Chapter Orange Lodges to Ordinary of O by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Orange Lodges to Ordinary

Orange Lodges or Clubs are referred to in Hibernia Curiosa, published in 1769. Thirty years later the Orangemen were a very powerful society, having a “grand lodge” extending over the entire province of Ulster, and ramifying through all the centres of Protestantism in Ireland.” (See next article, and Orangeman. )

Orange Peel A nickname given to Sir Robert Peel when Chief Secretary for Ireland (1812-1818), on account of his strong anti-Catholic proclivities. (See above, and Orangeman. )

Orange-tawny The ancient colour appropriated to clerks and persons of inferior condition. It was also the colour worn by the Jews. Hence Lord Bacon says, “Usurers should have orange-tawny bonnets, because they do Judaise” (Essay xli.). Bottom the weaver asked Quince what coloured beard he was to wear for the character of Pyramus: “I will discharge it in either your straw-coloured beard, your orange- tawny beard, your purple-ingrain beard, or your French crown-colour, which is a perfect yellow.” (Midsummer Night's Dream, i. 2.)

Orange Blossoms Worn at Weddings The Saracen brides used to wear orange blossoms as an emblem of fecundity; and occasionally the same emblem may have been worn by European brides ever since the time of the Crusades; but the general adoption of wreaths of orange blossoms for brides is comparatively a modern practice, due especially to the recent taste for flower-language. The subject of bridal decorations being made a study, and the orange flower being found suitable, from the use made of it by the ancient Saracens, it was introduced by modistes as a fit ornament for brides. The notion once planted, soon became a custom, now very generally adopted by those who study the conventions of society, and follow the accepted fashions. (See Olive. )
   To gather orange blossoms. To look for a wife. A bride wears orange blossoms to indicate the hope of fruitfulness, no tree being more prolific. An orange tree of moderate size will yield three or four thousand oranges in a year, and the blossom being white, is a symbol of innocence and chastity. The orange was also used by Cardinal Wolsey as a pomander. It is said that some sweet oranges turn bitter by neglect.

Orangeman A name given by Roman Catholics to the Protestants of Ireland, on account of their adhesion to William III. of the House of Orange; they had been previously called “Peep-of-Day Boys.” The Roman party were Jacobites. (See Orange Lodges .)

Orania The lady-love of Amadis of Gaul.

Orator Henley The Rev. John Henley, who for about thirty years delivered lectures on theological, political, and literary subjects. (1692-1756.)

Orbilian Stick (The). A cane or birch-rod.
   Orbilius was the schoolmaster who taught Horace, and Horace calls him Plagosus (the flogger). (Ep. ii. 71.)

Orc (in Orlando Furioso). A sea-monster that devoured men and women. He haunted the seas near Ireland. Orlando threw an anchor into his open jaws, and then dragged the monster to the Irish coast, where he died.

Orca The Orkney Islands, or Orcades.

Orchard properly means a kitchen garden, a yard for herbs. (Saxon, ortgeard- i.e. wort-yard.) Wort enters into the names of numerous herbs, as mug-wort, liver-wort, spleen-wort, etc.

“The hortyard entering [he] admires the fair
And pleasant fruits.” Sandys.

Orcus The abode of the dead; death. (Roman mythology.)

Ordeal (Saxon, great judgment), instituted long before the Conquest, and not abolished till the reign of Henry III.
Ordeals were of several kinds, but the most usual were by wager of battle, by hot or cold