A Popular Expression

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 44, 3 November 1904, Page 15

A Popular Expression

1 A feather in his cap,' an expression signifying honor distinction, arose from the custom prevalent among the ancient Syrians and perpetuated to this day -among the various ravage ol seim-civilised tribes oi" Asia and America of adding a new feather to their head-gear for every enemy slam. In the days of chivalry, the maiden knight recched his casque featherless and won his plumes as. he had won his spurs. In a manuscript written by Richard Hansard in 1598, and preserved in the British Museum, it is said of the Hungarians, ' It hath been an aiitient custom among them that none shoulde wear a fether but he ww o had killed a Turk, to whom onlie yt was lawful to shew the numfier of {ethers in his cappe.' In Scotland and Wales it is still customary fo~ the sportsman "who kills the first woodcock to pluck out a feather and stick it in his cap.