E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Dry’asdust (Rev. Dr.).
A heavy, plodding author, very prosy, very dull, and very learned; an antiquary. Sir Walter Scott employs the name to bring out the prefatory matter of some of his novels.
1
“The Prussian Dryasdust … excels all other ‘Dryasdusts’ yet known.”—Carlyle.
