Stick Insects or Walking-Stick Insects are orthopterous insects belonging to the family Phasmidae. The body is greatly elongated and is very slender, giving the insect the appearance of a piece of stick, while the wings are either absent, or when present are leaf-like. The members are common in the tropics where some species attain a length of 33cm and some four or five species are found in Europe. Research Stick Insect
The Macaroni were a group of 18th century dandies who from 1770 to 1775 led the fashion, and infuriated the church. They imitated extravagant Continental fashions - having derived their fashion in Italy - and were distinguished by wearing an immense knot of artificial hair, a very small cocked hat, jacket, waist-coat, and small clothes all worn very tight against the body and carrying a long walking-stick ornamented with tassels. The Macaronis were infamous for their gambling, drinking and duelling and around 1773 were described as the curse of Vauxhall Gardens. Research Macaroni
An air gun is an instrument for the projection of bullets by means of condensed air, generally either in the form of an ordinary gun, rifle, or pistol or of a pretty stout walking-stick, and about the same length. A quantity of air being compressed into the air-chamber by means of a condensing syringe, or compressed gas cylinder, the bullet is put in its place in front of this chamber, and propelled by the expansive force of a certain quantity of the compressed air, which is liberated on pressing the trigger. Research Air Gun
Walking-stick was a late 19th century satirical slang expression for a candidate to the House of Commons nominated by a political association and subject to them in Parliament. Research Walking-Stick
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Stick Insect
