Chapter Mob to Moloch of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

the Great Mogul. Those cards which contained some mark, speck, or other imperfection, were called “Harrys.”

Mohadi [Mohammed ]. The twelfth Imaun, who is said to be living in concealment till Antichrist appears, when he will come again and overthrow the great enemy.

Mohair (Probably the Arabic mukhayyar, goat's-hair cloth.) It is the hair of the Angora goat, introduced into Spain by the Moors, and thence brought into Germany.

Mohakabad' (Al). Abu-Rihan, the geographer and astronomer in the eleventh century.

Mohocks A class of ruffians who in the 18th century infested the streets of London. So called from the Indian Mohawks. One of their “new inventions” was to roll persons down Snow Hill in a tub; another was to overturn coaches on rubbish-heaps. (See Gay: Trivia, iii.)
   A vivid picture of the misdoings in the streets of London by these and other brawlers is given in The Spectator, No. 324.

“You sent your Mohocks next abroad,
With razors armed, and knives;
Who on night-walkers made inroad,
And scared our maids and wives;
They scared the watch, and windows broke . . .”
Plot upon Plot (about 1713).

Mohun Captain Hill and Lord Mohun made a dastardly attack on an actor named Mountford, on his way to Mrs. Bracegirdle's house in Howard Street. Hill was jealous of the actor, and induced the “noble lord” to join him in this “valiant quarrel.” Mountford died next day. Hill fled, and was never heard of more; Mohun was tried for his life, but acquitted. (See Issachar .) (Howell: State Trials, vol. xii. p. 947.)

Mohyronus (Edricius). Said to cure wounds by sympathy. He did not apply his powder to the wounds, but to a cloth dipped in the blood.

Moire Antique (French) is silk, etc., moiré (watered) in the antique style, or to resemble the material worn in olden times. The figuring of tin like frostwork or scales is called moiré métallique.

Mokanna [See Khorassan .]

Molière The Italian Molière. Carlo Goldoni (1707-1793).
   The Spanish Moliére. Leandro Fernandez Moratin (1760-1828).

Molinism The system of grace and election taught by Louis Molina, the Spanish Jesuit (1535-1600).

“Those Jansenists, re-nicknamed Molinists.” Browning: The Ring and the Book.

Moll (Kentish). Mary Carlson, commonly known as the German Princess. She was sentenced to transportation, but, being found at large, was hanged at Tyburn in 1672.

Moll Cutpurse Mary Frith, a woman of masculine vigour, who not unfrequently assumed man's attire. She was a notorious thief and cutpurse, who once attacked General Fairfax on Hounslow Heath, for which she was sent to Newgate. She escaped by bribery, and died at last of dropsy in the seventy-fifth year of her age. (Time of Charles I.)

Moll Flanders A woman of extra-ordinary beauty, born in the Old Bailey. She was twelve years a courtesan, five times a wife, twelve years a thief, eight years a transport in Virginia; but ultimately grew rich, lived honestly, and died a penitent. (Charles II.'s reign.) (See Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders.)

Moll Thomson's Mark As “Take away this bottle, it has Moll Thomson's mark on it.” Moll Thomson is M. T. (empty).

Molly He's a regular Molly. Said of a man or big boy who betties or interferes with women's work, such as kitchen business, dressmaking, personal decoration, and so on.