The Boat

The Boat Glossary

Dactyl

a metrical foot constituted by one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.

Equably

Unvarying, steady

Ba

The word for "father" in Vietnamese

Thoi

The word for "stop" or "that's enough" in Vietnamese

Subterranean

Under the earth's surface

Tantric

relating to or involving the doctrines or principles of the Hindu or Buddhist tantras, especially the use of mantras, meditation, yoga, and ritual

Gallada

Spanish for a "bold deed," also used informally to refer to a group of boys

Autodefensas

Spanish for self-defense force

Basuco

Spanish for cocaine

Barrio

Spanish for neighborhood

FARC

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia)

Chiva bus

A rustic bus used in rural Colombia

Puto

Offensive Spanish slang insult for a homosexual man

Sacol

A brand of glue huffed as a drug in Colombia

Tigurio

Spanish for a slum or hovel

Sicario

Spanish for hired assassin

Soldado

Spanish for soldier

Ron

Spanish for rum

Delinquencia

Delinquency, crime

Embarazada

Spanish for pregnant

Tonto

Spanish for stupid

Panela

Spanish for a brown sugar loaf

Buenas noches

Spanish for good evening

Guapo

Spanish for handsome

Calles

Spanish for streets

Chicas

Spanish for girls

Gringos

Spanish for foreigner, usually from the United States

Nero

Colombian Spanish slang for a street kid or gangster

Aguardiente

Spanish for a liquor in Colombia and other countries made from sugarcane

Smack

Slang for heroin

Aster

A type of flower

Insouciant

Indifferent

Carious

Decayed

Bitumen

A material used for paving roads.

Kami

Japanese word for spirits