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pillar-biter

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Detail of the 1559 painting Netherlandish Proverbs, depicting a man so intensely pretending to be pious that he embraces a church pillar

Etymology

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An old Dutch expression, used since at least the 16th century. No longer in common use.[1]

Noun

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pillar-biter (plural pillar-biters)

  1. A hypocrite, especially a religious hypocrite

References

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  1. ^ Applebaum, Mark. Asylum. Innova.mu.
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