Chapter Thirteens to Thorn in the Flesh of T by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

architects.
   Christians of St. Thomas. In the southern parts of Malabar there were some 200,000 persons who called themselves “Christians of St. Thomas” when Gama discovered India. They had been 1,300 years under the jurisdiction of the patriarch of Babylon, who appointed their materene (archbishop). When Gama arrived the head of the Malabar Christians was Jacob, who styled himself “Metropolitan of India and China.” In 1625 a stone was found near Siganfu with a cross on it, and containing a list of the materenes of India and China.
   Sir Thomas. The dogmatical prating squire in Crabbe's Borough (letter x.).

Thomas-a-Kempis Thomas Hammerlein of Kempen, an Augustinian, in the diocese of Cologne. (1380- 1471.)

Thomas the Rhymer Thomas Learmont, of Ercildoune, a Scotchman, in the reign of Alexander III., and contemporary with Wallace. He is also called Thomas of Ercildoune. Sir Walter Scott calls him the “Merlin of Scotland.” He was magician, prophet, and poet, and is to return again to earth at some future time when Shrove Tuesday and Good Friday change places.
    Care must be taken not to confound “Thomas the Rhymer” with Thomas Rymer, the historiographer and compiler of the Foedera.

Thomasing In some rural districts the custom still prevails of “Thomasing”- that is, of collecting small sums of money or obtaining drink from the employers of labour on the 21st of December- “St. Thomas's Day.” December 21st is still noted in London as that day when every one of the Common Council has to be either elected or re-elected, and the electors are wholly without restriction except as to age and sex. The aldermen and their officers are not elected on St. Thomas's Day.

Thomists Followers of Thomas Aquinas, who denied the doctrine of the immaculate conception maintained by Duns Scotus.

“Scotists and Thomists now in peace remain.” Pope: Essay on Criticism, 444.

Thomson (James), author of The Seasons and Castle of Indolence, in 1729 brought out the tragedy of Sophonisba, in which occurs the silly line: “O Sophonisba, Sophonisba, O!” which a wag in the pit parodied into “O Jemmy Thomson, Jemmy Thomson, O!” (1700-1748.)

Thone (1 syl.) or Thonis. Governor of a province of Egypt. His wife was Polydamnia. It is said by post-Homeric poets that Paris took Helen to this province, and that Polydamnia gave her a drug named nepenthes to make her forget her sorrows, and fill her with joy.

“Not that nepenthes which the wife of Thone
In Egypt gave to love-lorn Helena
Is of such power to stir up joy as this. Milton: Comus, 695-697.

Thopas (Sir). Native of Poperyng in Flanders; a capital sportsman, archer, wrestler, and runner. He resolved to marry no one but an “elf queen,” and set out for fairy-land. On his way he met the three-headed giant Olifaunt, who challenged him to single combat. Sir Thopas got permission to go back for his armour, and promised to meet him next day. Here mine host interrupts the narrative as “intolerable nonsense,” and the “rime” is left unfinished.

“An elf queen wo! I have, I wis,
For in this world no woman is
Worthy to be my mate.” Chaucer: Rime of Sir Thopas.

Thor Son of Odin, and god of war.
   His attendant was THIALFI, the swift runner.
   His belt was MEGINGJARDIR or MEGINJARD, which doubled his strength whenever he put it on.
   His goats were CRACK, GRIND, CRASH, and CHASE.
   His hammer or mace was MJOLNIR.
   His palace was BILSKIRNIR (Bright Space), where he received the warriors who had fallen in battle.
   His realm was THRUDVANG.
   His wife was SIF (Love).
    He is addressed as Asa Thor or Ring Thor (Winged Thor, i.e. Lightning). (Scandinavian mythology.)
   The word enters into many names of places, etc., as Thorsby in Cumberland, Thunderhill in Surrey, Thurso in Caithness, Toishorwald (i.e. “Hill of Thorin-the-wood”) in Dumfriesshire, Thursday, etc.

Thorn The Conference of Thorn met October, 1645, at Thorn, in Prussia, to remove the difficulties which separate Christians into sects. It was convoked by Ladislas IV. of Poland, but no good result followed the conference.