calvary clover
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A common trefoil, Medi- cago echinus, said to have sprung up in the track made by Pilate when he went to the cross to see his "title affixed" (Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews).
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 “calvary clover” mean?
A common trefoil, Medi- cago echinus, said to have sprung up in the track made by Pilate when he went to the cross to see his "title affixed" (Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews).
Is “calvary clover” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.