| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Cra’paud or Johnny Crapaud. | | |
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A Frenchman; so called from the device of the ancient kings of France, “three toads erect, saltant.” (Guillim’s Display of Heraldrie, 1611.) Nostrada’mus, in the sixteenth century, called the French “crapauds.” | 1 |
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Les anciens crapauds prenderont Sara (Nostrada’mus). Sara is the word Aras reversed, and when the French under Louis XIV. took Aras from the Spaniards, this verse was quoted as a prophecy. | 2 |
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