the tube—a machine for communicating within a building.
an order on the cashier—official permission for an advance on wages.
snug—a small private room or booth in a public house.
g.p. —a glass (half-pint) of porter.
caraway—a white-flowered biennial herb of the umbel familiy, with spicey, strong-smelling seeds. The seeds, when chewed, were thought to hide the smell of alcohol, and thus were offered to customers by turn-of-the-century Dublin bars.
manikin—a little man; dwarf.
instanter—without delay; immediately.
the dart—the solution.
stood . . . a half-one—bought a half measure of alcohol.
the eclogues—short pastoral poems, often in the form of a dialogue between two shepherds; the most famous are by the Latin poet Virgil.
my nabs—(slang) my friend or acquaintance.
Ballast Offices—the location of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, where the father of Gabriel Conroy (protagonist of “The Dead”) is said to have worked.
Irish and Apollinaris—whiskey and soda.
too Irish—(slang) exceedingly generous.
chaffed—teased good naturedly.
tincture—a trace; a smattering.
small hot specials—whiskey mixed with water and sugar.
bitter—bitter, strongly hopped ale.
stood to—bought for.
smahan—a smattering; a smidgin.
barracks—buildings on Shelbourne Road for housing British soldiers.
