Here - Norm's Book Club

VENUS.
Tbc bryght venus folwedc and ay taughte The wcy, iher
brode Phebus down alighte. c 1400 Treat. Astron. 8 b
(MS. Bodl. R 17), The secunde owe of >c same day is the
owre of J>e planet Venus, c 1480 Henryson Tist. Cres. ii
Fair Venus, the bewtie of the nicht, Uprais. 1590 Shaks.
Afitfs, A'. III. ii. 107 Let her shine asglonously As the Venus
of the sky. 1664 Butler //ud. n. iii. 530 Venus you retriv'd.
In opposition with Mars, And no benigne friendly Stars T
allay ih* effect. X7»7-46 Thomson Summer 1695 Sudden to
heaven Thence weary vision turns ;
where, .with purestray
Sweet Venus shines. 1771 EncycL Brit. I. 436/2 When
Venus appears west of the sun, she rises before htm in the
morning, and is railed the morning-star; when she appears
east of the sun, she shines in the evening after he sets, and
is then called the eveningstar. 184a Francis Diet, Arts
S.V., Venus changes her phases lilce those of the moon, according
to her position, relative to the earth and sun. 1868
LocKYER GuilUmin's Heavens (ed. 3) 81 Thus the sohd
ground of Venus is uneven, like that of Mercury and the
Earth.
t6. Ahh, Copper. (In quot. 1797 allusively.)
c 1386 Chaucer Can. Ycom. Prol. ^ T. 276 Sol gold is,.
and J ubiter is tyn. And Venus coper, by my fader kyn. 1594
PuvT Jeivtli-ko. I. 20 The Alcumists giue a blauncher vnto
Venus with the salt of Tartar. 1610 B. Josson Alch. 11. i,
The great med'cine ! Of which one part proiected on a hundred
Of Mercurie, or Venus, or the Moone, Shall turne it
to as many of the Sunne. i7»8 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Copper^
The Chymists call it Venus', as supposing it to have some
more immediate Relation to that Planet. 1758 [see Jupiter
abX X797 W. Johnston tr. Beckmann^s Invent. I. 398 One
may justly doubt whether, at present, Mars, Venus, or
Saturn, is most destructive to the human race.
t b. So in crystals^ saffron, salt, vinegar, vitriol
of Venus (see quots.). Obs.
1693 Phil. Trans, XVII. 901 This very elaborate method
of procuring the Salt of Venus. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn.
I, Vitriol o( Copper or I'enus is IJlue Chrystals made by a
Solution of Copper in Spirit of Nitre, Evaporation, and
Chrystallization ma cool place. i7»8 Chambers Cyc/, s,v.
Copper^ The Calx of Brass, called . . sometimes . . Saffron of
Venus, is nothing but Copper calcin'd in a violent Fire.
1707 EncycL Brie. (ed. 3) XVI. 623 The acetous salt of copper,
called crystals of Venus, or of verdigris, by the chemists.
1807 T. Thomson Ckem. (ed. 3I II, 259 When acetate of
copper, reduced to powder, isput into a retort and distilled,
there comes overa liquid, .and afterwards a highly concentrated
acid. ..The acid., was formerly distinguished by the
names of radical vinegar and vinegar of Venus.
+ 7. Her, A name for the tincture green or vert
when the names of planets are used in blazonry.
[156a Legh Armory 16, 1 pray you what planet belongeih
to this colour [invert]? Venus.] 1578 BossEWELL.^rOTor;>
II. 78 b, The fielde is parted per Fes.se Dented, Venus, and
Saturne, five brasauntes. 1680 Sir G. Mackenzie Her.
18-19. '704 J* Harris Lex. Techn. I, Vert^ the Heralds
Word for a Green Colour j. . in Coats of Nobles, 'tis called
Emerauld; and in those of Kings 'tis called Venus.
8. The highest or most favourable cast or throw
in playing with huckle-bones.
x6ii CoTGR. S.V., The play at huckle-bones,- wherein he
that turns vp Venus (figured on one side of the bonej doth
winne ; whereas he that turnes vp the dog, doth lose, c 1650
in MS. Ashmole •/SSioX. 163 The game of Astragalls... When
all y« fower boanes shal shew seuerall sides this is the most
fortunate cast & is called Midas or Venus take all Cock-all.
1737 OzELL Rabelais III. p, xvi, Venus was the best Cast,
three Sices. [1876 Browning * At the Mermaid' xv, Well
may you blaspheme at fortune ! I 'threw Venus* (Ben,
expound !).]
9. Girdle^ maundy vtoitnt, ring of Venus, in
palmistry (see quots.) ; also mount of Venus, in
anatomy (see quot. 1728).
Cf. Venus girdle (1653) in 13 below.
1695 CoNGREve ifff^y^/" L. 11. iii. She has. .a moist Palm,
and an open Liberality on the Mount of Venus. 1738
Chambers Cyir/. s.v., Mount of Venus, ^/owf Veneris, among
Anatomists, is a little hairy Protuberance, in the middle of
the Pubes of Women. Ibid.^ Among Chiromancers, the
Mount of Venus is a little Eminence in the Palm of the
Hand, at the Root of one of the Fingers. 1865 Beamish
Psychon. Hand -^i The line of Saturn, the ring of Venus,
and the line of Apollo. 1894 Paul Hello Palmistry 21 The
Girdle of Venus is a line describing a semicircle, extending
from between the Mounts of Jupiter and Saturn to the
Mount of Mercury. This girdle is generally absent. 1900
Ina Oxenford Mad. Palmistry 22 The Mount of Venus
encircles the root of the thumb, and is bounded more or less
by the Life-line.
10. Zool. A genus of bivalve molluscs typically
representing the family Veneride \ a member of
this genus or family ; a venerid. Cf. Clam sb.'^ i d.
1770 Pennant Brit. Zool. (1777) IV. [p. xiv], Commercial
Venus [and various other species]. Ibid. 93. 1802-3 tr.
Pallas's Trav. (1812) IL 293 A ribbed Venus, rounded at
one extremity. 1857 GossE Omphalos viii. 228 That lilactinted
Prickly Venus (^Diopu Veneris). x88o Bastian Brain
75 The Razor-fish, Cockle, Venus, and other bivalves possessing
..* siphon- tubes '.
^. pl. iw Pennant Brit. Zool. (1777) IV. 89 Telliua
rugosa. . .Dredged up at Weymouth. Misplaced among the
Venuses. iSaa J. Parkinson Outl. Oryctol. 257 That these
supposed fresh-water shells are sometimes found scattered
among a multitude of acknowledged sea shells, as. Oysters,
Venus's, &c 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVL 209/2 In the Veneres
the animal, furnished with longer siphons, is provided with
a retractor muscle.
III. attiib. and Comb.
11. Simple attrib, (also possessive without V),as
Venus bower, court, knot, + mcle, + star, throw, etc.
c 1550 RoLLAND Crt. Venus x. 90 In *Venus Bowr to eik
baiib game and glew. 1513 Douglas ^netd iv. Prol. 159
Lat ws in riot leif, in sport and gam, In *Venus court. 1579
I/VLY Euphues (Arb.) loS If [she is] one of Venus court,
they haue vowed dishonestye. 1590 Shaks. Mids. A'. 1. i.
X71, I sweare to thee, . . By the simplicitie of * Venus Doues.
I
'
I 45
I wanton
116
1876 T. Hardy Etkelberta (1877) 35 Her hair fastened in a
sort of "Venus knot behind. \^o Sivetnara Arraigned {xZZo)
By Art they know . . how to adde A "Venus mole on euery
cheeke. 1596 Shaks. Merch. V. u. vi. 5 O ten times
faster "Venus Pidgions flye To steale loues bonds new made.
190a Edinb. Rev. Oct. 321 Helen, by reason of the "Venusspell,,
.loves Paris, dt 1593 Marlowe & Nashe Dido 39
"Venus swannes shall shed their siluer downe, To sweeten
out the slumbers of thy bed. 1591 Spenser Daphn. 483
And night without a "Venus siarre is found. 1611 Florio,
Ventre^, .the day or morning star, called Lucifei or Venus
star. 1879 Lewis & Shokt Lat. Diet., Veuereus, the
"Venus-throw at dice.
b. In sense 2, as Venus act, exercise, life, play,
work, etc
c 1400 Destr. Troy 753
venus werkes, J)at horn well pleasid. 1508 Dunbar Tua
Mariit IVemen 399 He that wantes riches. And vaUeandnes
ill Venus play, is ful vile lialdin. 1513 Douglas ^neid iv.
J>ai solast horn samyn . . With
Piol. 187 With Venus henvifis quhat wyse may I flite?
rt 1578 Lindesay (PitscQttie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 158
That licherie and wenus lyfe hes oft tymes a euill end.
16x1 Florid, Venereo,.. given to Venus-sports, or letchery.
1617 MoBYSON Itin. II. 166 Most of them when they were
stripped, were seene to have scarres of Venus warfare. 16*3
CocKERAM 1, Venus-escuage, wanton fleshlinesse. Ibid, iii,
Barnacle, a kinde of Sea Gull, it growes not by Venus
act, but as Dubartas writes [etc.]. 1634 Sir T. Herbert
Trav. 151 Opium. .makes them strong and long in Venus
exercises. 1658 Rowland tr. Mou/eCs Theat. Ins. 1004
Unless there had been plenty of milk at hand, this Venus
bird had died and suffered deservedly for his Lechery. 1786
Burns ^ Z?rra?« xiii, A glorious Galley, ..Weel rigg'd for
Venus barter, i8ai Liddle Poems ^t Your venus jobs now's
a' kend thro' The Loudias braid.
o. In sense 10.
18x6 TucKEY Narr. Exped. R. Zaire ii. (1818) 58 Fragments
of shells of the cockle and venus genera. i86x P- P.
Carpenter in Rep. Smithsonian Instit. i860, 256 The
Venus-tribe may be regarded as the types of the Lamellibranchs.
12. Special combs, (of the possessive, with or
without V) : Venus + gem, t girdle, + hair,
Venu8*s hair-stone, pencil (see quots.).
x6ox Holland Pliny II. 621 Such Amethysts as these..;
many give them the name of Venus gems, for the great
grace that they have . . both in fashion and colour. Ibid. 629
The stone called Venus haire, is exceeding blacke and
shining ; howbeit it maketh a shew of red haires sprinckled
among. 1653 R. Sanders Physiogn. 49 Venus Girdle is a
Semicircle that begins between the fore-finger and the
middle finger, and ends between the fojrth finger and the
little one. 1884 Imp. Diet. IV, Venus's kair.stones,
Venus's pencils, fanciful names applied to rock crystals inclosing
slender hair-like or needle-like crystals of hornblende,
asbestos, oxide of iron, rutile, oxide of manganese, &c.
b. Bot. Venus*s basin, bath, the wild teasel,
Dipsacus sylvestris', Venus's comb, the shepherd's
needle, Scandix Pecten- Veneris ; Venus's
cup, Venus's basin ; Venus's flytrap, the North
American marsh-plant Dionssa muscipula ; f Venus'
garden, = Venus's navelwort (rt) ; f Venus*
glass, Venus's looking-glass; Venus golden
apple (see quot.) ; Venus' hair, the maiden-hair,
Adiantum Capillus- Veneris {?,tc also quot. rl 7 1
1 )
t Venus* laver, Venus's basin ; Venus('s) looking-glass,
one or other of certain plants belonging
to the genus Specularia, esp, S, (or Campanula^
Speculum (f Speculum Veneris^ ; Venus' navel,
= next (a) ; Venus's navelwort, {a) the pennywort,
Cotyledon Umbilicus ; (^) one or other
species of annual plants belonging to the genus
Ompkalodes, esp. 0. linifolia ; f Venus needle,
Venus's comb ; Venus-pear, a variety of pear
mentioned by Pliny and Columella ; Venus's
pride, U.S. (see qaot.) ; Venus's slipper, the
lady's slipper, Cypripedium Calceolus.
XSSI Turner Herbal i. Oivb, Dipsacos, called in latin
labrum veneris: that is *venus basin, because it holdeth
alwayes water. iS78[see below]. 1597 Gerarde Herbal n.
cccclxxi. 1006 Tease 11 is called.. Carde Teaseli, and Venus
Bason. 1671 Skinner, Venus-bason, Dipsacus vulgaris.
1763 Stukeley Palxogr. Sacra 25 Ladys fingers, ladys
traces, ladys linnen, Venus glass, Venus bason, . .etc. 1863
Phior Plant-n., Venus Bason, Veneris labruvt, so named
..from the hollows formed by the united bases of the
leaves being usually filled with water, that was used.. to
remove warts and freckles. 1S78 Lyte Dodoens 522
Called in. .Englishe, Fullers Teasel, Carde Thistell, and
*Venus bath or Bason. 1855 Miss Pratt Flo^ver. PI. III.
169 Wild Teazel.. is still often called Venus's Bath. 1866
Treas. Hot. 1208/j Venus' bath, Dipsacus sylvestris: so
named from water collecting in the connate bases of the
opposite leaves. 1597 Gerarde Herbal 11. cccc. 884 Pecten
Veneris, siue Scandix, Shepheards Needle, or *Venus
combe. 1671 Skinner, Venus-Comb. 1753 Chambers' Cycl.
Suppl., Scandyx, venus comb... The flower is of the rosaceous
kind, consisting of several petals, which are arranged
in a circular order on a cup. 1785 Martvn Lett. Bot. xvii.
(1794) 238 Venus's-comb is remarkable for long processes or
beaks terminating the seeds. 1863 Prior Plant-n., Venus*
Comb, from the slender tapering beaks of the seed-vessels
being set together like the teeth of a comb. 1855 Miss
Pratt Flower. PI. III. 69 Wild Teazel, .is still often called
. . "Venus's Cup. ^^^^ Ann. Reg. 11. 93 A Description of a
newly discovered Sensitive Plant, called Dionaea Muscipula,
or 'Venus's Fly-trap. x8s7 A. Gray First Less. Bot. (1866)
171 The Venus's Fly-trap, .growing where it is always sure
of all the food a plant can need. 1867 H. Macmillan Bible
Teach, vii. (1870) 1^8 The leaf of the Venus' fly-trap of
North America, closing together on its prey by turning on
its mid-rib as on a hinge. 1597 Gerarde Herbal 11. cxliii.
424 Nauelwort is called . . of some Hortus Veneris, or
VENUS.
Venus garden. i6iz Cotcr., Nombril de /V«ttr,..WaU
Penniwori, Venus garden, Hipwort. 17*8 Bradley Diet.
Bot. II. s,v., *Venus ij\as&,.. Speculum veneris sive Viola
Pentagona. 1763 [see Venus basin]. 1888 Nicholson's
Diet. Card. IV, *Venus' Golden Apple, a common name
for A talantia tnonophylla. XS48 Turner Names Herbes
(E.D.S.) 9 *Venus heir is in a meane tempre betwene bote
& colde. 1S78 LvTE Dodoens 409 Venus heare groweth
in walles, and in stony shadowy places. x66x Lovell Hist.
Anim. ie
Alont/art's Sum. E. Indies 31 Their Venus-shells consist of
certaine kind of earth or clay which hath remaind a 100
yeares in one place. 1666 J. Davies tr.Roche/ort's Caribby
Isles 121 The Venus-shells may justly be numbret^ among
the rarest productions of the Sea. x68x Gkew Musaeum i.
Vi. i. 137 Venus-Shell. Concha Veneris. Because beautiful.
187J A. Domett Ranolf s\. ii. 112 Exact as roseate streak
for streak Some opened Venus-shell displays. 1836 Penny
Cycl. VI. 294/1 The shells of this genus [sc.Car/mir/a] were
formerly known to collectors under the name of ' *Venus's
Slipper ' and ' Glass Nautilus '. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 253
The Porcellanesor "Venus Winkles swimme above the water,
and with their concavitie and hollow part which they set into
the weather, helpe themselvesin stead of sailes. 1611 Florio,
Veneria, a Scallop called a Purcelane or Venus- winkle.
Ve'nus^, error for Venice, by association with
prec.
1629 in Foster Eng. Factories India (1909^ HI. 349
Cordage, wheat, Venus cloth. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 4S5/1