Huck Finn Glossary Flashcards
To find an accused person innocent in a court of law
Acquit
Person who worked to end slavery in the United States
Abolitionist
Actions of a person who thinks he or she is superior to others
Airs
Bullied; scared someone by using force
Bullyragged
Plan
Campaign
Traveling bag or suitcase made of carpet. These bags were widely used in the United States during the 1800s.
Carpet-bags
Figured out
Ciphered
Salty mineral water from the Congress springs in Saratoga Springs, New York
Congress-water
Necktie; slang for hangman’s noose
Cravat
Dared not, as in dared not to try it
Dasn’t
Title of the eldest son of the King of France. The term was used between 1349 and the 1830s.
Dauphin
Nervous and mental disorder caused by alcoholism. Insomnia, restlessness, and hallucinations often accompany it.
Delirium tremens
Cheap saloon
Doggery
Huck’s misuse of the word “doxology,” which is a hymn or prayer.
Doxolojer
Audience demands or requests for a repeat performance.
Encores
State of having the fidgets; being nervous about something.
(The) fantods
Moss or fungus that appears to glow. It usually grows on rotting wood.
Fox-fire
Suspenders
Galluses
Slang word for a big, strong man who is thought to be foolish or stupid.
Galoot
People who don’t believe in the God of the Bible.
Heathens
Hide or store in hiding
Hive
Someone who deceives or misleads.
Humbug
Jour is French for “day” and came to mean “journeyman,” a person trained in a trade or craft. Journeymen printers usually worked by the day or by the job.
Jour printer
Form of Christian faith-healing in which a believer lays hands on the sick person’s head and prays for God’s help.
Layin’ on o’ hands
Huck’s misspelling “medieval,” which refers to the Middle Ages (A.D. 400 to 1400).
Meedyevil
Small organ, invented in the United States
Melodeum
Hypnosis
Mesmerism
Simple or ignorant person
Muggins
Studying the shape of a person’s head for clues or signs of intelligence and abilities.
Phrenology
A term that Huck made up. It is a combination of “foreordination” and “predestination.” Both are religious teachings by Calvinists. The teachings express the belief that God has already decided who will go to Heaven and who will be damned.
Preforeordestination
Divine guidance or care
Providence
Mercury
Quicksilver
Make trouble
Raise Cain
Rascal
Rapscallion
Drunkards
Rummies
A character’s speech that reveals inner thoughts and ideas. It is spoken while the character is alone on stage. Hamlet’s is the famous “To Be or Not To Be” speech.
Soliloquy
Religious meetings that stress the evils of alcohol.
Temperance revival
Actor
Tragedian
Huck’s misspelling and mispronunciation of valet (pronounced, val lay). A valet is a servant who waits on another person.
Valley
Gold coins
Yaller-boys and yaller-jackets
