Chapter Marl to Marrow-bones of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

old proverbe to be true that saieth: Marriage is destinie.” Prov. xix. 14 says, “A prudent wife is from the Lord.”

Marriages of Men of Genius (See Wives Of ...)

Married Women take their husband's surname. This was a Roman custom. Thus Julia, Octavia, etc., married to Pompey, Cicero, etc., would be called Julia of Pompey, Octavia of Cicero. Our married women are named in the same way, omitting “of.”

Marrow (Scotch) a mate, companion, friend. “Not marrow”- that is, not a pair. The Latin word medulla (marrow) is used in much the same way as “mihi hæres in medullis” (Cicero); (very dear, my best friend, etc.).

“Busk ye, busk ye, my bonnie bonnie bride,
Busk ye, busk ye, my winsome marrow.”
The Braes of Yarrow.

“One glove [or shoe] is not marrow to the other.”
Landsdowne MS.

Marrow-bones Down on your marrow- bones, i.e. knees. That marrow in this phrase is not a corruption of “Mary,” meaning the Virgin, is palpable from the analogous phrase, the marrow-bone stage -- walking. The leg-bone is the marrow-bone of beef and mutton, and the play is on Marylebone (London)