The Road Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

alabaster

a white and translucent material commonly used for vases and ornaments; the white color of the material

bandolier

a broad belt worn over the shoulder and across the front of the body, commonly holding gun cartridges

bolus

a round mass or lump, especially of chewed food; a drug dose administered intravenously

cauterize

to burn a cut or similar wound for healing purposes; to deaden

coagulate

to congeal or clot; to thicken from a fluid into a denser mass

creosote

a flammable, oily liquid derived from coal and the tar procured from wood

derelict

abandoned or deserted, especially by the owner or occupant

effigy

an image or representation of a person; a crude representation of a disliked person

entabled

relating to entablature, the superstructure of a building in Greek or Roman architecture, supported by columns

Formica

a brand of plastic used most commonly for surface finish

gullied

having undergone erosion, usually by running water, to form a small valley or ravine

hemlock

a poisonous plant of the parsley family, characterized by small white flowers and finely cut leaves; a poisonous or lethal drug made with this plant

intestate

of a person who dies without having executed a valid will; of an object which is not disposed of according to a valid will

Krugerrand

a one-ounce coin from the Republic of South Africa

litany

a form of prayer marked by invocations or supplications, alternating with responses by the congregation; a tedious recitation or account

lode

an ore deposit, or an abundant supply or source

mastic

a Mediterranean tree or its aromatic resin, which can be used as an adhesive or a varnish

midden

a pile of refuse or trash, indicating human settlement

Pajaro de Esperanza

(Spanish) bird of hope

palisade

a fence of stakes or sharp posts used as a defensive barrier

phalanx

in ancient Greece, a group of heavily armed infantry formed in ranks and files; a closely massed arrangement of bodies or things

pipsissewa

a small evergreen plant with shiny green leaves, able to be used as medication

port cochere

(from French) a porch wide enough to allow a vehicle and its passengers to arrive and enter under the building's cover

predicated

founded or based upon

promontory

a high point of land or rock which overlooks or projects over lowland or a body of water

provenance

place of origin; the history of ownership of a valued object, such as a work of art or an antique

runic

like or featuring runes, the seemingly strange characters from one of the alphabets used by Germanic peoples from the third to the thirteenth centuries; possessing a secret or mysterious meaning

sepulchre

a place of burial, a tomb

soffit

the underside of a part of a building, such as a beam, arch, or cornice

souwester

a hat or slicker made of oilskin, most commonly used by seamen in rough weather

swale

a shallow, wetter depression in the land

tarpaulin

a durable material or cloth used to protect an exposed object or area

Thespian

relating to Thespis, a sixth-century BC Grecian who is credited with being the first known actor, particularly in tragedies; any actor

translucent

describing an object that permits light to pass through it, but diffusing the light enough so that objects cannot be seen clearly through it; somewhat comprehensible, but not as clear as what is transparent