Chapter Out in the Forty-five to Oz of O by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Overture A piece of music for the opening of a concert. To “make an overture to a person” is to be the first to make an advance either towards a reconciliation or an acquaintance. (French, ouverture, opening.)

Overy St. Mary Overy (Southwark). John Overie was a ferryman, who used to ferry passengers from Southwark to the City, and accumulated a hoard of wealth by penurious savings. His daughter Mary, at his decease, became a nun, and founded the church of St. Mary Overy on the site of her father's house.

Ovid The French Ovid. Du Bellay, one of the Pleiad poets; also called the “father of grace and elegance.” (1524-1560.)

Owain (Sir). The Irish knight who passed through St. Patrick's purgatory by way of penance. (Henry of Saltrey : The Descent of Owain.)

Owen Meredith Robert Bulwer Lytton.

Owl I live too near a wood to be scared by an owl. I am too old to be frightened by a bogie; I am too old a stager to be frightened by such a person as you.

Owl the emblem of Athens. Because owls abound there. As Athena (Minerva) and Athenae (Athens) are the same word, the owl was given to Minerva for her symbol also.

Owl-light Dusk; the blind man's holiday. French, “Entre chien et loup.”

Owl in an Ivy Bush (Like an). Very ugly, a horrible fright [of a fellow]. Said of (or to) a person who has dressed his head unbecomingly, or that has a scared look, an untidy head of hair, or that looks inanely wise. The ivy bush was supposed to be the favourite haunt of owls, and numerous allusions to this supposition might be readily cited.

“Good ivy, say to us what birds hast thou?
None but the owlet that cries `How, how!' ”
Carol (time Henry VI.).

Owl was a Baker's Daughter (The). According to legend, our Saviour went into a baker's shop to ask for something to eat. The mistress of the shop instantly put a cake into the oven for Him, but the daughter said it was too large, and reduced it half. The dough, however, swelled to an enormous size, and the daughter cried out, “Heugh! heugh! heugh!” and was transformed into an owl. Ophelia alludes to this tradition in the line-

“Well, God `ield you! They say the owl was a baker's daughter.”- Shakespeare : Hamlet. iv. 5.

Owlery A haunt or abode of owls.

Owlglass (German, Eulenspiegel). Thyl, son of Klaus (Eulenspeigel) prototype of all the knavish fools of modern times. He was a native of Brunswick, and wandered about the world playing all manner of tricks on the people he encountered. (Died 1350.)

Ox Emblematic of St. Luke. It is one of the four figures which made up Ezekiel's cherub (i. 10). The ox is the emblem of the priesthood, and has been awarded to St. Luke because he begins his gospel with the Jewish priest sacrificing in the Temple. (See Luke. )
   The ox is also the emblem of St. Frideswide, St. Leonard, St. Sylvester, St. Medard, St. Julietta, and St. Blandina.
   He has an ox on his tongue. (Latin, Bovem in lingua habere, to be bribed to silence The Greeks had the same expression. The Athenian coin was stamped with the figure of an ox. The French say, “Il a un os dans la bouche,” referring to a dog which is bribed by a bone.
   The black ox hath trampled on you (The Antiquary). Misfortune has come to your house. You are henpecked. A black ox was sacrificed to Pluto, the infernal god, as a white one was to Jupiter.
   The black ox never trod upon his foot (common proverb). He never knew sorrow. He is