Chapter R to Races of R by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

R to Races

R (Rx) in prescriptions. The ornamental part of this letter is the symbol of Jupiter, under whose special protection all medicines were placed. The letter itself (Recipe, take) and its flourish may be thus paraphrased: “Under the good auspices of Jove, the patron of medicines, take the following drugs in the proportions set down.” It has been suggested that the symbol is for Responsum Raphaelis, from the assertion of Dr. Napier and other physicians of the seventeenth century, that the angel Raphael imparted them.

R is called the dog-letter, because a dog in snarling utters the letter r-r-r-r, r-r, r-r-r-r-r, etc.- sometimes preceded by a g.

“Irritata canis quod RR quam plurima dicat.”
Lucillus.

“[R] that's the dog's name. R is for the dog.”
- Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4.

   The three R's. Sir William Curtis being asked to give a toast, said, “I will give you the three R's- writing, reading, and arithmetic.”

“The House is aware that no payment is made except on the `three R's.' ”- Mr. Cory. M.P.: Address to the House of Commons, February 28th, 1867.

R.A.P Rupees, annas, and pies, in India; corresponding to our £ s. d.

R.I.P Requiescat in pace.

R.M.T In the reign of William III. all child-stealers (comprachios) apprehended were branded with red-hot iron: R (rogue) on the shoulders; M (manslayer) on the right-hand; and T (thief) on the left.

Rabagas A demagogue in the kingdom of the king of Monaco. He was won over to the court party by being invited to dine at the palace. (M. Sardou: Rabagas, 1872.)

Rabbi Abron of Trent A fictitious sage and wonderful linguist, “who knew the nature of all manner of herbs, beasts, and minerals.” (Reynard the Fox, xii.)

Rabbi Bar-Cochba in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, made the Jews believe that he was the Messiah, because he had the art of breathing fire. (Beckmann: History of Inventions.)

Rabbit A Welsh rabbit. Toasted cheese, or rather bread and cheese toasted together. (Qy. “rare-bit.”)

Rabelais The English Rabelais. Swift, Sterne, and Thomas Amory have been so called. Voltaire so calls Swift.
   The modern Rabelais. William Maginn (1794-1842).

Rabelais' Dodge Rabelais one day was at a country inn, and finding he had no money to pay his score, got himself arrested as a traitor who was forming a project to poison the princes. He was immediately sent to Paris and brought before the magistrates, but, as no tittle of evidence was found against him, was liberated forthwith. By this artifice he not only got out of his difficulty at the inn, but he also got back to Paris free of expense. Fathered on Tarleton also.

Rabelaisian Licence The wild grotesque of Rabelais, whether in words or artistic illustrations.

Rabicano or Rabican. The name of Astolpho's horse. Its sire was Wind, and its dam Fire. It fed on unearthly food. (Orlando Furioso.)
   Argalia's steed in Orlando Innamorato is called by the same name. (See Horse.)

Raboin or Rabuino (French). The devil; so called from the Spanish rubo (a tail). In the mediaeval ages it was vulgarly asserted that the Jews were born with tails; this arose from a confusion of the word rabbi or rabbins with raboin or rabuino.