Chapter Robin Gray to Rochester of R by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Robin Hood Wind (A). A cold thaw-wind. Tradition runs that Robin Hood used to say he could bear any cold except that which a thaw-wind brought with it.

Robin Mutton (A). A simpleton.

“Do you see this ram? His name is Robin. Here, Robin, Robin, Robin. ... We will get a pair of scales, and then you, Robin Mutton [Panurge], shall be weighed against Tup Robin, ... etc.”- Rabelais: Pantagruel, iv. 7.

Robin Redbreast The tradition is that when our Lord was on His way to Calvary, a robin picked a thorn out of His crown, and the blood which issued from the wound falling on the bird dyed its breast with red. (See Christian Traditions .)
   Robin Redbreasts. Bow Street runners were so called from their red waistcoats.

Robin and Makyne (2 syl.). An ancient Scottish pastoral. Robin is a shepherd for whom Makyne sighs. She goes to him and tells her love, but Robin turns a deaf ear, and the damsel goes home to weep. After a time the tables are turned, and Robin goes to Makyne to plead for her heart and hand; but the damsel replies-

“The man that will not when he may
Sall have nocht when he wald.”
Percy: Reliques, etc., series ii.

Robin of Bagshot Noted for the number of his aliases (see Alias ); but Deeming had nine: viz. Williams, Ward, Swanston, Levey, Lord Dunn, Lawson, Mollatt, Drewe, and Baron Swanston.

“You have as many aliases as Robin of Bagshot.”

Robinson Crusoe Alexander Selkirk was found in the desert island of Juan Fernandez, where he had been left by Captain Stradling. He remained on the island four years and four months, when he was rescued by Captain Rogers, and brought to England. The embryo of De Foe's novel may be seen in Captain Burney's interesting narrative.

Robinsonians They were followers of John Robinson, of Leyden. The Brownists were followers of Robert Brown. The Brownists were most rigid separatists; the Robinsonians were only semi-separatists.

Roc A fabulous white bird of enormous size, and such strength that it can “truss elephants in its talons,” and carry them to its mountain nest, where it devours them. (Arabian Nights; The Third Calender, and Sinbad the Sailor.)

Roch (St.). Patron of those afflicted with the plague, because he devoted his life to their service, and is said to intercede for them in his exaltation. He is depicted in a pilgrim's habit, lifting his dress to display a plague-spot on his thigh, which an angel is touching that he may cure it. Sometimes he is accompanied by a dog bringing bread in his month, in allusion to the legend that a hound brought him bread daily while he was perishing in a forest of pestilence.
   St. Roch's Day (August 16th), formerly celebrated in England as a general harvest-home, and styled “the great August festival.” The Anglo-Saxon name of it was harfest (herb-feast), the word herb meaning autumn (German herbst), and having no relation to what we call herbs.
   St. Roch et son chien. Inseparables; Darby and Joan.

Roche Men of la vieille roche. Old-fashioned men; men of fossilised ideas; non-progressive men. A geological expression.

“Perhaps it may be justly attributed to a class of producers, men of la vieille roche, that they have been so slow to apprehend the changes which are daily presenting themselves in the requirements of trade.”- The Times.

   Sir Boyle Roche's bird. Sir Boyle Roche, quoting from Jevon's play (The Devil of a Wife), said on one occasion in the House, “Mr. Speaker, it is impossible I could have been in two places at once, unless I were a bird.”

“Presuming that the duplicate card is the knave of hearts, you may make a remark on the ubiquitous nature of certain cards, which, like Sir Boyle Roche's bird, are in two places at once.”- Drawing-room Magic.

Rochelle Salt So called because it was discovered by an apothecary of Rochelle, named Seignette, in 1672.