An Americanism is defined as a term, phrase, or idiom peculiar to the English language as spoken in America, and not yet forming part of the language spoken in England. Americanisms often become absorbed into proper English. Thus the word 'stampede' which originated from Mexican Spanish in the USA during the mid-19th century was considered an Americanism around 1900, but by the late 20th century was absorbed into the English language proper. Research Americanism
A bar was a British baker's unit of measurement equivalent to 196 lbs.
In law, a bar is the railing that encloses the place which council occupy in courts of justice; hence the phrase, at the bar of the court, that is, in open court. Hence also persons duly admitted as pleaders or advocates before the courts of England are denominated barristers , and the whole body of such barristers or advocates are called the bar. The enclosed place or dock in which persons accused of crimes stand in court is also called the bar. Near the door of both houses of Parliament there is also a bar, beyond which none but the members and clerks are admitted, and at which counsel, witnesses, offenders against privilege, etc, are heard.
A caret (from the Latin meaning something is missing) is a writer's mark indicating that something should be inserted at this point, usually an omitted word or phrase. The caret is represented by an open based triangle, with its apex uppermost. Research Caret
The term 'grinning like a Cheshire cat' is coined to describe a wide cheesy smile. The term originates from olden times when cheese was made in the form of cats in Cheshire, and hence the term provides the allusion to a cheesy grin. The phrase was popularised in the book 'Alice in Wonderland' where the character of the Cheshire cat, a cat with a persistent wide smile, occurs. Research Cheshire Cat
Civil Law (jus civile) among the Romans was a term nearly corresponding to what in modern times is implied by the phrase positive law, that is, the rules of right established by any government. They contradistinguished it from natural law (jus naturale), by which they meant a certain natural order followed by all living beings; also from the general laws of mankind established by the agreement of all nations and governments (jus gentium). With the growth and multiplication of the edicts issued by the praetors (in whose hands was the supreme administration of justice) for the modification and extension of the positive enactments a further distinction became necessary, the whole body of this praetorian law being known by the name of jus honorarium as opposed to the strict formal law (jus civile). The latter, however, included both the private law (jus privatum), which relates to the various legal relations of the different members of the state - the citizens - and the public law (jus publicum), that is, the rules respecting the limits, rights, obligations, etc, of the public authorities.
The final digest of Roman law was made in the 6th century AD under the Emperor Justinian, but at first was only admitted as formally binding in a small part of Italy. After the llth century, in Upper Italy, particularly in the school of Bologna, the body of the Roman law, put together by Justinian, was formed by degrees into a system applicable to the wants of all nations; and on this model the ecclesiastical and Papal decrees were arranged, and to a considerable degree the native laws of the new Teutonic states. From all these the Roman law was distinguished under the name of civil law. In this sense, therefore, civil law means ancient Roman law; and it is contradistinguished from canon law and feudal law, though the feudalcodes of the Lombards have been received into the corpus juris civilis, or body of civil law. As the Roman code exerted the greatest influence on the private law of modern Europe, the expression civil law is also used to embrace all the rules relating to the private rights of citizens. Under the term civil law, therefore, in both Europe and America, is to be understood not only the Roman law, but also the modern private law of the various countries; for example, in Germany, Das gemeine Deutsche Privatrecht, in France the Code civil des Francais or Code Napoleon. In this sense it is chiefly opposed to criminal law, particularly in reference to the administration of justice, which is to be divided into civil justice and criminal justice. Research Civil Law
Comity of Nations (comitas gentium), is a phrase adopted in international law to denote that kind of courtesy by which the laws and institutions of one state or country are recognized and given effect to by the government of another. Research Comity of Nations
Deus ex Machina (a god out of the machine) is a phrase formerly used to designate the resorting to supernatural causes to explain phenomena that one is not able to account for by natural means. The phrase is taken from the former practice on the classical stage of introducing a god from above by means of some mechanical contrivance in order to effect a speedydenouement of the plot. Research Deus ex Machina
Drunk as a Lord is an old British saying, meaning very intoxicated. The phrase originates from the early nineteenth century, before the temperance movement took hold, when those that could afford to, e.g. Lords, would typically consume three or more bottles of port wine at dinner, with the result that most dinners ended with the guests under the table in a state of total inebriation. Research Drunk as A Lord
The term Galway jury refers to an enlightened and independent jury. The phrase originates from a series of trials held in 1635 upon the right of the king of England to the counties of Ireland. While Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo gave judgements in favour of the Crown, Galway opposed it. As a consequence, the sheriff of Galway was fined 1000 pounds and each of the jurors 4000 pounds. Research Galway Jury
In the House of Commons the gangway was formerly a passage across the house, which separated the government and opposition with their respective adherents, who sat on seats running along the sides of the house, from the neutral or independent members, who occupid seats running across. Hence, the phrase to sit below the gangway, as applied to a member, implied that he held himself as bound to neither party. Research Gangway
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Americanism
