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Porcus

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The Latins call meporcus.” A sly reproof to anyone boasting, showing off, or trying to make himself appear greater than he is. The fable says that a wolf was going to devour a pig, when the pig observed that it was Friday, and no good Catholic would eat meat on a Friday. Going on together, the wolf said to the pig, “They seem to call you by many names.” “Yes,” said the pig, “I am called swine, grunter, hog, and I know not what besides. The Latins call me porcus.” “Porpus, do they?” said the wolf, making an intentional blunder. “Well, porpoise is a fish, and we may eat fish on a Friday.” So saying, he devoured him without another word

 

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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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Pope Joan
Pope’s Sermon (A)
Pope’s Tiara (The)
Popefigland
Popinjay
Popish Plot
Poplar (The)
Porcelain
Porch (The)
Porcupine
Porcus
Porcus Literarum
Pork! Pork!
Pork, Pig
Porphyrion
Porridge
Port
Port Royal Society
Port Wine
Porte (The)
Porteous Riot