GLOSSARY

bolster  – a long pillow or cushion that is often put across the bed underneath the regular pillows

chimney-piece  – the shelf that projects from wall above the fireplace, also known as the mantlepiece

cinders  – the burnt-out fragments that are left after a wood or coal-burning fire

cravat  – a piece of silk or other fine cloth worn by men round the neck in a slipknot

fender  – a low metal guard surrounding an open fire to keep falling coals in the hearth

farthing  – a quarter of an old penny

finger-posts  – sign-posts

frumenty  – a sweet, spicy porridge made from wheat

gimblet  – a handtool for making holes

hearth  – the floor of a fireplace

mayhap  – perhaps or maybe

memorandum  – a written reminder

portmanteau  – a new word, formed by joining two other words and combining their meaning: e.g. ‘smog’ is a blend of ‘smoke’ and ‘fog’

proboscis  – a long, flexible tubular snout or mouthpart of an animal, such as an elephant’s trunk

sal-volatile  – smelling salts used to revive a person who is feeling faint

teetotum  – a spinning-top toy