So it all started at Lyons (an all night restaurant in the town where I went to college... Davis). I was there with a friend of mine Robert who was in law school at the time. We were there talking way in to the wee hours of the morning (something like 3am to 4am). At which point we started talking about school and stuff. I asked him what he learned that day. His answer: "We learned about the Proverbial Bus of Nuns."(PBON)
He went on to explain that he was taking a torts class. (tort: 2. (Law) Any civil wrong or injury; a wrongful act (not involving a breach of contract) for which an action will lie; a form of action, in some parts of the United States, for a wrong or injury.) Basically the PBON (Proverbial Bus of Nuns) is used in reference to getting hit by a bus of nuns with your car. It is an un-win-able situation even if it isn't your fault. No judge or jury is going to side against a bus of nuns.
Now as it was late at night we started joking around. We were very amused... Eventually, the BON became the PBON and then the PQBON. PQBON being Proverbial Quintessential Bus Of Nuns.
Now given the definitions below for proverbial and quintessential, one can construct the following definition: An legally unbeatable pureness such that hasn't been known since the book of proverbs was written...
OK... just kidding... I thought it was funny so I abbreviated it and use it from my nick/handle. Mostly because it is totally unique and most likely always will be.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Proverbial \Pro*ver"bi*al\, a. [L. proverbialis: cf. F.
proverbial.]
1. Mentioned or comprised in a proverb; used as a proverb;
hence, commonly known; as, a proverbial expression; his
meanness was proverbial.
In case of excesses, I take the German proverbial
cure, by a hair of the same beast, to be the worst.
--Sir W.
Temple.
2. Of or pertaining to proverbs; resembling a proverb. ``A
proverbial obscurity.'' --Sir T. Browne.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Quintessential \Quin`tes*sen"tial\, a.
Of the nature of a quintessence; purest. ``Quintessential
extract of mediocrity.'' --G. Eliot.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Quintessence \Quin*tes"sence\, n. [F., fr. L. quinta essentia
fifth essence. See {Quint}, and {Essence}.]
1. The fifth or last and highest essence or power in a
natural body. See {Ferment oils}, under {Ferment}. [Obs.]
Note: The ancient Greeks recognized four elements, fire, air,
water, and earth. The Pythagoreans added a fifth and
called it nether, the fifth essence, which they said
flew upward at creation and out of it the stars were
made. The alchemists sometimes considered alcohol, or
the ferment oils, as the fifth essence.
2. Hence: An extract from anything, containing its rarest
virtue, or most subtle and essential constituent in a
small quantity; pure or concentrated essence.
Let there be light, said God; and forthwith light
Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, Sprung
from the deep. --Milton.
