ATLAS
a book of maps or charts
Atlas (Greek Mythological Figure)
Belonged to the divinities prior to the Olympians and was in the war between the gods and the giants. Zeus punished Atlas by making him hold the vault of the sky on his shoulders. Atlas was meant to live in the far West (country of the Hesperides or Hyberboreans). Herodotus referred to the mountains in North Africa as Atlas himself. Perseus turned Atlas into rock by showing him Medusa's head . Atlas had kids (while carrying the sky on his shoulders?) - see Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology.
when a person or people are punished or coerced by systematic refusal of social and / or commercial contact
Boycott, Charles Cunningham (1832-97)
English land agent in Ireland who was so anti-land reform that the peasants refused to work with him.
BOYSENBERRY
Fruit that is a hybrid of several different brambles
Boysen, R. 20thC. horticulturist
CARDAN
Universal joint : shaft with universal joint at one end
Cardano, Girolamo (1501-70)
Italian mathematician, physician, astrologer, and gambler.
First European to write about negative numbers. He invented various devices including the combination lock and the Cardan Shaft (used in cars). In 1570 Cardano was accused of heresy because he developed a horoscope for Jesus Christ. His son was one of the prosecution witnesses (or prosecutors). He died on the day he's reputed to have
astrologically predicted.
CARDIGAN
A woolen jacket that is knitted, named after the 7th Earl of Cardigan (d.1868). I think he was one of the main players in the Charge Of The Light Brigade that occurred in the Crimean War.
COLT
Repeating pistol
Colt, Samuel (1814-65)
Invented the above pistol in 1835.
JUDAS
Traitor; door peep-hole
Iscariot, Judas
Betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver; hanged himself in remorse.
LUGER
Automatic pistol (German) - named after developer who died in 1922.
SANDWICH
Two pieces of bread with filling in the middle
Sandwich, John Montague (4th Earl of Sandwich) (1718-92)
Not a good Politician. Reputed to have eaten only slices of bread and meat while gaming (for 24 hours straight).
