Chapter Brigadore to Brittany of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Britain consists of “Britannia prima” (England), “Britannia secunda” (Wales), and “North Britain” (Scotland), united under one sway.
   Greater Britain. The whole British empire.

Britannia The first known representation of Britannia as a female figure sitting on a globe, leaning with one arm on a shield, and grasping a spear in the other hand, is on a Roman coin of Antoninus Pius, who died A.D. 161. The figure reappeared on our copper coin in the reign of Charles II., 1665, and the model was Miss Stewart, afterwards created Duchess of Richmond. The engraver was Philip Roetier, 1665. In 1825 W. Wyon made a new design.

“The King's new medall, where, in little, there is Mrs. Stewart's face, ... and a pretty thing it is, that he should choose her face to represent Britannia by,”- Pepys' Diary (25 Feb.).

British Lion (The). The pugnacity of the British nation, as opposed to the John Bull, which symbolises the substantiality, solidity, and obstinacy of the people, with all their prejudices and national peculiarities.
   To rouse the British Lion is to flourish a red flag in the face of John Bull; to provoke him to resistance even to the point of war.
“To twist the lion's tail” is a favourite phrase and favourite policy with some rival unfriendly powers.

Britomart [sweet maid ] (see below). Daughter of King Ryence of Wales, whose desire was to be a heroine. She is the impersonation of saintly chastity and purity of mind. She encounters the “savage, fierce bandit and mountaineer” without injury; is assailed by “hag and unlaid ghost, goblin, and swart fairy of the mine,” but “dashes their brute violence into sudden adoration and blank awe.” Britomart is not the impersonation of celibacy, as she is in love with an unknown hero, but of “virgin purity.” (Spenser: Faërie Queene, book iii. Her marriage, book v. 6.)

“She charmed at once and tamed the heart,
Incomparable Britomart.” Scott.

Britomartis A Cretan nymph, very fond of the chase. King Minos fell in love with her, and persisted in his advances for nine months, when she threw herself into the sea. (Cretan, britus-martis, sweet maiden.)

Briton (Like a). Vigorously, perseveringly. “To fight like a Briton” is to fight with indomitable courage. “To work like a Briton” is to work hard and perseveringly. Certainly, without the slightest flattery, dogged courage and perseverance are the strong characteristics of John Bull. A similar phrase is “To fight like a Trojan.”

Brittany The damsel of Brittany. Eleanora, daughter of Geoffrey, second son of Henry II., King of England and Duke of Brittany. At the death of Prince Arthur she was the real heir to the crown, but John confined her in the castle of Bristol till death (1241).