The English Merlin
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
William Lilly (1602-81), the astrologer, who published two tracts under the name of "Merhnus Anghcus" and was the most famous charlatan of his day.
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 English Merlin” mean?
William Lilly (1602-81), the astrologer, who published two tracts under the name of "Merhnus Anghcus" and was the most famous charlatan of his day.
Is “The English Merlin” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.