alibi
a defense in which an accused criminal attempts to prove that his or her location was elsewhere than the crime scene
at after
common Lancashire phrase, meaning after
bairn
a child
Chartism
working-class movement in Britain from 1838-1848, striving for political and labor reform
clem
to suffer from extreme hunger, starve in Lancashire dialect
Combination Acts
British acts in 1799 and 1800 that made trade unions illegal
Courts of Assize
periodic criminal justice courts held in England and Wales
dateless
crazed in Lancashire dialect
delilah
a woman who betrays her lover, alluding to Samson's mistress who betrayed him by cutting off his hair, the source of his strength
Dives and Lazarus
Biblical parable that contrasts the separation between the blessed poor man in heaven and the miserable rich man in hell
fain
inclined or willing; compelled
frabbit
irritated, peevish, short-tempered in Lancashire dialect
hussy
a saucy or impudent girl; promiscuous and immoral woman
New Bailey
19th century prison in Manchester
nobbut
none but; only, in dialect
opium
hallucinogenic drug derived from the opium poppy, popularly used in Britain for medicinal and pain-killing purposes
Ruth to Naomi
Biblical allusion to Ruth who would not desert her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of Naomi's husband and sons
spinning-jennies
spinning machines invented in the 18th century that could wind yarn onto more than one spindle - a major development of the Industrial Revolution which put weavers out of work
street-walker
alternate term for a prostitute
suborned witness
witness who is induced by bribery to commit perjury in a court of law
subpoena
a formal document ordering an individual to appear as a witness in a court of law
Trades' Union
organization of laborers striving for common goals such as increased pay and better working conditions, legalized in England in 1825 after the repeal of the Combination Acts
whistle down the wind
colloquial expression meaning to send away or abandon
