VOCABULARY LIST / HISTORICAL TERMS

aversion - a dislike for something

the big muddy - the Mississippi River

blackguard - to insult

bowie - a Bowie knife; a long bladed knife.

bullyragged - chastised

consumption - tuberculosis

corn pone - corn meal

crockery - dishes; china

curry comb - a metal hair comb

cynicism - being skeptical of the honest nature of something

delirium tremens - tremors/shaking common to alcoholics

determinism - believing that every event is for a reason, not by chance

dialect - a regional language

dismal - depressing

draft - a method of transferring money using a bank note

eaves - part of a roof

flapdoodle - nonsense

flighty - easily excited or anxious

garret - attic

harrow - a farm implement used to break up the soil

hew - to cut

high-toned - snobby

hogshead - a large barrel used to store material

impudent - impolite

ingenious - creative

juice harp - a musical instrument (jew's harp)

lay in ambuscade - to wait in hiding to ambush

mesmerism - hypnotism; mysterious

mud-cat - a catfish

muggins - a foolish person

mullater - a mullato; mixed-race

notion - a belief

obsequies - funeral services

parable - story that tells a moral lesson

pommel - to beat something

pow-wow - to have a meeting or discussion

put in her shovel - to offer an opinion

raspy - harsh

row - argument

sap head - a foolish person

seedy - run-down

singular - curious

skiff - a small boat

slough - a shallow watery muddy area

soul-butter - flattering remarks

sultry - hot and humid

thrash - to beat

tow-head - a sand bar on the river

transformation - a change in somethings characteristics

trot line - a fishing device; long length of line with baited hooks

two bits - 25 cents or a quarter dollar

victuals - food

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