Who was the 'Abbot of Misrule'?
The 'Abbot of Misrule' (also 'Lord of Misrule') was the person appointed to superintend Christmas diversions in old English households. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), human-proofread transcription on English Wikisource records: “, or Lord of Misrule . A person who used to superintend the Christmas diversions. In France the "Abbott of Misrule" was called L'abbé de Liesse (jollity). In Scotland the master of revels was called the "Master of Unreason."”
Origin
- Verbatim from Brewer's (1898): , or Lord of Misrule . A person who used to superintend the Christmas diversions. In France the "Abbott of Misrule" was called L'abbé de Liesse (jollity). In Scotland the master of revels was called the "Master of Unreason."
How to use it
- Modern usage: The 'Abbot of Misrule' (also 'Lord of Misrule') was the person appointed to superintend Christmas diversions in old English households.
- When quoting the origin, cite Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) — this is a 19th-century record, not a modern etymology.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.