Latin by the bucket

[chong lee]

Hi,
The quote is from " Treasure Island".
I did not find anything about "Latin by the bucket" . What does it mean?
Thanks

It was a master surgeon, him that ampytated me—out of college and all—Latin by the bucket, and what not; but he was hanged like a dog, and sun-dried like the rest, at Corso Castle

 

[Thomas Tompion]

By the bucket means a great deal.

The speaker is using very loose colloquial English; he's also rather deferential in manner.

All he means by Latin by the bucket is that the person seems very educated.

 

[Franco-filly]

We tend to say "To have something by the bucket-load" meaning to have so much of it that you could fill a (metaphorical) bucket with it.

 

[dharasty]

I've never heard the expression, and appreciate Thomas Tompion's reply.

Since that makes sense to me, I'll add this: The term "Latin" is apparently a reference for "educated" probably because most terms of anatomy are actual Latin terms: "oculus dexter" means "the right eye", scapula is the "shoulder blade", etc. So "Latin by the bucket" infers that educated people -- and doctors in particular -- are known for knowing lots of Latin...

... alas, as educated as he was, he was hung with the rest of them!

 

[chong lee]

So much thanks .