A - Z Database
see Months of the year
see Mad as a March hare
A mare’s nest is a hoax, an illusion or a confused and illogical mess. The expression dates from the early 17th century and is preceded by an earlier...
This often-heard admonishment dates from the 15th century and makes use of one of the many meanings of mark i.e. to take notice of or pay attention.
According to the Bible, this was the mark that God put on Cain to protect him, from Genesis 4:15, “And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest any finding h...
From the Latin root marmelo, meaning a quince, because in the 1400s all marmalade was made from quinces. Only from the 16th century was marmalade made...
This confectionery paste made from almonds and sugar was known as marchpane in the 1400s, deriving from the Latin Marci panis, which meant St Mark’s b...
Maudlin means weak, mawkish or sentimental and the word dates from the 1600s. It derives from the proper name Magdalene, after Mary Magdalene, who in...
Since the 16th century, a mausoleum is a stately tomb or sepulchre and the word derives from King Mausolus of Caria, an ancient kingdom situated in so...
This American expression has come to symbolise unconventional or nonconformist behaviour and describes those who do not adhere to the herd instinct. I...
see Months of the year
This is, of course, is the famous catchphrase from the first Star Wars movie (1977) and remains a continual theme throughout all the sequels and prequ...
Mayday, repeated three times, has become the official international radio signal for distress. It was coined in 1923 by Frederick Mockford (1897-1962)...
During the 13th century, maim and mayhem were interchangeable words deriving from the same Anglo-Norman roots maime or mayhem meaning to inflict cripp...
Historians still argue over whether mayonnaise is a Spanish or French invention. What is indisputable is that this emulsion of egg yolks, olive oil an...