Glossary of Terms
aestheticism (2): in this case, impractical devotion to the arts
akimbo (8): with hands on hips
anemometer (32): a device used to measure the speed of wind
apocalyptical (2): relating to revelation or prophecy, especially that of universal destruction
appurtenances (3): instruments
arroyo (22): a deep gully cut by an intermittent stream; a dry gulch
asceticism (26): leading an austerely simple life, especially abstaining from the normal pleasures of life or denying oneself material satisfaction
aspens (8): trees with leaves that flutter readily in the wind
assiduously (10): constantly; diligently
aviaries (21): large enclosures where birds are kept
bard (13): a poet
bemused (14): confused
Benzedrine (2): a type of amphetamine (an illegal stimulant)
bhikku (1): a monk; a disciple of Buddha
Bodhisattva (2): a Buddhist term for an enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others
bourgeois (12): a person of the middle class; a person whose political, economic, and social opinions are believed to be determined mainly by concern for property values and conventional respectability
bulgur (6): a form of wheat that has been parboiled, cracked, and dried
burlap (24): a coarse, plain-woven fabric
burro (18): a small donkey, especially one used as a pack animal in the southwestern U.S.
butte (11): an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly above the surrounding land
cantinas (18): saloons
cataract (8): a furious rush of water
celibacy (5): not partaking in sexual relations
cerulean (8): deep blue
chalet (6): a herdsman's hut in the Swiss Alps
civet (6): a yellowish substance obtained from the animal of the same name that is used in perfume
conies (29): rabbits
conifers (13): needle-leaved trees or shrubs
crapulous (6): given to excessiveness in eating or drinking
declivities (3): downward slopes
desultory (12): inconsistent; fitful
Dharma (1): a Buddhist term referring to conformity to religious law, custom, duty, or one's own quality or character
Dharmakaya (5): a Buddhist term meaning "Truth Body," out of which all phenomenon arise
Dhyana (21): the seventh of the eight stages of yoga according to the Yoga Sutra: the practice of meditation and concentration to attain enlightenment
Diamond Sutra (1): an important Buddhist scriptural text on the nature of reality, Enlightenment, and compassion
dissipation (29): wasteful amusement
doleful (10): evoking sadness
domicile (3): one's home
eccentric (6): peculiar; odd
ephemeral (1): lasting a very short time; transitory
expounding (21): explaining in detail
exulted (20): rejoiced greatly
freneticism (28): excitation; frenzied activity
Geiger counter (15): an instrument that detects and measures the intensity of radiation, such as particles from radioactive material
gondola (1): in this case, short for "gondola car"-an open railroad freight car with low sides, used for transporting bulk freight and manufactured goods
gouty (10): causing gout-a disease characterized by painful inflammation of the joints
harangue (6): a scolding; a long, intense verbal attack
hawker (18): a street peddler
heath (13): a tract of open and uncultivated land; wasteland overgrown with shrubs
hepcats (2): performers or devotees of swing and jazz
hibachi (29): a small Japanese-style charcoal brazier covered with a grill, usually used for outdoor cooking
highball (16): slang for "at full speed"
hincty (5): conceited or snobbish
hinoki (29): a type of Japanese tree
hogans (29): one-room Navajo structures made of earth-covered poles; later models were often built of logs, stones, and other materials
I.W.W. (2): short for "Industrial Workers of the World"; a former international labor union and radical labor movement in the United States, dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism
importuned (28): demanded persistently and urgently
inanities (6): things that are silly and superficial
incommensurate (10): disproportionate; inadequate
irking (21): annoying
jalopy (24): an old, decrepit, or unpretentious automobile
karma (5): action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation
koan (3): a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating
kulak (13): a prosperous landed peasant in czarist Russia
laconic (8): used here to mean "relatively quiet"
lecher (5): a man given to excessive sexual indulgence
linguistic (6): pertaining to language
lionized (29): treated as a celebrity
loquaciousness (7): talkativeness; tendency to babble
lucid (9): clear; transparent
lush (15): liquor
mandala (8): according to Japhy, a Tibetan design that includes a circle (representing the void) and inner designs (the illusions of worldly things)
obviate (1): to anticipate and prevent difficulties by effective measures
ornithology (6): the study of birds
outré (6): passing the bounds of what is usually considered proper; unconventional; bizarre
paisley (3): a soft woolen fabric woven with a pattern of colorful and minutely detailed figures
peons (22): menial workers
perturbation (5): agitation; derangement
petulantly (21): showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance
peyote (2): an intoxicating beverage distilled from a certain type of cactus
phantasmal (22): unreal, illusory
pneumatic (6):: pertaining to air, gasses, or wind
pranja (27): a Buddhist term for pure and unqualified knowledge
precipitous (11): extremely or impassably steep
pretentious (4): showily self-important
primus (3): portable cooking stove
prognathic (33): having protrusive jaws
proprietor (8): the owner of a business establishment
quartzite (9): a rock formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone
rakish (32): jaunty; dashing
retinue (28): the retainers or attendants accompanying a high-ranking person
rill (10): a small brook; a rivulet
roils (32): displeases or disturbs
rousted (10): stirred
Samadhi (5): the highest stage in meditation, in which a person experiences oneness with the universe
samsara (5): the process of coming into existence as a mortal creature; the opposite of nirvana
satori (5): sudden enlightenment
scarps (3): continuous lines of cliffs
schism (16): division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties
scree (3): a steep mass of debris on the side of a mountain
sedentary (12): accustomed to sit or rest a great deal or to take little exercise
sentient (3): sensing; conscious
sere (21): withered; dry
siding (1): a short railroad track, opening onto a main track at one or both ends, on which one of two meeting trains is switched until the other has passed
slaking (6): cooling, refreshing or satisfying
soughing (3): murmuring or rustling
sugi (29): tall evergreen of Japan and China
sundry (6): various or diverse
supplicatory (15): praying earnestly and humbly; entreating
surreptitious (27): stealthy; secret
taciturn (22): stern and silent in expression and manner
tarns (18): small mountain lakes, especially ones formed by glaciers
tarpaulin (8): a protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax
teetotaler (6): one who chooses to abstain from alcohol
ululating (5): howling
unjaundiced (9): devoid of distorted or prejudiced views
vassals (13): people who hold land from a feudal lord and receive protection in return for homage and allegiance
viaducts (22): a series arches used to carry a road or railroad over a wide valley or over other roads or railroads
viharas (5): meeting places of Buddhist monks
voluble (16): characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; talkative
welter (26): a confused mass; a jumble
yabyum (3): as used here, an imitation of a Tibetan sexual rite
zazen (13): meditation in a cross-legged posture
zendo (13): the meditation room of a Zen monastery
ClassicNote on Dharma Bums
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