got on—(slang) succeeded.
on the London Press—in the world of British journalism.
When his hour had struck—when the work day had ended.
the gaunt spectral mansions in which the old nobility of Dublin had roistered—buildings originally constructed to house the wealthy had deteriorated and were occupied by poor people early in the twentieth century.
Atalanta—a beautiful, swift-footed maiden who offers to marry any man able to defeat her in a race: Hippomenes wins by dropping three golden apples, which she stops to pick up, along the way. The motif of Greek mythology (including the image of the golden apple) will reappear in Gabriel Conroy’s speech in “The Dead.”
Half time—(slang) time out.
considering cap—an Irish term equivalent to the American term “thinking cap.”
across the water—(Irish slang) in England.
Lithia—lithia water, a mineral water containing lithium salts.
Press life—the life of a journalist.
deuced—extremely; very.
Land Commission—the Irish Land Commission Court, a British agency.
sore head and a fur on my tongue—hung over.
Moulin Rouge—literally “Red Windmill,” a Parisian music hall.
catholic—all-inclusive.
students’ balls—dances in Parisian cafes, especially those on the Left Bank, the location of the University of Paris.
cocottes—(French) literally, hens. Probably used by Galaher to mean prostitutes.
rum—(informal, chiefly British) odd; queer.
palm—prize.
parole d’honneur—(French) word of honor.
an a.p. —(slang) an appointment.
deoc an doruis—(Irish) literally door drink; last round.
put your head in the sack—(slang) apparently, get married.
Bewley’s—a chain of coffeehouses.
Hushed are the winds . . . —the first stanza of the poem “On the Death of a Young Lady, Cousin of the Author, and Very Dear to Him” (1802) by George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788–1824), an English poet.
Lambabaun—(Irish) lamb child.
