| 释义 |
Limerick|ˈlɪmərɪk|
[The chief town of the county of Limerick in Ireland.]
1. [Said to be from a custom at convivial parties, according to which each member sang an extemporized ‘nonsense-verse’, which was followed by a chorus containing the words ‘Will you come up to Limerick?’] A form of ‘nonsense-verse’.
1896A. Beardsley Let. c 1 May (1971) 128 I have tried to amuse myself by writing limericks on my troubles. Ibid. 2 May 129 Your continuation of the limerick is superb. 1898Cantab 6 Oct., Contents, Illustrated Limericks. 1898M. H. in N. & Q. 19 Nov. 408 When and why did the non⁓sense verse as written by Lear acquire the name of ‘Limerick’? 1898J. H. Murray ibid. 10 Dec. 470 Limerick. A nonsense verse such as was written by Lear is wrongfully so called..Who applied this name to the indecent nonsense verse first it is hard to say. 1899R. Kipling Stalky 201 Make up a good catchy Limerick, and let the fags sing it.
2. Used attrib. to designate:
a. Gloves of fine leather made originally at Limerick (see quot. 1960).
1804M. Edgeworth Pop. Tales I. 245 Are you blind Mr. Hill? Don't you see that they are Limerick gloves? 1842J. P. Lawson Gazetteer Ireland 607/2 The glove trade ..has now declined, and those articles sold as Limerick gloves are actually manufactured at Cork. 1853Mrs. Gaskell Ruth II. vii. 173 She..brought down a pair of Limerick ones, which had been long treasured up in a walnut-shell. ‘They say them gloves is made of chicken's-skins,’ said Sally. 1960Cunnington & Beard Dict. Eng. Costume, Limerick gloves, 2nd half 18th and 1st half 19th c...made of very fine leather, said to be made from the skins of unborn lambs.
b. A particular bend or pattern of fish-hook or a fish-hook with such a bend (said to have been orig. made in the town of Limerick) in which the wire of the hook is bent abruptly through a large angle behind the barb but thereafter is bent more shallowly to the point at which it continues as the straight shank. Also ellipt. as n., a Limerick hook.
1828H. Davy Salmonia 141, I have even made a hook, which..I think, I could boast as equal to the Limerick hooks. 1835T. T. Stoddart Art of Angling in Scotl. iii. 16 O'Shaughnessy's Limericks..are not always exactly the thing, excepting those used for salmon..which are really excellent. 1856‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports 235/1 The round-bend hook is that which is most used in England, the Limerick pattern being chiefly in vogue in Ireland. 1928Chambers's Jrnl. Jan. 2/2 He..picked out his lure without hesitation—a Number 5, Limerick-bend, double-hooked ‘Blue Charm’. 1956L. V. Bates Artificial Flies iii. 55 The Limerick is probably stronger but the fine elegant proportions of the Dee hook make for better hooking.
c. A type of embroidered lace made originally at Limerick. Also ellipt. as n.
1842J. P. Lawson Gazetteer Ireland 607/2 Limerick lace has now obtained a high celebrity. This beautiful manufacture was introduced into the city in 1829 by Mr Walker, an English gentleman. 1886B. Lindsey Irish Lace ii. 9 A spirit of enterprise and commercial adventure..originated the Limerick manufacture. 1905N. H. Moore Lace Bk. 196 Limerick lace is a combination..of cut-work and embroidery, and hardly comes under our definition of lace. 1953M. Powys Lace & Lace-Making iv. 35 Limerick lace, embroidered net, Irish, 19th century... This type of lace is made in all the countries, including America and India. It is light, pretty and easy to produce. Limerick remains the finest of the kind. 1959Times 21 Sept. 12/4 Her old family Limerick lace veil was held in place by a mother-of-pearl coronet. 1967C. Gaskin Edge of Glass iv. 86 [Her] long ancient gown collared in yellowed Limerick lace. |