Glossary

astrakhan Skin from unborn or newborn lambs. It has a delicate, glossy, tightly curled fleece.

blacking Boot polish, or a sticky mixture used to polish cast-iron fire-grates and stoves.

cholera An infectious disease, carried by polluted water. It caused severe diarrhoea and was often fatal.

dame school Nursery school or first school, usually run by an older woman in her own home.

dapper Exceedingly neat, smart and trim.

esquire A title used in the past to show gentlemanly status.

genteel Self-consciously, unnaturally, refined spech or manners.

gnomic Brief, obscure, mysterious.

Luddites Skilled craft-workers who rioted because they feared unemployment after new machines were invented to do their jobs, such as weaving cloth.

mesmerism A theory developed by Austrian doctor Anton Mesmer. He believed in a force called ‘animal magnetism’ that could be used to cure some illnesses.

pawn To hand over valuable goods in return for a short-term loan.

prison-hulks Old, worn-out sailing ships, used as floating prisons.

rakes Rich people who irresponsibly seek entertainment and pleasure.

rookeries Crowded city slums occupied by poor people.

steward Male manager, in charge of running a large household.