Tom Brown at Rugby. Hughes Thomas
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Keeper: the gamekeeper, a man kept on great estates to look after the game.
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Cromlech: a rude tomb built by the first inhabitants of Britain.
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Wayland Smith's Cave: a "supernatural smith" who shod horses on payment of sixpence.
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Sir Walter: Sir Walter Scott.
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Inigo Jones: a celebrated architect of the 17th century.
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Lord Craven: the owner of the estate on which the "White Horse" is located.
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Sheep-walks: sheep pastures, for which the "downs" are much used.
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Barrows: ancient burial mounds.
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Public: a public house.
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Toby Philpot jug: a large brown pitcher, shaped like a jolly old gentleman of the olden time.
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Antediluvian: before the deluge.
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Un: it; also him or her.
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Grewsome: frightful.
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Um: they.
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Fiery cross: a cross, the ends of which had been fired and then extinguished in blood. It was sent round by the chiefs of clans in time of war, to summon their followers.
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Plantations: groves of trees set out in regular order.
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Squire: a country gentleman.
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'E: thee or you.
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Malignant: The Parliamentary or Puritan party during the civil wars of Charles I. called those who adhered to the king "malignants."
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Tighe: this legend relates a conspiracy by which young Tighe was led into the thick of a fight and killed.
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Pusey horn: the Pusey family hold their estate not by a title deed, but by a horn, given, it is said, to William Pecote (perhaps an ancestor of the Puseys) by Canute, a Danish king of England in the eleventh century. The horn bears the following inscription: "I, King Canute, give William Pecote this horn to hold by thy land."
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Freeholders: landowners.
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Moated grange: a farm or estate surrounded by a broad deep ditch for defence in old times.
80
Marianas: Mariana, a beautiful woman, one of the most lovable of Shakespeare's characters. See "Measure for Measure."
81
West-countryman: a west of England man.
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Angular Saxon: a play on the words
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Adscriptus glebæ: attached to the soil.
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Chaw: "chaw bacon," a nickname for an English peasant.
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Vools: fools.
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Whum: home.
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For this old song see Hughes's "Scouring of the White Horse."
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J. P.: justice of the peace.
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Calico: white cotton cloth called calico in England, to distinguish it from print.
90
Smock frocks: coarse white frocks worn by farm laborers.
91
Yule-tide: Christmas. Clubs are formed by the poor several months in advance, to furnish coal, clothes, and poultry for Christmas time, – each member contributing a few pence weekly.
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Mummers: maskers, merrymakers in fantastic costumes.
93
Vernacular: one's native tongue.
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Ten-pound doctor: a quack doctor.
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Mysteries: rude dramatic plays of a religious character, once very popular.
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Lieges: loyal subjects.
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Jobbers: speculators or members of corrupt political rings.
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Assizes or Quarter Sessions: sessions of courts of justice.
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Yeomanry review: a review of the county militia.
100
Don: a nickname for a university professor.
101
Sirens: sea-nymphs who enticed sailors into their power by their singing, and then devoured them.
102
Clement's Inn: formerly a college and residence for law students in London. It is now given up to law offices.
103
Hop-picking: all the vagabonds of London go to Kent and Surrey in the autumn to pick hops for the farmers, regarding the work as a kind of vacation frolic.
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Courier: a person hired by wealthy travellers to go in advance and engage rooms at hotels, etc.
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Imperial: the best seat on a French diligence or stage-coach.
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Comme le limaçon, etc.: like the snail, carrying all his baggage, his furniture, and his house.
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Chalet (shal-ay'): a Swiss herdsman's hut.
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Kraal: a Hottentot hut or village.
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"Sar' it out": deal it out.
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"Holus bolus": all at once.
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Learned poet: Wordsworth; the quotation, which follows, is from "My heart leaps up."
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A fortiori: for a stronger reason.
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Environments: surroundings.
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Functionary: one charged with the performance of a duty.
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Scatter-brain: thoughtless.
116
Nŏtable: industrious, smart.
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Cardinal: chief.
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Drat: plague take.
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Bist: art.
120
Puritan: the Puritans were those who were dissatisfied with the English Church and wished to
121
Whey: in making cheese the milk separates, the thick part forming curd, and the watery portion whey.
122
Pattens: wooden-soled shoes.
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Heir-apparent: the legal heir.
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Break