To go before the mare to market, verb. phr. (old).—To do preposterous things.—Ray (1767).
Mare's-nest, subs. (common).—A
supposed discovery; a hoax; a
delusion. Also to find a mare's
nest and laugh at the eggs.
1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Bonduca, v. 2. Why dost thou laugh? What mare's nest hast thou found?
1764. O'Hare, Midas, i. 3. Heyday! What mare's nest's found?
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 56], s.v.
1785 and 1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (1st and 3rd eds.), s.v. Mare's nest. He has found a mare's nest, and is laughing at the eggs; said of one who laughs without any apparent cause.
1859. Lever, Davenport Dunn, i. 206. He's always mare's nesting.
1861. Cornhill Magazine, iv. 105. 'A Cumberland mare's nest.' In short you Lorton wiseacres, on coming to examine it, Have found a regular mare's nest, and 'stead of eggs, a lamb in it.
1864. The Spectator, p. 355. It would not do for Englishmen to be ticketted as Englishmen all over the Continent, for they are recognised easily enough by that dialect of French which Mr. Kinglake once called Continental English—he has exchanged mots since then for mares' nests.
1870. Lowell, Among my Books, 1st Ser., p. 292. It [the average German mind] finds its keenest pleasure in divining a profound significance in the most trifling things, and the number of mare's nests that have been stared into . . . passes calculation.
1873. Notes and Queries, 4 S. xii. 136. Each, in his endeavour to correct me, actually justifies my doubt, and their united criticisms prove that the stumbling-block which I have found, be it what it may, is not a mare's nest.
1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, ch. xlvii. 'Dr. Bilde and the rest discovered something wrong and hoped for the worst, whereas they've only found a mare's nest,'
The mare with three legs, subs phr. (old).—The gallows; the triple tree (q.v.).
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, 'The game of High toby.' For the mare with three legs, boys, I care not a rap.
Mare's-tails, subs. (nautical).—Feather-like
clouds indicative of
wind.
Margery-prater, subs. (Old Cant).—See
quot.; a cackling cheat
(q.v.).
1573. Harman, Caveat (Repr. 1814), p. 65. A margeri prater, a hen.
1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, in Wks. (Grosart), 111. 201. Margery prater, a Henne.
1652. R. Brome, A Jovial Crew. Here's grunter and bleater, with tib-of-the-buttry, And margery prater all dress'd without slutt'ry.
1665. R. Head, English Rogue, Pt. 1. ch. v. p. 50 (1874), s.v.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1712. T. Shirley, Triumph of Wit, 'The Maunder's Praise of His Strowling Mort.' When the Lightman up does call, margery prater from her nest.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Maria. See Black Maria.
Marigold (or Marygold), subs.
(common).—1. One million sterling.
2. (old).—A gold coin. [From the color].
1663. Cowley, Cutter of Coleman St. I'l write it an'you will, in shorthand, to dispatch immediately, and presently go put five hundred marigolds in a purse for you.
Marinated, adj. (obsolete).—Transported
over sea.—Grose (1785).
