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Violet (Corporal)

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Napoleon Bonaparte. When Bonaparte was banished to Elba he told his friends he would return with the violets, and “Corporal Violet” was the favourite toast of his partisans. When he broke his parole and reached Frejus, a gang of women assembled with violets, which were freely sold. The shibboleth was, “Do you like violets?” If the answer given was “Oui,” the person was known not to be a confederate; but if the answer was “Eh bien,” the respondent was recognised as an adherent.

 

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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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Vindicate
Vine
Vinegar (Hannibal’s.)
Vinegar Bible
Vineyard Controversy
Vino. In vino veritas
Vintry Ward. (London)
Vinum Theologicum
Violet
Violet
Violet (Corporal)
Violet-crowned City
Violin
Violon
Viper and File
Virgil
Virgilius
Virgin
Virgin Mary’s Guard (The)
Virgin Mary’s Peas (The)
Virgin Queen (The)