showed some dog did not give his best effort; a derisive term.
skull caps light, closefiting, brimless caps, usually worn indoors. Here, the reference is to yarmulkes, which are worn by Jewish men in (and sometimes outside of) synagogue as a sign of respect for God.
slipped the jab used a defensive technique in which a boxer moves his head just enough to allow the opponent's leading punch to slip by without contact. (It can best be countered by a combination of punches.)
smart meat [Slang] a negative nickname used by Alfred to refer to Mr. Donatelli.
sneakers shoes with a canvas upper and a continuous sole and heel as of one piece of soft rubber, used for play and sports; the shoes worn by Alfred on his morning run.
spar to box with jabbing or feinting movements, landing few heavy blows, as in exhibition or practice matches.
spoons and needles paraphernalia used in the preparation of drugs, specifically heroin.
squeeze the eagle to be stingy; a reference to the insignia of the eagle on U.S. currency. Here, it implies that the Jewish grocers are reluctant to let go of their money, a racist stereotype.
Sugar Ray Robinson African American boxer; original name, Walker Smith (1921–89); outstanding boxer, world welterweight and five-time middleweight champion.
synagogue a building or place used by Jews for worship and religious study. Here, it relates to the Jewish Sabbath, which runs from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday and is observed by the Epsteins, the owners of the grocery store where Alfred works.
tenpin a specific one of the ten bowling pins. Here, it suggests the way Alfred is knocked over by the medicine ball.
terry-cloth a pile fabric, usually woven of cotton, used to make towels and robes; here, the fabric in the robe Alfred receives before his fight.
the Garden Madison Square Garden, a center for sporting activity, especially boxing, in New York City.
The Man [slang] here, a reference to authority, specifically to white authority and the police, even though some policemen in the novel are black.
Tom [Informal] Uncle Tom; here, another stereotypically derogatory reference to the main character of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Washington Heights a residential district in northern Manhattan, New York City; here, the area of New York in which Bill and Betty Witherspoon live.
welfare the organized efforts of government agencies that grant aid to the poor, the unemployed, etc.; such aid. Here, the term relates to Aunt Pearl's reminders to Alfred that the family is not on welfare, that they have jobs and enough money to pay the rent and buy clothes.
