Chapter MacIntyre to Mackintosh of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

MacIntyre to Mackintosh

MacIntyre (Captain Hector). Brother of Maria MacIntyre, the antiquary's niece, in Sir Walter Scott's Antiquary.

MacIvor (Fergus). Chief of Glennaquoich, and brother of Flora MacIvor, the heroine of Waverley, by Sir W. Scott.

MacPherson During the reign of David I. of Scotland, a younger brother of the chief of the powerful clan Chattan espoused the clerical life, and in due time became abbot of Kingussie. His elder brother died childless, and the chieftainship devolved on the abbot. He procured the needful dispensation from the Pope, married the daughter of the thane of Calder, and a swarm of little “Kingussies” was the result. The good people of Invernessshire called them the Mac-phersons, i.e. the sons of the parson.

MacTab The Honourable Miss Lucretia MacTab. A poor Scotch relative of Emily Worthington “on her deceased mother's side, and of the noble blood of the MacTabs.” She lived on the Worthingtons, always snubbing them for not appreciating the honour of such a noble hanger-on, and always committing the most ludicrous mistakes from her extravagant vanity and family pride. (George Colman: The Poor Gentleman.)

MacTurk (Captain Mungo or Hector). “The man of peace” at the Spa Hotel, and one of the managing committee. (Sir Walter Scott: St. Ronan's Well.)

Macaber The dance macaber. The Dance of the dead (q.v.) (French, dance macabre.) A dance over which Death presides, supposed to be executed by the dead of all ages and conditions. It is an allegory of the mortality of man, and was a favourite subject of artists and poets between the 13th and 15th centuries. It was originally written in German, then in Latin, and then in French. Some think Macaber was the name of the author, but others think the word is the Arabic makabir, a cemetery. The best illustrations are those by Minden, Lucerne, Lubeck, Dresden, and Basle. Holbein's painting is very celebrated

“What are these paintings on the wall around us? The dance macaber.”
Longfellow: The Golden Legend.

Macadamise (4 syl.). Using broken stones for road metal, and making the road convex instead of concave; a method introduced by Sir John L. Macadam (1756-1836)

Macaire (2 syl.). A favourite name in French plays, insomuch that Robert Macaire is sometimes used generically for a Frenchman. It is said that Aubrey de Montdidier was murdered in the forest of Bondy in 1371. His dog conceived such a hatred against Robert Macaire that suspicion was aroused, and it was resolved to pit the man and dog together. The result was fatal to the man, who died confessing his guilt. The story is found in a chanson de geste of the 12th century, called La Reine Sibile.

Macamut Sultan of Cambaya, who lived upon poison, with which he was so saturated that his breath or touch carried instant death. (Purchas.)

Macare (French). The impersonation of good temper, in Voltaire's allegory of Thelème and Macare.

Macaroni A coxcomb (Italian, un macceherone). The word is derived from the Macaroni Club, instituted by a set of flashy men who had travelled in Italy, and introduced Italian maccheroni at Almack's subscription table. The Macaronies were the most exquisite fops that ever disgraced the name of man; vicious, insolent, fond of gambling, drinking, and duelling, they were (about 1773) the curse of Vauxhall Gardens.

“We are indebted to the Macaronies for only two things: the one is the introduction of that excellent dish ... macaroni, and the other is the invention of that useful slang word `bore' (boar), which originally meant any opponent of dandyism.”- Cassell's Magazine: London Legends.

    An American regiment raised in Maryland during the War of Independence, was called The Macaronies from its showy uniform.

Macaronic Latin Dog Latin, or modern words with Latin endings. The law pleadings of G. Steevens, as Daniel v. Dishclout and Bullum v. Boatum, are excellent examples. (See Dog Latin .)
    Macaronic