Chapter Hexapla to Highland Mary of H by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Hexapla to Highland Mary

Hexapla A book containing the text of the Bible in Hebrew and Greek, with four translations, viz. the Septuagint, with those of Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus. The whole is printed in six columns on the page. This was the work of Origen, who also added marginal notes.

Hext When bale is hext, boot is next. When things come to the worst they must soon mend. Bale means misery, hurt, misfortune; hext is highest, as next is nighest; boot means help, profit.

Heyday of Youth The prime of youth. (Anglo-Saxon, heh-dag, high-day or mid-day of youth.)

Hiawath'a Son of Mudjekeewis (the west wind) and Wenonah. His mother died in his infancy, and Hiawatha was brought up by his grandmother, Nokomis, daughter of the Moon. He represents the progress of civilisation among the American Indians. He first wrestled with Mondamin (Indian maize), whom he subdued, and gave to man bread-corn. He then taught man navigation; then he subdued the Mishe-Nahma or sturgeon, and told the people to "bring all their pots and kettles and make oil for winter." His next adventure was against Megissogwon, the magician, "who sent the fiery fever on man; sent the white fog from the fen-lands; sent disease and death among us;" he slew the terrible monster, and taught man the science of medicine, He next married "Laughing Water," setting the people an example to follow. Lastly, he taught the people picture-writing. When the white man landed and taught the Indians the faith of Jesus, Hiawatha exhorted them to receive the words of wisdom, to reverence the missionaries who had come so far to see them, and departed "to the kingdom of Ponemah, the land of the Hereafter."
   Longfellow's song of Hiawath'a may be termed the "Edda" of the North American Indians.
   Hiawatha's mittens. "Magic mittens made of deer-skin; when upon his hands he wore them, he could smite the rocks asunder." (Longfellow: Hiawatha, iv.)
   Hiawatha's moccasins. Enchanted shoes made of deer-skin. "When he bound them round his ankles, at each stride a mile he measured." (Longfellow: Hiawatha, iv.)

Hibernia A variety of Ierne (Ireland). Pliny says the Irish mothers feed their babes with swords instead of spoons.

"While in Hibernia's fields the labouring swain,
Shall pass the plough o'er skulls of warriors slain,
And turn up bones and broken spears,
Amazed, he'll show his fellows of the plain
The relics of victorious years,
And tell how swift thy arms that kingdom did regain." Hughes: House of Nassau.

Hic Jacets Tombstones, so called from the first two words of their inscriptions; "Here lies ..."

"By the cold Hic Jacets of the dead."
Tennyson: Idylls of the King (Vivien).

Hickathrift (Tom or Jack). A poor labourer in the time of the Conquest, of such enormous strength that, armed with an axletree and cartwheel only, he killed a giant who dwelt in a marsh at Tilney, Norfolk. He was knighted and made governor of Thanet. He is sometimes called Hickafric.

Hickory Old Hickory. General Andrew Jackson. Parton says he was first called "Tough," from his pedestrian powers; then "Tough as hickory;" and lastly, "Old Hickory."

Hidalgo The title in Spain of the lower nobility. (According to Bishop St. Vincent, the word is compounded of hijo del Goto, son of a Goth; but more probably it is hijo and dalgo. Hija = child or son, and dalgo = respect, as in the phrase, "Facer mucho dalgo," to receive with great respect. In Portuguese it is Fidalgo.

Hide of Land No fixed number of "acres," but such a quantity as was valued at a stated geld or tax. A hide of good arable land was smaller than a hide of inferior quality.

Hieroclean Legacy The legacy of jokes. Hierocles, in the fifth Christian century, was the first person who hunted up and compiled jokes. After a life-long labour he mustered together as many as twenty- eight, which he has left to the world as his legacy.