Adapted from the book "Tit-Willow or Notes
and Jottings on Gilbert and Sullivan Operas" by Guy H. and Claude A.
Walmisley (Privately Printed, Undated)
Affidavit. A statement in writing sworn or deposed
to before a magistrate or other proper officer such as a Commissioner for
Oaths. The form of evidence generally used in Chancery proceedings. In "Iolanthe" the
Lord Chancellor speaks of "an affidavit from a thunderstorm" meeting
with all the attention it deserves.
Amaryllis. A rustic maid mentioned in Theocritus's "Idyls";
Virgil's "Eclogues" and other pastoral poems.
Athenaeum. A famous academy or university
situated on the Capitoline Hill at Rome, and founded by Hadrian about A.D.
133. So called in honour of Athene, a civic goddess, wise in the industries
of peace and the arts of war. As now used the name usually denotes a literary
or scientific institution.
Attorney. One who is legally appointed
by another to transact any business for him. (See "Attorney's firm". "H.M.S.
Pinafore" Notes).
Becalmed in the doldrums . See "Doldrums".
Belay. Make fast or stop; hence, colloquially — quit;
that's enough.
Binnacle light. A binnacle is the case or stand
on the deck of a ship near the helm, containing the ship's compass etc.,
and a lamp for use at night.
Bowline. A rope passing from about the middle of
the perpendicular edge on the weather side of the square sail to the starboard
bow, for the purpose of keeping the edges of the sail steady when sailing
close to the wind.
Bucks and Blades. Buck — a gay or smart
young fellow — a blood. Blade — is generally assumed to be
derived from the synonym for sword, and a soldier. Hence, a brisk and
sharp young man.
Chaps. (See "Lantern chaps").
Chloe.—Daphnis and Chloe. A pair of lovers
in the Greek pastoral romance of the same name attributed to Longus (4th
or 5th century). Daphnis is a name frequently given to shepherds or rustics.
a-Cockbill. To incline in a vertical direction,
as the yards or the anchor.
Crichton, James. Styled the Admirable Crichton.
Born in Scotland 1560; killed in Mantua, Italy, 1582. A great scholar,
celebrated for his extraordinary accomplishments in languages, sciences
and arts. He spoke 12 languages and disputed with Professors. He was stabbed
to death in a midnight street brawl when only twenty two years of age.
Cytherean posies. Of or pertaining to the goddess
Aphrodite — the goddess of love and beauty; identified by the
Romans with Venus.
Dead-eye. "Turning-in a dead-eye". A round, laterally
flattened wooden block, pierced with three holes through which a lanyard
is reeved; used for extending the shrouds. The word dead-eye was originally
written; "Dead-men's eyes", probably from the resemblance they bore to
a skull.
Deadl nightshade. Belladonna, a very poisonous plant;
the root and leaves are used as a mild narcotic and anodyne.
Doldrums. Becalmed in the doldrums — difficulties;
low spirits etc. Probably derived from dull (with a sense of doleful),
and a facetious suffix, as in tantrums. Hence applied by sailors to
a region where ships are likely to be becalmed, especially that part
of the ocean near the equator noted for calms, squalls, and baffling
winds, between the N.E. and S.E. trade winds.
Ducking Stool. "He'd duck them in his lake". A sort
of chair at the end of an oscillating plank, in which disorderly women,
scolds, and dishonest tradesmen were tied and ducked, or plunged, in water
as a punishment.
Elysian. Pertaining to Elysium; hence, yielding
the highest pleasures. (See "Elysian Fields". "Patience" Notes).
Gaffer. Probably a contraction from gramfer for
grand-father. An old man; an aged rustic usually applied to an aged man
in humble life.
Horace, Q. Flaccus Horatius (65-68 B.C.). The famous
Roman satirist and poet, born at Venusia. He learnt philosophy at Athens
after receiving lessons from the best masters at Rome, and later became
a personal friend of the Emperor Augustus. (See, Lalage Mistress, "Princess
Ida". Notes).
Hornpipe. An old Welsh musical instrument consisting
of a wooden pipe with holes in it, and a horn at each end, one to collect
the wind blown in to it, the other to carry off the sounds as modulated
by the performer. It is the title also of an English air and dance much
used by sailors and named after this instrument.
Lantern chaps. Lantern jaws — long thin
jaws — a
thin visage.
Lothario. A gay libertine. The principal male character
in Rowe's play, "The Fair Penitent" (1703). His name has become a synonym
for a fashionable and unscrupulous rake. "Is this that haughty, gallant,
gay Lothario?" ("The Fair Penitent". V. 1).
Mop and a mow. A pout; a grimace. "The mops and
mows of the old witch". (Stevenson).
Morris, William (1834-1896). Poet and Artist. He
was a prolific writer and worker; one of his most famous poems being his
epic,"Sigurd theVolsung" and "The Fall of theNibelung" (1876). He also
had interests in decorating and printing etc.
Mousie. "Like the mousie in the fable". Probably
refers to the fable of the mighty lion entrapped in a net and the little
mouse who gnaws through the netting and so liberates him.
Old Bailey. The Central Criminal Court ("The Old
Bailey") was built on the site of the famous Newgate Prison and on
that of the Sessions House next to it and was completed and opened
in 1907. The origin of the name Old Bailey is obscure. One possible
explanation is that it was the bailey (Latin, ballium) or open space
within the wall — or
the wall itself — which anciently defended the City on the west.
But some historians have thought that it derived from Bail Hill, an
eminence on which the City Bailiff held his court.
Newgate jail had acquired an evil reputation as early as the 14th century
for harsh treatment, torture and general grimness, a reputation which worsened
as the prison grew in extent. It was demolished in 1902.
Opossum. A large rat-like animal of North American
Indian origin. It moves about mostly at night and lives chiefly in trees.
When caught it feigns death, whence the expression, "playing possum".
Ovid. P. Ovidius Naso, the celebrated Roman poet
was born at Sulmo on 20 March, about 43 B.C., and died in the 7th or 8th
year of his banishment in his 59th year, A.D. 17. (For more extensive details
of his life See "Princess Ida", Notes, and "Iolanthe", Notes).
Parbuckle. A double sling made of a single rope
for slinging a cask or gun etc.
Phyllis. A pretty rustic maid mentioned in Virgil's "Eclogues".
Phyllis, in Greek legend was a Thracian Princess betrothed to Demophoon,
son of Theseus. On his failure to return from Athens to marry her at the
time set, Phyllis, thinking herself deserted, hanged herself.
Revenue sloop. A light-armed Government vessel commissioned
for the prevention of smuggling and the enforcement of the customs regulations.
Swinburne, Algernon Charles. A famous English poet
and critic of drama and literature. Born in London 5 April, 1837, died
1909.
Valley-de-sham. Valet de chambre. A body servant
or personal attendant.
Welkin ring. To make the welkin ring.
Descriptive of loud sounds. The welkin is considered the abode of the
deity — the
sky; to make sounds echo to the skies.
