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I have just finished reading "The Reluctant Widow" by Georgette Heyer, and found several words/usages new to me. (It takes place in England, during the time of Bonaparte.) Can anyone explain any of the following?
-In the coach, she leaned back against the "squabs". -When someone died, there was something called a "hatchment" put up over the front door. -One of the servants was an "abigail". -One of the (native to Sussex, I believe) servants said, "A dentical fine gentleman". -Someone had gone to the "Peninsula". -The old servant couple, fussing at each other, would say "Do-adone", or "Adone-do". (Hmm-be done with you?) -I got that this meant telling a lie or a trick, but why "gammon"? (As in, "I'm not gammoning you.") -What is a glass of "ratafia"? -He wore very tight "inexpressibles" (no further hints). -They had a "nuncheon" of cold meat, fruit and tea. I like this word! 'Minds me of "nuncle"!
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Dear Jackie: one definition of "squab" is a cushion: See Def.#3 below: Webster's 1913 Dictionary Definition: \Squab\, a. [Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and and E. quab.] 1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky.
Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. --Betterton.
2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. --King.
\Squab\, n. 1. (Zo["o]l.) A neatling of a pigeon or other similar bird, esp. when very fat and not fully fledged.
2. A person of a short, fat figure.
Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. --Cowper.
3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa.
Punching the squab of chairs and sofas. --Dickens.
On her large squab you find her spread. --Pope.
\Squab\, adv. [Cf. dial. Sw. squapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged.] With a heavy fall; plump. [Vulgar]
The eagle took the tortoise up into the air, and dropped him down, squab, upon a rock. --L'Estrange.
\Squab\, v. i. To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [Obs.]
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Abigail is a euphemism for a female servant. I think it is from the Bible.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary Definition: \Ab"i*gail\, n. [The proper name used as an appellative.] A lady's waiting-maid. --Pepys.
Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls for sleeping in. --Leslie.
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HATCHMENT Webster's 1913 Dictionary Definition: \Hatch"ment\, n. [Corrupt. fr. achievement.] 1. (Her.) A sort of panel, upon which the arms of a deceased person are temporarily displayed, -- usually on the walls of his dwelling. It is lozenge-shaped or square, but is hung cornerwise. It is used in England as a means of giving public notification of the death of the deceased, his or her rank, whether married, widower, widow, etc. Called also {achievement}.
His obscure funeral; No trophy, sword, or hatchment o'er his bones. --Shak.
2. A sword or other mark of the profession of arms; in general, a mark of dignity.
Let there be deducted, out of our main potation, Five marks in hatchments to adorn this thigh. --Beau. & Fl.
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From the date,'Peninsula" would refer to Wellington's campaign in Portugal and Spain against Napoleon's forces. (of course Arthur Wellesley wasn't yet made a Duke at that time.)
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Gammon is slang for trick, deceit, deception.
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Ratafia (ra-ta-FEE-a), is, at Alexis Bailly, a fortified wine made by combining red wine with a long-steeped combination of spirits, oranges, and top-secret spices.
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inexpressibles = trousers or more likely at that time breeches. (Whether anyone actually used this term or whether it is read back from high Victorian prudery I'm not sure. And anyway somebody, I forget who (Dickens maybe) records avoidance of the word trousers as an American preference unknown in Britain).
nuncheon - what we would now call elevenses. Timing of meals was in a state of flux at this time with dinner moving later for the fashionable classes and luncheon and/or nuncheon being eaten at midday instead.
Bingley
Bingley
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"Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb." (1 Samuel 25:3 Authorized Version)
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Pooh-Bah
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Dr Bill has done most of the job, I can only add that:
"Do-adone", or "Adone-do" are shortenings of "Do have done" and "Have done, do" meaning "Please do stop" ... whatever you are doing or saying.
"A dentical fine gentleman" I can only guess at (but the context should help) as being a shortening of 'identical'.
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