arnica any of a number of plants of the composite family, bearing bright yellow flowers on long stalks with clusters of leaves at the base; here, a preparation made from certain of these plants, once used for treating sprains and bruises.
ask lief of anybody ask permission of anyone.
badger any of certain mammals of a family of burrowing carnivores of North America, Europe, and Asia, with a broad back, thick, short legs, and long claws on the forefeet.
bobs knobs, or small polished wheels of solid felt or leather with rounded edges.
Bohemia a former independent kingdom in central Europe (13th–15th centuries); part of Austria-Hungary until 1918 and then part of Czechoslovakia until 1993, when it was incorporated into the Czech Republic.
Bohemie Ántonia is trying to pronounce Bohemia, the American name for her country. The Bohemian word for Bohemia is Bohèma.
Bohunk [Slang] a person from east-central Europe; a derisive or contemptuous term.
Booth and Barrett Edwin Booth (1833–1893) and John Barrett (1838–1891), two prominent nineteenth-century Shakespearean actors, formed a theatrical troupe in 1887 and traveled around the country putting on dramatic productions.
box-elder a medium-sized, fast-growing North American maple, with compound leaves.
breaking up this place and making the first crops grow Cuzak is referring to plowing his land and making it suitable for growing crops.
brood-sow a sow kept for breeding.
the bush that burned with fire and was not consumed from Exodus 3, when an angel of God appeared as a burning bush, moments before God revealed himself to Moses.
Buying "findings" for Mrs. Thomas Findings are small articles used in various trades; in the case of Mrs. Thomas, a dressmaker, these would be buttons, hooks, fringe, and the like.
capote a long cloak, usually with a hood. Cather is metaphorically referring to the green feathers on the ducks' heads and necks as such a cloak.
carried in the cobs brought in a container of corn cobs, to be used as fuel.
catalpa any of a genus of hardy American and Asiatic trees of the bignonia family, with large, heart-shaped leaves, showy clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, and slender beanlike pods
chaps leather trousers without a seat, worn over ordinary trousers by cowboys to protect their legs.
cinders any matter, as coal or wood, burned out or partly burned, but not reduced to ashes.
commercial travellers traveling salesmen.
corral an enclosure for holding or capturing horses, cattle, or other animals; pen.
cut bands cutting pieces of twine or metal to be used for binding sheaves of grain.
Cutter was one of the "fast set" of Black Hawk business men Cather is suggesting that Wick Cutter came to the frontier because there were fewer laws governing behavior, allowing him to get away with things that could have landed him in jail on the East Coast.
