Chapter Prestige to Primrose of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

say of a man whose head is full of his subject, “He is primed to the muzzle.” Of course, the allusion is to firearms.

Primero A game at cards.

“I left him at primero with the Duke of Suffolk.”- Shakespeare: H enry VIII., i. 2.

   ... “Four cards were dealt to each player, the principal groups being flush, prime, and point. Flush was the same as in `poker,' prime was one card of each suit, and point was reckoned as in `piquet'."- Cyclopœdia of Games, p. 270.

Primitive Fathers (The). The five Christian fathers supposed to be contemporary with the Apostles: viz. Clement of Rome (30-102); Barnabas, cousin of Mark the Evangelist, and schoolfellow of Paul the Apostle; Hermas, author of The Shepherd; Ignatius, martyred A.D. 115; and Polycarp (85-169).
   The first two Epistles to the Corinthians are probably by Clement Romanus, but everything else ascribed to him is undoubtedly spurious.
   The epistle ascribed to Barnabas is of very doubtful authenticity.
   Hermas.— It is very doubtful whether this is a proper name at all; and, if a proper name, many think it is a Hermas in the second century, brother of Pius I.
   Polycarp, some say, was a pupil of John the Evangelist, by whom he was made Bishop of Smyrna, addressed in the Revelation; but if the Revelation was written in 96, Polycarp was not eleven years old at the time, and could not possibly have been a bishop. It is extremely doubtful whether he knew the Evangelist at all, and certainly he did not know either the Fourth Gospel or the Book of the Revelation.

Primrose (George). Son of the worthy Vicar of Wakefield. He went to Amsterdam to teach the people English, but forgot that he could not do so till he knew something of Dutch himself. (Goldsmith: Vicar of Wakefield.)
   Moses Primrose. Brother of the above, noted for giving in barter a good horse for a gross of worthless green spectacles with copper rims and shagreen cases. (Goldsmith: Vicar of Wakefield.)
   Mrs. Deborah Primrose. Mother of the above; noted for her motherly vanity, her skill in housewifery, and her desire to be genteel. Her wedding gown is a standing simile for things that “wear well.” Her daughters' names are Olivia and Sophia. (Goldsmith: Vicar of Wakefield.)
   The Rev. Dr. Primrose. Husband of Mrs. Deborah, and Vicar of Wakefield. As simple-minded and unskilled in the world as Goldsmith himself, unaffectedly pious, and beloved by all who knew him. (Goldsmith: Vicar of Wakefield.)