Merry Andrew

[Josie.]

Happy christmas all

Can anyone tell me the origin of the word Merry Andrew, we had this in a christmas quiz last night and nobody from the age of eight to eighty had heard of this before, we know that it refers to a jester/clown but that's all.

Thanks

Josie

[Grunty]

It is the title of a Danny Kaye film from the 1950s.

It is also, as you say, a name for a clown or buffon and I look forward to reading Octavius' description of its origin.

[Quizmonster]

As long ago as the 1600s, 'merry-andrew' was a name given to a clown/buffoon, as Grunty says above. There is a suggestion that the original merry Andrew was a Dr Andrew Borde who died in the 1540s. Although this particular Andrew did have a name for buffoonery, there is no fim evidence that the phrase refers specifically to him.

[Quizmonster]

I should point out that Brewers' Dictionary of phrases categorically states that the Andrew concerned was Dr Borde. However, The Oxford English Dictionary - a vastly more reliable etymological source - says what I said in my earlier answer...there's no evidence at all to support it.

[Cleggy]

I looked at this wondering if it would tell me why the Royal Navy is known as "The Andrew". Anybody?

[danube]

Adding to Quizmonster's details, a Merry-Andrew (in early use) was a mountebank's assistant.

Now there's another word - itinerant quack who spoke from a platform (banc) appealing to his audience by means of stories, tricks, juggling etc, often with the assistance of a professional clown!

Season's Greetings

[Grunty]

cleggy - it is said to date from the days of press gangs, when men were kidnapped and forced to go to sea. A particularly zealous press gang member was called Andrew Miller, and it was said that he had recruited so many men into the Royal Navy that it was practically his own property.

[Cleggy]

Thanks Grunty