Running Thursday
Preserved but no longer current.
December 13th, 1688, two days after the flight of James II. A rumour ran that the French and Irish Papists had landed; a terrible panic ensued, and the people betook themselves to the country, running for their lives.
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 “Running Thursday” mean?
December 13th, 1688, two days after the flight of James II. A rumour ran that the French and Irish Papists had landed; a terrible panic ensued, and the people betook themselves to the country, running for their lives.
Is “Running Thursday” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.