almoner
chaplain or church officer who distributes alms
baying
prolonged howling
clandestine
secretive
craniology
the study of skulls
Dolichocephalic
a medical condition in which the head is longer than expected; Dr. Mortimer uses this term to describe Holmes' skull
dyspnoea
shortness of breath, caused by a cardiac disorder; this is believed to be the cause of Sir Charles's death
ferrule
a type of object used for fastening; used to describe part of Dr. Mortimer's walking stick
goyal
a deep trench, or ravine
guttering
flickering or low-lit, especially as regards a candle
M.R.C.S.
Membership of Royal College of Surgeons;Dr. Mortimer's was once a member of this organization
melancholy
a feeling of sadness
mire
a stretch of swampy ground
peremptory
insisting on immediate attention; brusque
quarry
a place from which stone has been excavated from the ground
skein
a length of thread or yarn; the phase is used metaphorically by Watson to describe the tangled case
tempestuous
characterized by strong and conflicting emotion
The Great Rebellion
refers to the Wars of the Three Kingsdoms, fought between England, Scotland and Ireland from 1639-1651; the reference in this novel helps date Hugo Baskerville's life
tor
a pile of high rocks, or a high rock
warder
a guard in prison
yew hedge
a tall bush which acts as a wall
