Glossary
Of obsolete words, or words used in an obsolete sense
| Aconiton |
A deadly poison prepared from the plant Aconitum napellus (monkshood or wolfsbane) |
| Absolute confidence or trust. |
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| Trusting |
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| Carried upside down, with the hilt below the point |
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| Baldness caused by illness |
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| Ambush |
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| Fined; a fine |
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| Dejected, vexed |
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| A gold coin worth 10 shillings |
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| Artful, clever |
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| Food |
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| Baited |
Fed |
| A musical instrument resembling a guitar, used as a bass accompaniment |
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| An iron ring fastened around the ankle of a prisoner |
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| A swaggering pimp or bully |
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| To betray, expose |
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| A sword made in Bilbao, in Spain |
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| A leather drinking vessel |
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| Secluded, out of the way |
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| Cotton, or cotton-wool used for padding out clothes. |
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| Of a coin, bent; such a coin was given as a token of affection |
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| A flaw in the weaving of cloth |
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| Boastful or threatening behaviour |
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| An exceptionally hard wood |
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| To dress finely |
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| Something spoken of widely |
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| A kind of harquebus or musket |
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| A travelling bag |
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| An extortioner, one who preys on others. |
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| Cates |
provisions |
| Tricks, deceits |
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| To take, seize |
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| To spoil or pamper a child |
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| A swindler |
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| Benefit |
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| A small prison run by the sheriff, used to hold debtors and petty offenders. |
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| To despise |
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| A colleague or accomplice, especially of a thief or swindler |
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| A pat of cow-dung |
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| A hook |
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| A small coin, which had a cross stamped on the reverse side |
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| A low-class scoundrel or ruffian |
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| a pin-cushion |
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| a knife for cutting purses |
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| To show |
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| Occupy, use up |
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| To discourse, make a statement |
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| A package of ten hides |
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| A whore |
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| A course of action |
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| A state of bewilderment or depression |
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| A summons to attend court under pain of outlawry. |
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| Suitable |
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| A gift or free sample |
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| Neatly, elegantly |
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| Thieving |
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| A woman who makes a living by preparing or spinning flax into linen thread. |
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| Marten fur |
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| Prevent, avoid |
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| A derisive snort. |
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| (Of garments) with ornamented fringes or hems |
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| Flashy finery of any kind |
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| Equipment |
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| A jibe or sarcastic crack at someone |
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| A musical instrument resembling a guitar. |
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| A rustic or yokel |
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| A prostitute or thief (or both). |
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| A wild and untameable hawk, also used of an unbiddable woman. |
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| A small gift of money |
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| Local police or watchmen |
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| Spiced wine |
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| Hippocras |
Spiced wine |
| Helped |
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| A hectoring braggart |
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| To steal, make off with |
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| Adulterous or immoral |
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| Prance or swagger |
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| A heavy blow |
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| Diarrhoea. |
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| Lose |
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| Nimbleness or skill with the hands |
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| A lover or mistress |
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| Comforting |
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| To want or desire to do something |
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| Thirteen shillings and four pence i.e. two-thirds of a pound. |
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| An official of the royal court or of the Mayor of London, whose function it was to walk ahead of the coach in procession in order to clear the way |
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| Used contemptuously for a man |
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| An opening or gap in a fence or hedge through which a. hare can escape when pursued |
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| An antidote to all poisons |
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| Handsome |
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| A dispute or quarrel |
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| Strong, well flavoured ale |
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| To hammer up the bottom of a metal container so as to reduce the amount it will hold |
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| A gold coin worth (in Greene's day) ten shillings |
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| Childhood |
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| An amorous glance or ogle |
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| An eating-house where a set meal could be had at a fixed price; the meal itself |
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| A pack of cards |
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| A beggar or vagabond |
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| Money or possessions, regarded as the root of all evil. |
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| A miser |
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| a pillow case |
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| A pocket on the inside of a skirt or petticoat. |
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| A dagger |
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| Half a gallon |
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| To show oneself off |
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| Pranker |
Thieves' slang for a lively horse |
| Soldier's rations |
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| A whore |
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| Cancelled, discharged |
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| Exclusive |
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| Money |
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| A cur dog |
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| A curve shot |
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| The bill |
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| Powdered cinders. |
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| The six on a die. |
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| A medicinal herb |
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| An expression used before, or instead of, a word or words considered offensive. |
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| Since |
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| To detect, find out |
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| Pretty |
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| Soldiers of fortune. |
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| Syphilis |
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| To succeed in obtaining. |
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| Speeder |
One who is successful in love |
| A kind of cloth |
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| A decoy; something (or someone) who distracts the attention of a victim |
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| The upright of a window-frame. |
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| Literally, a hole in which a hunted animal can hide; metaphorically, a loophole, or "get-out." |
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| A liquid cosmetic |
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| To beat someone with a club |
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| Taverns or houses where backgammon was played |
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| A session of the law courts |
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| Termer |
A litigant in court |
| A lively tune or song |
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| A whore |
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| A deceitful trick |
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| A treacherous person |
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| A whore |
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| Trugging-house |
A brothel |
| Sewn in |
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| Sale |
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| Vent |
The business of selling a commodity |
| A thrust or wound in fencing |
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| To swindle |
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| A musical instrument resembling a small piano |
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| The sound of a whinnying horse |
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| Preparing |
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| A young man |
