Admiralty
The Royal Navy (British)
Powder-Days
The times at sea when ships carried cannons and fought off their enemies using canon fire.
Kraken
A sea creature of myth or legend, the kraken is a squid-like, or octopus-like creature that is big enough to eat an entire ship and its crew whole.
Warlocks
Similar to wizards, mythical or pagan men with mystical powers.
Dividend
Financial bonus
Periwigs
Long curly wig, worn in the seventeenth century
Alphabets in Stars
This was the term for the prediction of the future by astronomers and astrologers
Sortiledge
The practice of predicting the futureom a card drawn at random from a series
Mariners
Sailors
Botany
The study of flora and fauna.
Coral Hedge
Coral reef; as the poem is about Australia it is likely that it refers to the Great Barrier Reef.
Sextants
A navigation device.
Phylacteries
A small leather book of Hebrew texts on vellum that is worn by Jewish men at morning prayer.
Mesmerist
Someone who can mesmerise people so that they are under his spell.
Chronometers
A timepiece that also tells latitude and longitude measurements.
Habadasher
Seller of fine fabrics
Sea Cow
Manatee
Enigmatic
Mysterious, with an indiscernible meaning.
Gilds
Makes everything look golden.
Carp
Large freshwater fish
Pried
Asked too many questions; been too intrusive.
Dwindling
Getting less, getting smaller
Alabaster
A smooth plaster-like stone for sculpture.
