Tom Brown at Rugby. Hughes Thomas
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Progenitors: forefathers.
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Close: any inclosed place; here, probably a field.
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Mullioned: subdivided by slender, upright bars or columns.
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Swiss Family Robinson: a story of the adventures of a shipwrecked family on a desert island.
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Choleric: inclined to anger.
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Reconnoitered: here, examined in a general way or at a little distance.
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Forms: benches.
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Servants' hall: the servants' dining-room.
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Nether: lower.
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Integuments: garments.
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Prisoner's base, etc.: boys' games.
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Green rides: roads cut through woods or pleasure grounds.
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Raven: a large black bird of the crow family.
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Footman: a man-servant in livery.
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Public schools: a name given to certain large and richly endowed schools in England which are chiefly patronized by wealthy men. They are wholly unlike the public schools of the United States. Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Rugby, and Westminster are among the best known of this class of schools.
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Belauded: praised.
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Usher: an under-teacher.
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Missive: anything to be sent; hence, a letter.
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Gaby: a dunce.
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Felony: a serious offence or crime.
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Primum tempus: first time.
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Bulls'-eyes and toffee: the former are hard balls of sugar, the latter a kind of candy made of brown sugar and butter.
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Bulls'-eyes and toffee: the former are hard balls of sugar, the latter a kind of candy made of brown sugar and butter.
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Humble bees: "bumble-bees."
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Bounds: the school limits, beyond which boys are not to go without permission.
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Necromancer: (one who communes with the dead) a conjurer.
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Phosphorus: the yellowish, inflammable substance used in making common matches – in a pure state it burns on exposure to air. Matches – called "Lucifers" or "light-bringers" – were invented in England about 1829. Previous to that time the only way of striking a light was by flint and steel, the spark being caught on a bit of tinder (half-burnt rag) which was then blown into a blaze.
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Rugby: a small village in Warwickshire on the river Avon, nearly in the centre of England. It is the seat of Rugby School, – one of the great public schools, – and was founded by Lawrence Sheriff, a native of the neighboring village of Brownsover, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The school owes its fame chiefly to Dr. Arnold, who became head master in 1827, and held the position until his death in 1842.
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Doctor: Dr. Arnold.
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Kit: here, clothes.
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Tally-ho: the cry with which huntsmen urge on their hounds; here, a name given to a fast coach.
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Boots: a servant in an inn who blacks boots, etc.
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Islington: a northern suburb of London.
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Post-chaise: a hired carriage.
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Belle Sauvage: a famous old inn, formerly in the centre of London.
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Star: the name of the coach which brought the Squire and Tom to London.
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Boxes: inclosed places for eating.
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Brown study: meditation without any particular object of thought.
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Buxom: rosy with health, merry.
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Cheroot: a kind of cigar.
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Digamma: an ancient letter of the Greek alphabet. Greek particles are prepositions and conjunctions – hence nice or difficult points of Greek grammar.
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Hard biscuit: cracker.
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Drag: a four-horse coach.
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Guard: a person having charge of a mail-coach, a conductor.
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Hamper: a large, strongly made packing basket.
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Hind-boot: a place at the end of a coach for luggage.
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Portmanteau: travelling bag.
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Rug or plaid: a thick shawl or other wrap.
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Caloric: here, heat of the body.
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First-class carriages: in England the railway cars (called "carriages") are divided into first, second, and third class.
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Hoar-frost: frozen dew.
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Pikeman: the man who takes toll on a turnpike.
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St. Albans: about twenty miles north of London.
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Stage: division of a journey.
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Purl: a hot drink made of beer and other ingredients.
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Tackle: stuff.
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Meet: a gathering of huntsmen for a hunt.
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Hack: here, nag or horse kept for rough riding.
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Old pink: a red hunting-coat.
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Lodge: a gentleman's house.
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Wainscoted: lined with boards or panels.
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Bagmen: commercial travellers.
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Trencher: a large wooden plate.
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Rashers: thin slices of bacon.
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Way-bill: a list of passengers in a public vehicle.
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Tap: bar-room.
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Pinks: huntsmen.
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High Street: the main street.
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First-floor: the floor