Glossary of Terms
abaft: toward the stern
antediluvian: very old
approbation: expression of praise or approval
asperity: irritability
blanched: whitened
blatherskite: fool
brad-awl: tool that is used to make holes for screws
buncombe: insincerity
calaboose: a jail
calico: a bright-colored cloth
campanile: a bell tower
cartel: an agreement between warring parties
chaff: witty, teasing banter
chaffingly: playfully teasing
chary: cautious
chattel: personal property; slave
cipher: a person or thing of no value
clabber: spoiled milk
comely: attractive
conflagration: a very intense and uncontrolled fire
cur: coward
dirk: a dagger
draymen: cart drivers
expostulated: attempted to disuade someone through reason
flotilla: a small fleet
foetid: having a foul odor
fractious: cranky
funereal: mournful
furtively: stealthily; surreptitiously
gall: to vex; to irk
gaol: jail
gilded: high in quality
grandee: a person of high rank or nobility
grenadier: a soldier
haft: a handle, particularly of a tool or weapon
humbug: a hoax or fraud
in high feather: in excellent form, health, or humor
incommode: to disturb
indolent: lazy
injudicious: lacking wisdom
intrepidity: resolute courageousness
labrick: term used in Missouri during the 19th century; means something a bit stronger than ass but not as strong as idiot
loth: unwilling or reluctant
lummox: a stupid person
menagerie: a diverse group
minion: a dependent or follower
miscreant: an evildoer; a villain
mountebank: a flamboyant charlatan
obsequiousness: fawning
packet: a boat carrying passengers, freight, and mail
palliation: to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
palmistry: the practice or art of telling fortunes from the lines, marks, and patterns on the palms of the hands.
palsy: complete or partial muscle paralysis
peremptoriness: not allowing contradiction
pluck: spirit
profligate: wasteful or extravagant
raillery: ridicule or teasing
rheumatism: condition characterized by discomfort in the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, or nerves
sally: a quip
shad: type of fish
shucks: something worthless
skiff: a flatbottom boat propelled by oars, sail, or motor
surliness: sullen ill-humor
swag: stolen property
tarrying: a temporary stay
teetotaler: one who abstains completely from alcohol
tippling: to drink alcohol, especially to excess
torpor: apathy
torrid: intensely hot
transient: remaining in place only a brief time
trifling: frivolous
undulatory: wavelike
vivacity: liveliness
wanton: immoral or lewd
wheedling: urging through teasing or flattery
wonted: accustomed or used
ClassicNote on Pudd'nhead Wilson
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