accent a distinguishing regional or national manner of pronunciation; here, Piggy's manner of speech, characterized by his use of double negatives and informal contractions.
acrid sharp, bitter, stinging, or irritating to the taste or smell.
altos the boys who sing in the vocal range between tenor and soprano.
antiphonal sung or chanted in alternation.
barmy [Brit. Slang] crazy.
batty [Slang] crazy or eccentric.
bloody [Vulgar Brit. Slang] cursed; damned.
bogie an imaginary evil being or spirit; goblin.
bollocks a vulgar slang exclamation expressing anger, disbelief, etc.
bomb happy [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] crazy; insane.
bowstave here, slightly curved arc like that of a bow.
brine water full of salt.
bum [Brit. Slang] the buttocks.
caps of maintenance caps bearing a school insignia.
Coral Island Robert Ballantyne's 1857 adventure tale about three boys shipwrecked on a Pacific island and their triumph over their circumstances.
cordon a line or circle, as of soldiers or ships, stationed around an area to guard it.
coverts covered or protected places; shelters.
cracked [Informal] mentally unbalanced; crazy.
crackers [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] crazy; insane.
creepers any plants whose stems put out tendrils or rootlets by which the plants can creep along a surface as they grow.
cutter a boat carried, esp. formerly, aboard large ships to transport personnel or supplies.
