| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
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A ship’s bottom is that part which is used for freight or stowage. | 1 |
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Goods imported in British bottoms are those which come in our own vessels. | 2 |
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Goods imported in foreign bottoms are those which come in foreign ships. | 3 |
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A full bottom is where the lower half of the hull is so disposed as to allow large stowage. | 4 |
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A sharp bottom is when a ship is capable of speed. | 5 |
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At bottom. Radically, fundamentally: as, the young prodigal lived a riotous life, but was good at bottom, or below the surface. | 6 |
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At the bottom. At the base or root. | 7 |
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| “Pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.” | |
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—Ruskin: True and Beautiful, p. 426. |
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From the bottom of my heart. Without reservation. (Imo corde.) | 8 |
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“If one of the parties … be content to forgive from the bottom of his heart all that the other hath trespassed against him.”—Common Prayer Book. |
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He was at the bottom of it. He really instigated it, or prompted it. | 9 |
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Never venture all in one bottom—i.e. one ship. “Do not put all your eggs into one basket.” | 10 |
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“My ventures are not in one bottom trusted.”—Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, i. 1. |
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To have no bottom. To be unfathomable. | 11 |
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To get to the bottom of the matter. To ascertain the entire truth; to bolt a matter to its bran. | 12 |
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To stand on one’s own bottom. To be independent. “Every tub must stand on its own bottom.” | 13 |
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To touch bottom. To reach the lowest depth. | 14 |
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A horse of good bottom means of good stamina, good foundation. | 15 |
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