The Master and Margarita Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

centurion

The commander of a century (a military company of 100 men).

chervonet

A gold coin used as currency in the U.S.S.R., worth ten rubles.

cordon

A line of militiamen or police enclosing an area.

folderol

Nonsense, foolish talk.

fore-topgallant

A sail, yard, or rigging of the fore-topgallant mast on a ship.

goiter

An enlargement of the thyroid gland on the front and sides of the neck.

hippodrome

An oval track for horse races and chariot races.

homunculus

A dwarf artificially created by an alchemist.

kaffiyeh

A traditional Arab headdress, made of a square of cloth folded into a triangle, and held on by a cord.

kulak

In the U.S.S.R., a comparatively wealthy peasant, viewed as an oppressor and class enemy.

legate

A provincial governor of senatorial rank appointed by the emperor.

maniple

A subdivision of a legion, consisting of 60 or 120 men.

neurasthenia

Nervous debility, exhaustion.

noblesse oblige

The moral obligation that those of high birth have to act generously.

porphyry

A very hard rock with a purplish-red groundmass, or any igneous rock containing coarse crystals.

tallith

A garment with fringes, worn over the shoulders like a shawl by Jews.

tetradrachma

A silver coin used as currency in ancient Greece, worth four drachmas.

transom

A crosspiece separating a window or a door from the fanlight above it.

valerian

A drug used as a nerve sedative.

valise

A small article of luggage, a traveling bag.

viand

An article or dish of food.

votary

A person devoted to some subject.