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Brewer's: Black Jack

(A ). A large leather gotch for beer and ale, so called from the outside being tarred. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Black JokeBlack Jack A B C D E F…

Brewer's: Black Joke

An old tune, now called The Sprig of Shillelagh. Tom Moore has adapted words to the tune, beginning, “Sublime was the warning which Liberty spoke.” Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable…

Brewer's: Black Leg

A swindler, especially in cards and races. Also, one who works for less than trade-union wages; a non-union workman. “Pledging the strikers not to return to work so long as a single Black…

Brewer's: Black Letter

The Gothic or German type. So called because of its black appearance. The initial items of this book are now called “black letter,” sometimes called “Clarendon type.” Source: Dictionary…

Brewer's: Black Looks

Looks of displeasure. To look black. To look displeased. The figure is from black clouds indicative of foul weather. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Black…

Brewer's: Black Mail

Money given to free-booters by way of exempting property from depredation. (Anglo-Saxon, mal, “rent-tax;” French, maille, an old coin worth .083 farthing). Grass mail was rent paid for…

Brewer's: Black Man

(The ). The Evil One. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Black MariaBlack Mail A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z…

Brewer's: Black Maria

The black van which conveys prisoners from the police courts to jail. The French call a mud-barge a “Marie-salope.” The tradition is that the van referred to was so called from Maria Lee,…

Brewer's: Black Monday

Easter Monday, April 14th, 1360, was so called. Edward III. was with his army lying before Paris, and the day was so dark, with mist and hail, so bitterly cold and so windy, that many of…

Brewer's: Black Money

Base coin brought to England by foreigners, and prohibited by Edward III. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Black OxBlack Monday A B C D E F G H I J…