Chapter Poets' Corner to Poisoners of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

archery.
   To dine on potatoes and point. To have potatoes without salt, a very meagre dinner indeed. When salt was very dear, and the cellar was empty, parents used to tell their children to point their potato to the salt cellar, and eat it. This was potato and point. In the tale of Ralph Richards the Miser, we are told that he gave his boy dry bread, and whipped him for pointing it towards the cupboard where a bit of cheese was kept in a bottle.
   To make a point of [doing something]. To consider the matter as a point of duty. The reference is to the old Roman way of voting by ballot. The ballot tablets were thrown by the voters into a chest, and were afterwards counted by points marked on a tablet, and to obtain every vote was to “carry every point” (“Omne talit punctum” [Horace]). Hence a point of duty or point of conscience is a plank on the platform of duty or conscience.
   To stretch a point. To exceed what is strictly right. Points were the tagged laces used in ancient dress: hence, to “truss a point,” to truss or tie the laces which held the breeches; to “stretch a point” is to stretch these laces, so as to adjust the dress to extra growth, or the temporary fulness of good feeding. At Whitsuntide these points or tags were given away by the churchwardens.

“Their points being broken, down fell their hose.”- Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., ii. 4.

Point-blank Direct. A term in gunnery; when a cannon is so placed that the line of sight is parallel to the axis and horizontal, the discharge is point-blank, and is supposed to go direct to the object without a curve. In French point blanc is the white mark or bull's eye of a target, to hit which the ball or arrow must not deviate in the least from the exact path.

“Now art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction regal.”- Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI., iv. 7.

Point d'Appui (French). A standpoint; a fulcrum; a position from which you can operate; a pretext to conceal the real intention. Literally the point of support.

“The material which gives name to the dish is but the point d'appui for the literary cayenne and curry- powder by which it is recommended to the palate of the reader.”- The Athenæum.

Point de Judas (French). The number 13. The twelve apostles and our Lord made thirteen at the Last Supper.

Point-devise Punctilious; minutely exact. Holofernes says, “I abhor such insociable and point de vise companions, such rackers of orthography.” (French, point de vise.)

“You are rather point de vise in your accoutrements.”- Shakespeare: As You Like It, iii. 2.

Points Armed at all points. “Armé de toutes pièces,” or “Armé jusqu' aux dents.” “Armed at all points exactly cap-à-pie. ”
   To stand on points. On punctilios; delicacy of behaviour.

“This fellow doth not stand upon points.”- Shakespeare: Midsummer Night's Dream, v. 1.

Points of the Escutcheon There are nine points distinguished in heraldry by the first nine letters of the alphabet- three at top, A, B, C; three down the middle, D, E, F; and three at the bottom, G, H, I. The first three are chiefs; the middle three are the collar point, fess point, and nombril or navel point; the bottom three are the base points.

Poison It is said that poisons had no effect on Mithridates, King of Pontus. This was Mithridates VI., called the Great, who succeeded his father at the age of eleven, and fortified his constitution by drinking antidotes to poisons which might at any moment be administered to him by persons about the court. (See Aqua Tofana .)

Poison Detectors
   Aladdin's ring was a preservative against every evil
   Gundoforus. No one could pass with poison the gate of Gundoforus.
   Nourgehan's bracelet. When poison was present the stones of this bracelet seemed agitated.
   Opals turn pale at the approach of poison.
   Peacocks ruffle their feathers at the sight of poison.
   Rhinoceros. If poison is put into a cup made of rhinoceros' horn, the liquid will effervesce.
   Sign of the Cross was supposed in the Middle Ages to be a poison detector.
   Venetian glass will shiver at the approach of poison. (See also Philosopher's Egg.)