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Bis

Bis dat, qui cito dat (he gives twice who gives promptly)—i.e. prompt relief will do as much good as twice the sum at a future period (Publius Syrus Proverbs.)

Purple and bis, i.e. purple and fine linen (Latin, byssus, fine flax). The spelling is sometimes biss, bys, etc.

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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.