cathouse
A brothel.
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Catiline's Conspiracy
Lucius Ser- gius Catilina, 64 B.C., conspired with a large number of dissolute young nobles to plunder the Roman treasury, extirpate the senate, and fire the capitol. Cicero, who was consul, got full information of the plot, and delivered his first Oration against Catiline November 8th, 63, whereupon Catiline quitted Rome. Next day Cicero delivered his second Oration, and several of the conspirators were arrested.
Catling Gun
An early form of automatic weapon invented in the U.S.A. in 1867. It had a large number of barrels, the projectiles in which could be discharged in rapid succession. It preceded all types of weapons constructed on the principle of discharging numerous pro- jectiles rapidly through the same barrel, as a machine gun.
Cato Street Conspiracy
A scheme enter- tained by Arthur Thistlewood (1770-1820) and other conspirators to overthrow the Govern- ment by assassinating the Cabinet Ministers (February 1820). So called from Cato Street (now Horace Street), Edgware Road, where their meetings were held.
cats and dogs
It is said to rain cats and dogs when a shower is exceptionally heavy. Probably in ridicule of the remarkable showers which used to find their way into the papers during the "silly season."
CATS below
It is probable that the custom of tormenting cats by the ignorant arose from their supposed connexion with witches.
cattle
Sad cattle: whores or gypsies. Black cattle, bugs. CANT.
cattle
A term of contempt applied to the mob, or to a lot of lazy, helpless servants.
cattle call
An audition where many people are seen briefly
catty
A catapult.
cat’s-meat
A coarse term for the lungs—the "lights" or lungs of animals being usually sold to feed cats.
cat’s-paw
A dupe or tool. From the old story of the monkey who used the cat’s-paw to remove his roast chestnuts from the fire. A sea term, meaning light and occasional breezes occurring in calm weather.
caucus
A private meeting held for the purpose of concerting measures, agreeing upon candidates for office before an election, &c. This is an American term, and a corruption of CAULKER’S MEETING, being derived from an association of the shipping interest at Boston, previous to the War of Independence, who were very active in getting up opposition to England.—See Pickering’s Vocabulary.
caucus race
A chaotic or disorganized competition
Caudine Forks
A narrow pass in the mountains near Capua, now called the
caught short
Lacking something, especially money, when needed
caught up
Completely absorbed or engaged in something
caught with one's pants down
Caught off guard or unprepared
cauliflower
A large white wig, such as is commonly worn by the dignified clergy, and was formerly by physicians. Also the private parts of a woman; the reason for which appellation is given in the following story: A woman, who was giving evidence in a cause wherein it was necessary to express those parts, made use of the term cauliflower; for which the judge on the bench, a peevish old fellow, reproved her, saying she might as well call it artichoke.
caulk
To take a surreptitious nap; sleep generally, from the ordinary meaning of the term; stopping leaks, repairing damages, so as to come out as good as new.—Sea term.
caulker
A dram. The term "caulker" is usually applied to a stiff glass of grog—preferably brandy—finishing the potations of the evening. See WHITEWASH.
causa causata
The cause which owes its existence to the causa causans; the secondary cause.
cause a stir
Create excitement or controversy
cause and effect
A relationship where one event leads to another
caused by something
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
caution
Anything out of the common way. "He’s a CAUTION," is said of an obdurate or argumentative man. The phrase is also used in many ways in reference to places and things.
caution money
A sum deposited before entering college, or an Inn of Court, etc., by way of security for good behaviour.
cautionary tale
A story that warns about the consequences of certain actions
cautions
The four cautions: I. Beware of a woman before.--II. Beware of a horse behind.--III. Beware of a cart side-ways.--IV. Beware of a priest every way.
cavaliers sang political ballads
Pepys (April 23rd, 1660) mentions it under the title of The Blacksmith, by which it was sometimes known.
cavaulting
A vulgar phrase equivalent to "horsing." The Italian CAVALLINO, signifies a rake or debauchee.—Lingua Franca, CAVOLTA. From this comes the Americanism "cavorting," running or riding round in a heedless or purposeless manner.
cave
Or CAVE IN, to submit, shut up.—American. Metaphor taken from the sinking of an abandoned mining shaft.
caveat emptor
Lat., "let the purchaser beware"; i.e. the buyer must keep his eyes open, for the bargain he agrees to is binding.
caviar to the general
Something wasted on someone who doesn't appreciate it
caxon
An old weather-beaten wig.
Cecil's Fast
A dinner off fish. William Cecil, Lord Burghley, chief minister to Queen Elizabeth for nearly forty years, introduced a Bill to enjoin the eating of fish on certain days in order to restore the fish trade.
cede the field
To withdraw or surrender, often due to being outmatched or overwhelmed.
cela va sans dire
That is a self-evident fact; well understood or indisputable.
Celestial City
Heaven is so called by John Bunyan in his Pilgrim 's Progress.
cell phone
a portable telephone
celly
A cellmate.
celtic curse
Alleged curse said to afflict a sports team
Celtic Scotland
(Gael, comh ranach, crying together.) Pennant says it was called by the Irish hululoo.
center field
a key or central position
center part
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Central Europe
The Aryan family of lan- guages includes Sanskrit, Zend, Latin, Greek, Celtic, Persian and Hindu, with all the Euro- pean, except Basque, Turkish, Hungarian, and
Centre Party
In politics, the party occupying a place between two extremes: the left centre is the more radical wing, and the right centre the more conservative. In the French Revolution the Centre of the Legislative Assembly included the friends of order.
centrelink time
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Cepheus and Cassiopeia
Her mother boasted Angary 35 Angelas that the beauty of Andromeda surpassed that of the Nereids; so the Nereids induced Neptune to send a sea-monster to the country, and an oracle declared that Andromeda must be given
cestui que vie
This and the two following are old Anglo-French legal terms (cestui — he or him). The person for whose life any lands or hereditaments may be held.
chafed
Well beaten; from CHAUFFE, warmed.
chaff
To gammon, joke, quiz, or praise ironically. Originally "to queer" represented our modern word "CHAFF." CHAFF-bone, the jaw-bone.—Yorkshire. CHAFF, jesting. In Anglo-Saxon, CEAF is chaff; and CEAFL, bill, beak, or jaw. In the Ancren Riwle, A.D. 1221, CEAFLE is used in the sense of idle discourse.
chaffer
The mouth; "moisten your CHAFFER," i.e., take something to drink.
chain lightning
Two or more flashes of lightning repeated without intermission.
Chair of St
Peter. The office of the Pope of Rome, founded by St. Peter, the apostle; but St. Peter's Chair means the Catholic festival held in commemoration of the two episcopates founded by the apostle, one at Rome, and the other at Antioch (January 18th and February 22nd).
chal
Old Romany term for a man; CHIE was the name for a woman.
chalk and cheese
completely different
chalk and talk
a teaching method using blackboard and lecture
chalk off
to dismiss or ignore something
chalk something up to experience
Regard a failure as a learning experience
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