gallnuts nutlike galls, or abnormal growths on trees.
gamecocks birds bred and especially fed for cock fighting.
gave him a cachou gave him a cashew mint; often used for disguising bad breath.
Gerhart Hauptman (1862-1946) a naturalist who treated serious subjects (such as alcoholism) in a raw, down-to-earth way.
getting up on the cars Competing with the railroads, these cars were long vehicles used for transport and were pulled by horses.
gingernuts gingerbread.
Go ahead, York! Go ahead, Lancaster! The class is divided into two teams, each representing one of the two families (Lancaster, red rose; York, white rose) that battled for the English throne during the 40-year War of the Roses (1445-85). Shakespeare's Henry VI, Parts 1,2,3 is set in this turbulent era and concerns its dynastic struggle for power.
Goethe (1749-1832) German playwright, poet, and novelist. His work is characterized by an interest in the natural, organic development of things, rather than in any dualistic schemes.
a good breath of ozone round the Head John and Simon have walked to Bray Head, a hill outside Bray, close to the sea.
grace the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God; the condition of being in God's favor.
grandnephew great-nephew; Uncle Charles is Stephen's great-uncle.
the green baize door The inner door is covered with soft, green woolen fabric.
a green velvet mantle A mantle is a loose, sleeveless cloak.
Guido Cavalcanti Dante's fellow poet and friend.
had not forgotten a whit He hadn't forgotten the tiniest detail about the incident.
had two brushes in her press had two brushes in her closet — in this case, an upright piece of furniture used to hold clothes.
the haha a sunken wall or barrier in a ditch, constructed to divide land without obstructing the landscape.
Hamilton Rowan an Irish Nationalist who escaped from his English captors and hid in Clongowes. He tossed his hat out to make the English believe that he had left the castle; the ruse was successful.
a hamper in the refectory a box, or basket of food in the dining hall that belongs to him; probably sent from home.
hanged upon a gibbet a strange, seemingly vernacular description of the Crucifixion; perhaps Father Arnall is using the phrase to impress upon the boys the fact that Christ was executed "like a common criminal."
he repeated the act of contrition Stephen is repeating the traditional prayer of repentent sinners, vowing nevermore to sin.
he was in the third of grammar He was an older student.
he was not in a wax He was not yet seethingly, passionately angry.
he was only a Dublin jakeen a snooty, lower-class Dubliner.
Heron salaamed Heron bent forward, in a low bow, his right palm on his forehead; this is an Arabic and Indian gesture of respect.
his angel guardian Every baptized Roman Catholic has a personal guardian angel.
his bally old play "bally" is a euphemism for "bloody," which has no equivalent in American English; a "bloody shame" could roughly be translated as a "damned shame."
his father's second moiety notices second half of the notices sent out in bankruptcy proceedings.
his feet resting on the toasted boss His feet are resting by the fireplace on a very low, warm stool which has ornamental "ears," or bosses.
his ghostly father the priest to whom he confesses.
his scribbler his notebook.
his stone of coal Irish unit of weight; 14 lbs.
hoardings board fence pasted up with lots of advertisements.
the hour for sums the hour for arithmetic, or mathematics.
how many ferulae you are to get A ferule is a metal-tipped cane or rod used to punish children. Here, it refers to how many times the students will be struck.
a hurling match a game combining elements of field hockey and rugby.
I know why they scut I know why they tried to escape. "Scut" is defined in the dictionary as the tail of a rabbit, held high while running. In America, the verb form "high-tail it" is similar in meaning to the verb "scut."
in a blue funk to be in a state of terror; in American slang, one could say that Father Arnall was trying to scare the boys out of their wits.
in a great bake another way of saying that someone is angry, or "hot under the collar."
in search of Mercedes The reference is to Edmond Dantes' beloved, the heroine of The Count of Monte Cristo.
in tanto discrimine in so many disputes or separations.
in the square in the school bathroom.
In vitam eternam. Amen. Into eternal life. So be it.
India mittit ebur India exports ivory.
Indian clubs bottle-shaped clubs used in gymnastics.
Inter ubera mea commorabitur part of Song of Solomon (1:13), rendered in Latin. The entire verse reads: "My beloved is to me a bag of myrrh that lies between my breasts." Traditionally the image suggests Christ's precious relation to the Church.
ipso facto obviously; as one can see; it speaks for itself.
the Ireland of Tone and Parnell The goal of these Irish Nationalists was self-rule, along with civil and religious toleration.
Ite, missa est words spoken at the end of the Mass, meaning "Go, the Mass is ended."
