† anti-Birmingham, -Bromingham Eng. Hist.
[anti- 5.]
An anti-Whig, a Tory; a nickname given to opponents of the Exclusion Bill in 1680; its supporters, who claimed to be ‘true Protestants,’ being ironically nicknamed by the Tories, ‘Birmingham (i.e counterfeit) Protestants,’ ‘alluding to false groats counterfeited at that place’; whence at length Birminghams and Anti-Birminghams, terms finally merged in Whig and Tory. See North Examen (1740) ii. v. ¶ 10. 321.
| 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit., To Reader, The longest chapter in Deuteronomy has not curses enough for an Anti-Bromingham. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 256 Those who took the King's side were Antibirminghams, Abhorrers, and Tantivies. |