public-house—a pub; a bar or tavern.
racing tissues—publications covering horse racing.
Waterhouse’s clock—the clock outside a jeweller on Dame Street in Dublin.
the canal—Dublin’s Royal Canal.
slavey—(British informal) a female domestic servant, especially one who does hard, menial work.
Donnybrook—the site, south of Dublin, of a yearly fair during which there was much brawling and rowdiness.
the real cheese—(slang) the real thing.
up to the dodge—(slang) capable of avoiding pregnancy.
Pim’s—a Dublin manufacturer and dealer of home furnishings, clothing, and leather goods.
hairy—(slang) cunning.
about town—a euphemism for unemployed.
hard word—unpleasant information (that employment might be available for Corley, who doesn’t like to work).
he aspirated the first letter of his name in the manner of the Florentines—he pronounced Corley as “whorely.”
on the turf—(slang) engaged in prostitution.
sent to the devil—(slang) told to go to hell.
the club—the Kildare Street Club, a Protestant and Anglo-Irish gentleman’s club.
harp—the symbol of Ireland.
“Silent O Moyle”—an Irish patriotic song.
Stephen’s Green—a large public park in a fashionable south-central Dublin neighborhood.
get inside me—(slang) take my place.
the chains—chains that used to separate paths around Stephen’s Green from the streets beyond.
Half ten—10:30.
tulle—a thin, fine netting of silk used for veils, scarves, and so forth.
curates—(slang) barmen.
pulling the devil by the tail—(slang) living on the verge of financial disaster.
a little of the ready—(slang) with money available.
the area of a house—a space providing light and air to the basement of a house.
