Sir John Fastolf
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The English repulsed the onset, using barrels of herrings, which were among the supplies, as a defence; hence the name.
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 “Sir John Fastolf” mean?
The English repulsed the onset, using barrels of herrings, which were among the supplies, as a defence; hence the name.
Is “Sir John Fastolf” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.