Edward IV
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
It seems to have been used for the last time by James I in 1614, but it was not declared illegal till the passing of the Bill of Rights in 1689.
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 “Edward IV” mean?
It seems to have been used for the last time by James I in 1614, but it was not declared illegal till the passing of the Bill of Rights in 1689.
Is “Edward IV” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.