E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Martyr (Greek
simply means a witness, but is applied to one who witnesses a good confession with his blood.
1
The martyr king. Charles I. of England, beheaded January 30th, 1649. He was buried at Windsor, and was called “The White King.”
2
Martyr to science. Claude Louis, Count Berthollet, who determined to test in his own person the effects of carbolic acid on the human frame, and died under the experiment. (1748–1822.)
