Chapter Running Leather to Rython of R by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Running Leather to Rython

Running Leather His shoes are made of running leather. He is given to roving. Probably the pun is between roan and run.

Running Thursday In the beginning of the reign of William III. a rumour ran that the French and Irish Papists had landed; a terrible panic ensued, and the people betook themselves to the country, running for their lives. Joseph Perry says: “I was dismally affrighted the day called Running Thursday. It was that day the report reached our town, and I expected to be killed” (his Life). The day in question was Thursday, Dec. 13, 1688.

Running Water No enchantment can subsist in a living stream; if, therefore, a person can interpose a brook betwixt himself and the witches, sprites, or goblins chasing him, he is in perfect safety. Burns' tale of Tam o'Shanter turns upon this superstition.

Running the Hood It is said that an old lady was passing over Haxey Hill, when the wind blew away her hood. Some boys began tossing it from one to the other, and the old lady so enjoyed the fun that she bequeathed thirteen acres of land, that thirteen candidates might be induced to renew the sport on the 6th of every January.

Runcible Spoon (A). A horn spoon with a bowl at each end, one the size of a table-spoon and the other the size of a tea-spoon. There is a joint midway between the two bowls by which the bowls can be folded over

Runes The earliest alphabet in use among the Gothic tribes of Northern Europe. The characters were employed either for purposes of secrecy or for divination. Rûn is Gaelic for “secret,” and helrûn means “divination.”
   There were several sorts of runes in Celtic mythology: as (1) the Evil Rune. employed when evil was invoked; (2) the Securable Rune, to secure from misadventure: (3) the Victorious Rune, to procure victory over enemies; (4) Medicinal Rune, for restoring to health the indisposed, or for averting danger: and (5) the Maledictory Rune. to bring down curses on enemies. (Compare Balaam and Balak.)

Runic Rhymes Rhymes in imitation of the Edda or Book of Runic Mythology; rude, old-fashioned poetry of a Runic stamp.

Runic Wands Willow wands with mystic characters inscribed on them, used by the Scandinavians for magic ceremonies.

Runnymede The nom de guerre of Disraeli in the Times. (1805-1881.)

Rupee A silver coin = 2s. English (a florin). A lac of rupees = £10,000 sterling. Since the depreciation of silver the value of a rupee is considerably less.
    In 1870 an ounce of silver was worth 60 1/2d.; in 1876 it fell to 49d.; to-day (May, 1895) it is quoted between 58d. and 59d.; and at New York at 673/8d. per ounce.

Rupert of Debate Edward Geoffrey, fourteenth Earl of Derby. It was when he was Mr. Stanley, and the opponent of the great O (i.e. O'Connell), that Lord Lytton so describes him. (1799-1869.)

“The brilliant chief, irregularly great,
Frank, haughty, bold- the Rupert of Debate.”
New Timon.

Rupert's Balls or Prince Rupert's Drops. Glass bubbles first brought to England by Prince Rupert. Each bubble has a tail, and if the smallest part of the tail is broken off the bubble explodes. The French term is larme Batavique, because these toys were invented in Holland.

“The first production of an author ... is usually esteemed as a sort of Prince Rupert's drop, which is destroyed entirely if a person make on it but a single scratch.”- Household Words.

Rupert's Head (Sir), Devonshire. The legend is that the young wife of Sir Rupert Leigh eloped with a paramour, and the guilty pair, being pursued, were overtaken on the Red Cliff. The woman fell over the