| 释义 |
merry man, ˈmerryman
1. pl. merry men: the companions in arms or followers of a knight, an outlaw chief, etc. Also colloq. (somewhat jocular): followers, subordinates.
c1386Chaucer Sir Thopas 128 His murie men comanded he To make hym bothe game and glee. c1400Gamelyn 774 Yong Gamelyn..fond his mery men under woode-bough. c1510Lytell Geste of Robyn Hood iv. in Child Ballads III. 66 And Robyn and his mery men Went to wode anone. c1550Hunting of Cheviot 37 Ibid. III. 309 Fyghte ye, my myrry men, whyllys ye may. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. i. i. 121 They say he is already in the Forrest of Arden, and a many merry men with him. 1810Scott Lady of L. v. xviii, Still at the gallop prick'd the Knight, His merry-men follow'd as they might. 1873Trollope Phineas Redux (1874) I. i. 2 Moderate Liberals had been glad to give Mr. Daubeny and his merry men a chance. 1921Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 8 Apr. 4/3 The result of their round robin was equally effective;..it took the place of the robber's mask so that no one could tell the leaders from their merrymen. 1932D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase xvi. 205 It's Umpelty and his merry men. Pass me the field-glasses, Bunter. 1939Joyce Finnegans Wake i. 48 Hurleyquinn the zitherer of the past with his merrymen all. 1960N. Mitford Don't tell Alfred ii. 24 He will keep Bouche-Bontemps and his merry men in a state of chronic perplexity. 1970Punch 17 June 890/1 The Tories, according to Harold Wilson and his merry men, are dishonest, heartless, reckless and dangerous. 1973Times 24 Nov. 11/4 Tomorrow night Miss Laine, Mr Dankworth and his three merry men will be in concert in Glasgow. 1973R. Perry Ticket to Ride iv. 61 Abbott and his merry men still weren't on my trail.
2. (As one word.) A jester or buffoon. ? Obs.
1785Grose Dict. Vulgar Tongue, Merry Andrew, or Mr. Merryman, the jack pudding, jester, or zany of a mountebank, usually dressed in a party coloured coat. 1838Thoms in Bentley's Misc. III. 623 The equestrian clown at Astley's, as the Mister Merryman who attends the horsemanship at that theatre is professionally designated. 1858Doran Ct. Fools 58 In the fifteenth century, when the fashion of wearing bells was abandoned to the professional merry-men.
‖3. The surname Merriman has sometimes been used allusively.
1596Harington Metam. Ajax 84 Hæc tria mens læta, requies, moderata dieta, Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Meryman. |