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Crape … . Lawn

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A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn. (Pope: Ep. to Cobham, 136.) Crape (a sort of bombazine, or alpaca) is the stuff of which cheap clerical gowns used to be made, and here means one of the lower clergy; “lawn” refers to the lawn sleeves of a bishop, and here means a prelate. A good curate is all very well, but the same goodness in a bishop is exalted as something noteworthy.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Crakys of War
Cram
Crambe bis Cocta [“cabbage boiled twice”]
Crambo
Crampart (King)
Cramp-ring
Crane
Crank
Crannock
Crapaud or Johnny Crapaud
Crape … . Lawn
Cravat
Craven
Crawley
Crayon (Geoffrey)
Creaking Doors hang the Longest
Create. Make
Creature (The)
Creature-comforts
Credat Judæus or Credat Judæus Apella
Credence Table