Tom Brown at Rugby. Hughes Thomas
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.