Latitudes Glossary

Question 1

Acquit

Answer 1

To find and accused person innocent in the court of law.

Question 2

Airs

Answer 2

Actions of a person who thinks he or she is superior to others.

Question 3

Bullyragged

Answer 3

Bullied; scared someone by using force

Question 4

Campaign

Answer 4

Plan

Question 5

Carpet-bags

Answer 5

Traveling bag or suitcase made of carpet. These bags were widely used in the United States during the 1800s

Question 6

Ciphered

Answer 6

Figured out

Question 7

Congress-water

Answer 7

Salty mineral water from the Congress springs in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Question 8

Cravat

Answer 8

Necktie; slang for hangman’s noose

Question 9

Dasn’t

Answer 9

Dared not, as in dared not to try it

Question 10

Dauphin

Answer 10

Title of the eldest son of the King of France. The term was used between 1349 and the 1830s

Question 11

Delirium tremens

Answer 11

Nervous and mental disorder caused by alcoholism. Insomnia, restlessness, and hallucinations often accompany it.

Question 12

Doggery

Answer 12

Cheap saloon

Question 13

Doxolojer

Answer 13

Huck’s misuse of the word “doxolgy,” which is a hymn or prayer.

Question 14

Encores

Answer 14

Audience demands or requests for a repeat performance.

Question 15

(The) fantods

Answer 15

State of having fidgets; being nervous about something.

Question 16

Fox-fire

Answer 16

Moss or fungus that appears to glow. It usually grows on rotting wood.

Question 17

Galluses

Answer 17

Suspenders

Question 18

Galoot

Answer 18

Slang word for big, strong man who is thought to be foolish or stupid.

Question 19

Heathens

Answer 19

People who don’t believe in the God of the Bible.

Question 20

Hive

Answer 20

Hide or store in hiding

Question 21

Humbug

Answer 21

Someone who deceives or misleads

Question 22

Jour printer

Answer 22

Jour is French for “day” and came to mean “journeyman” a person trained in a trade or craft. Journeyman printers usually worked by the day or by the job.

Question 23

Layin’ on o’ hands

Answer 23

Form of Christian faith healing in which a believer lays hands on the sick person’s head and prays for God’s help.

Question 24

Meedyevil

Answer 24

Huck’s misspelling of “medieval” which refers to the Middle Ages (A.D. 400 to 1400).

Question 25

Melodeum

Answer 25

Small organ, invented in the United States

Question 26

Mesmerism

Answer 26

Hypnosis

Question 27

Muggins

Answer 27

Simple or ignorant person

Question 28

Phrenology

Answer 28

Studying the shape of a person’s head for clues or signs of intelligence and abilities.

Question 29

Preforeordestination

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Providence

Answer 30

Divine guidance or care.

Question 31

Quicksilver

Answer 31

Mercury

Question 32

Raise Cain

Answer 32

Make trouble

Question 33

Rapscallion

Answer 33

Rascal

Question 34

Rummies

Answer 34

Drunkards

Question 35

Soliloquy

Answer 35

A character’s speech that reveals inner thoughts and ideas. It is spoken while the character is alone on stage. Hamlet’s soliloquy is the famous “To Be or Not to Be” speech.

Question 36

Temperance revival

Answer 36

Religious meetings that stress toe evils of alcohol

Question 37

Tragedian

Answer 37

Actor

Question 38

Valley

Answer 38

Huck’s misspelling and mispronunciation of valet (pronounced Val lay). A valet is a servant who waits on another person.

Question 39

Yaller-boys and yaller-jackets

Answer 39

Gold coins

Question 40

Abolitionist

Answer 40

A person worked to end slavery in the United States