The Pope's nose
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The rump of a fowl, which is also called the parson's nose. The phrase is said to have originated during the years following James II's reign, when anti-Catholic feeling was high.
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 Pope's nose” mean?
The rump of a fowl, which is also called the parson's nose. The phrase is said to have originated during the years following James II's reign, when anti-Catholic feeling was high.
Is “The Pope's nose” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.