E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Barthol’omew (St.).
The symbol of this saint is a knife, in allusion to the knife with which he was flayed alive.
1
St. Bartholomew’s Day, August 24th. Probably Bartholomew is the apostle called “Nathanael” by St. John the Evangelist (i. 45–51).
2
Massacre of St. Bartholomew. The slaughter of the French Protestants in the reign of Charles IX., begun on St. Bartholomew’s Day, i.e. between the 24th and 25th August, 1572. It is said that 30,000 persons fell in this dreadful persecution.
