Chapter Norroy to Nose Out of Joint of N by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Nose Tax (The). In the ninth century the Danes imposed on Irish houses a poll tax, historically called the “Nose Tax,” because those who neglected to pay the ounce of gold were punished by having their nose slit.

Nose of Wax (A). Mutable and accommodating (faith). A waxen nose may be twisted any way.

“Sed addunt etiam simile quoddam non aptissimum; Eas esse quoddammodo nasum cereum, posse fingi, flectique in omnes modos, et omnium institutio inservire.”- Juelli Apologia, Ecc. Angl., sec. 6.

Nose Out of Joint To put one's nose out of joint is to supplant a person in another's good graces. To put another person's nose where yours is now. There is a good French locution, “Lui couper l'herbe sous le pied.' (In Latin, “Aliquem de jure suo dejicere.' Sometimes it means to humiliate a conceited person.

“Fearing now least this wench which is brought over hither should put your nose out the joynt, comining betweene home and you.”- Terence in English (1614).