Chapter Poisson d'Avril to Polydamas of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Political Economy This term was invented by Francois Quesnay, the French physician. (1694-1774.)

Polixene (3 syl.). The name assumed by Madelon in Molière's Précieuses Ridicules.

Polixenes (4 syl.), King of Bohemia, being invited to Sicily by King Leontes, excites unwittingly the jealousy of his friend, because he prolongs his stay at the entreaty of Queen Hermione. Leontes orders Camillo to poison the royal guest, but, instead of doing so, Camillo flees with him to Bohemia. In time Florizel, the son and heir of Polixenes, falls in love with Perdita, the lost daughter of Leontes. Polixenes forbids the match, and the young lovers, under the charge of Camillo, flee to Sicily. Polixenes follows the fugitives, the mystery of Perdita is cleared up, the lovers are married, and the two kings resume their friendship. (Shakespeare: Winter's Tale.)

Poll To go out in the poll. To take an ordinary degree- a degree without university “honours.” (Greek, hoi polloi, the many.)

Poll Degree (See above.)

Poll Men Those of the “hoi polloi,” the many, not the honour-men.

Pollente The puissant Saracen, father of Munera. He took his station on “Bridge Perilous,” and attacked everyone who crossed it, bestowing the spoil upon his daughter. Sir Artegal slew the monster. Pollente is meant for Charles IX. of France, sadly notorious for the slaughter of Protestants on St. Bartholomew's Eve. (Spenser: Faërie Queene, book v. 2.)

Pollio, to whom Virgil addresses his Fourth Eclogue, and to whom he ascribes the remarkable advent of the “golden age,” was the founder of the first public library of Rome. (B.C. 76 A.D. 4.)

Pollux The horses of Castor and Pollux. Cyllaros and Harpagos. Seneca and Claudian give Cyllaros to Castor, but Virgil (Georgic iii.) to Pollux. The two brothers mount it alternatively on their return from the infernal regions. Harpagos, the horse from Harpagium in Phrygia, was common to both brothers.

Polly Mary. The change of M for P in pet names is by no means rare; e.g. -
   Margaret. Maggie or Meggy, becomes Peggie, and Pegg or Peg.
   Martha. Matty becomes Patty.
   Mary. Molly becomes Polly or Poll.
   Here we see another change by no means unusual- that of r into l or ll. Similarly, Sarah becomes Sally; Dorothea, Dora, becomes Dolly; Harry, Hal.

Polonius An old courtier, garrulous, conceited, and politic. He was father of Ophelia, and lord chamberlain to the king of Denmark. (Shakespeare: Hamlet.)

Polony A vulgar corruption of Bologna sausage.

Polt-foot A club-foot. Ben Jonson calls Vulcan, who was lame, the “polt-footed philosopher.” (Swedish, bult, a club; bulta, to beat; our bolt.)

Poltron A bird of prey, with the talons of the hind toes cut off to prevent its flying at game. (Latin, pollicetruncato, deprived of its toe or thumb.)

Poltroon' A coward. Menage derives it from the Italian poltro, a bed, because cowards feign themselves sick a-bed in times of war. Saumaise says it means “maimed of the thumb,” because in times of conscription those who had no stomach for the field disqualified themselves by cutting off their right thumb. More probably a poltroon is a hawk that will not or cannot fly at game. (See above.)

Polybotes (4 syl.). One of the giants who fought against the gods. The sea-god pursued him to the island of Cos, and, tearing away part of the island, threw it on him and buried him beneath the mass. (Greek fable.) (See Giants .)