"Rabbit rabbit rabbit" is a superstition found in Britain and North America wherein a person says or repeats the words "rabbit", "rabbits" and/or "white rabbits" aloud upon waking on the first day of a month, to ensure good luck for the rest of it. -- (NOT in Brewer's, interestingly.)
Birler. In Cumberland, a birler is the master of the revels at a bidden-wedding, who is to see that the guests are well furnished with drink. To birl is to carouse or pour out liquor (A.S. byreliari), ----- (BDoP&F, p. 109)
Aqua Regia | A mixture of one part of nitric acid, with from two to four of hydrochloric acid; so called because it dissolves gold, the king of metals. ----- Aqua vita | Bransy; any spiritous liquor; also, formerly, certain ardent spirits used by the alchemists. (BDoP&F, p.43)
Mews. Stables, but properly a cage for hawks when moulting. The word has acquired its present meaning because (in the 17th cent.) the royal stables were built upon the site (now occupied by the National Gallery) where formerly the king's hawks were kept. (BDoP&F, p.609)
Tar. Jack Tar. -- A sailor; probably an abbreviation of tarpaulin, of which sailors' caps and overalls are made. Tarpaulins are tarred cloths, and are commonly used on board ship to keep articles from the sea-spray, etc. (BDOP&F, p.888) --- Starting to think that Mr. Brewer was fond of the sea.
Bibliomania. A love of books pursued to the point of unreason or madness. --- Bibliophilia is a devotion to books and the collecting of them, that stops short of bibliomania. --- (BDoP&F, p.105) --- Two entries from the same page, narrowly beating the mythical 'Bicorn', which was quite interesting.
Cut neither nails nor hair at sea. - The cuttings of the nails and hair were votive offerings to Proserpine, and it would excite the jealousy of Neptune to make offerings to another in his own special kingdom. ----- (Sailors' superstition, from Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, p.262) #folklore
Probably should have qualified "rare", since it's pretty easy to find...if you know to look for it.
In my ongoing quest for magical artifacts (i.e. books) I have stumbled upon a truly rare find; Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Folklore. 977 pages of pure wonder. For at least a little while I shall use my 977-sided die to pick a page at (pseudo)random and share a gem from that page. Tally-ho!
Hey Sam, Are those standing stones or natural features?