The Help

The Help Glossary

Amicable

Friendly; without disagreement or rancor.

Antebellum

Referring to the historical period in the American south before the Civil War; literally meaning 'before war'.

Auburn

A dark red-brown.

Chateaubriand

A type of thick steak, cut from the tenderloin.

Chifforobe

A stand-alone piece of furniture in which one hangs clothes; a wardrobe.

Corn pone

Another name for corn bread; a type of sweet bread containing corn.

Defoliant

A chemical that strips the leaves from plants and trees.

Degustationary

Characterized by careful, appreciative tasting of food.

Fiddleheads

A small shoot from an edible type of fern. Its name comes from its resemblance to the curled top of a fiddle.

Fie

An expression of disgust or outrage.

Gentility

Good manners, behavior, and appearance; social superiority.

Grits

A popular southern dish, made of ground corn, whole milk, and cheese.

High Cotton

Doing well, being successful.

High Yellow

Slang term for a light-skinned black child.

Huarache shoes

Light, woven sandals.

Insipid

Lacking vigor; uninteresting.

Jelly-rolling

Slang term for sexual activity.

Law

When spoken by Minny or Aibileen, this word means "Lord"; used to express great emotion.

Kudzu

Long trailing vines; they grow in tangled bunches on trees.

Taffeta

A smooth, plan fabric, often used for ball gowns.