Chapter Weak-kneed Christian to Well of St. Keyne of W by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Wedding Anniversaries
   The 5th anniversary is called the Wooden wedding,
   The 10th anniversary is called the Tin wedding,
   The 15th anniversary is called the Crystal wedding,
   The 20th anniversary is called the China wedding,
   The 25th anniversary is called the Silver wedding,
   The 50th anniversary is called the Golden wedding,
   The 60th anniversary is called the Diamond wedding. From the nature of the gifts suitable for each respective anniversary.

Wedding Finger Macrobius says the thumb is too busy to be set apart, the forefinger and little finger are only half protected, the middle finger is called medicus, and is too opprobrioas for the purpose of honour, so the only finger left is the pronubus or wedding finger. (See Ring, Fingers .)

Wedding Knives Undoubtedly, one knife or more than one was in Chaucer's time part of a bride's paraphernalia. Allusions to this custom are very numerous.

“Seo, at my girdle hang my wedding knives.”
Dekker: Match Me in London (1631).

Wednesday Woden- es or Odin-es Day, called by the French “Mercredi” (Mercury's Day). The Persians regard it as a “red- letter day,” because the moon was created on the fourth day. (Genesis iv. 14-19.)
   But the last Wednesday of November is called “Black Wednesday.”

Weed of Worcester (The). The elm, which is very common indeed in the county.

Weeds Widow's weeds. (Anglo-Saxon, waed, a garment.) There are the compounds waed-bréc (breeches or garment for the breech), waedless (naked or without clothing), and so on. Spenser speaks of

“A goodly lady clad in hunter's weed.”

Weeping Brides A notion long prevailed in this country that it augured ill for a matrimonial alliance if the bride did not weep profusely at the wedding.
   As no witch could shed more than three tears, and those from her left eye only, a copious flow of tears gave assurance to the husband that the lady had not “plighted her troth” to Satan, and was no witch.

Weeping Cross To go by Weeping Cross. To repent, to grieve. In ancient times weeping crosses were crosses where penitents offered their devotions. In Stafford there is a weeping cross.

“Few men have wedded ... their paramours ... but have come home by Weeping Cross.”- Florio: Montatgne.

Weeping Philosopher Heraclitos. So called because he grieved at the folly of man. (Flourished B.C. 500.)

Weeping Saint (The). St. Swithin. So called from the tradition of forty days' rain, if it rains on July 15th.

Weigh Anchor Be off, get you gone. To weigh anchor is to lift it from its moorings, so that the ship may start on her voyage. As soon as this is done the ship is under-weigh- i.e. in movement. (Saxon, waegan, to life up, carry.)

“Get off with you; come, come! weigh anchor.”- Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary.

Weighed in the Balance, and found Wanting The custom of weighing the Maharajah of Travancore in a scale against gold coin is still in use, and is called Talabbaram. The gold is heaped up till the Maharajah rises well in the air. The priests chant their Vedic hymns, the Maharajah is adored, and the gold is distributed among some 15,000 Brahmins, more or less.

Weight A dead weight. (See Dead .)

Weight-for-age Race (A). A sort of handicap (q.v.), but the weights are apportioned according to certain conditions, and not according to the dictum of a “capper.” Horses of the same age carry similar weights caeteris paribus. (See Selling-Race, Plate, Sweepstakes .)

Weissnichtwo (vice-ncecht-vo). I know not where; Utopia; Kennaquhair; an imaginary place in Carlyle's Sartor Resartus. (See Utopia .)