adjutant
A military officer who serves as a secretary or administrative assistant to a higher officer – in this novel, that higher officer is usually a general
borzoi
A large Russian hunting dog similar to a greyhound
britzka
A large, luxurious horse-drawn carriage
caisson
A rolling ammunition container
caleche
A large woman's hood
calumny
Malicious lies or slander
corvée
In feudalism, a corvée is the tribute that peasants pay to their landlord instead of taxes
flèche
A group of soldiers in battle, i.e., a flank
gabion
A metal framework filled with metal or rocks, used as a foundation for a building or other structure
Hofkriegsrath
The Austrian military council
hussar
A light cavalry regiment, or a member thereof
jabot
A lace ruffle on the front of a shirt
kaftan
A long belted tunic worn by Russian peasants in the nineteenth century
mazurka
A fast, lively Polish dance
muzhik
The Russian term for a peasant, who may or may not be indentured to a particular estate
samovar
An ornate tea-urn, often used by wealthy and middle-class families in Russia
shako
A distinctive, tall hat worn as part of the Russian military uniform
sutler
A merchant who sells food and supplies to the military
troika
A type of carriage pulled by three horses
uhlan
A hussar or cavalrymen whose main weapon is a lance
