Hughes Thomas

Tom Brown at Rugby


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an innkeeper.

204

Dingle: a narrow valley.

205

Wicket: gate.

206

Lurcher: a dog that lies in wait for game, more used by poachers or men that steal game than by sportsmen.

207

Lissom: limber.

208

Nother: neither.

209

Dresser: a sideboard or cupboard.

210

Settle: a bench.

211

Sampler: a pattern for needlework.

212

Flitch: a side of bacon.

213

Ingle: chimney-corner.

214

"Mute, inglorious Miltons": see Gray's "Elegy."

215

Stolid: dull.

216

Embrangle: mix up.

217

Crichton: a Scottish gentleman of the sixteenth century, called for his learning and skill "The Admirable Crichton."

218

True blue: genuine.

219

Tory: a member of the conservative party in politics.

220

Corollary: an inference from something before stated.

221

Vestry: parish meeting.

222

Progenitors: forefathers.

223

Close: any inclosed place; here, probably a field.

224

Mullioned: subdivided by slender, upright bars or columns.

225

Swiss Family Robinson: a story of the adventures of a shipwrecked family on a desert island.

226

Choleric: inclined to anger.

227

Reconnoitered: here, examined in a general way or at a little distance.

228

Forms: benches.

229

Servants' hall: the servants' dining-room.

230

Nether: lower.

231

Integuments: garments.

232

Prisoner's base, etc.: boys' games.

233

Green rides: roads cut through woods or pleasure grounds.

234

Raven: a large black bird of the crow family.

235

Footman: a man-servant in livery.

236

Public schools: a name given to certain large and richly endowed schools in England which are chiefly patronized by wealthy men. They are wholly unlike the public schools of the United States. Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Rugby, and Westminster are among the best known of this class of schools.

237

Belauded: praised.

238

Usher: an under-teacher.

239

Missive: anything to be sent; hence, a letter.

240

Gaby: a dunce.

241

Felony: a serious offence or crime.

242

Primum tempus: first time.

243

Bulls'-eyes and toffee: the former are hard balls of sugar, the latter a kind of candy made of brown sugar and butter.

244

Bulls'-eyes and toffee: the former are hard balls of sugar, the latter a kind of candy made of brown sugar and butter.

245

Humble bees: "bumble-bees."

246

Bounds: the school limits, beyond which boys are not to go without permission.

247

Necromancer: (one who communes with the dead) a conjurer.

248

Phosphorus: the yellowish, inflammable substance used in making common matches – in a pure state it burns on exposure to air. Matches – called "Lucifers" or "light-bringers" – were invented in England about 1829. Previous to that time the only way of striking a light was by flint and steel, the spark being caught on a bit of tinder (half-burnt rag) which was then blown into a blaze.

249

Rugby: a small village in Warwickshire on the river Avon, nearly in the centre of England. It is the seat of Rugby School, – one of the great public schools, – and was founded by Lawrence Sheriff, a native of the neighboring village of Brownsover, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The school owes its fame chiefly to Dr. Arnold, who became head master in 1827, and held the position until his death in 1842.

250

Doctor: Dr. Arnold.

251

Kit: here, clothes.

252

Tally-ho: the cry with which huntsmen urge on their hounds; here, a name given to a fast coach.

253

Boots: a servant in an inn who blacks boots, etc.

254

Islington: a northern suburb of London.

255

Post-chaise: a hired carriage.

256

Belle Sauvage: a famous old inn, formerly in the centre of London.

257

Star: the name of the coach which brought the Squire and Tom to London.

258

Boxes: inclosed places for eating.

259

Brown study: meditation without any particular object of thought.

260

Buxom: rosy with health, merry.

261

Cheroot: a kind of cigar.

262

Digamma: an ancient letter of the Greek alphabet. Greek particles are prepositions and conjunctions – hence nice or difficult points of Greek grammar.

263

Hard biscuit: cracker.

264

Drag: a four-horse coach.

265

Guard: a person having charge of a mail-coach, a conductor.

266

Hamper: a large, strongly made packing basket.

267

Hind-boot: a place at the end of a coach for luggage.

268

Portmanteau: travelling bag.

269

Rug or plaid: a thick shawl or other wrap.

270

Caloric: here, heat of the body.

271

First-class carriages: in England the railway cars (called "carriages") are divided into first, second, and third class.