Chapter Trovatore to Tulchan Bishops of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(“Sir Wilful Witwould,” in The Way of the World, by Congreve; “sir Francis Wronghead,” in The Provoked Husband, by C. Cibber; “squire Western,” in Tom Jones, by Fielding; “squire Sullen,” in The Beaux’ Strategem, by Farquhar.)

Trunnion (Commodore Hawser), a one-eyed naval veteran, who has retired from the service in consequence of injuries received in engagements; but he still keeps garrison in his own house, which is defended with drawbridge and ditch. He sleeps in a hammock, and makes his servants sleep in hammocks, as on board ship, takes his turn on watch, and indulges his naval tastes in various other ways. Lieutenant Jack Hatchway is his companion. When the went to be married, he rode on a hunter which he steered like a ship, according to the compass, tacking about, that he might not “go right in the wind’s eye.”—

Smollett: The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1750).

It is vain to criticize the manœuvre of Trunnion, tacking his way to church on his wedding day, in consequence of a head wind.—Encyc. Brit. (article “Romance”).

Dickens has imitated this in Wemmick’s house, which had flag and drawbridge, fortress and gun in miniature; but the conceit is more suited to “a naval veteran” than to a lawyer’s clerk. (See Wemmick, p. 1202.)

Trusty (Mrs.), landlady of the Queen’s Arms, Romford. Motherly, most kind-hearted, a capital caterer, whose ale was noted. Bess “the beggar’s daughter” took refuge with her, and was most kindly treated. Mrs. Trusty wished her son Ralph to take Bess to wife, but Bess had given her heart to Wilford, the son of lord Woodville, her cousin.—Knowles: The Beggar of Bethnal Green (1834).

Truth in a Well. Cicero says, “Naturam accusa, quæ in profundo veritatem, ut ait Democritus, penitus abstruseris.”—Academics, i. 10.

(Cleanthês is also credited with the phrase.)

Tryamour (Sir), the hero of an old metrical novel, and the model of all knightly virtues.

Tryanon, daughter of the fairy king who liv ed on the island of Oleron. “She was as white as a lily in May, or snow that snoweth on winter’s day,” and her “haire shone as goldê wire.” This paragon of beauty married sir Launfal, king Arthur’s steward, whom she carried off to “Oliroun, her jolif isle.”—Chestre: Sir Launfal (fifteenth century).

Trygon, a poisonous fish. Ulysses was accidentally killed by his son Telegonos with an arrow pointed with trygon-bone.

The lord of Ithaca,
Struck by the poisonous trygon’s bone, expired
   —West: Triumphs of the Gout (“Lucian,” 1750).

Tryphon, the sea-god’s physician.

They send in haste for Tryphon, to apply
Salves to his wounds, and medicines of might;
For Tryphon of sea-gods the sovereign leech is hight.
   —Spenser: Faërie Queene, iii. 4 (1590).

Tubal, a wealthy Jew, the friend of Shylock.—Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice (a drama, 1598).

Tuck, a long, narrow sword (Gaelic tuca Welsh twca, Italian stocco, French estoc). In Hamlet the word “tuck” is erroneously printed stuck in Malone’s edition.

If he by chance escape your venomed tuck,
Our purpose may hold there.
   —Shakespeare: Hamlet, act iv. sc. 7 (1596).