"Jezebel" is an example of an eponym, a person whose name has evolved into a common noun or verb. In addition to eponyms, the English language is peppered with historical allusions that have become disassociated from their original context. For example, the phrase "mad as a hatter" refers to the dementia suffered by Victorian hatmakers, who were poisoned by the mercury used in their craft. This reference book provides concise definitions of the contemporary meaning of each term, followed by a detailed explanation of the events that gave rise to it. More than 600 entries encompass allusions and eponyms from all eras of history.
