English · Idiom Historical

The curse of Cain

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

One who is always on the move and has no abiding place is said to be "cursed with the curse of Cain.

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.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “The curse of Cain” mean?

One who is always on the move and has no abiding place is said to be "cursed with the curse of Cain.

Is “The curse of Cain” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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