Walter Scott - Redgauntlet

MARIUS, a Roman general, leader in the civil war against Sulla.

MEAR, mare.

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN, the writing seen by Belshazzar (Daniel V. 25).

MENYIE, retinue.

MERIDIAN, noon; a mid-day drink.

MERK, an old Scottish coin=1s. 1 1/2d. in English money.

MESSAN, a lap-dog, a little dog.

MICKLE, much.

MIFFED, piqued.

MILLAR, Philip Millar, author of several works on gardening.

MINOS, a law-giver of Crete, afterwards set as a judge in Hades.

MISHANTER, mischief.

MISPRISION OF TREASON, concealment of treason.

MOIDART, a loch in Inverness, where Prince Charles Stuart landed, 1745.

MOIDORE, a gold coin of Portugal worth about L1 7s. 0d.

MORE SOLITO, in the accustomed manner.

MORE TUO, in your own way.

MUILS, slippers.

MUISTED, scented.

MUTCHKIN, English pint.

NE QUID NIMIS, do nothing in excess.

NEGATUR, lit. 'it is denied,' I deny it.

NEGOTIORUM GESTOR, manager of affairs.

NEREID, a sea-nymph.

NIGRI SUNT HYACINTHI, irises are dark flowers.

NIHIL NOVIT IN CAUSA, nothing is known of the case.

NIPPERKIN, a small cup, a liquid measure.

NOM DE GUERRE, professional name.

NOMINE DAMNI, in the name of damages.

NONJURING, not swearing allegiance to the government, loyal to the Stuarts.

NOSCITUR A SOCIO, he is known by his friend.

NOVITER REPERTUM, newly discovered.

OHE, JAM SATIS, oh, enough.

OMNE IGNOTUM PRO TERRIBILI, the unknown is always held in terror.

OMNI SUSPICIONE MAJOR, above all suspicion.

ORESTES AND PYLADES, DAMON AND PYTHIAS, classical examples of friendship.

ORIGO MALI, cause of the evil.

ORNATURE, adornment, decoration.

ORRA, odd.

OVERTURE, opening.

OWERLAY, cravat.

OYE, a grandson.

PACK OR PEEL, to traffic.

PANDE MANUM, hold out your hand.

PANDECTS, a digest of Roman law.

PAR EXCELLENCE, above all, specially.

PAR ORDONNANCE DU MEDECIN, by the doctor's orders.

PARMA NON BENE SELECTA, a shield, or defence, not well chosen.

PAROCHINE, parish.

PATER NOSTER, Our Father, the Lord's Prayer.

PATRIA POTESTAS, paternal authority.

PAWMIE, a stroke on the palm of the hand.

PEACH, betray, speak out.

PEEL-HOUSE, a small fortified house, or tower.

PEGASUS, the winged horse of the Muses.

PENDENTE LITE, whilst the case is proceeding.

PENDICLES, articles, small parts.

PER AMBAGES, by circumlocution, in a roundabout way.

PER CONTRA, on the other side.

PERDU, concealed, lost.

PERIPATETIC, walking, wandering.

PESSIMI EXEMPLI, the worst possible example.

PETTLE, a plough-staff.

PHALARIS'S BULL, a furnace shaped like a bull into which the

tyrant Phalaris used to cast his victims.

PISCATOR, fisherman.

PISTOLE, a gold coin worth about 16s.

PLACK, a small copper coin, equal to one-third of an English penny.

PLEACH, interweave.

PLICATIONS, folds, wrinkles.

PLOY, a frolic.

POCK-PUDDING, a contemptuous term applied to Englishmen

POINT D'ESPAGNE, Spanish lace.

POKE, pocket.

PORT ROYAL, a monastery near Paris which became the headquarters

of the Jansenists, the opponents of the Jesuits.

POSSE COMITATUS, the civil force of a county.

POUND SCOTS, worth about 1s. 8d. English money.

PRACTIQUES, practices of the profession.

PRECOGNITION, examination prior to prosecution.

PRECOGNOSCED, to take precognition of.

PRETERMIT, omit, pass by.

PURSUIVANTS, an officer-at-arms, in rank below a herald.

QUAERE, query, a question.

QUEAN, a young woman, a wench.

QUI VIVE, alert, cautious.

QUID, piece of tobacco to chew.

QUID TIBI CUM LYRA, what hast thou to do with the lyre?

QUORUM, the body of justices, so called from a word used in the commission appointing them.

RANT, a noisy dance-tune.

RAPPAREE, an Irish plunderer; a worthless fellow,

RATIONE OFFICII, by virtue of his position.

RATTLING, lively, brisk.

RAX, stretch.

REAMING, frothing, foaming.

REDD, clear up, tidy.

REGIAM MAJESTATEM, a collection of Scotch laws.

REIVER, robber.

REMEDIUM JURIS, legal remedy.

RIGDUM-FUNNIDOS, a courtier in H. Carey's burlesque,

CHRONONHOTONTHOLOGOS.

RIPE, search.

RUDAS, a scold, a virago.

RUG, a share, a good mouthful.

SANCTA WINIFREDA, ORA PRO NOBIS, Saint Winifred, pray for us.

SARTUM ATQUE TECTUM, repaired and covered.

SAT EST, it is enough.

SAWNEY, a nickname for a Scotchman.

SCARBOROUGH WARNING, the blow before the threat.

SCOWP, quaff.

SCRUB, the name of a footman in the BEAUX' STRATAGEM (Geo.

Farquhar, 1704).

SCULDUDDERY, loose, immoral.

SEALGH, seal,

SEA-MAWS, sea-mews.

SECUNDUM ARTEM, according to the rules of his art.

SEDERUNT, a sitting of the courts.

SEMPLE, simple, not of gentle birth,

SHILPIT, weak; poor, shabby.

SHINGLES, thin boards used for roofs.

SI NON CASTE, CAUTE TAMEN, if not for virtue's sake, yet for caution.

SIB, kin.

SIGMA, the Greek S.

SINE DIE, without a date, indefinitely.

SIS MEMOR MEI, be mindful of me.

SKELLOCH, screech.

SKINKER, a server of liquor.

SKIRL, to scream.

SKIVIE, harebrained.

SLEEKIT, smooth.

SLOKEN, quench.

SNEESHING, snuff.

SNELL, sharp, terrible.

SNICKERS, sniggers.

SOCIETAS EST MATER DISCORDIARUM, partnership is the mother of quarrels.

SOLITAIRE, an ornament for the neck.

SOLON, the law-giver of Athens.

SONSY, good-humoured, sensible.

SORT, to chastise; to manage.

SORTES VIRGILIANAE, Virgilian lots; opening the works of Virgil at random and taking the first passage read for counsel.

SOUGH, a breath, a chant.

SOUPLE, active; supple in mind or body.

SOUTER'S CLOD, a kind of coarse black bread.

SPATTERDASHES, coverings for the legs to protect them from mud.

SPEER, ask.

SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE, have an extra allowance of spirits.

SPLORE, a frolic, quarrel.

SPRATTLE, struggle, scramble.

SPRING, a merry tune.

SPRUSH, spruce.

SPULE-BLADE, shoulder blade,

SPUNK, courage, fire: SPUNKS, matches.

STEND, take long steps.

STEWARTRY, territory in Scotland administered by a steward.

STIBBLER, a divinity student, a probationer.

STILTS, plough-handles.

STUNKARD, sullen, obstinate.

SUA QUEMQUE TRAHIT VOLUPTAS, his own peculiar pleasure allures each.

SURTOUT, a tight-fitting, broad-skirted outer coat.

SWIPES, small beer.

TAES, toes.

TALIS QUALIS, of some kind.

TAM MARTE QUAM MERCURIO, as much devoted to Mars as to Mercury (as much a soldier as a pleader).

TASS, a glass.

TAU, the Greek: T.

TERRA FIRMA, firm earth.

TESTE ME PER TOTUM NOCTEM VIGILANTE, I am witness as I was awake all night.

TETE-A-TETE, a private conversation.

THAIRM, catgut.

THEMIS, the goddess of law and justice.

THIRLAGE, mortgaging of property.

THREAP, aver.

THUMBIKINS, thumbscrews, instruments of torture.

TIMOTHEUS, a famous musician.

TIPPENY, twopenny ale,

TIRTEAFUERA, a character in DON QUIXOTE, the doctor in Sancho

Panza's island government.

TITHER, the other.

TOD, a bush, a fox.

TOOM, empty.

TOUR OUT, to look about.

TOY, a linen cap; a head-dress hanging down over the shoulders.

TRANCES, passages.

TUPTOWING, beating, from the Greek verb 'tupto', to strike.

TWALPENNY, one penny sterling.

TWASOME, a pair or couple.

TYNE, loss or forfeit.

TYRO, TYRONES, beginner, beginners; novice.

UNCO, very, uncommon, strange.