merry-andrew, merry-Andrew
(ˌmɛrɪ ˈændruː)
[app. f. merry a. + Andrew proper name (cf. Andrew 2).
Hearne's statement, in the preface to his edition of Benedictus Abbas (1735) that ‘Merry Andrew’ was originally applied to Dr. Andrew Borde (died 1549) has neither evidence nor intrinsic probability, though Borde had a reputation for buffoonery, as is shown by the traditional attribution to him of various collections of jests. In 1668 (29 Aug.) Pepys says that he saw at Bartholomew Fair a ridiculous play called ‘Marry Andrey’, but that this title has any connexion with merry-andrew is very doubtful.]
1. One who entertains people by means of antics and buffoonery; a clown; properly (in early use), a mountebank's assistant.
| 1673 Dryden Epil. to Univ. Oxford 11 Th' Italian Merry-Andrews took their place, And quite Debauch'd the Stage with lewd Grimace. 1677 W. Sherlock Answ. T. Danson 69 As ridiculous..as it would be very gravely to confute Tom Thumb, or merry Andree, of a Town Lampoon. 1697 Dryden æneid Ded., This is like Merry Andrew on the low rope, copying lubberly the same tricks which his master is so dexterously performing on the high. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xii. viii, He found the master of the puppet-show belabouring the back and ribs of his poor Merry-Andrew. 1851 Borrow Lavengro lii. (1893) 202 Listening to the jokes of the merry-andrews from the platforms in front of the temporary theatres. |
b. fig.
| 1694 Wood Life (O.H.S.) III. 458 note, To make your self the merry andrew of the company [you] did venter upon a person freely to expose him to scorne. 1772 Nugent tr. Hist. Fr. Gerund I. 488 Those who are not sought out as the Merry-Andrews of the pulpit. 1827 Carlyle Misc., Richter (1857) I. 11 Richter is a man of mirth, but he seldom or never condescends to be a merryandrew. |
c. attrib. or as adj.
| 1689 Answ. Lords & Commoners Sp. 25 A Reverend Prelate..whom he stiles, in a sort of a Merry-Andrew-vein, Church of England Apostle and Captain of her Life-Guard. 1798 Lit. Mem. Living Authors I. 119 The jokes and merriment of this merry-andrew philosopher. 1816 Sporting Mag. XLVII. 177 Scroggins made some merry-andrew tricks to save his wind. 1847 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole xlix. (1879) 422 A poor fellow who went about the country in the merry-Andrew line. |
d. Comb., as merry-andrew-like adv.
| 1787 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Lousiad ii. Wks. I. 238 Turn it [thy wig] inside out, And wear it, Merry-Andrew like, about. |
2. pl. Playing cards of the lowest quality.
| 1866 [see harry n.2 3]. 1867 Fry Playing-Card Terms in Philol. Soc. Trans. 55 Andrews, Merry Andrews, Playing-cards of the fourth or lowest class or quality. |
Hence merry-ˈandrew, merry-ˈandrewize vbs. intr., to play the merry-andrew; merry-ˈandrewism, buffoonery, clownishness.
| 1836 Fraser's Mag. XIII. 37 Nothing is more distasteful..than the undiscriminating Merryandrewism of an ingrained vulgarian. 1861 T. L. Peacock Gryll Gr. viii, Arch-quacks have taken to merry-andrewizing in a new arena. 1891 G. Meredith One of our Conq. III. iii. 40 He can, if imps are in him, merryandrew as much as he pleases. |