E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
El Dora’do.
Golden illusion; a land or means of unbounded wealth. Orella’na, lieutenant of Pizarro, pretended he had discovered a land of gold (el dorado) between the rivers Orino’co and Am’azon, in South America. Sir Walter Raleigh twice visited Guia’na as the spot indicated, and published a highly-coloured account of its enormous wealth. Figuratively, a source of wit, wealth, or abundance of any kind.
1
The real “land of gold” is California, and not Guiana. (See BALNIBARBI.)
“The whole comedy is a sort of El Dorado of wit.”—T. Moore.
2
El Dorado (masculine), “the gilt one,” can hardly refer to a country; it seems more likely to refer to some prince; and we are told of a prince in South America who was every day powdered with gold-dust blown through a reed. If this is admitted, no wonder those who sought a golden country were disappointed.
El Dorado (masculine), “the gilt one,” can hardly refer to a country; it seems more likely to refer to some prince; and we are told of a prince in South America who was every day powdered with gold-dust blown through a reed. If this is admitted, no wonder those who sought a golden country were disappointed.
