A
ABATE: to shorten
ABATEMENT: diminution
ABHOR: protest; disgust
ABRIDGEMENT: a short play
ABROOK: abide
ABSEY-BOOK: a primer
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B
BACCARE: keep back
BALKED: heaped
BALLOW: a cudgel
BANK: to sail by the banks
BARM: yeast
BARN: a child
BARNACLE: a shellfish, can also produce a sea bird of the same name
BASE: a game, sometimes called Prisoners' base
BASES: a long, embroidered mantle worn by knights on horseback
BASTA: enough
BASTARD: raisin wine
BATE: flutter like a bird
BAT-FOWLING: catching birds with a clap-net by night
BATLET: a small bat, used for beating clothes
BAVIN: worthless object
BAWCOCK: a fine fellow
BAWD: procurer
BAY: space between the main timbers of the roof
BEADSMAN: one who prays for others
BEARING-CLOTH: ornate cloth which children were christened in
BEAT: to flutter like a bird; meditate
BEAVER: lower part of a helmet
BEETLE: a mallet
BEING: dwelling
BE-METE: to measure
BE-MOILED: soiled with dirt
BERGOMASK: a folk dance
BETEEM: pour out
BETID: happened
BEZONIAN: beggar
BIGGEN: a night-cap
BILBO: a sword from Bilboa, Spain
BILBOES: fetters or stocks
BILL: a bill-hook, a weapon
BIRD-BOLT: a bolt to be shot from a crossbow at birds
BISSON: blind
BLENCH: flinch
BLENT: blended
BLOOD-BOLTERED: smeared with blood
BOB: to ridicule or harass
BODGE: to botch, bungle
BODIKIN: a corrupt word used as an oath. 'Od's Bodikin,'
God's little Body
BOITIER VERT: green box
BOLLEN: swollen
BOLTED: sifted, refined
BOLTER: a sieve
BOLTING-HUTCH: a hutch in which meal was sifted
BOMBARD: a barrel, a drunkard
BOMBAST: padding
BONA-ROBA: a harlot
BOOTLESS: without boot; useless
BOOTS: bots, a kind of worm
BORE: calibre of a gun
BOSKY: covered with underwood
BOSOM: wish, heart's desire
BOTS: worms which infest livestock and horses
BOURN: a boundary
BRACE: armour for the arm
BRACH: a female hound
BRAID: lie
BRAVERY: finery; boastfulness
BRAWL: a folk dance
BREAST: voice
BREATHING: exercising
BREECHING: liable to be whipped
BREED-BATE: antagonist, quarrelsome
BREESE: loose lipped
BRIBE-BUCK: a dollar given with presents
BROCK: a contemptuous term that means
BROKE: procure
BROKEN: having lost teeth
BROTHERHOOD: trading company
BROWNIST: follower of Brown, the founder of the Independents
BRUIT: rumour
BRUSH: assault
BUCK: lye for washing clothes in
BUCK-BASKET: the basket that carries the laundry
BUCKING: washing
BUCK-WASHING: washing in lye
BUG: a spectre
BULLY-ROOK: a bragging cheater
BURGONET: a type of helmet
BUTT-SHAFT: light arrow for used for target practice
BUXOM: obedient
BY'RLAKIN: by our little Lady: an oath
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C
CADDIS: worsted galloon that resembles a caddis worm
CADE: a cask
CAGE: prison
CAIN-COLOURED: red (applied to hair)
CAITIFF: a captive, a slave; hence, a witch
CALCULATE: prophesy
CALIVER: hand-gun
CANARY: wine brought from the Canary Islands
CANDLE-WASTERS: people who sit up all night and drink
CANKER: a caterpillar
CANSTICK: candlestick
CAPOCCHIA: someone who is simple
CARACK: a large cargo ship
CARBONADO: meat scotched for broiling
CARKANET: a necklace
CATLING: cat-gut
CAUTEL: deceit
CAUTELOUS: insidious
CAVALERO: a cavalier, gentleman
CERTES: for certain
CESS: reckoning
CHAMBERER: effeminate man
CHANSON: a song
CHARACTERY: handwriting
CHARGE-HOUSE: a free-school
CHARLES' WAIN: Constellation called the Big Dipper or Ursa Major
CHARNECO: a sweet wine
CHAUDRON: entrails
CHEQUE: falconry term that means to go after improper game
CHERRY-PIT: game played with cherrystones
CHEVERIL: kid leather
CHEWIT: cough
CHILDING: pregnant
CH'ILL: vulgar for I will
CHOPIN: shoe or clog
CHUCK: term of endearment that means chicken
CHUFF: an aggressive jester or clown
CINQUE PACE: folk dance
CITTERN: guitar
CLACK-DISH: a beggar's dish
CLAP I' THE CLOUT: to shoot an arrow into the bull's eye of the target
CLAW: to flatter
CLEPE: to call
CLIFF: musical clef
CLING: to starve
CLINQUANT: sparkling
CLIP: to hold or hug
CLOUT: the bulls-eye on a target
COAST: to advance
COBLOAF: large loaf
COCK: a boat
COCK-AND-PIE: an oath
COCKNEY: a cook
COCK-SHUT-TIME: twilight when chickens roost
COG: to swindle
COGNIZANCE: badge or medal
COLLIED: darkened, blackened
COLT: to defraud
COMBINATE: betrothed
COMMONTY: used ludicrously for comedy
COMPLEXION: passion
COMPOSE: agree
CONCUPY: concubine
CONDUCT: escort
CONFECT: to make up into sweetmeats
CONTRACTION: a marriage contract
CONVERTITE: a convert
CONVIVE: eat together
CONY-CATCH: cheat or pilfer
CORANTO: a lively jig
CORINTH: brothel
CORINTHIAN: a man who frequents a brothel
CORKY: dry like cork
CORRIVAL: rival
COSTARD: the head
COSTER-MONGER: mercenary
COTE: a cottage; overtake
COT-QUEAN: effeminate man
COUPLEMENT: union; sex
COURT HOLY-WATER: flattery, compliments
COVENT: convent
COVER: set the table for dinner
COWISH: cowardly
COX MY PASSION: euphemism for 'God's Passion.'
COY: fondle or play with
COZEN: cheat
COZIER: a tailor
CRACK: to boast
CRANK: a long winding passage
CRARE: a large cargo ship
CRAVEN: a dunghill cock
CREDENT: credible
CRESCIVE: increasing
CRESTLESS: not entitled to bear arms, lowborn
CROSS: a piece of money, formerly stamped with a cross
CROW-KEEPER: someone who scares crows out of farmer's fields
CROWNER: coroner
CRY AIM: urge on
CUISSES: armor that covers the thighs
CURSTNESS: shrewishness
CURTAL: a docked horse
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D
DANSKER: a Dane
DAUB: to disguise
DAY-WOMAN: a dairy-maid
DEARN: lonely
DEBOSHED: debauched, drunken
DEFEATURE: disfigurement
DENAY: denial
DENIER: the 12th part of a French sol coin
DIG-YOU-GOOD-DEN: wish you a good evening
DILDO: the chorus of a song
DINT: stroke
DISCASE: to undress
DISME: tenth or tithe
DISTRACTION: a detached troop or company of soldiers
DOFF: put off with an excuse
DOLT: a small Dutch coin
DOWLAS: a coarse sack
DOWLE: swirl of a feather
DRAB: a whore
DRABBING: whoring
DROLLERY: a puppet-show
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E
EAGER: harsh
EANLING: a yeanling, a lamb
EAR: to plough
ECHE: to eke out
EFT: ready, convenient
EISEL: vinegar
ELD: old age
EMPERY: empire
EMULOUS: jealous
ENGINE: a machine of war
ENGLUT: to swallow speedily
ENGROSSMENT: immoderate acquisition
ENKINDLE: to make keen
ENMEW: enclose
ENSCONCE: to cover as with a fort
ENSEAMED: fat, rank
ENSHIELD: hidden
EPHESIAN: a toper
EQUIPAGE: attendance
EREWHILE: in the mean-time
ESCOT: a man's reckoning
ESPERANCE: hope, a war-cry
ESPIAL: a spy or look-out
ESTIMATION: conjecture
ETERNE: eternal
EXIGENT: death, ending
EXION: action
EXPOSTULATE: discuss
EYAS: hawk
EYAS-MUSKET: small hawk
EYNE: eyes
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F
FACINOROUS: wicked
FACT: guilt
FACTIOUS: instant, importunate
FADGE: to suit
FAIN: glad
FAITOR: a traitor
FAMILIAR: spirit
FAP: drunk
FARDEL: a burden
FARTUOUS: jokingly virtuous
FEEDER: agent, servant
FEODARY: manager
FESTER: to rankle, grow virulent
FESTINATELY: fastly
FET: fetched
FICO: a fig
FIG: to insult
FIGHTS: sheets or clothing hung on a ship to conceal the men
FINELESS: endless
FIRE-DRAKE: spirit, ghost
FIRK: chastise
FIVES: a disease prone to horses
FLAP-DRAGON: raisins in burning brandy
FLAW: a gust of wind
FLESHMENT: fleshing the sword
FLIRT-GILL: a thin woman
FLOTE: wave
FOIL: defeat
FOIN: fight
FORDO: kill
FORESLOW: delay
FORFEND: to forbid
FORKED: horned
FORSPENT: tired, weary
FOX: a small sword
FOX-SHIP: cunning ship
FRAMPOLD: annoying
FRANK: where the pigs are fed
FRANKED: fenced or confined
FRANKLIN: squire
FRIPPERY: an old-clothes shop
FRUSH: to hurt or bruise
FUB OFF: put off
FULSOME: lustful
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G
GAIN-GIVING: misgiving
GALLIARD: a kind of waltz
GALLIASSE: ship
GALLIMAUFRY: funny song
GALLOWGLASS: infantry of Ireland, and the Highlands of Scotland
GAMESTER: a partier
GARBOIL: disarray
GAST: scared
GEAR: business
GECK: a 16th century geek
GENERAL: commoners
GIB: tom-cat
GIGLOT: a wanton girl
GILT: wealth
GIMMAL: double
GING: gang
GLOSE: comment
GOOD-YEAR or GOOD-JER: from the French goujere meaning a venereal disease
GOUT: a drop
GRAMERCY: many thanks
GRANGE: farm-house or farm attached to a monastery
GRIZE: step
GROUNDLING: one who sits in the pit of a theater
GULES: red, a term in heraldry
GULF: the throat
GUN-STONE: a cannon ball
GYVE: to fetter
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H
HACK: become common
HAGGARD: a wild hawk
HAG-SEED: offspring of a hag
HAIR: small amount
HALIDOM: holiness
HALLOWMAS: All Hallows' Day
HARDIMENT: courage
HARLOCK: wild mustard
HARRY: annoy
HAUNT: company
HENT: to take away from
HEST: command
HILD: held
HILDING: a paltry fellow
HIREN: prostitute
HIT: in agreement
HOLP: help
HONEY-STALKS: red clover
HOODMAN-BLIND: the came of blind man's bluff
HORN-MAD: crazy
HOROLOGE: clock
HOT-HOUSE: brothel
HOX: to hamstring
HUGGER-MUGGER: to do something sneakily
HUNT-COUNTER: follow the scent the wrong way
HUSBANDRY: management
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I
IMBARE: bare
IMMOMENT: unimportant
IMPETICOS: pocket
INCARNARDINE: dye red
INCENSED: incited
INCH-MEAL: given in portions measured portions of inches
INCLIP: to hug,hold or
INCONY: fine, delicate
IND: India
INKHORN-MATE: a derogatory term for a learned man
INLAND: well educated
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J
JACK: a mean fellow
JACK-A-LENT: a puppet thrown at in Lent
JACK GUARDANT: a jack in office
JADE: to whip, to treat with contempt
JAR: the ticking of a clock
JESS: a strap of leather attached to the talons of a
hawk, by which it is held on the fist
JEST: to tilt in a tournament
JET: to strut
JOURNAL: daily
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K
KAM: crooked
KECKSY: hemlock
KEECH: a lump of tallow
KEEL: to skin
KICKSHAW: handmade
KICKSY WICKSY: slang for wife
KILN-HOLE: the ash-hole under a kiln
KIRTLE: a gown
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L
LABRAS: lips
LACED-MUTTON: a courtesan
LAG: the lowest of the people
LAKIN: ladykin, little lady, an endearing term applied
to the Virgin Mary in the oath, 'By our lakin.'
LASS-LORN: deserted by a mistress
LATTEN: made of brass
LAUND: lawn
LAVOLTA: a dance
LEATHER-COATS: a type of apple
LEECH: a physician
LEER: countenance, complexion
LEGERITY: lightness
LEMAN: a lover
L'ENVOY: the farewell or moral at the end of a tale or poem
LETHE: death
LIBBARD: a leopard
LIEF: dear
LIFTER: a thief
LIMN: to draw
LINSTOCK: a staff with a match at the end of it used by
gunners in firing cannon
LIST: a margin
LITHER: lazy
LOCKRAM: cheap linen
LOFFE: laugh
LOTTERY: anything that befall's man by fate
LUSTIG: lusty
LYM: slow houng
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M
MAGOT-PIE: magpie
MALKIN: serving wench
MALLECHO: mischief
MAMMERING: hesitating
MAMMETS: a woman's breasts
MANDRAGORA: or Mandrake a plant that resembles a man
MARCHPANE: a kind of sweet biscuit
MARRY TRAP: an oath
MARTLEMAS: the Feast of St. Martin in November, the year is at its end and thus applied to old men
MEACOCK: cowardly
MEAZEL: a leper
MELL: to mix, to meddle
MEPHISTOPHILUS: the name of a familiar spirit
MERCATANTE: merchant, a foreign trader
MESS: a company of four
MEW UP: to confine
MICHER: a truant
MICKLE: much
MILL-SIXPENCE: a milled sixpence
MISCREATE: illegitimate
MISSIVE: messenger
MOIETY: a portion
MOME: fool
MOON-CALF: nick-name given to Caliban in The Tempest
MORISCO: a Moor or other dark skinned person
MORT-DU-VINAIGRE: silly oath
MOUSE-HUNT: the weasel
MURE: a wall
MUST: a scramble
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N
NAYWARD: denial
NEB: the beak
NEELD: a needle
NEIF: hand
NETHER-STOCKS: stockings
NIGHT-RULE: nightly solemnity
NINE MEN'S MORRIS: a Moorish dance by nine men
NODDY: silly fellow
NOOK-SHOTTEN: dotted with bays and creeks
NOWL: head
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O
OEILLIAD: an amorous glance
ORGULOUS: proud
ORT: leaving, refuse
OSTENT: show, appearance
OUNCE: a beast of prey of the tiger kind
OUPHE: a fairy
OUSEL-COCK: the blackbird
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P
PADDOCK: a toad
PASH: the face
PASSANT: a term of heraldry, applied to animals
represented on the shield as passing by at a trot
PASSY-MEASURE: a folk dance
PAX: a small ../Image of Christ
PEAT: a term of endearment for a child
PEIZE: to balance, weigh down
PERDU: lost
PERIAPTS: charms worn round the neck
PEW-FELLOW: friend
PHEEZE: to comb, fleece, curry
PIA-MATER: the membrane covering the brain, the brain
itself
PIONED: digged
PLACKET: a petticoat-front
PLAITED: intricate
PLEACHED: interwoven
POINT: a lace furnished with a tag by which the
breeches were held up
POINT-DE-VICE: faultless
POLLED: bare
POMANDER: a perfumed ball
POMEWATER: a kind of apple
POOR-JOHN: a herring
POPINJAY: a parrot
POUNCET-BOX: a place where women kept their perfumes
PRANK: to dress up
PREST: ready
PUCELLE: a virgin, the name given to Joan of Arc
PUTTOCK: a kite
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Q
QUART D'ECU: a quarter crown
QUERN: a hand-mill
QUILLET: a small case in the courts
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R
RABBIT-SUCKER: the weasel
RASCAL: a skinny, underfed deer
REAR-MOUSE: the bat
REBECK: a three-stringed fiddle
RECHEAT: the point of a chase where the hounds are called back
RED-PLAGUE: erysipelas
REECHY: smoky, dirty
REGREET: to salute
REQUIEM: mass for the dead
RIGGISH: wanton
RIGOL: a circle
RIPE: drunk
RIVAGE: the shore
ROISTING: violent
ROMAGE: unusual stir
RONVON: a term of contempt applied to a woman
ROYNISH: mangy
RUDDOCK: redbreast
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S
SACRING-BELL: the little bell rung at mass to give notice that the elements are consecrated
SAY: silken
SCAFFOLDAGE: gallery of a theatre
SCANTLING: small portion
SCONCE: the head
SCOTCH: to bruise or cut slightly
SCRIMER: a fencer
SCROYLE: scabby fellow
SEAL: confirm
SEAM: fat
SECT: political party
SEEN: instructed
SELD: seldom
SELF-BOUNTY: native goodness
SEMBLABLY: resemblance
SENNET: a flourish of trumpets
SEPULCHRE: bury
SERE: dry or cook
SETEBOS: the name of a fiend
SETTER: one who watches travellers to give information to thieves
SHEER: pure
SHENT: blamed
SHIVE: slice
SHOT: the reckoning at an ale-house
SHOUGHS: shaggy dogs
SHRIFT: confession
SHRIVE: confess
SHRIVING-TIME: time for confession
SIMULAR: counterfeit
SIR: a title applied to a bachelor of arts at the Universities
SITHENCE: since
SKIMBLE-SKAMBLE: up in arms
SKINKER: liquor cabinet
SKIRR: scour
SLEAVE: floss-silk
SLOPS: loose fitting pants
SMIRCHED: smeared or dirty
SNEAP: sarcastic
SNEAPED: pinched
SNECK-UP: calm down, hang on
SOLIDARE: a small coin
SOOTH: truth
SOREL: a three year old buck
SOWL: pull or drage
SPERR: fasten, buckle down
SPLEEN: violent haste
SPRAG: quick
SPURS: trees roots
SQUARER: someone who likes to quarel
SQUIER: a square
STANIEL: inferior hawk
STATUTE-CAPS: woolen caps worn by citizens
STEELED: set
STERNAGE: course
STICKLER: arbitrator in combats
STIGMATIC: deformed person
STIGMATICAL: deformed
STONE-BOW: a cross-bow used for releasing stones
STOVER: fodder or fuel for a stove
STRAPPADO: form of punishment
STROSSERS: pants
SUMPTER: a horse that carries provisions on a journey
SUR-REINED: over-worked
SWARTH: black
SWARTH: what is cut with one sweep of the scythe
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T
TABOUR: a small side-drum
TAINTURE: defile
TAWDRY-LACE: a rustic necklace
TENT: a probe for searching a wound
TERCEL: a male goshawk
TERMAGANT: ranting character in old plays
THARBOROUGH: a constable
THEWES: sinews
THICK-PLEACHED: intertwined
THIRD-BOROUGH: a constable
THRASONICAL: boastful
THREE-MAN BEETLE: large mallet worked by three men
THREE-MAN-SONG-MEN : a trio of singers
THREE-PILE: trice piled velvet
THRENE: lament
THRID: thread
THROE: agony
THRUM: the tufted end of a thread in weaving
TINCT: stain or dye
TOKENS: places that have been plagued
TOUSE: drag
TRANECT: a ferry
TRAVAIL: work
TRAY-TRIP: game played with dice
TROTH-PLIGHT: betrothed
TROW: trust
TRUNDLE-TAIL: a long-tailed dog
TUCKET-SONANCE: medly on the trumpet
TUNDISH: a funnel
TURLYGOOD: a name adopted by beggars
TWIGGEN: made of twigs, wicker
TWILLED: retained by woven branches
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U
UNCAPE: to throw off the hounds scent
UNEATH: hardly
UNHOUSELED: not having received the sacrament
UNION: a pearl
UNSTANCHED: incontinent
UPSPRING REEL: a fast-paced dance
UTIS: festivity lasting eight days
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V
VALANCED: adorned with a valence or fringe; applied to the beard
VANTBRACE: armour for the front of the arm
VARLET: servant
VAST: huge, expansive
VASTIDITY: fast
VAUNT-COURIERS: scouts, forerunners
VAWARD: the first of anything
VEGETIVES: herbs
VENEY: fencing round
VINEWED: moldy
VIZAMENT: advisement
VOTARIST: someone who has taken a vow
VULGAR: common; common people
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W
WAPPENED: worn
WARDEN: a pear used in baking
WASSAIL: merry-making, drinking
WAT: rabbit
WATER-GALL: a secondary rainbow
WATER-RUG: a kind of dog
WATER-WORK: painting in distemper
WAX: to grow
WAXEN: perhaps
WELKIN: the sky; sky blue
WEND: to go
WHIFFLER: officer who clears the way in processions
WHILE-ERE: small time ago
WHIP-STOCK: handle of a whip
WHIST: hushed, silent
WHITELY: pale-faced. A doubtful word
WHITING-TIME: bleaching time
WHITSTER: bleacher
WHITTLE: small knife
WIMPLED: head covered by veil or hood
WINTER-GROUND: protect plants from frost
WITTOL: a contented cuckold
WOMAN-TIRED: hen-pecked
WONDERED: gifted
WOOD: mad
WOODCOCK: a simpleton
WOODMAN: a hunter or smug for wencher
WOOLWARD: shirtless
WORTS: cabbages
WOT: to know
WREAK: vengeance
WREST: an instrument used for tuning a harp
WRIT: gospel, truth
WROTH: misfortune
WRY: swerve
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X
XANTHIPPE: Socrate's scolding wife
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Y
YARE: ready, being understood
YARELY: readily
YAW: out of control
Y-CLEPED: named
YELLOWNESS: jealousy
YELLOWS: a horse disease
YEOMAN: an officer
YIELD: to report
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Z
ZANY: a clown