a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom
- a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom
The month of March is traditionally wet and blustery. A peck in former times was a dry measure of two gallons. Thomas Fuller, discussing this saying in his Worthies of England (1662, p. 87), links the ‘king’s ransom’ to the £100,000 raised in 1193–4 to pay for the release of King Richard I, who, on his way home from crusading in the Holy Land, was being held captive in Germany.
1533 J. HEYWOOD Play of Weather D1 And now to mynde there is one olde prouerbe come: ‘One bushell of march dust is worth a kynges raunsome.’
1685 R. BOYLE Discourse of Causes of Insalubrity of Air 55 It is proverbially said in England, that a Peck of March Dust is worth a King’s Ransom: So infrequent is dry Weather, during that Month.
1836 E. HOWARD Rattlin the Reefer III. viii. A spoonful of the soup to-day will be worth a king’s ransom—a peck of March dust! pooh!
1936 H. C. BAILEY Clue for Mr. Fortune 36 The flower borders..were planted with bush roses..stunted by the rigours of that grim March... ‘Bushel of March dust worth a king’s ransom,’ Reggie murmured.
1978 R. WHITLOCK Calendar of Country Customs iii. [The farmer] values dry, cold weather, such as often occurs in late February and March. ‘A peck of dust in March is worth a king’s ransom,’ is still an oft-quoted proverb.
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worth — see the worth of a thing is what it will bring a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush a king’s chaff is worth more than other men’s corn an ounce of practice is worth a pound of precept a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom … Proverbs new dictionary
king — see the king can do no wrong a king’s chaff is worth more than other men’s corn a cat may look at a king in the country of the blind, the one eyed man is king a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom kin … Proverbs new dictionary
peck — see a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom we must eat a peck of dirt before we die … Proverbs new dictionary
March — see March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb April showers bring forth May flowers on the first of March, the crows begin to search so many mists in March, so many frosts in May a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom … Proverbs new dictionary
ransom — see a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom … Proverbs new dictionary
dust — see a peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom … Proverbs new dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical. The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains … Universalium
