Rebecca vocabulary

To do what is superfluous. As Newcastle is the great coal—field, it would be quite superfluous to carry coals thither. The French say, " Porter de I'eau a la riviere " (to carry water to the river). There are numerous Latin equivalents as, "To carry wood to the forests," " Poma Alcinoo dare " (See Alcinoo); "Noctuas Athenas ferre " (See Noctuas), "Crocum in Ciliciam ferre " (See Crocum).

A work of supererogation, Newcastle being the great seat of coals. The Latins have "Aquam mari infundere " ("To pour water into the sea"); "Sidera caelo addere" ("To add stars to the sky"); "Noctuas Athenas" ("To carry owls to Athens," which abounds in them).

^{E. Cobam Brewer. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1894)}