| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Abraham. | | |
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His parents. According to Mohammedun mythology, the parents of Abraham were Prince Azar and his wife, Adna. | 1 |
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His infancy. As King Nimrod had been told that one shortly to be born would dethrone him, he commanded the death of all such; so Adna retired to a cave where Abraham was born. He was nourished by sucking two of her fingers, one of which supplied milk and the other honey. | 2 |
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His boyhood. At the age of fifteen months he was equal in size to a lad of fifteen, and very wise; so his father introduced him to the court of King Nimrod.—Herbelot: Bibliothèque Orientale. | 3 |
His offering. According to Mohammedan tradition, the mountain on which Abraham offered up his son was Arfaday; but is more generally thought to have been Mor ah. | 4 |
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His death. The Ghebers say that Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod’s order, but the flame turned into a bed of roses, on which the child Abraham went to sleep.—Tavernier. | 5 |
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| “Sweet and welcome as the bed |
| For their own infant prophet spread, |
| When pitying Heaven to roses turned |
| The death-flames that beneath him burned.” | |
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T. Moore: Fire Worshippers. |
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To Sham Abraham. To pretend illness or distress, in order to get off work. (See ABRAM-MAN.) | 6 |
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| “I have heard people say Sham Abram you may, |
| But must not sham Abraham Newland.” | |
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Abraham Newland was cashier of the Bank of England, and signed the notes. | 7 |
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