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Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - Barron's Booknotes
Table of Contents
HARDBACK
Almond toffee.
HULKS
Old ships used to hold convicts who were scheduled to be transported.
JACK-TOWEL
A roller towel.
JORUM
A big punch bowl, or metaphorically a vast amount of any drink.
LITTLE BRITAIN
A street near St. Paul's Cathedral and the law courts, running past the site of
the ancient home of the Duke of Brittany. By using this name, Dickens
suggests that this place is a microcosm of Britain.
LLOYD'S
The great merchants' insurance company.
MENTOR
The wise old companion of Ulysses' son, Telemachus, in the Odyssey.
MITRE
The headgear of a bishop.
NEWGATE PRISON
One of the great prisons of London.
PHYSIC
A medicine, often a strong laxative.
QUINTIN MATSYS D A great Flemish painter who was first a blacksmith.
RANTIPOLE
A slang nickname for Napoleon III of France. The name means "raving
head."
RED BOOK
A guide-book to all the nobility of England.
REPEATER
A pocket-watch that strikes the hour.
ROPE-WALK
A long alley, usually under a roof, where rope was made.
ROSCIAN
Resembling a famous Roman actor, written about by Cicero.
RUSH-LIGHT
A crude, low-cost candle made of reeds dipped in grease.
SHAKE-DOWN
A rough sort of cot.
SHORTS
Tight knee-breeches.
SLOP SUIT D A sailor's outfit.
SWAB
A slang term for sailor.
TAR-WATER
A mixture of cold water and wood tar, which was thought to have medical
powers.
TELEMACHUS
Ulysses' son in the Odyssey.
THOWELS
Wooden pins used as oarlocks.
VERB. SAP.
A Latin abbreviation meaning "a word to the wise."
WEAZEN
Slang for throat.
WHITLOW
A red, swollen, sore place around a finger or toe nail.
WINDING-SHEETS
Shrouds.
WOOLSACK
The seat of a high court judge or the Lord Chancellor of England.
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