta guantata non piglia sorice. ”) Said of those who work in gloves for fear of soiling their fingers.

Mufti We went in mufti - out of uniform, incog
   The French say en pékin, and French soldiers call civilians pékins. An officer who had kept Talleyrand waiting, said he had been detained by some pékins. “What are they?” asked Talleyrand. “Oh,” said the officer, “we call everybody who is not military a pékin.” “And we,” said Tallyrand, “call everybody military that is not civil. ' Mufti is an Eastern word, signifying a judge.

Mug-house An ale-house was so called in the eighteenth century. Some hundred persons assembled in a large tap-room to drink, sing, and spout. One of the number was made chairman. Ale was served to the guests in their own mugs, and the place where the mug was to stand was chalked on the table.

Mugello The giant slain by Averardo de Medici, a commander under Charlemagne. The tale is interesting, for it is said that the Medici took the three balls of this giant's mace for their device. Everyone knows