Chapter Yemen to Yue-Laou of Y by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Yemen to Yue-Laou

Yemen Arabia Felix. Felix is a mistranslation by Ptolemy of Yemen, which means to the “right”- i.e. of Mecca. (See Stony Arabia. )

“Beautiful are the maids that glide
On summer-eves through Yemen's dales.”
Thomas Moore: Fire-Worshippers.

Yeoman (A) was anciently a forty-shilling freeholder, and as such qualified to vote, and serve on juries. In more modern times it meant a farmer who cultivated his own freehold. Later still, an upper farmer, tenant or otherwise, is often called a yeoman.

“His family were yeomen of the richer class, who for some generations had held property.”- R. C. Jebb: Richard Bentley, chap. i. p. 2.

Yeoman's Service Regular hard work; effectual service; excellent service whether in a good or bad cause. The reference is to the yeomen of the Free Companies.

“The whole training of Port Royal did him yeoman's service.”- Shorthouse Sir Percival, p. 56.

“We found a long knife, and a knotted hand-kerchief stained with blood, with which Claude had no doubt recently done yeoman's service.”- Miss Robinson: Whitefriars, chap. viii.

Yeomen of the Guard The beefeaters (q.v.).

Yeth-Hounds Dogs without heads, said to be the spirits of unbaptised children, which ramble among the woods at night, making wailing noises. (Devonshire.)

Yezd (1 syl.). Chief residence of the Fire-worshippers. Stephen says they have kept the sacred fire alight above 3,000 years, without suffering it to go out for a second. The sacred fire is on the mountain Ater Quedah (Mansion of the Fire), and he is deemed unfortunate who dies away from the mountain. (Persia.)

“From Yezd's eternal `Mansion of the Fire,'
Where aged saints in dreams of heaven expire.”
Thomas Moore: Laila Rookh, pt. i.

Yggdrasil' The ash-tree, whose roots run in three directions: one to the Asa-gods in heaven, one to the Frostgiants, and the third to the under-world. Under each root is a fountain of wonderful virtues. In the tree, which drops honey, sit an eagle, a squirrel, and four stags. At the root lies the serpent Nithhöggr gnawing it, while the squirrel Ratatöggr runs up and down to sow strife between the eagle at the top and the serpent. (Scandinavian mythology.)

“The Nornas besprinkle
The ash Yggdrassil.”
Lord Lytton: Harold, bk. viii.

Y'mir The personification of Chaos, or the first created being, produced by the antagonism of heat and cold. He is called a giant, and was nourished by the four milky streams which flowed from the cow Audhumla. While he slept, a man and woman grew out of his left arm, and sons from his feet. Thus was generated the race of the frost-giants. (Hrimthursar.)
   Odin and his two brothers slew Ymir, and threw his carcase into the Ginnungagap (abyss of abysses), when his blood formed the water of the earth, his gore the ocean, his bones the mountains, his teeth the rocks, his skull the heavens, his brains the clouds, his hair plants of every kind, and his eyebrows the wall of defence against the giants. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Yniol An earl of decayed fortune, father of Enid, ousted from his earldom by his nephew Edyrn, son of Nudd, called the “Sparrow-hawk.” When Edyrn was overthrown in single combat by Prince Geraint', he was compelled to restore the earldom to Yniol. (Tennyson: Idyls of the King; Enid.)

Yoke (1 syl.). Greek zugon, Latin jugum, French joug, Dutch juk, German joch, Anglo-Saxon geoc (pron. yoc).
   To pass under the yoke. To suffer the disgrace of a vanquished army. The Romans made a yoke of three spears- two upright and one resting on them. When an army was vanquished, the soldiers had to lay down their arms and pass under this archway of spears.

Yorick The King of Denmark's jester, “a fellow of infinite jest and most excellent fancy.” (Hamlet, v. l.) In Tristram Shandy Sterne introduces a clergyman of that name, meant for himself.