Vocabulary from "Venetia", 2/2

[x_los]

Here's the terms for the second half of Venetia. 

***

Ninnyhammer: a fool or simpleton; ninny. (https://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-nin1.htm)

Moonshine: A matter or mouthful of moonshine; a trifle, nothing. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/m/moonshine.html)

Standish: sort of a desk tray for inkwells, https://www.acsilver.co.uk/shop/pc/Sterling-Silver-Gallery-Inkstand-by-William-Hutton-Sons-Antique-Victorian-1900-p11050.htm

Havey-cavey: Wavering, doubtful, shilly shally. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/h/havy-cavy.html)

Corkbrained: Light-headed, foolish. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/c/cork-brained.html)

Cod’s head: A stupid fellow. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/c/cods-head.html)

Billet: just a letter

In suds: In the suds; in trouble, in a disagreeable situation, or involved in some difficulty. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/s/suds.html)

In bad loaf: To be in bad loaf, to be in a disagreeable situation, or in trouble. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/l/loaf.html)

Scarborough warning: “A warning given too late to be taken advantage of. In 1557 Thomas Stafford seized Scarborough Castle before the townsfolk had the least intelligence of his approach. After taking possession he advised them to fly from the town and leave their belongings.”

Take a pet: In a pet; in a passion or miff. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/p/pet.html)

Fiddler: carriage driver

Termagant: a harsh-tempered or overbearing woman; an imaginary deity of violent and turbulent character, often appearing in morality plays.

Accoucheurs: a male midwife.

hors concours: engaged in a contest but not competing for a prize; LITERARY unrivalled; unequalled.

Groat: the traditional name of a defunct English and Irish silver coin worth four pence

capable de tout: capable of anything, unpredictable.

Run sly: guessable from context, but can’t find anything more about it

Sap-skull: A stupid person; a saphead

Ukase: (in tsarist Russia) a decree with the force of law; an arbitrary or peremptory command.

Tambour frame: https://www.letempsdebroder.com/en/articles-en/history-of-the-tambour-frame/

Worsted: from context, gotten the better of; can’t find more about it

Beef-witted: Stupid; dull. adjective.

Rub off: something like ‘duck out’ from context

Resty pup: from context, resty as in restive, restless?

Stand buff: To stand BUFF, is a Phrase used of an obstinate hardened Rogue, who in a Robbery will not be daunted at Resistance or Opposition, or leave his Com-rogues in the Lurch, or a hardened Rogue who will confess nothing. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/NathanBailey-CantingDictionary/b/to-stand-buff.html)

Voluptuary: a person devoted to luxury and sensual pleasure

Plucking a crow: An issue to discuss—typically one that is a source of annoyance for the speaker. Bone to pick.

Rack up at an inn: from context, to stay there, but the origin is unclear

Burnt feathers: used like smelling salts (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0015587X.2020.1763624)

Spindle-shanks: long thin legs, a person with long thin legs.

Dyspepsia: Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, refers to discomfort or pain that occurs in the upper abdomen, often after eating or drinking.

A swell of the first stare: a very fashionable man, but limited information beyond this

Tulips of fashion: A pink was a man at the height of fashion and a tulip was a fine fellow who dressed well. (https://janeausten.co.uk/blogs/uncategorized/bucks-beaus-dandies)

Animadvert: pass criticism or censure on; speak out against.

Sleeveless errand: https://blog.oup.com/2017/04/sleeveless-errand-origins/

Hans Town: a bit of Kensington and Chelsea, https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/hans-town/

Quarter sessions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_quarter_sessions

Custos Rotulorum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custos_rotulorum

High in the instep: Arrogant; snobbish; overly proud; and very much aware of social rank. (https://www.wordsandphrasesfromthepast.com/word-of-the-day/high-in-the-instep)

Nigaude: nitwit, https://en.bab.la/dictionary/french-english/nigaude

Roue: a debauched man, especially an elderly one

Indian muslin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslin

Sprig: http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2015/10/stars-in-time-warp-42-sprigged-muslins.html

Rip: A miserable rip; a poor, lean, worn-out horse. A shabby mean fellow. (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/r/rip.html)

Court-card: https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/c/court-card.html

Rung a fine peal over me: https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/t/to-ring-a-peal.html

A pucker: https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/p/pucker.html

Ratafia cream: http://recipevintage.blogspot.com/2012/01/ratafia-cream-1851.html

Well to live: Somewhat drunk; tipsy. (https://www.lexico.com/definition/well_to_live)

Foxed: Intoxicated

Jug-bitten: drunk

drunk as a wheelbarrow: https://www.etymonline.com/word/drunk

castaway pea-goose: drunk, then “A silly person (usually a female).”

Rout-party: In Georgian England a "rout" or rout-party was a relatively informal party given by the well-off, to which large numbers of people were invited. The term covered a variety of styles of event, but they tended to be basic, and a guest could not count on any music, food, drink, cards, and dancing being available, though any of these might be. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rout)

Top-of-the-Trees: in the highest position of a profession

goes upon the strut: guessable, but not quite transparent

tinker’s damn: Something that is insignificant or worthless. (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tinkers-damn.html)

Hum: here, short for humbug (https://words.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/t/to-hum.html)

 

Tic: guessable, but not transparent