neck-verse
noun
: a verse usually consisting of the first lines of a Latin version of the 51st psalm formerly set before an accused person claiming benefit of clergy so that the person might vindicate his claim by an intelligent reading aloud of the verse before examiners
Word History
Etymology
Middle English neke verse; from the possibility of its saving the accused person's neck
- a big head
- a big heart
- a big/swelled head
- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
- a bit
- a bit much
- a bit of a
- a bit of a/an
- a bit of all right
- a bit of an
- a bit of crumpet
- a bit strong
- a breach of the peace
- a break in the weather
- a breed apart
- a brief word
- a broad spectrum
- a bull in a china shop
- a bundle of nerves
- a burr in the saddle
- a burr in/under the saddle
- a burr under the saddle
- a capella
- a cappella
- a capriccio