In the plural - Mother Carey's chickens - also was used for falling snow (nautical pre-1864)

Mother Carey's goose for the larges of the petrels.

My slang dictionary also says: "applied to faring alike and paying the same" (1820-50).

I seem to remember Peter Bellamy using it in a song, but can't remember in which. Something along the lines of Down to Mother Carey..",


Mick