The Complete Alice in Wonderland (68 page)

It is hoped that this combined glossary of Victoriana and Carrolliana will be helpful to the last. Please enjoy, and thank you for reading
The Complete Alice in Wonderland
!

Bandersnatch:
A dangerous predatory creature which pounces out and snatches unfortunate victims away.

Barrister:
A gentleman who gives expert legal opinions and pleadings in a court of law.

Bathing-Machine:
A wheeled enclosure, used to allow modest sea-bathing in absolute seclusion.

Beamish:
Joyful, celebratory and idealistic.

Bellman:
A town crier, who makes public announcements on behalf of the court (“Oyez,” “Hear ye, hear ye,” etc.).

Blotting-Paper:
A highly absorbent type of paper, used to quickly mop up ink stains.

Bolster:
A long narrow pillow, typically used as a headrest or back support.

Boojum:
A Snark which has grown so powerful, so convinced of its own reality, that dreamers who behold it are snuffed out of existence.

Boots:
Someone who shines and blackens boots for a living.

Borogove:
A shaggy, long-legged bird, which looks like a mixture of a parrot, a toucan and a flamingo.

Bowsprit:
The long pole that projects from the prow (front) of a ship to secure and extend the rigging.

Bridecake:
A Victorian wedding cake.

Brillig:
The time in the afternoon (4:00 PM) when you begin boiling things for dinner. The word may come from “broil,” but may also signify “bright light.”

Brooch:
A clasp or pin, which keeps a wrapping garment (such as a cloak or shawl) comfortably in place. The brooch is typically separate from the garment so that its position can be adjusted to allow for changes in wind, weather and so forth.

Ca’n’t:
The Victorian contraction for “cannot.”
 
(The apostrophes, as placed, are Carroll’s preference.)

Callay, Callooh:
Calls of celebration, such as “Huzzah!”

Castling:
A move in chess, in which the rooks are moved to protect the king from attack. (In Looking-Glass Chess, castling involves simultaneous movement of the queens.)

Caucus-Race:
A joke made on English political practices. A caucus is a meeting of members belonging to the same political party, while a race is a contest between political rivals. A caucus-race, then, is a pointless (but energetic!) contest between political allies.

Chimney-Piece:
The mantle shelf over a fireplace.

Coal-Scuttle:
A bucket used to store coal inside of a home or other building.

Comfits:
Small Victorian candies, typically made with spices, fruit, nuts or other flavorful additions.

Contrariwise:
“In opposition of that,” or “On the contrary.”

Crab:
A sloppy oar-stroke, which causes the water to pull at the oar (and thereby slowing movement and causing problems for the person stroking with the oar).

Cravat:
A formal neckband worn by gentlemen in place of a tie.

Cucumber-Frame:
A small greenhouse-like structure, used to accelerate the growth of cucumbers.

Curiouser:
Even more curious than curious. Famously bad English; we are left to wonder whether Carroll was affectionately quoting Alice Liddell.

Currants:
Berries used in decorative foods.

Cut:
To socially slight someone by either failing to acknowledge their greeting, or pretending not to know them.

Daisy-Chain:
A laurel, bracelet or string of daisies, created by picking the flowers and tying or weaving their stems together.

Deal Box:
A small Victorian box, used to carry linen, keepsakes or miscellaneous items.

Earl:
A member of the English nobility. Historically, an Earl is more powerful than a Baron, but less powerful than a Duke or Marquis.

Edgar Atheling:
The last member of the royal house of Cerdic, of Wessex. He was proclaimed king in 1066 A.D., but never crowned.

Edwin:
The Earl of Mercia in 1066 A.D. Along with his younger brother Morcar, he supported Edgar Atheling against the Normans.

Esq.:
An abbreviation for Esquire (an unofficial formal title taken by someone of high, but not noble, status).

Extinquisher:
A Victorian candle snuffer.

Feather:
A gentle oar stroke that causes a boat to move through the water in rapid, controlled fashion. Compare Crab.

Fender:
A protective screen that fits the base of the fireplace.

Fiddle-De-Dee:
An expression of impatience or mild annoyance.

Fiddlestick:
Informal. Roughly translated, “I don’t care what they say.”

Finger-Post:
A trail- or road-side sign post, pointing the direction to a particular town or feature.

Frabjous:
A portmanteau of “fabulous” and “joyous.”
 
A “frabjous day,” therefore, is a momentously happy one, whereupon celebrations will occur.

Frumenty:
A dish similar to oatmeal, typically consisting of milk and boiled wheat.

Frumious:
A portmanteau of “fuming” and “furious.”

Fudge:
An informal interjection, meaning “nonsense.”

Galumph:
A portmanteau of “galloping” and “triumph”; in other words, to proudly walk in a thoroughly rambunctious manner.

Gimble:
To move in a circular fashion, reminiscent of a gimlet (a small metal tool).

Gimlet:
A small hand tool, used for drilling holes in leather, wood or cloth.

Going Messages:
The act of serving as either a messenger or postman on behalf of a superior.

Grog:
A mariner’s alcoholic drink, consisting of watered-down beer or rum.

Gyre:
To move in a circular fashion without losing one’s balance, like a gyroscope.

Haddock:
A food fish, popularly used in fish and chips.

Hansom-Cab:
A buggy pulled by a single horse.

Hearth-Rug:
A heavy floor rug positioned in front of the fireplace.

Helmsman:
The mariner who stands at the wheel and steers the ship.

Jabberwock:
A nonesuch draconian monster, which apparently haunted the world of Wonderland and Looking-Glass Land in the age of the Anglo-Saxons.

Jabberwocky:
A poem written by Lewis Carroll. As a point of distinction, “Jabberwocky” refers to the poem, and “Jabberwock” is the name of the monster itself.

Joint:
A leg of meat.

Jubjub Bird:
A dangerous predatory bird, primarily found lurking and hooting on Jabberwock Isle.

Kid-Gloves:
Gloves made from the leather of young goat.

Larboard:
Port; the left-hand side of a ship. (In later times, it was decided that “larboard” was too easy to mistake with “starboard,” especially during storms.)

Limed Twig:
A twig covered in sticky birdlime, used to catch birds and other small animals (such as crabs).

Lory:
A small, brightly-plumaged parrot.

Macassar-Oil:
Victorian hair oil, used by gentlemen.

Manxome:
Fearsome and island-dwelling. The word is probably derived from “Manx,” meaning “from the Isle of Man.”

Marmalade:
A drink made from boiled fruit preserves and sugar.

Menai Bridge:
One of the earliest modern suspension bridges, built in 1826.

Mimsiest:
The most flimsy and miserable state possible for a living creature.

Mimsy:
A portmanteau of “flimsy” and “miserable.”

Mince-Pie:
A pastry filled with mincemeat (a mixture of spiced beef, fruit and distilled spirits).

Mock Turtle:
A curious creature of Wonderland, with the body of a turtle and the head of a calf.

Mome:
An archaic contraction of “from home,” which is to say “lost.”

Morcar:
The Earl of Northumbria in 1066 A.D. Along with his elder brother Edwin, he supported Edgar Atheling against the Normans.

Muchness:
A lavish amount of something; or, just extravagance in general.

Mutton-Pie:
A lamb’s meat pie.

Natural History:
The science of researching plants and animals, primarily through observation (as opposed to experimentation).

Northumbria:
A kingdom of medieval England, prior to the Norman invasion. The land is currently known as the County of Northumberland.

Nosegay:
A small bouquet of flowers, typically given as a gift.

Nurse:
In Victorian use, a female servant entrusted with the care of the children.

Outgrabe:
A strange sound of surprise or despair, which sounds like bellowing, whistling and sneezing, all at once.

Papers:
Victorian hair curlers.

Plaster:
A small bandage.

Portmanteau:
A suitcase which has two identically-sized compartments. (In Humpty Dumpty’s usage, a portmanteau is a word with two meanings, or a word made up of two other words; such as “slithy” from “lithe” and “slimy.”)

Quadrille:
A formal and difficult Victorian dance, emphasizing the importance of pairs’ coordination.

Railway-Share:
A stock investing in trains and railroads. Due to the rapid and wild growth of the English rail system in Victorian times, railway-shares were potentially lucrative but very risky investments.

Rath:
Greenish, pig-like creatures which tend to wander about in an aimless fashion, squealing all the while.

Sal-Volatile:
Smelling salts.

Sealing-Wax:
Wax which is melted and then allowed to cool, creative a seal to keep a letter or scroll closed.

Set to Partners:
A slight formal dance move, in which two partners face one another and hop from one foot to the other.

Sha’n’t:
The Victorian contraction for “shall not.”
 
(The apostrophes, as placed, are Carroll’s preference.)

Shavings:
Small pieces of wood.

Slithy:
A portmanteau of “lithe” and “slimy,” with a hint of “slithering.”

Snark:
A fabulous creature, particularly found on Jabberwock Isle. Snarks may be created from the stray fears and secret doubts of adventurous dreamers.

Snarked:
To be stuck in an impossible way, or in an impossible place. (Alice could be said to be “snarked” when she falls into Wonderland.)

Snicker-Snack:
The sound and motion of a very sharp blade which is being used in battle. The term comes from the “snickersnee,” an antiquated combat knife.

Soup-Tureen:
A large, deep serving dish.

Spright:
A small fairy (sprite, pixie). In Carroll’s poetic use, this probably means “sprightliness,” or animated and vivacious gestures.

Starboard:
The right-hand side of a ship. Compare Larboard.

Stigand:
An English churchman prior to the Norman conquest.

Stuff:
Informal interjection, meaning “rubbish.”

Suet:
Hard fatty tissue in a food meat (such as mutton or beef).

Suety:
With the consistency of suet.

Sugar-Loaf:
A tall, conical traveler’s hat, typically worn while riding.

Teetotum:
A spinning toy top, decorated with numbers.

Thingumbob:
A nonsense name of jovial familiarity, somewhat warmer than “Hey you.”

Tipple:
In Carroll’s use, “tipple” means to tip a boat over in rippling water.

Tove:
Badger-like creatures which have corkscrew-shaped snouts (to facilitate rapid burrowing).

Transportation:
The act of deporting convicted criminals (typically, in England’s case, to Australia).

Treacle:
Medicinal mineral water or molasses.

Tulgey Wood:
“Tulgey” can be understood to mean “tumored” and “bulgy,” which means an ancient forest filled with disturbingly twisted trees.