Chapter Jew's-eye to Joachim of J by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Jew's-eye to Joachim

Jew's-eye Worth a Jew's-eye. According to fable, this expression arose from the custom of torturing Jews to extort money from them. The expedient of King John is well known: He demanded 10,000 marks of a rich Jew of Bristol; the Hebrew resisted the atrocious exaction, but the tyrant ordered him to be brought before him, and that one of his teeth should be tugged out every day till the money was forthcoming. This went on for seven days, when the sufferer gave in, and John jestingly observed, "A Jew's eye may be a quick ransom, but Jew's teeth give the richer harvest."
   Launcelot, in the Merchant of Venice, ii. 5, puns upon this phrase when he says to Jessica: -

"There will come a Christian by
Will be worth a Jewess' eye."

Jew's-harp called by Bacon jeutrompe, by Beaumont and Fletcher, jew-trump, by Hakluyt, jew's-harp.
   The best players on this instrument have been Koch, a Prussian soldier under Frederick the Great; Kunert, Amstein, and some others.

Jew's Myrtle So called from the popular notion that it formed the crown of thorns placed by the Jews on the Saviour's head.

Jews in Dryden's satire of Absalom and Achitophel, those English who were loyal to Charles II., called David.

"The Jews, a headstrong, moody, murmuring race,
God's pampered people, whom, debauched with ease,
No king could govern, nor no god could please."
Part i. verses 45-48.

   Jews born with tails. (See Raboin.)

Jews' Sabbath In the Monasticon de Melsa, ii. pp. 134, 137, we read that a Jew at Tewkesbury fell into a cesspool, and Richard, Earl of Gloucester, passing by, offered to pull him out, but the Jew refused, saying -

"Sabbato nostra colo;
De stercore surgére nolo."

   Next day, as the Earl was passing again, the Jew cried to him for help, when Gloucester replied -

"Sabbata nostra quidem,
Solomon, celebrabis ibidem."
The Rolls Series.

Jewels in heraldry.
   The topaz represents "or" (gold), or the planet Sol.
   The pearl or crystal represents "argent" (silver), or the planet Luna.
   The ruby represents "gules" (red), or the planet Mars.
   The sapphire represents "azure" (blue), or the planet Jupiter.
   The diamond represents "sable" (black), or the planet Saturn.
   The emerald represents "vert" (green), or the planet Venus.
   The amethyst represents "purpure" (purple), or the planet Mercury.

Jewels for the MONTHS. Each month is supposed to be under the influence of some precious stone -
   January: Garnet. Constancy.
   February: Amethyst. Sincerity.
   March: Bloodstone. Courage.
   April: Diamond. Innocence.
   May: Emerald. Success in love.
   June: Agate. Health and long life.
   July: Cornelian. Content.
   August: Sardonyx. Conjugal fidelity.
   September: Chrysolite. Antidote to madness.
   October: Opal. Hope.
   November: Topaz. Fidelity.
   December: Turquoise. Prosperity.

Jewels for SIGNS of the ZODIAC -
   Aries: Ruby.
   Taurus: Topaz.
   Gemini: Carbuncle.
   Cancer: Emerald.
   Leo: Sapphire.
   Virgo: Diamond.
   Libra: Jacinth.
   Scorpio: Agate.
   Sagittarius: Amethyst
   Capricornus: Beryl.
   Aquarius: Onyx.
   Pisces: Jasper.

Jezebel A painted Jezebel. A flaunting woman of bold spirit, but loose morals; so called from Queen Jezebel, the wife of Ahab.

Jib A triangular sail borne in front of the foremast. It has the bowsprit for a base in small vessels, and the jib-boom in larger ones, and exerts an important effect, when the wind is abeam, in throwing the ship's head to leeward.
   Jib. The under-lip. A sailor's expression; the under-lip indicating the temper, as the jib indicates the character of a ship.
   The cut of his jib. A sailor's phrase, meaning the expression of a person's face. Sailors recognise vessels at sea by the cut of the jibs.
   To hang the jib. The jib means the lower lip. To hang the lower lip is to look ill-tempered, or annoyed.

Jib (To). To start aside; a "jibbing horse" is one that is easily startled. It is a sea term, to jib being to shift the boomsail from one side of the mast to the other.