“Occasion turneth a bald noddle after she hath presented her locks in front and no hold taken.”
Bacon, Essays, xxi.
“Remember the old adage and make use o’t,
Occasion’s bald behind.”
Massinger, Guardian, iv. 1.]
Il s’en acquittera bien, c’est un enfant de la balle = He will do it well, he is his father’s son.
[Originally this was applied to children of tennis-players, but now to all who follow the profession of their fathers.]
Ballon
Il lança un ballon d’essai avant de produire son grand ouvrage = He sent out a feeler before publishing his great work.
Ban
Le roi convoqua le ban et l’arrière-ban = The king assembled all his dependants.
[Le ban were the king’s direct vassals, such as earls, barons, and knights; l’arrière-ban were the king’s indirect vassals, or the vassals of vassals. “A proclamation whereby all (except some privileged officers and citizens) that hold their lands of the Crowne, are summoned to meet at a certaine place, there to attend the King whithersoever and against whomsoever he goes.”—Cotgrave.]