| 释义 |
pope's head
[From its appearance.]
1. A species of cactus, Melocactus communis, growing on barren sandy wastes in S. America and some of the W. Indian islands, and producing its flowers on a woolly cushion or head, beset with bristles and spines.
1699L. Wafer Voy. (1729) 284 Fenced with hollow Bamboos, Popes-heads, and Prickle pears. 1866Treas. Bot. 733 M[elocactus] communis, the Turk's-cap Cactus,..sometimes called Englishman's Head, or Pope's Head.
2. A round brush or broom with a long handle, for sweeping ceilings, dusting pictures, etc.; also called Turk's head.
1824Scott Let. to Miss Baillie 12 Feb. in Lockhart Life, What sweeping is required is most easily performed by a brush like what the housemaids call a Pope's head. 1825M. Edgeworth Love & Law i. v, You're no witch, indeed, if you don't see a cobweb as long as my arm. Run, run, child, for the pope's head. 1890Lecky Eng. in 18th C. VIII. xxix. 60 The long mops known as ‘Popes' heads’ were made use of as pike handles. |