waisted cutglass vase a vase ornamented with patterns cut into the glass, considered valuable as an antique; “waisted” here apparently refers to the shape, usually called “hourglass,” but either McCarthy likes to humanize important objects or this is a southern expression.
Buenos diás, guapo (Spanish) Good morning, handsome guy.
Cómo? (Spanish) What?
la vela (Spanish) the candle.
No fui yo (Spanish) It wasn’t me.
la señora (Spanish) the mistress (of the house) or Mrs.
claro (Spanish) of course.
Ya se levantó? (Spanish) She’s already up?
antes que yo (Spanish) before me.
Comanch, Kiowa Native American Indian tribes who were located in the central and western plains of the United States.
grail object of endeavor. The holy grail was the cup Jesus drank from at the Last Supper and the object of the knights’ medieval quests (searches or journeys).
die-up cowboy language for a big loss of livestock.
Palmer Feed and Supply blotter a heavy piece of almost felt-like paper, approximately 18 inches square, which protects the wood on a desk and is used to blot the ink of writing when using an old-fashioned ink well and pen. An old western practice of feed stores was to give good customers presents at Christmas. Today, feed store memorabilia is considered quite valuable and includes household utensils that are inscribed.
Good Book the Christian Bible.
Hamley Formfitter saddle Hamley was a respected and prominent saddle maker of the era before and during the novel. The term “formfitter” designated a type of saddle where the cantle (the swells at the rear of the saddle) were very high and almost tight fitting, making it more difficult for the rider to fall out of the saddle. However, if the saddle was not custom fitted to the owner, it might have been too difficult for the rider to get into or out of the saddle.
Algo más? (Spanish) Anything else?
Buenas noches (Spanish) Good night.
Andalusian an ancient breed of horses from Andalucian, Spain; often gray, but also black or bay (reddish brown) in color. Many horse breeds can be traced to these high-stepping horses, including the Lipizzaner. The Spaniards brought these horses to North and South America, where such breeds as the Mustang, Criollo, Paso Fino, and Appaloosa can trace an Andalusian lineage.
Barb an ancient breed of horse originating in Algeria and Morocco known for their toughness and stamina; may also be quick-tempered. These horses may date back to prehistoric times and have similarities with the Arabian horse, with which they have been crossbred since the Muslims invaded the north coast of Africa. However, the Barb has a broader head than the Arabian horse, and slopping hindquarters as well. The foundation horses of England and America can be traced back to this Barb horse. Most horse breeds have mixed lineage, with some breeds having been crossbred more than others. The Barb is a horse with certain strong physical features, but it was not bred purely until quite recently. In contrast, the Arab has been purebred for centuries and is perhaps one of the few breeds that one could rightly call purebred. This subject is a confusing one, even to horse fanciers, because a horse can be registered in a breed, depending on its lineage and its characteristics. Many horses are registered as part of a distinct breed, but they may not be “pure” at all.
Steeldust a famous stallion in 19th century Texas; a legendary bay quarter horse that came from Kentucky and sired many horses for the old Texas foundation horses.
cutting horse a western horse bred for cutting, or separating, cattle from the herd. These horses can move very quickly, make exceptional sharp turns, and spin around on one back hoof to close in on a wayward steer or cow. The best cutting horses are known for being, as the cowboys say, “cowy”; that is, they are attracted to cattle and are interested in moving in close and shoving them into place.
Más cafe? (Spanish) More coffee?
Sí por favor (Spanish) Yes, please.
Hace much frío (Spanish) It is very cold.
Bastante (Spanish) That’s enough. (Here, this probably refers to filling the coffee cup and not to the weather, although it may be referring to both.)
closing a real estate term for the day when all papers are signed in the sale of a piece of property.
soogan bedroll; derivation may be Native American.
catspaw a tool for grabbing that has one or more hooks.
gyp water containing gypsum and, thus, calcium.
javelina wild pig.
bajada (Spanish) drop; slope.
gunsel goose or criminal.
Colt Bisley with guttapercha grips Colt revolvers were the popular guns that won the West. Guttapercha is a hard rubber-like material from a Malaysian tree. This gun handle, or grip, is made of that material.
nopal prickly pear cactus of which many varieties exist. The fruits of many varieties of nopal are edible, and the beaver-tail shaped pads, found in some varieties, also make good food.
creosote a shrub of the desert southwest with small leaves and a pungent smell. Also called greasewood and chaparral. Used as a cancer treatment by the Native Americans.
tienda (Spanish) store.
Tiene also que tomar? (Spanish) Do you have anything to drink?
Buenas tardes (Spanish) Good afternoon.
retablo an artwork often fashioned of tin.
Deben comer (Spanish) You ought to eat.
bizcochos Mexican biscuits or hard rolls.
cordilleras (Spanish) chain of mountains.
sideoats grama a short pasture grass that is very resilient and makes decent nutrition for cattle and horses.
Basketgrass a native grass to the Americas, used in making baskets.
Lechugilla a large wild lettuce, shaped from a crown, like a century plant.
kiacks baskets hung at the side of pack animals.
Son de Tejas? (Spanish) Are you (plural) from Texas?
buena suerte (Spanish) good luck.
candelilla large-leaved plants used to make wax.
cholla a desert cactus of which there are many varieties, most with terrible stickers, but often beautiful in their miniature tree shapes.
Qué vale? (Spanish) What is it worth?
Es mucho trabajo (Spanish) It is a lot of work.
Es su hermano, el rubio? (Spanish) Is he your brother, the blonde?
Quién es? (Spanish) Who is he?
un muchacho, no más (Spanish) a kid, no more.
Algún parentesco? (Spanish) Any kinship?
un amigo (Spanish) a friend.
pollarded mountains mountains with the peaks cut off.
hackamore a horse bridle that has no bit and uses a rope fitting around the top of the horse’s nose, about four inches up from the muzzle. Knots at the side of the nose attach to the reins. The horse is controlled because, when the reins are pulled, the hackamore shuts off the horse’s air by tightening around the nose. The side knots, if positioned carefully, can also press sensitive nerves to help control the horse. Without extra equipment, John Grady and Rawlins are fashioning this bridle so that Blevins can still ride bareback.
ocotillo a Sonorean desert plant, not a cactus, but with tall, thin, pole-like branches that fan out from the base. These poles have very small green leaves all over when the plant has received enough rain, and the tops form six-inch, flag-like, orange-red flowers. The poles make excellent fences.
paloverde a southwestern tree about four to eight feet tall. The name means green stick. These trees have no leaves unless they receive rain, in which case they become covered with fern-like greenery and flowers. They can photosynthesize from their bark and stems and can live for extremely long periods without water.
caballero (Spanish) vernacular for “cowboy”; also, originally, “gentleman who travels by horse”; here, both meanings apply.
ciénagas (Spanish) swamp or marsh.
gaited rack a little trot. A good saddle horse can perform two walks, two trots, a rack, two lopes or canters, as well as a gallop.
caporal (Spanish) foreman.
gerente (Spanish) manager.
güeros (Spanish) fighter.
