Black Prince
Preserved but no longer current.
Edward, Prince of Wales (1330-76), eldest son of Edward III. Froissart says he was "styled black by terror of his arms" (c. 169). Strutt confirms this saying: "for his martial deeds surnamed Black tne Prince" (Antiquities). Meyrick says there is not the slightest proof that he ever wore black armour, and, indeed, there is indirect proof against the supposition. Thus, there was a picture on the wall of St.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Black Prince” mean?
Edward, Prince of Wales (1330-76), eldest son of Edward III. Froissart says he was "styled black by terror of his arms" (c. 169). Strutt confirms this saying: "for his martial deeds surnamed Black tne Prince" (Antiquities). Meyrick says there is not the slightest proof that he ever wore black armour, and, indeed, there is indirect proof against the supposition. Thus, there was a picture on the wall of St.
Is “Black Prince” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.