The Glastonbury Thorn
Preserved but no longer current.
See GLASTONBURY. Thorough, The name given by the Earl of Strafford (executed 1641) to his uncom- promising absolutist policy in favour of Charles I and against Parliament; especially to his^ harsh Irish policy, which he was determined to carry through regardless of all opposition and of all suffering.
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 Glastonbury Thorn” mean?
See GLASTONBURY. Thorough, The name given by the Earl of Strafford (executed 1641) to his uncom- promising absolutist policy in favour of Charles I and against Parliament; especially to his^ harsh Irish policy, which he was determined to carry through regardless of all opposition and of all suffering.
Is “The Glastonbury Thorn” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.