Chapter Lambro to Lancelot du Lac of L by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Lamp of Heaven (The). The moon. Milton calls the stars “lamps.”

“Why shouldst thou ...
In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars,
That Nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps
With everlasting oil, to give due light
To the misled and lonely traveller?”
Comus, 200-204.

Lamp of Phoebus (The). The sun. Phoebus is the mythological personification of the sun.

Lamp of the Law (The). Irnerius the German was so called, who first lectured on the Pandects of Justinian after their discovery at Amalphi in 1137

Lamps The seven lamps of sleep. In the mansion of the Knight of the Black Castle were seven lamps, which could be quenched only with water from an enchanted fountain. So long as these lamps kept burning, everyone within the room fell into a deep sleep, from which nothing could rouse them till the lamps were extinguished. (See Rosana .) (The Seven Champions of Christendom, ii. 8.)
   Sepulchral lamps. The Romans are said to have preserved lamps in some of their sepulchres for centuries. In the papacy of Paul III. one of these lamps was found in the tomb of Tullia (Cicero's daughter), which had been shut up for 1,550 years. At the dissolution of the monasteries a lamp was found which is said to have been burning 1,200 years. Two are preserved in Leyden museum.

Lampadion The received name of a lively, petulant courtesan, in the later Greek comedy.

Lampoon Sir Walter Scott says, “These personal and scandalous libels, carried to excess in the reign of Charles II., acquired the name of lampoons from the burden sung to them: Lampone, lampone, camerada lampone'- Guzzler, guzzler, my fellow guzzler.” (French, lamper, to guzzle.) Sir Walter obtained his information from Trevoux.

Lampos and Phaeton The two steeds of Aurora. One of Actæon's dogs was called Lampos.

Lancashire Lads or “The Lancashire.” The 47th Foot. Now called the First Battalion of the North Lancashire Regiment.

Lancaster The camp-town on the river Lune.

Lancaster Gun A species of rifled cannon with elliptical bore; so called from Mr. Lancaster, its inventor.

Lancasterian (A). One who pursues the system of Joseph Lancaster (1778-1838) in schools. By this system the higher classes taught the lower.

Lancastrian (A). An adherent of the Lancastrian line of kings, as opposed to the Yorkists. One of the Lancastrian kings (Henry IV., V., VI.).

Lance (1 syl.), in Christian art, is an attribute of St. Matthew and St. Thomas, the apostles; also of St. Longinus, St. George, St. Adalbert, St. Oswin, St. Barbara, St. Michael, St. Dometrius, and several others.
   Astolpho had a lance of gold that with enchanted force dismounted everyone it touched. (Orlando Furioso, bk. ix.)
   A free-lance. One who acts on his own judgment, and not from party motives. The reference is to the Free Companies of the Middle Ages, called in Italy condottieri, and in France Compagnies Grandes, which were free to act as they liked, and were not servants of the Crown or of any other potentate. It must be confessed, however, that they were willing to sell themselves to any master and any cause, good or bad.

Lance-Corporal and Lance-Sergeant. One from the ranks temporarily acting as corporal or sergeant. In the Middle Ages a lance meant a soldier.

Lance-Knight A foot-soldier, a corruption of lasquenet or lancequenet, a German foot-soldier.

Lance of the Ladies At the termination of every joust a course was run “pour les dames,” and called the “Lance of the Ladies.”