The American Fabius
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
George Washington (1732-99), whose military policy was similar to that of Fabius. He wearied out the English troops by harassing them, without coming to a pitched battle.
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 “The American Fabius” mean?
George Washington (1732-99), whose military policy was similar to that of Fabius. He wearied out the English troops by harassing them, without coming to a pitched battle.
Is “The American Fabius” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.