The Beggar's Opera

The Beggar's Opera Glossary

air

in the context of Elizabethan & Jacobean music, an accompanied song or melody, usually in strophic form; the term can be used interchangeably with ballad

arrears

the state of being behind in the discharge of obligations, usually a debt

ballad

a simple and often popular song

catches

popular songs, often burlesque or obscene

coquette

a self-consciously flirtatious woman

Covent Garden

London's largest public gardens and, in previous centuries, a well-known domain of prostitutes

doxy

a floozy, or prostitute

drawer

in the context of the opera, a servingman

Drury Lane

London's theatre district, famous in previous centuries as a domain for streetwalkers

fetters

some type of confinement, usually in the form of chains or shackles

filch

to steal or nab, usually something small

guinea

an English gold coin, issued between 1663 to 1813; it was fixed in value in 1717 at 21 shillings

jointure

an estate or property established for a widow in the event of her husband's death

lock

in the context of the opera, a warehouse for keeping stolen-goods

maxim

the pithy expression of a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct; a cliche

mercer

a dry goods merchant

Newgate

London's most notorious prison, razed in 1902

perquisite

a tip, or gratuity

recitative

a sung passage delivered in a rhythmically free vocal style, imitating the natural inflections of speech; in operas and oratorios, these passages are often used for dialogue and narration

Sessions

meetings of the criminal court in England

tipple

to drink liquor excessively, but in small amounts