KING (or PRINCE) ARTHUR, subs. phr. (old).—See quot. 1785 and cf. AMBASSADOR.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xvi. Acting the comedy of PRINCE ARTHUR, and other pantomimes as they are commonly exhibited at sea.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. KING ARTHUR. A sailor’s game. When near the line, or in a hot latitude, a man who is to represent King Arthur, is ridiculously dressed, having a large wig made out of oakum, or some old swabs. He is seated on the side, or over a large vessel of water, and every person in turn is ceremoniously introduced to him, and has to pour a bucket of water over him, crying out, ‘Hail, King Arthur!’ If during the ceremony the person introduced laughs or smiles (to which his majesty endeavours to excite him by all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he changes places with, and then becomes King Arthur, till relieved by some brother tar who has as little command over his muscles as himself.
