| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Bolus. | | |
|
An apothecary. Apothecaries are so called because they administer boluses. Similarly Mrs. Suds is a washer-woman; Boots is the shoeblack of an inn, etc. | 1 |
|
George Colman adopts the name for his apothecary, who wrote his labels in rhyme, one of which was— | 2 |
| |
| “When taken, |
| To be well shaken”; | |
|
|
but the patient being shaken, instead of the mixture, died. | 3 |
| |
|
|
