Chapter Peter Botte Mountain to Phaeton of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

The Duke of Marlborough presents also a flag on the anniversary of the battle of Blenheim for his estate at Blenheim. This also is placed in the guard-room of Windsor Castle.

Petitio Principii (A). A begging of the question, or assuming in the premises the question you undertake to prove. Thus, if a person undertook to prove the infallibility of the pope, and were to take for his premises- (1) Jesus Christ promised to keep the apostles and their successors in all the truth; (2) the popes are the regular successors of the apostles, and therefore the popes are infallible- it would be a vicious syllogism from a petitio principii.

Petitioners and Abhorrers Two political parties in the reign of Charles II. When that monarch was first restored he used to grant everything he was asked for; but after a time this became a great evil, and Charles enjoined his loving subjects to discontinue their practice of “petitioning.” Those who agreed with the king, and disapproved of petitioning, were called Abhorrers; those who were favourable to the objectionable practice were nicknamed Petitioners.

Petrarch The English Petrarch. Sir Philip Sidney; so called by Sir Walter Raleigh. Cowper styles him “the warbler of poetic prose.” (1554-1586.)

Petrel The stormy petrel. So named, according to tradition, from the Italian Petrello (little Peter), in allusion to St. Peter, who walked on the sea. Our sailors call them “Mother Carey's chickens.” They are called stormy because in a gale they surround a ship to catch small animals which rise to the surface of the rough sea; when the gale ceases they are no longer seen.

Petrified (3 syl.). The petrified city. Ishmonie, in Upper Egypt, is so called from the number of petrified bodies of men, women, and children to be seen there. (Latin, petra-fio, to become rock.)

Petrobrussians or Petrobrusians. A religious sect, founded in 1110, and so called from Peter Bruys, a Provencal. He declaimed against churches, asserting that a stable was as good as a cathedral for worship, and a manger equal to an altar. He also declaimed against the use of crucifixes.

Petronel Sir Petronel Flash. A braggadocio, a tongue-doughty warrior.

“Give your scholler degrees and your lawyer his fees,
And some dice for Sir Petronell Flash.”
Brit. Bibl.

Petruchio A gentleman of Verona who undertakes to tame the haughty Katharine, called the Shrew. He marries her, and without the least personal chastisement brings her to lamb-like submission. (Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew.)

Petticoat A woman.

“There's a petticoat will prove to be the cause of this.”- Hawley Smart: Struck Down, chap. xi.

Petticoat Government Female rule.

Petticoat and Gown The dress. When the gown was looped up, the petticoat was an important item of dress.
   The poppy is said to have a red petticoat and a green gown; the daffodil, a yellow petticoat and green gown; a candle, a white petticoat; and so on in our common nursery rhymes-

1 “The King's daughter is coming to town,
With a red petticoat and a green gown.”
2 “Daffadown dilly is now come to town,
In a yellow petticoat and a green gown.”

Petto In petto. In secrecy, in reserve (Italian, in the breast). The pope creates cardinals in petto - i.e. in his own mind- and keeps the appointment to himself till he thinks proper to announce it.

“Belgium, a department of France in petto - i.e. in the intention of the people.” - The Herald, 1837.

Petty Cury (Cambridge) means “The Street of Cooks.” It is called Parva Cokeria in a deed dated 13 Edward III. Probably at one time it was part of the Market Hall. It is a mistake to derive Cury from Ecurie. Dr. Pegge derives it from curare, to cure or dress food.