Subvolʹvans or Subvolvaʹni

The antagonists of the Privolvans in Samuel Butler’s satirical poem called The Elephant in the Moon.

“The gallant Subvolvani rally,

And from their trenches make a sally.”

Verse 83, etc.

· ·

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