Pudd'nhead Wilson Glossary

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