The Prisoner of Zenda (39 page)

gravelled
VERB
gravelled is an old term which means to baffle or defeat someone
Gravelled the pastors of the German Church
(
Doctor Faustus 1.1
by Christopher Marlowe)

grinder
NOUN
a grinder was a private tutor
but that when he had had the happiness of marrying Mrs Pocket very early in his life, he had impaired his prospects and taken up the calling of a Grinder
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

gruel
NOUN
gruel is a thin, watery cornmeal or oatmeal soup
and the little saucepan of gruel (Scrooge had a cold in his head) upon the hob.
(
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens)

guinea, half a
NOUN
a half guinea was ten shillings and sixpence
but lay out half a guinea at Ford's
(
Emma
by Jane Austen)

gull
VERB
gull is an old term which means to fool or deceive someone
Hush, I'll gull him supernaturally
(
Doctor Faustus 3.4
by Christopher Marlowe)

gunnel
NOUN
the gunnel, or gunwhale, is the upper edge of a boat's side
But he put his foot on the gunnel and rocked her
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)

gunwale
NOUN
the side of a ship
He dipped his hand in the water over the boat's gunwale
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

Gytrash
NOUN
a Gytrash is an omen of misfortune to the superstitious, usually taking the form of a hound
I remembered certain of Bessie's tales, wherein figured a North-of-England spirit, called a ‘Gytrash'
(
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë)

hackney-cabriolet
NOUN
a two-wheeled carriage with four seats for hire and pulled by a horse
A hackney-cabriolet was in waiting; with the same vehemence which she had exhibited in addressing Oliver, the girl pulled him in with her, and drew the curtains close.
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

hackney-coach
NOUN
a four-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle for hire
The twilight was beginning to close in, when Mr. Brownlow alighted from a hackney-coach at his own door, and knocked softly.
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

haggler
NOUN
a haggler is someone who travels from place to place selling small goods and items
when I be plain Jack Durbeyfield, the haggler
(
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
by Thomas Hardy)

halter
NOUN
a halter is a rope or strap used to lead an animal or to tie it up
I had of course long been used to a halter and a headstall
(
Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell)