In my novel, the Spriggans are great lovers are language, something to which I must confess I have in common with them. In fact, the Spriggans were initially created to furnish the story with words and phrases that could not have been justified if I did not have the loquacious Spriggans there to articulate them. As the novel unfolded on the screen, I found myself growing incredibly fond of the Spriggans, especially the irrepressible Mulupo. It seems appropriate to name this glossary The Spriggan Dictionary as many of the words contained therein were spoken by Mulupo. I must acknowledge and thank the following sites and software houses for the assistance their technology gave me when researching this aspect of the book: Thinkmap's Visual Thesaurus, WordWeb and particularly The Phrontistery where the majority of the definitions on this page were found.
Paul Stewart, Author of 'Caliban's End'
Part Two
Go to Part One
M (Macabre - Myelic)
macabre: suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome
mace: heavy medieval war club with a spiked or flanged metal head, used to crush armor
macerate: to steep or soak; to break up; to emaciate; cause to grow thin or weak
macerator: a person who fasts and becomes emaciated
magnanimous: generous and understanding and tolerant
mainsail: principal sail on a ship's mainmast
mainsheet: rope by which mainsail is trimmed and secured
mainstay: stay that extends from the main-top to the foot of the foremast
malefic: doing mischief; producing evil
malfeasance: evil-doing; illegal activities; wrongful conduct by a public official
mandibles: the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth
mangonel: medieval war engine for throwing stones
manrope: rope used as a handrail on a ship
marasmus: wasting away of the body; emaciation due to malnutrition; extreme
martingale: lower stay of rope used to sustain strain of the forestays
masticate: to chew; to knead mechanically
matins: prayer service held in early morning hours
matriarch: female head of a family or tribe
matutinal: of, like or pertaining to the morning; happening early in the day
maudlin: tearfully sentimental; effusively or insincerely emotional
mayhap: perhaps
medicament: externally applied curative treatment (medicine); something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
meliorism: the belief the world tends to become better; the belief that the world can be made better by human effort
mellifluent: pleasing to the ear
mellisonant: sweet-sounding; pleasing to the ear
mendacity: insincerity; inclination to tell falsehoods
mephitic: foul-smelling
mercurial: volatile; fluctuating
meretricious: of, like or pertaining to prostitution; superficially attractive but lacking value
metallurgy: study of alloying and treating metals
metameric: of, like or pertaining to serial division or segmentation of body
methane: a colourless odourless gas used as a fuel
mewling: crying feebly
miasma: foul vapours from rotting matter; unwholesome air
midships: at or near or toward the centre of a ship
minacious: threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
minatory: threatening
miter: high headdress worn by bishop or archbishop
mizzen: three-masted vessel; aft sail of such a vessel
mizzenmast: mast aft or next aft of the mainmast in a ship
mnemonist: one from whose memory nothing is erased; an expert in the use of mnemonics; someone able to perform unusual feats of memory
moliminous: of great bulk or consequence; very important
monochromatic: having or appearing to have only one colour
monotheistic: believing that there is only one god
morassic: of, like or pertaining to a morass (a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot)
mordacious: biting
mordant: biting; caustic; incisive; corrosive; harshly ironic or sinister
moire: watered silk Of silk fabric; having a wavelike pattern
morion: open helmet without visor
motif: unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work
muciferous: conveying or secreting mucus
mucilaginous: having the sticky properties of an adhesive
mullock: waste earth or rock from a mine
multifarious: having great diversity; manifold
multipotent: having the power to do many things
multivalent: having many values, meanings, or appeals
munificence: magnificent liberality in giving; liberality in bestowing gifts
muslin: plain-woven fine cotton
myelic: of, like or pertaining to the spinal cord
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N (Nacreous - Noisome)
nacreous: of or resembling mother-of-pearl; having a play of lustrous rainbow-like colours
nainsook: fine cotton fabric; a soft lightweight muslin used especially for babies
nankeen: buff-coloured; durable buff-coloured cotton; a durable fabric formerly loomed by hand in China from natural cotton having a yellowish colour
narcolepsy: pathological drowsiness
narcotic: inducing stupor or narcosis
narthex: small entrance or porch to a church; A vestibule leading to the nave of a church
nary: not a one; not at all
naupathia: sea sickness
nave: largest part of church where congregation sits
neap: tidal period of least difference between high and low tides
neritic: belonging to the shallow waters near land
nescience: lack of knowledge; ignorance (especially of orthodox beliefs)
nihilism: denial of all reality; extreme scepticism
nihility: nothingness; a mere nothing
nitid: bright; shining; merry; bright with a steady but subdued shining
noctilucent: phosphorescent; glowing in the dark
noesis: intellectual activity; purely intellectual perception; the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
noisome: offensively malodorous
nonchalant: marked by blithe unconcern
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O (Oakum - Oviform)
oakum: old ropes untwisted for caulking the seams of ships; loose hemp or jute fibre obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships
obduracy: stubbornness; persistence; resoluteness by virtue of being unyielding and inflexible
obfuscate: to obscure; to darken; to confuse
obi: broad sash worn with a kimono
objurgate: to chide; to scold; to rebuke; censure severely
obliqueness: the quality of being oblique and rambling indirectly
obsequious: servilely ingratiating; fawning; attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner
obstinate: tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
obstreperous: noisy; unruly; noisily and stubbornly defiant
occipital: of, like or pertaining to the back of the head
occlusion: closing of an opening, passage or cavity; the act of blocking
ochre: yellowish or yellow-brown colour
octuple: having eight units or components
ocular: relating to or using sight
odoriferous: emitting a usually pleasant smell
oenophile: someone who appreciates wine
officious: volunteering one's services too eagerly; intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
olfaction: the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents
oleaginous: oily, fawning or sycophantic; unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech
omnifarious: of all kinds
omniscience: the state of being omniscient; having infinite knowledge
ontology: science of pure being; the nature of things The metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence
ontological: based upon being or existence
onyx: a chalcedony with alternating black and white bands; used in making cameos
opalescence: milky iridescence; the visual property of something having a milky brightness
ophidian: of or like a snake; limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
ophthalmic: of or relating to the eye
organdie: fine translucent cotton; a sheer stiff muslin
orphrey: gold or other rich embroidery on clerical robes; a richly embroidered edging on an ecclesiastical vestment
ordure: loathsome dirt or refuse; something morally degrading; solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels
orlop: lowest deck in a ship having four or more decks
oriflamme: banner of red silk split into several points; an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
oscine: of or relating to the songbirds
osculate: to kiss; touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc
ossiferous: bearing bones; containing bones (especially fossil bones)
osteal: of, like or pertaining to, or comprised of bone; composed of or containing bone Relating to bone or to the skeleton
outhaul: rope used to haul a sail taut along a spar
outrigger: spar extended from side of ship to help secure mast
oviform: shaped like an oval or egg; rounded like an egg
ovoid: an egg-shaped object
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P (Paean - Putrefaction)
paean: song of thanksgiving
palaver: to talk profusely or idly
palimpsest: manuscript or paper that is erased and then written over
palisade: fortification consisting of a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground
pallid: pale; wan
palsy: a condition marked by uncontrollable tremor; loss of the ability to move a body part
pandemic: universal; affecting majority of people in a region; an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world
panoply: a complete and impressive array
pantheism: belief that the universe is God; belief in many gods
parapet: low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
parapraxis: blunder; error; mistake A minor inadvertent mistake usually observed in speech or writing or in small accidents or memory lapses etc.
pardoner: one who raises money for religious works by selling indulgences
pariah: a person who is rejected (from society or home)
parrel: band by which a yard is fastened to a mast
parochial: local; confined to one region
paroxysm: fit of passion; laughter; coughing; sudden violent action A sudden uncontrollable attack
parquetry: a patterned wood inlay used to cover a floor
parrel: band by which a yard is fastened to a mast
parricide: killing of parent or close relative
parvis: enclosed space at the front of a church; a courtyard or portico in front of a building (especially a cathedral)
patina: film or surface that forms on surface of metal or wood
patroon: captain of a ship; coxswain of a longboat
paunch: a protruding abdomen
peaceable: disposed to peace or of a peaceful nature
pecuniary: of, like or pertaining to money; consisting of money
peduncle: stem or stalk of a flower
pejorate: to worsen; to depreciate
pennate: winged; feathered; having feathered wings
penury: destitution; poverty
perfunctorily: in a set manner
peradventure: perhaps; possibly; by adventure; by chance
percale: closely woven lightweight cloth; a fine closely woven cotton fabric
peregrination: journey, especially on foot or to a foreign country; travel (especially by foot)
perfunctorily: in a set manner without serious attention
pernicious: destructive; ruinous; fatal
pernoctate: to pass the night in vigil or prayer
perspicacious: clear-minded; astute; perceptive
pertinacity: quality of holding unyieldingly to a position
petrous: stony (of bone especially the temporal bone) resembling stone in hardness
pew: long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation
phalanx: any closely ranked crowd of people
pharmacology: the science or study of drugs: their preparation and properties and uses and effects
pheromone: a chemical substance secreted externally by some animals (especially insects) that influences the physiology or behaviour of other animals of the same species
phial: a small bottle that contains a drug (especially a sealed sterile container for injection by needle)
phlegmatic: of a calm; unexcitable disposition
photosynthesis: synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants)
physiognomy: general appearance of anything, especially the face
picaresque: of, like or pertaining or pertaining to rogues or roguish behaviour
piebald: of an animal, consisting of two or more colours; having sections or patches coloured differently and usually brightly
pietism: unquestioning or dogmatic religious devotion; exaggerated or affected piety and religious zeal
pike: medieval weapon consisting of a spearhead attached to a long pole or pikestaff; superseded by the bayonet
pillory: wooden frame with holes for head and hands used as punishment; a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the neck and hands; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn
pinniped: seals, walruses, and other such sea mammals; aquatic carnivorous mammal having a streamlined body specialized for swimming with limbs modified as flippers
piqué: stiff durable corded fabric of cotton, rayon or silk; tightly woven fabric with raised cords
piscatorial: of, like or pertaining to fishing or fishers
piscine: of, like or pertaining to fish
piscivorous: fish-eating; feeding on fishes
pish: exclamation expressive of contempt
piteous: arousing or deserving pity
plangent: loud and resounding
platitude: commonplace or trite remark made as if it were important
platitudinarian: one who utters platitudes
platoon: a military unit that is a subdivision of a company; usually has a headquarters and two or more squads; usually commanded by a lieutenant
plebeian: of the common people or vulgar classes
plenary: full; entire; complete; absolute; unqualified
plenitude: fullness; completeness; abundance; sufficiency
plinth: rectangular base of column or pedestal
pockmark: a scar or pit on the skin that is left by a pustule of smallpox or acne or other eruptive disease
poignant: arousing affect; keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
polemic: controversial discussion or attack; of or involving dispute or controversy
polymythy: use of multiple plots in a single story
pomade: ointment for the hair
pommel: an ornament in the shape of a ball on the hilt of a sword or dagger
poniard: small dagger
poop deck: an exposed partial weather deck on the stern superstructure of a ship
porcine: of, like or pertaining to pigs; swinish
porphyry: beautiful and valuable purplish stone; any igneous rock with crystals embedded in a finer groundmass of minerals
portent: a sign of something about to happen
postulate: maintain or assert
potable: fit to drink; drinkable; any liquid suitable for drinking
potation: the activity of drinking
potentiate: to use drugs in combination to increase their power; increase the effect of or act synergistically with (a drug or a physiological or biochemical phenomenon)
prate: to talk foolishly or sententiously; to tattle
precursor: something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
predacious: living by prey; predatory; hunting and killing other animals for food; living by or given to victimizing others for personal gain
predetermination: being determined in advance
prefecture: a district administered by a prefect
prehensile: adapted for grasping especially by wrapping around an object
prelate: bishop or abbot of superior rank
preponderance: exceeding in heaviness; having greater weight; superiority in numbers or amount
presbytery: part of church reserved for officiating clergy
prescient: having a premonition; perceiving the significance of events before they occur
prithee: expression of wish or request
procurement: the act of getting possession of something
progeny: the immediate descendants of a person
prognosis: a prediction of the course of a disease
prolegomena: a preliminary discussion inserted at the beginning of a book or treatise
promulgate: make known; disseminate
propinquity: closeness
prore: prow; ship
prosaic: not fanciful or imaginative
prostrate: throw down flat, as on the ground
protean: variable; versatile; assuming different forms
protestation: avowal or solemn declaration
prurient: stemming from the indulgence of lewd ideas; lascivious; characterized by lust
prurigo: irritating skin disease causing itching; chronic inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by blister capped papules and intense itching
puce: brownish-purple; purplish-pink
puissant: powerful; mighty
pulchritude: physical beauty (especially of a woman)
pullulate: to swarm; to teem; to breed freely; to sprout, move in large numbers
purling: flow in a circular current, of liquids
purloin: to steal; to filch
pusillanimous: lacking firmness; cowardly; having a weak character; lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful
putrefaction: rotting
pyre: wood heaped for burning a dead body as a funeral rite
pyrokinetic: to be able to light things on fire through a psychic ability
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Q (Quadruped - Quotidian)
quadruped: animal especially a mammal having four limbs specialized for walking
quagmire: a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
quarterdeck: part of ship's deck set aside by captain for ceremonial functions
quartering: sailing nearly before the wind
querulous: complaining; peevish; habitually complaining
quidditative: quirky; eccentric
quiddity: unique essence; eccentricity; the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other
quietus: discharge from life; extinction; death; silencing; euphemisms for death
quintessence: the most essential part or embodiment of something; the purest and most concentrated essence of something
quisling: one who aids the enemy; a puppet leader supported by foreign power; someone who collaborates with an enemy occupying force
quixotic: extravagantly and romantically chivalrous; idealistic; not sensible about practical matters; unrealistic
quotidian: everyday; commonplace; found in the ordinary course of events
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R (Raffish - Ruthful)
raffish: disreputable; vulgar; marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
rake: the inclination of a mast or another part of a ship
raptorial: predacious; of, like or pertaining to a bird of prey
recidivism: habit of relapsing into crime
reconnaissance: the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy)
recumbent: reclining; lying comfortably
redolent: fragrant; smelling of; suggestive of
reef: to reduce area of a sail by rolling or folding part of it
reeve: to pass a rope through a ring
refectory: dining-hall of a monastery or other institution
refractory: unruly; unmanageable; perverse; obstinate; resistant to authority or control
refulgent: casting a flood of light; radiant; beaming
reprobate: reprehensible or immoral person
restorative: tending to impart new life and vigour to
retrograde: moving or directed backwards; degenerating; inverse
requiescat: prayer for the dead; a prayer for the repose of the soul of a dead person
riposte: a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
risible: laughable
roband: piece of yarn used to fasten a sail to a spar
rostra: a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
rostrum: spike on prow of warship for ramming
rowlock: contrivance serving as a fulcrum for an oar
royal: small sail on royal mast just above topgallant sail
rubicund: ruddy; inclined to a healthy reddish colour often associated with outdoor life
ruckus: the act of making a noisy disturbance
ruff: an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal
rugous: wrinkled; covered with sunken lines
ruminant: any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments
rumination: calm, lengthy, intent consideration
runnel: little brook; a small stream
russet: reddish brown
ruth: pity; remorse; sorrow; a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
ruthful: piteous; sorrowful
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S (Sabaton - Syzygy)
sabaton: foot-covering as part of suit of armour
sable: black; dark; of a black colour in heraldry
saffron: orange-yellow
sai: weapon consisting of a pointed, rod-shaped baton, with two long, unsharpened projections attached to the handle
salacious: indecently erotic; lecherous; suggestive of or tending to moral looseness
sallow: unhealthy looking
saltern: salt-works
saltire: X-shaped cross; a cross with diagonal bars of equal length
salubrious: favourable to or promoting well-being
salutary: producing good effects; beneficial
samite: rich and heavy silk, sometimes interwoven with gold or silver; a heavy silk fabric (often woven with silver or gold threads)
sanguine: optimistic; having a bright complexion
sapience: discernment; judgement; ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight
saprobic: characterized by decaying organic matter; living in or being an environment rich in organic matter but lacking oxygen
saprophagous: feeding on decaying material (of certain animals) feeding on dead or decaying animal matter
sardonic: disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
sartorial: of, like or pertaining to a tailor or tailored clothes
sastruga: long parallel ridges of snow that form on windy plains
sateen: glossy cotton or wool
saturnine: of a gloomy or surly disposition; sardonic
saxatile: rock-dwelling; growing on or living among rocks
scabrous: having scaly or rough surface; risqué or obscene; rough to the touch; covered with scales or scurf
scandent: climbing; used especially of plants; having a tendency to climb
scapegrace: scoundrel; incorrigible man or boy; a reckless and unprincipled reprobate
scapular: badge of monastic order worn on the shoulders; garment consisting of a long wide piece of woollen cloth worn over the shoulders with an opening for the head; part of a monastic habit
scarp: to make steep; a long steep slope or cliff at the edge of a plateau or ridge; usually formed by erosion
scimitar: a curved sabre; the edge is on the convex side of the blade
scintillant: sparkling; having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
scission: cutting; division; splitting
scissure: a cleft; a splitting; fissure; rupture; a long narrow opening
scoria: dross or slag from metal-smelting; slag-like mass of lava
scree: sloping mass of loose rock at base of a cliff
scrim: durable plain-woven cotton fabric
scud: to sail swiftly before a gale
scullion: mean; contemptible person
scupper: hole allowing water to drain from ship's deck
scutcheon: a shield; especially one displaying a coat of arms
scutal: of, like or pertaining to shields
scuttles: portholes on a ship
sciolist: an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
sealine: the sea horizon
seditious: arousing to action or rebellion
seer: person with unusual powers of foresight
seine: large vertical fishing net. A large fishnet that hangs vertically, with floats at the top and weights at the bottom
selachian: of, like or pertaining to sharks or rays. Any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes, characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales: sharks; rays; skates
seminiferous: seed-bearing
sentient: endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
sepulchral: funereal; gloomy; dismal
sepulchre: receptacle in an altar for holding religious relics; a chamber that is used as a grave
seraphic: serene; blissful; angelic
sergeant at arms: an officer (as of a legislature or court) who maintains order and executes commands
sericeous: silky; covered with soft silky hairs; covered with fine soft hairs or down
serpentry: serpents collectively
serpivolant: mythical flying serpent
servility: abject or cringing submissiveness
sesquipedalian: tending to use long or cumbersome words
setaceous: having the form of a bristle; bristly; having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
sexton: church caretaker or bellringer
shallop: light river boat with sail and oars
shambolic: chaotic
shantung: plain rough silk or cotton; a heavy silk fabric with a rough surface (or a cotton imitation)
sheer: fore-and-aft curvature of a ship from bow to stern
sheets: a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
shindig: a large and noisy party of people
shoal: a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide
shrive: to hear a confession from and give absolution
shrouds: ropes supporting the mast of a ship
sibylline: prophetic; oracular; resembling or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy
sidelight: coloured lights on side of a ship under way at night
sidereal: of, like or pertaining to the stars constellations
sinopia: preparatory drawing for a fresco; reddish-brown colour; a red ochre formerly used as a pigment
skeg: part of ship connecting the keel with the bottom of the rudderpost
skirt: part of the air balloon that hangs between the balloon and the burners
skulduggery: verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way
skysail: sail above the royal sail
skyscraper: triangular sail on a ship above the royal
slate: dull; dark blue-grey
sleech: slimy mud; a mudflat
slipway: ramp sloping into water for supporting a ship
slingshot: a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones
smelter: an industrial plant where metals are extracted by heating
sobriety: a manner that is serious and solemn
sodality: people engaged in a particular occupation
solace: the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment
solecism: a grammatical mistake; a breach of etiquette; a socially awkward or tactless act
solicitation: an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status
solipsism: theory that self-existence is the only certainty; the philosophical theory that the self is all that you know to exist
solstice: either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator
somnambulate: to walk in one's sleep
sooth: truth; reality; in truth
soporific: tending to produce sleep; inducing mental lethargy
sorrel: reddish-brown; light chestnut; of a light brownish colour
sough: indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
soughing: characterized by soft sounds
soutane: priest's cassock; a long cassock with buttons down the front; worn by priests
spar: any ship's mast, boom, yard, or gaff
spaulders: armored plates worn on the upper arms and shoulders in a suit of plate armour
spavin: hard bony tumour on a horse's leg
specious: apparently good but not actually so; superficially plausible; based on pretence; deceptively pleasing
specular: mirrorlike; by reflection; visual; capable of reflecting light like a mirror
speculum: mirror; reflector; a mirror (especially one made of polished metal) for use in an optical instrument
speed: prosperity; success
sphacelate: to cause or affect with gangrene or mortification; undergo necrosis; the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)
sphacelated: necrosed; dark and shrunken
sphecoid: wasp-like
spinnaker: large triangular sail opposite the mainsail
spinneret: silk-spinning organ of an insect or spider
spinney: copse or small clump of trees
splenetic: marked by bad temper or spite; melancholy; very irritable
sponson: platform jutting from ship’s deck for gun or wheel
sprit: spar crossing a fore-and-aft sail diagonally
spritsail: sail extended by a sprit
spume: Foam or froth on the sea
spumous: covered with or resembling small bubbles as from being agitated by beating or heating
squama: a protective structure resembling a scale
squamate: scaly
squire: young nobleman attendant on a knight
stagnicolous: living in stagnant water
stalemate: a drawn contest; a deadlock
stammel: coarse woollen fabric, usually dyed red; bright red colour; a coarse woollen cloth formerly used for undergarments and usually dyed bright red
stanchion: upright beam, bar or support; any vertical post or rod used as a support
starboard: the right side of a ship to someone who is aboard and facing the bow
starbolins: sailors of the starboard watch
staysail: fore-and-aft sail hoisted on a stay
steeve: to set a ship's bowsprit at an upward inclination
stemson: supporting timber of a ship
stentorian: extremely loud, booming
stern: back part of a ship
sternpost: main member at stern of a ship extending from keel to deck
sternway: movement of a ship backwards
stertorous: with a snoring sound
stevedore: dock worker who loads and unloads ships
stigmatic: giving infamy, stigma or reproach, marked or branded
stoic: one who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain
stokehold: ship's furnace chamber
stole: narrow ecclesiastical vestment or scarf
strake: continuous band of plates on side of a ship
stratiform: layered; forming a layer
stunsail: light auxiliary sail to the side of principal sails
stupe: a person who is not very bright
stygian: having a gloomy or foreboding aspect; murky
subjacent: underlying; lying nearby but lower
subjoin: to add at the end or afterwards
subjugation: forced submission to control by others
sublime: worthy of adoration or reverence
sublunary: under the moon; of this world; earthly; terrestrial
suborn: to bribe or procure to commit an unlawful act
subterraneous: being or operating under the surface of the earth
subterfuge: something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity
subterrestrial: subterranean; under the earth
succubus: female devil who seduces men and copulates with them in their sleep
sudor: sweat, salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
sudoriferous: inducing or secreting sweat
sudorific: causing sweat
sugillate: to beat until black and blue
sulphorous: of, like or pertaining to hellfire; infernal; blasphemous
sundry: consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
supercilious: disdainfully superior; overbearing
supernal: on high; celestial; exalted; of heaven or the spirit
supernatant: floating on the surface Of a liquid; floating on the surface above a sediment or precipitate
supinate: to lie on one's back; to make to lie on the back; turn (the hand or forearm) so that the back is downward or backward
supine: lying flat on the back; offering no resistance
suppliant: supplicating; entreating
surcease: to stop or cease; a stopping
surcoat: a tunic worn over a knight's armor
surfeit: excess; state of being full
surplice: loose-fitting ankle length overgarment worn by clerics; a loose-fitting white ecclesiastical vestment with wide sleeves
surreptitious: marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
susurrant: making a low continuous indistinct sound
swath: the space created by the swing of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine
sybarite: a person addicted to luxury and pleasures of the senses
sybil: female prophet; hag; witch
sybilline: like an oracle or prophet; mysterious
sycophancy: fawning obsequiousness
sylph: airy female spirit or fairy-creature; a slender graceful young woman
sylvan: relating to or characteristic of wooded regions
symbiote: an organism in a symbiotic relationship
synaesthesia: confusion of one sensation with another; a sensation that normally occurs in one sense modality occurs when another modality is stimulated
syzygy: alignment of three or more celestial bodies; the straight line configuration of 3 celestial bodies (as the sun and earth and moon) in a gravitational system
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T (Taffrail - Tussock)
taffrail: rail round the stern of a ship
taper: stick of wax with a wick in the middle; a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame
tatterdemalion: tattered; ragged; scarecrow-like
taupe: brownish-grey
taurine: of, like or pertaining to bulls
tegument: natural covering of an animal or plant body
tellurian: terrestrial; an inhabitant of the earth
tenebrous: tenebrific; producing darkness; dark and gloomy
tenebrious: dark; gloomy
tercel: male hawk
termagant: an overbearing or nagging woman
terrene: of the earth; earthly; worldly; mundane; belonging to this earth or world; not ideal or heavenly
tesseract: figure of a cube within a cube
tetrapod: quadruped; a vertebrate animal having four feet or legs or leglike appendages
thanatosis: gangrene; necrosis; state imitating death
thaumaturgy: performing of miracles; any art that invokes supernatural powers
theology: the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth
thermic: of, like or pertaining to heat
thither: to that place
thole: pin in the side of a boat to keep oar in place A holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing
thorax: the middle region of the body of an arthropod between the head and the abdomen
thrall: the state of being under the control of another person
threnody: ode or song of lamentation; lament; dirge coronach
tiller: handle or lever for turning a ship's rudder
timberhead: top end of ship's timber used above the gunwale
timorous: timid by nature or revealing timidity
tintinnabulate: to ring; to tinkle
tintinnabulum: percussion instrument of many bells in succession
toile: plain or simple twilled fabric; a thin material used to make clothes
tome: a (usually) large and scholarly book
topgallant: mast or sail above the topmast and below the royal mast
topmast: ship's mast above the lower mast
topsail: ship's sail above the lowermost sail
torpid: numb; lethargic; having lost the power to act; in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
torpor: numbness; inactivity; dullness; inactivity resulting from torpidity and lack of vigour or energy
toxophilite: lover of archery; an archer; of, like or pertaining to archery
transept: part of a church off to one side of main structure
tranship: to transfer from one ship to another
transient: lasting a very short time
transmogrification: the act of changing into a different form or appearance (especially a fantastic or grotesque one)
transmutation: an act that changes the form or character or substance of something
transom: transverse timbers attached to ship's sternpost
trave: crossbeam or space between crossbeams
trebuchet: medieval siege engine for launching stones
treenail: long wooden pin used to fix planks of ship to the timbers; a wooden peg that is used to fasten timbers in shipbuilding; water causes the peg to swell and hold the timbers fast
trice: to haul in and lash secure a sail with a small rope
trilemma: quandary having three choices
trireme: ancient ship with three banks of oars; Ancient Greek or Roman galley or warship having three tiers of oars on each side
troposphere: lowest atmospheric layer
trysail: ship's sail bent to a gaff and hoisted on a lower mast
truculent: belligerent; cruel; pugnacious; defiant; aggressive
tuck: part of ship where ends of lower planks meet under the stern
tumescent: abnormally distended especially by fluids or gas
tumid: inflated; falsely sublime; bombastic
turquoise: a shade of blue tinged with green
turriferous: bearing towers
tussock: a compact tuft of grass or sedge
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U (Uliginous - Uxorious)
uliginous: slimy; oozy; swampy; growing in swampy places
ulterior: lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed (especially being kept in the background or deliberately concealed)
umber: brownish red
umbrage: a feeling of anger caused by being offended
unction: anointing as right of consecration or healing; warmth of address; anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual
unctuous: slimy; oily; greasy; offensively suave and smug; unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech
undercroft: crypt or vault under a church
undine: female water spirit Any of various water spirits
ungual: of a claw, hoof, or talon; clawed Of or relating to a nail or claw or hoof
unguiculate: clawed; having or resembling claws or nails;
unreeve: to withdraw a rope from an opening
ursine: of, like or pertaining to bears
urtext: earliest version of a text; original unmodified version
utilitarian: practical; having a useful function
uxorial: of, like or pertaining to a wife; of or befitting or characteristic of a wife; wifely
uxoricide: killing of one's own wife
uxorious: excessively fond of one's wife
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V (Vacillate - Vertiginous)
vacillate: fluctuate in opinion or resolution
vagabond: a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
vagile: having the ability to move about
valgus: club-footed; bow-legged; turned outward; especially of a deformity in which part of a limb is twisted away from the centre of the body
valgus: club-footed; bow-legged; turned outward; especially of a deformity in which part of a limb is twisted away from the centre of the body
vambraces: cannon of plate armour protecting the forearm
varlet: in medieval times a youth acting as a knight's attendant as the first stage in training for knighthood
veracious: truthful; exact
verdure: lush greenness of flourishing vegetation
verge: grass border along a road; a region marking a boundary
vermilion: variable colour that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
vertiginous: of, like or pertaining to vertigo; dizzy; giddy
vestibule: entrance-hall
vestiges: an indication that something has been present
vinaceous: wine-coloured
vinous: deep red; burgundy
virago: manlike or heroic woman; a noisy or scolding or domineering woman; a large strong and aggressive woman
viridity: green; the property of being green; resembling the colour of growing grass
viscera: internal organs collectively
visceral: of the organs of the body
vitriolic: caustic or hostile
vitiate: corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; make imperfect debauch
vituperation: abuse; rejection; abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will
vociferous: conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
voluble: fluent in speech; too fluent or glib
voraginous: of, like or pertaining to a whirlpool; voracious
verisimilitude: the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
vertiginous: having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling/p>
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W (Wagtail - Wuthering)
wagtail: an obsequious person; a harlot
wan: lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness; lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble
wardroom: quarters for ship's officers
washboard: broad thin plank along ship's gunwale to keep out sea water
washland: area periodically flooded by river
wassail: toast to someone's health; to go caroling or carousing; spiced ale
waveson: goods floating on the sea after a shipwreck
waxcloth: oilcloth; linoleum
wear: to turn a ship's stern to windward to alter its course
weatherboard: weather side of a ship
weatherly: able to sail close to the wind with little leeway
welkin: the vault of the sky; firmament; heaven; the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
wheelhouse: shelter where ship's steering wheel kept
wherry: light shallow boat; barge; light rowing boat for use in racing or for transporting goods and passengers in inland waters and harbours
whipstaff: vertical lever controlling ship's rudder
whistler: mythical bird whose whistle is fatal to the listener
wicker: work made of interlaced slender branches (especially willow branches)
wicket: small door forming part of larger door of a church or castle; small gate or door (especially one that is part of a larger door)
widdershins: counterclockwise
windbound: hindered from sailing by contrary winds
windlass: winch used to raise a ship's anchor
wistful: full of longing or unfulfilled desire
witling: one who utters markedly feeble witticisms
wivern: mythical two-legged winged monster
wold: open tract of country; a tract of open rolling country (especially upland)
wonderwork: prodigy; miracle; thaumaturgy
wormwood: something bitter, galling, or grievous
worricow: scarecrow; hobgoblin; frightening-looking person
worsted: fine closely-woven wool; a woollen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns
wrick: to twist; to sprain; to strain; twist suddenly so as to sprain
wuthering: blowing strongly with a roaring sound
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X (Xeric - Xerophytic)
Y (Yardarm - Yawl)
yardarm: either end of the yard of a square-rigged ship
yataghan: long curved knife or sabre A long Turkish knife with a curved blade having a single edge
yaw: to move unsteadily side to side; to rotate about a vertical axis
yawl: ship's small boat; sailboat carrying mainsail and one or more jibs
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Z (Zygodactylic - Zygoma)
zealot: a fervent and even militant proponent of something
zygodactylic: having two toes in front and two behind (of bird feet) having the first and fourth toes directed backward the second and third forward
zygoma: bony arch on the side of the skull e slender arch formed by the temporal process of the cheekbone that bridges to the zygomatic process of the temporal bone
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