Et ignotas animum dimittit in artes. And he sent forth his spirit among the unknown arts.—Ovid, Metamorphoses.
looked at him through a glass looked at him through a monocle, an eyeglass for one eye.
put on the oilsheet put on an oilcloth, a cotton fabric made waterproof with oil and pigment; often used for tablecloths.
the sailor's hornpipe a lively dance, usually done by one person; popular with sailors.
Dante not Dante Alighieri. This is the nickname of the woman who is Stephen’s nanny, or governess.
had two brushes in her press had two brushes in her closet—in this case, an upright piece of furniture used to hold clothes.
Michael Davitt Organizer of the land reform league. Much more of a political agitator than Parnell, Davitt served seven years in prison for attempting to send firearms into Ireland. He advocated nationalization of Irish lands and believed that Parnell was too moderate in his opposition to English rule.
Parnell Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-91); Irish Nationalist leader. Fought for Home Rule; urged Irish Catholics to pay no rents to their Protestant landlords. His political career was brought to an end when his adultery with a married woman was made public.
gave him a cachou gave him a cashew mint; often used for disguising bad breath.
the prefects teacher-supervisors; often senior pupils, as well, who are given authority to maintain discipline.
Kickham had greaves in his number Kickham had padded, protective shinguards in his locker, which was numbered for identification.
a hamper in the refectory a box, or basket of food in the dining hall that belongs to him; probably sent from home.
a magistrate a judge; to brag that one's father was a magistrate is to suggest that one is well-off, well-bred, and better than most.
never to peach on a fellow never to tattle or inform on someone else.
shortbread crisp, dry, buttery bars.
seventyseven to seventysix Stephen has 76 days until classes are dismissed for Christmas holidays.
the haha a sunken wall or barrier in a ditch, constructed to divide land without obstructing the landscape.
lights in the castle The "castle" refers to the complex that houses, among other things, the rector's quarters. The original castle, built in the medieval era, was destroyed in the seventeenth century and rebuilt. The Jesuits purchased it in 1814 and founded the prestigious Clongowes Wood College for boys.
shoulder him into the square ditch shove him into the cesspool.
Wells's seasoned hacking chestnut Wells's chestnut (used in a game); it has cracked (conquered) 40 others.
with her feet on the fender with her feet on a low metal guard before an open fireplace; a fender is used to deflect popping, or falling coals.
You are McGlade's suck. You are McGlade's bootlicker, brown-noser, apple-polisher.
there were two cocks There were two faucets—one marked "hot," the other "cold."
the hour for sums the hour for arithmetic, or mathematics.
Go ahead, York! Go ahead, Lancaster! The class is divided into two teams, each representing one of the two families (Lancaster, red rose; York, white rose) that battled for the English throne during the 40-year War of the Roses (1445-85). Shakespeare's Henry VI, Parts 1,2,3 is set in this turbulent era and concerns its dynastic struggle for power.
he was not in a wax He was not yet seethingly, passionately angry.
