The Iberian Flame

Glossary

aviso- small craft employed for fleet communications, not combat

binnacle- wooden case protecting the compass with a light at night

blashy- blustery, rainy weather

bobbery- high jinks

bonne bouche- sweetmeat

braxy- an inflammatory disease of sheep

bumbat- a boat carrying provisions or small merchandise out to ships on speculation

cabal- a clandestine association for purposes not always benign

carcass- a shell of iron containing incendiary materials

cartel- an official agreement covering, for instance, the exchange of prisoners

catching crabs- an oar plied clumsily that catches the water instead of a smooth in and out pull

conjunct- term used in Kydd’s day for amphibious operations

Cortes- a form of legislative assembly in Iberia

Crapaud- French for toad; pejorative term by an Englishman for a Frenchman

dimber- handsome-looking

El Escorial- the historical residence of the King of Spain; also a monastery, basilica, pantheon, etc.

fascines- bundles of twigs and branches bound together to form a quick blocking of a breach

Fencibles- a body of men raised for local maritime defence of the realm

foul-weather jack- sailor who relishes bad weather for its grandeur and spectacle

gibbous moon- when more than half but less than full

Gunter’s scale- a general-purpose ruler in navigation with one side in natural, the other logarithmic lines

hard tack- ‘bread’ that is long-lasting, a form of biscuit as opposed to ‘soft-tommy’ soft baked bread

hulks- vessels condemned from sea employment, used for housing convicts and others

in a bumper- a toast with glasses filled to brimming

Indiaman- a ship employed by the East India Company for trade; usually with rich cargoes

kilderkin- a small cask containing eighteen gallons

larboard- to the left (later ‘port’) as opposed to starboard, to the right

league- three sea miles

lee- to the side downwind

lee shore- if the coast is downwind from a vessel, a dangerous situation if the ship is disabled

Mamelukes- a military body consisting of Circassian slaves employed by various Muslim countries

mandrel- a metal bar or fitment around which a material may be shaped

mirador- a decorated observation tower

missal- a Roman Catholic book containing all the prayers and responses needed to celebrate Mass

mizzen halliards- those lines responsible for raising and lowering sails on the mizzen mast

nob- a person of wealth and social standing

noggin- a unit of liquid measure equal to one quarter of a pint

objets de bizarrerie- a curiosity

offing- to seaward; keeping clear of tricky inshore waters

ostler- one employed to take care of horses at an inn or other establishment

pannier market- country stall market where sale goods are limited to what can be carried on an animal pannier

parole- freedom granted an officer for his word of honour he will not abscond

pavillon- French flag

pelf- riches, lucre

pillion- riding behind

pistol-shot- a distance of twenty-five yards

poltroon- base or cowardly character

poop- the smaller deck raised above the quarterdeck in vessels larger than a frigate

porth- a sheltered, sandy cove where a coasting vessel might informally land or take on cargo

raise the wind- have such an energetic and full-on celebration to be the centre of a vortex of wind

reales- Spanish: twenty

reales- to the peso, about a hundred to a pound sterling

roadstead- offshore anchorage outside a harbour where dues need not be paid

roil- to be in a state of turbulence or agitation

rope-hooky- an affected curl to the fingers about the palm to flaunt one’s deep-sea mariner’s credentials

rummer- a type of glass for drinking rum or whisky

scowbunker- pejorative term for a seaman fit to serve only in a lowly scow

sea cant- jargon of the sea not understandable to the common folk

shabraque- ornamental saddle-cloth distinguishing first-line cavalry

shicer- a shady character bound to trick you

soogee bucket- a receptacle to carry the strong soda-based cleaner for paint or wood aboard ship

sorrel- brownish-orange to light-brown-coloured horse

sottish- inclined to bibulousness, sunk in one’s cups

spout lanthorn- smugglers guide light; a long tube allows the light to be seen only from one precise direction

stingo- strong beer

strut-noddy- a poseur who doesn’t realise what a ridiculous figure he is

surcoat- outer coat or gown over valuable inner garb

tingle- soft copper rectangle still used to apply a temporary patch to a hole in a wooden boat

van- the leading position in a fleet progressing in line ahead

waist- that part of the main-deck between the fore and main hatchways, part-of-ship for new or worn seamen

Make sure you don’t miss the next adventure in Julian Stockwin’s swashbuckling series

A Sea of Gold ( Thomas Kydd 21)