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.
