vicar of Bray

\ -ˈbrā \

Definition of vicar of Bray

: a man of changeable allegiance : opportunist, turncoat

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
Advanced search features
Ad free!

Origin and Etymology of vicar of bray

after the Vicar of Bray, semilegendary 16th century English vicar of the village of Bray, Berkshire county, England, who gave allegiance to Protestantism or Roman Catholicism according to the religion of the reigning monarch, and is said to have been twice a Protestant and twice a Roman Catholic vicar