Via Lactea
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The Milky Way 0?.v.). Via Sacra, the street in ancient Rome where Romulus and Tatius (the Sabine) swore mutual alliance. It does not mean the "holy street," but the "street of the oath.
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 “Via Lactea” mean?
The Milky Way 0?.v.). Via Sacra, the street in ancient Rome where Romulus and Tatius (the Sabine) swore mutual alliance. It does not mean the "holy street," but the "street of the oath.
Is “Via Lactea” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.