The Secret River Glossary

Glossary of Terms

bollard

a short, thick post

cockle

an edible mollusk

damper

traditional Australian soda bread

daub

to coat or smear a surface with a thick or sticky substance, such as paint

enigmatic

difficult to interpret; mysterious

fetter

chains or manacles used to restrain a prisoner

furbelow

gathered strip or pleated border of a skirt

gunwhale

top edge of the side of a boat

hogshead

a large cask holding between 63 and 64 gallons of liquid

jetty

a small pier or dock

lighterman

someone who transports goods by boat

miasma

an unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor

mincing

an affected or fastidious manner

pannikan

a small cup usually made of tin

periwig

a highly styled wig formerly worn by both men and women

pernickety

fussy, too focused on minor issues or details

piebald

irregular patches of two colours

prodigious

remarkable in size or degree

sough

to make a moaning or whistling sound

swarfings

shavings or chips of metal

vertiginous

causing vertigo as a result of height or steepness

wherry

light rowboat