Reference  |  Brewer's Phrase & Fable  |  D  |  Deal-fish to December

D — Deal-fish to December (Part 3 of 3)

Decaniller To be off, to decamp, to escape. A curious instance of argot. Canille is old French for chenille, a pupa, imago, or chrysalis. These afterwards become winged insects and take their flight. So a visitor says in France, "Il faut me sauver, " or "Il faut decaniller. " I must be off.

December (Latin, the tenth month.) So it was when the year began in March with the vernal equinox; but since January and February have been inserted before it, the term is quite incorrect.