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Odd and Even

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According to Pythagoras, by the number of syllables in a man’s name, the side of his infirmity may be predicted: odd being left, even being right.

Thus, to give only one or two examples: Nelson (even) lost his right arm and right eye. Raglan (even) lost his right arm at Waterloo. The fancy is quite worthless, but might afford amusement on a winter’s night.

 

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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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Occam’s Razor
Occasion
Occult Sciences
Oceana
Ochiltree (Edie)
Octavian
Octavo
Ocypus
Od
Odd Numbers
Odd and Even
Odd’s or Od’s
Odds
Ode
Odhærir
Odin
Odium Theologicum
ODoherty (Sir Morgan)
Odor Lucri (Latin)
Odorico (in Orlando Furioso)
Odour