sicilian vespers

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Sicilian \Si*cil"i*an\, a.
   Of or pertaining to Sicily or its inhabitants.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Sicilian vespers}, the great massacre of the French in
      Sicily, in the year 1282, on the evening of Easter Monday,
      at the hour of vespers.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Vespers \Ves"pers\, n. pl. [OF. vespres, F. v[^e]pres, LL.
   vesperae, fr. L. vespera evening. See {Vesper}, n.] (R. C.
   Ch.)
   (a) One of the little hours of the Breviary.
   (b) The evening song or service.
       [1913 Webster]

   {Sicilian vespers}. See under {Sicilian}, a.
      [1913 Webster]

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