For to kepe a cure.... As wyse as Tom-a-Thrum.
Colyn Clout (time, Henry VIII.).
Tom o’ Bedlam, a ticket-of-leave madman from Bethlehem Hospital, or one discharged as incurable.
Tom of Ten Thousand, Thomas Thynne; so called from his great wealth. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, but why, the then dean has not thought fit to leave on record.
Tom the Piper, one of the characters in the ancient morris-dance, represented with a tabor, tabor-stick and pipe. He carried a sword and shield, to denote his rank as a “squire minstrel.” His shoes were brown; his hose red and “gimp-thighed;” his hat or cap, red, turned up with yellow, and adorned with a feather; his doublet blue, the sleeves being turned up with yellow; and he wore a yellow cape over his shoulders. (See Morris-Dance.)
Tom Turner (Mrs.), unsophisticated country dame, whose head is turned by the feigned devotion of a man to whom “flirting is a part of daily existence.” “Mrs. Tom” dresses flashily, in imitation of the butterflies of fashion whom she meets in her new career as a woman of the world, affects airs and graces foreign to her nature, and plays the fool generally until shocked into her senses by a letter from her quiet, commonplace husband, telling her that he “has gone away and that she will not see him again.” She follows him, entreats forgiveness, returns to home and plain living, and, as a characteristic penance, wears her gaudy costumes out as everyday gowns. There were thirty of them at first. “I’ve worn them all almost out. When I get to the end of them I’ll have my own things again.”--H. C. Bunner, Mrs. Tom’s Spree (1891).
Tomahourich (Muhme Janet of), an old sibyl, aunt of Robin Oig M’Combich, the Highland drover.--Sir W. Scott, The Two Drovers (time, George III.).
Tom´alin, a valiant fairy knight, kinsman of King Obĕron. Tomălin is not the same as “Tom Thumb,” as we are generally but erroneously told, for in the “mighty combat” Tomalin backed Pigwiggen, while Tom Thum or Thumb, seconded King Oberon. This fairy battle was brought about by the jealousy of Oberon, who considered the attentions of Pigwiggen to Queen Mab were “far too nice.”--M. Drayton, Nymphidia (1563-1631).
Tomb (Knight of the), James, earl of Douglas in disguise.
His armor was ingeniously painted so as to represent a skeleton; the ribs being constituted by the corselet and its back-piece. The shield represented an owl with its wings spread--a device which was repeated upon the helmet, which appeared to be completely covered by an image of the same bird of ill omen. But that which was particularly calculated to excite surprise in the spectator was the great height and thinness of the figure.--Sir W. Scott, Castle Dangerous, xiv. (time, Henry I.).