Miriling wrote:
David Richerby wrote:
The OED is somewhat dismissive of that idea: ``Hearne's statement, in
the preface to his edition of Benedictus Abbas (1735) that Merry Andrew
was originally applied to Dr. Andrew Borde (died 1549) has neither
evidence nor intrinsic probability.''

Andrew Borde (1500-1549) was physician to Henry VIII. [...] Those who
imitated his wit and drollery, though they did not possess his
intelligence, were called Merry Andrews - a term now used to signify a
clown or a buffoon. [...]

Although the above is the usual explanation on the origin of the
expression Merry Andrew or merry-andrew

Well, if you have any citations that might support that, do let the good
lexicographers of Oxford know...


Dave.

--
David Richerby Radioactive Voodoo Pants (TM): it's
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ like a well-tailored pair of trousers
that has mystical powers but it'll
make you glow in the dark!