The Three Kings
Preserved but no longer current.
A mediaeval sign, in allusion to the three kings of Cologne, the Magi (q.v.). Many public-house signs of this period had a reference to ecclesiastical matters, usually be- cause they were church property or on church land, Such, for instance, are The Mitre, Abbey ; Priory, and Lamb and Flag.
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 Three Kings” mean?
A mediaeval sign, in allusion to the three kings of Cologne, the Magi (q.v.). Many public-house signs of this period had a reference to ecclesiastical matters, usually be- cause they were church property or on church land, Such, for instance, are The Mitre, Abbey ; Priory, and Lamb and Flag.
Is “The Three Kings” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.