Britain and Ireland

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

He was also called the Old Chevalier, and on the death of his father was proclaimed king by his adherents, under the title of James III. The word "Pretender" in this context has its old connotation of one who makes a baseless claim to a title, etc.

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 “Britain and Ireland” mean?

He was also called the Old Chevalier, and on the death of his father was proclaimed king by his adherents, under the title of James III. The word "Pretender" in this context has its old connotation of one who makes a baseless claim to a title, etc.

Is “Britain and Ireland” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.