Vocabulary ladder

Moby-Dick

CHAPTER 3. The Spouter-Inn.

False friends51 entries

You know these words. In this book they mean something else.

entry
the hallway just inside the front door
condemned
declared no longer fit to be used
distracted
out of his mind
fancies
passing ideas
the artist’s design
what the painter meant to show
this entry
this hallway inside the front door
this dusky entry
this dark hallway inside the front door
a rude attempt
a rough try
dearly
at a high price
decent×2
ordinary and well-behaved
directly
very soon
the fare
the food
sleep together
share the same bed for the night
the company
the people there
Presently×3
Soon after
cried
shouted out
the entry×2
the small passage just inside the front door
officiating
serving behind it
a sovereign cure
a cure that never fails
sober×2
not drunk
these orgies
this wild drinking
sleep with your own brother
share a bed with your own brother
one apartment
one room
sleeping with him
sharing a bed with him
quit
stop
mended
fixed
a draught
a flow of air
Do you pretend to say
Do you claim
is actually engaged
is actually busy
a sort of connexion
a kind of tie between two people
intimate
very close
sleeping with
sharing a bed with
engaged in
busy with
a crazy old sea chest
a battered old sailor's box, loose in all its joints
a rude shelf
a roughly made shelf
representing
with a picture on it showing
the harpooneer’s wardrobe
the spear man's clothes
the chest
the big box for keeping things in
in the passage
in the corridor outside the room
employed
busy
the old chest
the big wooden box for keeping things in
curious
odd
fancy×2
want
such dry sort of fare
such dry food
queer proceedings
strange things he was doing
symptoms
signs
a fatal one
one that ruined everything
conjured him
begged him hard
satisfied me
made me sure
the clothes
the bed covers
civil
polite

Idioms95 entries

Fixed expressions with a settled meaning of their own. Worth learning once.

by dint of
by means of
fairly froze you to it
held you there unable to move
took an oath
made yourself a serious promise
But stop×2
But wait a moment
spring clean over the craft
jump right across the boat
trying his hand at
seeing whether he could make
make much headway
get very far with it. The word is also the sailors' word for a ship pushing forward through water, and he is carving a ship.
cold as
as cold as
addressed himself to
began eating
The devil he does
Does he indeed! a cry of surprise that calls on the evil one
I could not help it×2
I could not stop myself
At any rate
Anyway
of how long standing
how long a person has had it
The liquor soon mounted into their heads
The drink soon made them drunk
held somewhat aloof
kept a little apart from the others
upon the whole
taking it all together
at once×2
straight away
had mounted to its height
was at its loudest and wildest
in pursuit of him
chasing after him
congratulate myself upon
feel pleased with myself about
I don’t know how it is
I do not know why
To be sure×3
It is true that
sleep in your own skin
your body is your own, and nobody is touching you
It was fair to presume
It was reasonable to suppose
as the case might be
whichever it was
Just as you please
Do as you like
all the planing in the world
no amount of shaving the wood
went about his business
left me and returned to his own work
in a brown study
deep in gloomy thought
took the measure of
measured
would never do at all
would not work at all
steal a march on him
reach the bed before him, without him knowing
upon second thoughts
after thinking again
before long
soon
there’s no telling
nobody can say
by ones, twos, and threes
singly and in small groups
what sort of a chap
what kind of a fellow
keep such late hours
stay out so late at night
mightily tickled
greatly amused
beyond my comprehension
that I could not understand
a towering rage
a huge anger
That’s precisely it
That is exactly right
I tell you what it is
let me speak plainly
spinning that yarn
telling that made-up tale
I’m not green
I am not so new and simple as to believe it
I’ll break it for him
I will smash his head
flying into a passion
losing my temper suddenly
without delay
right now
in the highest degree
as much as it is possible to be
in all respects safe
safe in every way
in the first place
first of all
I’ve no idea of
I have no intention of
fetching a long breath
taking a long breath
now and then
sometimes
be easy
calm down
it would not do
it would not be right
clean into
all the way into
Depend upon it
You can be sure of this
came near breaking
almost broke
it wouldn’t do
that could not go on
cold as a clam
as cold as a shellfish out of the sea
sure enough
just as he had said
did double duty
served as two things together
stood the scrutiny tolerably well
looked good enough when I studied it closely
parade the streets
walk about the streets for all to see
a kink in the neck
a painful twist in the neck
in my shirt sleeves
with my coat off
made no more ado
wasted no more time
commended myself to the care of heaven
asked God to keep me safe
there is no telling
there is no way to know
pretty nearly
almost
a good way off
far away
an inkling of the truth
a first faint idea of what was really going on
in the course of
during
after all
when you think about it
what to make of×2
how am I to explain
a good coat of tropical tanning
a thick layer of browning from the sun of the hot countries
with the hair on
with the animal's fur still left on it
none to speak of
none worth mentioning
for all the world like
exactly like
Even as it was
Even so
thought something of
half thought about
passed my comprehension
was beyond anything I could understand
at the dead of night
in the middle of the night
take a fancy to
suddenly want
at length
at last
screwed my eyes hard
stared with my eyes narrowed
ill at ease
far from comfortable
now or never
this moment or no moment at all
break the spell
make myself able to move and speak again
wouldn’t harm a hair of your head
would not hurt you in the smallest way
look here
listen to me
on the whole
taking everything together
in short
to put it simply
as much as to say
as if to say

Phrasal verbs38 entries

A verb and a small word that together mean something the two words do not.

throwing open
opening wide
run away with
dragged off
gulp down
swallow fast
put up with
accept without complaining
working away at
working hard on
made up my mind
decided
if it so turned out
if it happened
Starting up
jumping to his feet
venture upon
risk giving
pondered over
thought hard about
tumble in upon me
fall into the bed on top of me
set to planing away at
began hard work shaving smooth
popped out
stepped quickly out
knock me down
hit me to the ground
dropping in
arriving
bought up
bought the whole stock of
cleared up
explained
kick about
move around freely
got pitched
was thrown
Come along
Come with me
took it up
picked it up
arrive at
reach
get into
dress himself in
took off
removed from my body
rolled about
kept turning from side to side
working away
working steadily
stuck over with
covered here and there, as if the squares had been fixed on
falling among
ending up among
crammed it down
pushed it hard down
bolted out of it
run out through it
bolted a dinner
swallowed a meal fast. The same word is used twice in two senses for the joke.
went about
started doing
sets up
stands it upright
the light was put out
the room was made dark
puffed out great clouds
sent great clouds of smoke from his mouth
get on fire
start burning
turn in with him
go to bed beside him
I turned in
I went to bed

Noun phrases9 entries

A group of words naming a person or a thing, explained together.

a good deal rather
much more willingly
jolly good bedfellows
men quite happy to share a bed
hard upon twelve o’clock
nearly midnight
this blessed Saturday night
this very Saturday night
stark mad
completely mad
the foot of it
the bottom end of the bed
a good deal×2
a lot
not game enough
not brave enough
high time
the moment when I had to act now; really I should have acted before

Words from other languages4 entries

Sartain
Certainly
Arter
After
in lieu of
a French phrase meaning in place of
Stammering
speaking in a broken way, stopping and starting

Old word forms86 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

reminding one of
making you think of
hung
was hanging
any way arrive at
in any way reach an idea of
oft repeated ponderings
thinking about it again and again
Yet was there
But there was
Ever and anon
Every now and then
alas
sadly
the picture’s midst
the middle of the picture
once found out
once you had seen what that was
all the rest were plain
everything else in the picture was then easy to see
purposing
trying
was hung all over
had hanging all over it
slain
killed
nigh the tail
near the back end of the animal
yon low-arched way
that low curved passage over there
A still duskier place is this
this place is even darker than the one before
you would almost fancy
you could almost imagine
you trod
you were walking on
Projecting from
Sticking out from
Be that how it may
Whatever the truth of that may be
Within×2
Inside the jaw
is but a penny
costs only a penny
divers specimens
several examples
sought
went looking for
desired to be accommodated with
wanted to be given
received for answer
was told in reply
why rather than wander further
well then, sooner than walk about any more
so bitter a night
a night as bitingly cold as this
We were fain to
We were glad to
knowing not what else
not knowing what else
without
outside
in rolled a wild set of mariners
in came a lot of sailors, wild enough ones too
swore
promised firmly
whatsoever
of any kind at all
though but
though only
burnt
darkened by the sun
just previous to
just before
Nor was there any earthly reason
And there was no reason at all
for sailors no more sleep
because sailors sleep two in a bed at sea just as little as unmarried kings do on land
of the tidiest
among the cleanest
going bedwards
heading for bed
I shan’t
I will not
feeling of
running his hand over
So saying
As he said this
the while grinning like an ape
smiling widely all the time, like a monkey
thought I
I thought
wakened
woken
who could tell but what
who knew whether
Still
Even so
Thinks I×2
I thought
awhile
for a while
tending to beget in me
likely to make me feel
whom you design for my bedfellow
whom you intend to put in my bed
I now demand of you
I now insist that you
you will be so good as to unsay
please say now that the story is not true
I take to be
I consider to be
render yourself liable to
by doing that you could be punished with
had had no idea of fooling me
had never meant to trick me
stayed out of a Saturday night
was still out of the house on a Saturday night
Why,
here just a way of starting to speak, like well
ye
you
none of the most elegant
not one of the fine ones
smelt
smelled
of a rainy day
on a rainy day
I went up in it
I walked over still wearing it
half undressed as I was
with some of my clothes already off
slid
slipped
without looking
and did not look
I before spoke of
that I mentioned earlier
This accomplished
When this was done
chanced to
happened to
knew not what to make of this
did not know what to think of this
round about
the skin around the coloured patches
Had not the stranger stood
If the stranger had not been standing
for now×2
because just then
previously hung
had put there earlier
still hastier
even quicker
whereby
which showed that
or else
or perhaps
in which I had so long been bound
that had held me still for such a long time
he began feeling me
he began running his hands over me to find out what I was
I knew not what
I did not know what I was saying
but ill comprehended
hardly understood
light in hand
with a light in his hand
For all his tattooings
Even with all the marks pricked into his skin
I won’t touch a leg of ye
I will not touch even your leg, ye being an old way of saying you

Words443 entries

In the order you will meet them.

gable-ended
with an end wall rising to a point under the roofan object or practice the period took for granted
low
with the ceiling close over your head
straggling
spreading away in no clear shape
old-fashioned
in a style long out of use
wainscots
wooden boards fixed along the lower part of a wallan object or practice the period took for granted
the bulwarks
the raised sides round a ship's deckthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
craft
boatthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
oilpainting
a picture made with colours mixed in oilan object or practice the period took for granted
thoroughly
completely
besmoked
turned black by years of smoke
defaced
damaged so the surface is spoiled
the unequal crosslights
the uneven light coming in from two sides
diligent
steady and careful
systematic
done in an ordered way
careful inquiry
asking
understanding
knowing what it was meant to show
unaccountable×2
that nobody can explain
ambitious
reaching for something big
endeavored
tried
earnest contemplation
serious looking and thinking
unwarranted
without good reason behind it
confounded×2
so puzzled you could not think clearly
limber×2
bending easily
portentous
seeming to warn of something terrible
hovering
hanging still in the air
dim
faint and hard to see
perpendicular
standing straight up
involuntarily
without meaning to
deceptive
that leads a person wrong
a midnight gale
a storm wind at midnightthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
unnatural×2
against the order of nature
yielded
gave in and stopped
a faint resemblance
look a little like
gigantic
very big
the great leviathan
the great sea beast, the whalethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
the aggregated opinions
the views of many people added together
conversed
talked
a Cape-Horner
a ship built strong enough to sail round the stormy southern tip of South Americathe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a great hurricane
a huge sea storm with turning windsthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
the half-foundered ship
the ship half filled with water and already sinkingthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
weltering
rolling helplessly in the waves
dismantled masts
tall poles stripped of their sails and ropesthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
exasperated
driven wild with anger
impaling himself
driving himself down onto the points
the three mast-heads
the tops of the three tall polesthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a heathenish array
a display of things from peoples outside the Christian world
monstrous clubs and spears
huge heavy sticks and pointed weaponsan object or practice the period took for granted
thickly set
closely covered
glittering
shining with small flashes
ivory saws
cutting blades of hard white animal tooth, with points along the edgean object or practice the period took for granted
tufted with knots
decorated with tied bunchesan object or practice the period took for granted
sickle-shaped
curved like the hooked blade used for cutting grain by handan object or practice the period took for granted
a vast handle
a huge grip
sweeping round
curving round in one long line
a long-armed mower
a man with long arms cutting grass by handan object or practice the period took for granted
You shuddered
You shook with a cold fear
gazed
looked long and hard
cannibal×5
a person who eats human flesh
hacking
for cutting in rough blows
implement
tool
rusty
eaten by the brown crust old iron gets
whaling lances
long spears used to finish a whale once it is struckthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
harpoons
the throwing weapons with a hook near the pointthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
deformed×2
twisted out of shape
storied weapons
weapons with a tale attached to them
lance
a long weapon with a sharp point, for killing a whale already struckthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
wildly elbowed
bent out of line at sharp angles
harpoon
a throwing spear with a hook near the pointthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a corkscrew
the twisted metal spiral used to pull a stopper out of a bottlean object or practice the period took for granted
flung×2
thrown hard
The original iron
The first spear headthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
full forty feet
a whole forty feet, about twelve metresmoney
imbedded
fixed deep inside
the hump
the raised lump on its back
chimney
the big brick tower inside the house that carries the smoke up to the roofan object or practice the period took for granted
fireplaces
openings in the wall where a fire is litan object or practice the period took for granted
the public room
the room in an inn where anyone may sit and drinkan object or practice the period took for granted
ponderous beams
heavy wooden bars across the ceiling
wrinkled×2
covered in small lines and grooves from age
planks
long flat boards of wood
craft’s
belonging to a boatthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
cockpits
the low spaces below a ship's deck where the wounded were carriedthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
howling
with the wind crying long and loud
furiously
with great violence
cracked
split with thin lines
dusty rarities
strange old objects covered in dust
remotest nooks
furthest hidden corners
the further angle
the far corner
a right whale’s head
the head of a kind of whale the hunters named that because it was the right one to catchthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
the vast arched bone
the huge curved mouth-bonethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
the whale’s jaw
where a whale's teeth sitthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a coach
a closed carriage pulled by horsesan object or practice the period took for granted
shabby
worn and poor-looking
decanters
glass bottles that drink is poured into for servingan object or practice the period took for granted
flasks
flat bottles for carrying drinkan object or practice the period took for granted
bustles
moves quickly about his work
withered
dried and shrunk with age
deliriums
wild states of mind, which is what the drink he sells brings on
Abominable×2
Hateful
the tumblers
the flat-bottomed drinking glassesan object or practice the period took for granted
true cylinders without
straight round tubes on the outsidethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
villanous
wicked
goggling
staring wide like a pair of eyes
a cheating bottom
a base that holds less than it looks
Parallel meridians
Level lines running round, like the rings drawn round a globethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
the Cape Horn measure
the biggest measure, named after Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, the hardest sailing there isthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a shilling
a coin worth twelve of those small onesmoney
seamen×2
men who work on ships
a dim light
a weak, faint light
_skrimshander_
pictures cut by sailors into whale bone or tooth to pass the timethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
the landlord
the man who owns the inn and rents out its bedsrank
unoccupied
empty
haint no objections
have no objectionEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a harpooneer’s
belonging to the man who throws the hooked spear into the whalethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
have ye
have youEnglish respelled to carry an accent
I s’pose you are goin’ a-whalin’
I suppose you are going off to hunt whalesEnglish respelled to carry an accent
harpooneer×29
the man who throws the barbed spear into the whalethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
decidedly objectionable
clearly a man you would not want beside you
Supper’ll
Supper willEnglish respelled to carry an accent
an old wooden settle
a long wooden seat with a high backan object or practice the period took for granted
carved
cut into shape with a blade
a ruminating tar
a sailor deep in his own thoughts, called by an old word for a man of the seathe working vocabulary of a trade or field
adorning
decorating
his jack-knife
his folding pocket knifean object or practice the period took for granted
stooping
bending forward
diligently
steadily and with care
under full sail
with every piece of cloth spread to the windthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
summoned
called
an adjoining room
a room next door
dismal
dark and sad
tallow candles
cheap candles made from animal fatan object or practice the period took for granted
a winding sheet
the cloth a dead body is wrapped in. Here it means the melted wax running down and setting round each candle.an object or practice the period took for granted
monkey jackets
short thick coats sailors worean object or practice the period took for granted
scalding
hot enough to burn
substantial
solid and filling
dumplings×3
balls of boiled dough eaten with meatan object or practice the period took for granted
a green box coat
a heavy green coat with a wide cape over the shouldersan object or practice the period took for granted
direful
frightening to watch
the nightmare
a bad dream that frightens you awake
to a dead sartainty
for absolute certainEnglish respelled to carry an accent
that aint the harpooneer is it
that is not the spear man, is itEnglish respelled to carry an accent
diabolically funny
amused in a wicked way
the harpooneer
the spear manthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a dark complexioned chap
a man with dark skinan object or practice the period took for granted
he don’t
he does notEnglish respelled to carry an accent
he likes ’em rare
he likes them barely cooked, still red insideEnglish respelled to carry an accent
afore long
soonEnglish respelled to carry an accent
suspicious
uneasy, ready to think the worst
complexioned
with dark skin
resolved×2
decided firmly
a looker on
someone who only watches
a rioting noise
a wild uproar
I seed her reported in the offing
I saw her signalled from the shore while she was still out on the waterEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a full ship
a ship with her barrels full of oil, the hunt a successthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
Hurrah
a shout of joy
A tramping
A heavy stamping of feet
Enveloped
Wrapped up
shaggy watch coats
rough hairy coats worn on deck at nightan object or practice the period took for granted
muffled
wrapped up thickly
woollen comforters
long wool scarves wound round the neckan object or practice the period took for granted
bedarned and ragged
mended over and over, and still torn
stiff
frozen hard
icicles
hanging spikes of ice
made a straight wake for
went straight towards, the way a ship drives a line through waterthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
brimmers all round
glasses filled to the very top, one for each manan object or practice the period took for granted
a pitch-like potion
a drink as black and thick as tar
gin and molasses
strong clear spirit mixed with thick dark sugar syrupan object or practice the period took for granted
catarrhs
heavy colds with a blocked and running nosean object or practice the period took for granted
the weather side
the side the wind strikesthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
an ice-island
a floating mountain of ice
the arrantest topers
the very worst heavy drinkers
desirous
wanting
the hilarity
the loud laughing and fun
shipmates
the men who sail with himthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
refrained
stopped himself
shipmate
a man sailing on the same shipthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
this narrative
this account of what happened
full six feet in height
a good six feet tall, about one metre eightymoney
noble
broad and fine
seldom
not often
such brawn
such heavy muscle
dazzling
so bright it hurt the eyes
reminiscences
memories of things past
his fine stature
his fine height and build
mountaineers
people who live in the mountains
the revelry
the wild drinking and noise
unobserved
without being seen
my comrade
my companion
darted
went quickly
supernaturally
beyond anything natural
indefinitely multiply
grow past counting
bachelor Kings
unmarried kings
ashore
on landthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
your own hammock
your own hanging bed of cloth, tied up at both endsan object or practice the period took for granted
abominated
hated
his linen or woollen
the cloth of his shirts, whether thin plant cloth or woolan object or practice the period took for granted
twitch
jerk with small sudden movements
what vile hole
what filthy low place
spare ye
let you haveEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a tablecloth
a cloth spread over a table for a mealan object or practice the period took for granted
a mattress
the padded layer a person lies on in bedan object or practice the period took for granted
a plaguy rough board
an annoyingly rough plankEnglish respelled to carry an accent
knots and notches
hard round lumps in the wood and cut grooves
a carpenter’s plane
a tool with a blade set in a block, pushed along wood to shave it smoothan object or practice the period took for granted
snug
warm and comfortable
procured
fetched
vigorously
with great energy
The shavings
The thin curls of wood the blade takes away
the plane-iron
the blade set in that toolan object or practice the period took for granted
indestructible
impossible to break
knot
a hard round place in the wood where a branch once grew
spraining
almost hurting
eider down
the soft under-feathers of a sea duck, used to fill the finest bedsan object or practice the period took for granted
a pine plank
a board of soft cheap wood
grin
wide smile showing the teeth
a foot too short
short by a foot, about a third of a metremoney
about four inches
about the width of a handmoney
the planed one
the bench he had shaved smoothan object or practice the period took for granted
lengthwise
along its long way
a little interval
a small gap
the sill
the flat ledge at the bottom of a windowan object or practice the period took for granted
rickety
loose and shaky
whirlwinds
small spinning winds
the immediate vicinity
the space right around
bolt his door
lock his door with a sliding bar
knockings
blows on the door
dismissed it
put the idea away
a sufferable night
a night a person could bear
the other boarders
the other people paying to sleep and eat therean object or practice the period took for granted
his lean chuckle
his thin, quiet laugh
airley to bed and airley to rise
early to bed and early up in the morning, a common old sayingEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a peddling
out selling goods from door to dooran object or practice the period took for granted
what on airth keeps him
I really cannot think what keeps him. The extra words only make the question stronger.English respelled to carry an accent
bamboozingly
invented to fool a person
peddling×2
going from door to door sellingan object or practice the period took for granted
the market’s overstocked
there are more of them for sale than anyone wants to buythe working vocabulary of a trade or field
ain’t there
are there notEnglish respelled to carry an accent
calmly
in a quiet, steady voice
whittling a toothpick
cutting a small stick down with a knife to pick his teeth withan object or practice the period took for granted
I rayther guess
I thinkEnglish respelled to carry an accent
that ere
thatEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a slanderin’
saying bad things aboutEnglish respelled to carry an accent
this unaccountable farrago
this mess of nonsense nobody could explain
a’ready
alreadyEnglish respelled to carry an accent
whittling
cutting little pieces off a stick with a knifean object or practice the period took for granted
persist in telling
keep on telling
mystifying and exasperating
puzzling and maddening
confidential
where each trusts the other with private things
madman
a man whose mind is not right
induce me
get me
knowingly
while knowing what you were doing
a criminal prosecution
being taken to court and charged with a crimethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
Wall
WellEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a purty long sarmon
a pretty long speech about right and wrong, of the kind a priest gives in churchEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a chap that rips a little
a man who uses rough, angry words sometimesEnglish respelled to carry an accent
tellin
tellingEnglish respelled to carry an accent
’balmed New Zealand heads
preserved human heads from New Zealand, treated so they would not rotan object or practice the period took for granted
great curios
rare strange objects people collectedan object or practice the period took for granted
all on ’em
all of themEnglish respelled to carry an accent
cause to-morrow’s Sunday
because tomorrow is SundayEnglish respelled to carry an accent
sellin
sellingEnglish respelled to carry an accent
folks is goin’ to churches
people are going to churchEnglish respelled to carry an accent
strung
threaded together
for all the airth like
looking exactly likeEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a string of inions
a string of onions, hung up the way they were soldEnglish respelled to carry an accent
cannibal business
such savage work, the kind you would expect of a people-eating tribe
dead idolators
dead people who had worshipped carved images, as Christians of that day called theman object or practice the period took for granted
He pays reg’lar
He pays on timeEnglish respelled to carry an accent
the rejoinder
the reply
dreadful
very
turning flukes
going to bed. A whale's two tail fins are called that, and it shows them as it goes down.the working vocabulary of a trade or field
that ere bed
that bed thereEnglish respelled to carry an accent
the night we were spliced
the night we were married. The word means joining two rope ends into one.the working vocabulary of a trade or field
an almighty big bed
an enormous bedEnglish respelled to carry an accent
afore we give it up
before we stopped using itEnglish respelled to carry an accent
dreaming
seeing things in my sleep
sprawling about
spreading my arms and legs out wide
a glim in a jiffy
a light in a momentEnglish respelled to carry an accent
irresolute
unable to decide
exclaimed
cried out
I vum
I swearEnglish respelled to carry an accent
he’s come to anchor somewhere
he has settled somewhere for the night, the way a ship drops its heavy iron hook to hold it stillthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
ushered
shown in
a prodigious bed
an enormous bed
harpooneers
men who throw the barbed spear into the whalethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
abreast
side by side in a rowthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a wash-stand
a stand holding a bowl and jug for washingan object or practice the period took for granted
eyeing
looking hard at
the counterpane
the top cover of a bedan object or practice the period took for granted
stooped
bent down
the bedstead
the wooden frame of the bedan object or practice the period took for granted
a papered fireboard
a board covered in paper, set across an unused fireplace to block itan object or practice the period took for granted
a hammock lashed up
a hanging cloth bed rolled and tied with cordthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a large seaman’s bag
a big canvas bag of the kind a sailor keeps everything inan object or practice the period took for granted
a land trunk
the large travelling box people used on shorean object or practice the period took for granted
Likewise
also
a parcel of×2
a number of
outlandish bone fish hooks
strange foreign-looking bent points for catching fish, carved out of bonean object or practice the period took for granted
a tall harpoon
a long throwing spear with a hook near the pointthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
satisfactory×2
good enough to settle it
a large door mat
a thick rough mat laid at a door for wiping feetan object or practice the period took for granted
ornamented
decorated
tinkling tags
small hanging pieces that ring lightly against each other
stained
coloured right through with a dye
porcupine quills
the long sharp spines of an animal covered in them
slit
a long narrow cut
mat×3
thick rough floor coveringan object or practice the period took for granted
South American ponchos
square cloaks with a slit in the middle for the head, worn in South Americaan object or practice the period took for granted
guise
outfit
like a hamper
like a big heavy basket with a lidan object or practice the period took for granted
uncommonly shaggy
unusually rough and hairy
a bit of glass
a small mirroran object or practice the period took for granted
commenced×2
began
head-peddling
going about selling heads
my monkey jacket
a short thick jacket of the kind sailors wearan object or practice the period took for granted
my pantaloons
my trousersan object or practice the period took for granted
blowing out the light
blowing the candle outan object or practice the period took for granted
mattress
the soft thick pad you lie on in a bedan object or practice the period took for granted
corn-cobs
the hard woody middle part of a corn plant's seed head, left after the yellow seeds have been taken away
broken crockery
smashed bits of clay plates and cupsan object or practice the period took for granted
a light doze
a shallow sleep
a heavy footfall
a heavy step
a glimmer
a faint shine
infernal×2
here just a word of fear and dislike, like horrible
head-peddler
a man who goes from door to door selling headsan object or practice the period took for granted
identical
very same
the knotted cords
the tied ropes
averted
turned away
unlacing
undoing the cords of
purplish×2
of a dull colour between red and blue
blackish
nearly black
bedfellow
a person you share a bed with
dreadfully
very badly
just from the surgeon
just come from the doctor who treats cutsan object or practice the period took for granted
plainly
clearly
sticking-plasters
strips of cloth stuck on the skin to cover a cutan object or practice the period took for granted
stains
marks soaked into a surface
whaleman
a man whose trade is hunting the great sea beaststhe working vocabulary of a trade or field
cannibals
people who eat human flesh
tattooed
marked for life with patterns pricked into the skin in colourthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
his unearthly complexion
the strange colour of his skin, like nothing of this world
tattooing
patterns pricked into the skin in colourthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
produced×2
caused
fumbling
feeling about without seeing
a sort of tomahawk
a light axe of the native peoples of Americaan object or practice the period took for granted
a seal-skin wallet
a flat bag made from the hide of a sea animalan object or practice the period took for granted
a ghastly thing
a horrible thing to look at
a new beaver hat
a tall hat made from the fur of a water animalan object or practice the period took for granted
came nigh singing out
almost shouted out loudEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a small scalp-knot
a small twist of hair left growing on an otherwise shaved headan object or practice the period took for granted
the second floor back
the back room one flight up from the groundan object or practice the period took for granted
coward
a man afraid to face danger
rascal
a bad, tricky fellow
nonplussed
stopped dead, with no idea what to do
confess
admit
the devil
the evil one of Christian belief
inexplicable
impossible to explain
undressing
taking his clothes off
checkered
marked all over in squares
trunks
the stems of trees
young palms
young palm trees
shipped aboard of a whaleman
put to work as one of the crew of a ship that hunts the great sea beaststhe working vocabulary of a trade or field
I quaked
I shook with fear
peddler
a man who sells from door to dooran object or practice the period took for granted
tomahawk×7
his light axe, made so it can also be smoked like a pipean object or practice the period took for granted
shuddering
shaking with fear
fascinated
held
his heavy grego
his thick sailor's outer coat with a hoodan object or practice the period took for granted
or wrapall, or dreadnaught
two more names sailors used for the same thingan object or practice the period took for granted
fumbled
searched with his fingers without seeing
image
a small carved figurean object or practice the period took for granted
a hunch
a raised lump
the embalmed head
the human head treated so it would not rotan object or practice the period took for granted
this black manikin
this little black figure of a person
glistened
shone with a wet light
polished ebony
a hard black wood rubbed until it shinesan object or practice the period took for granted
a wooden idol
a carved wooden figure worshipped as a godan object or practice the period took for granted
the papered fire-board
the board covered in wallpaper that closed off the fireplacean object or practice the period took for granted
like a tenpin
like a tall wooden pin that players aim at by rolling a heavy ball along the flooran object or practice the period took for granted
the andirons
the iron stands that hold burning logs up in a fireplacean object or practice the period took for granted
The chimney jambs
The upright sides of the fireplace openingan object or practice the period took for granted
sooty
black with the dust left by smoke
appropriate
right for the purpose
shrine
a small holy place kept only for worshipthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
the half hidden image
the small carved figure, half out of sightan object or practice the period took for granted
a double handful of shavings
as much of the thin wood curls as two hands will holdmoney
grego
that thick hooded coatan object or practice the period took for granted
idol
the little wooden godan object or practice the period took for granted
ship biscuit
a hard dry bread baked to keep for months at seaan object or practice the period took for granted
the flame
the burning end of the lamp
kindled
set burning
a sacrificial blaze
a fire lit as an offering to a godthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
snatches
quick grabs
withdrawals
pullings back
scorching
burning the surface of
ashes×2
the grey dust a fire leaves
the little devil
the little evil one, said of the carved figure
antics
odd actions
guttural noises
rough sounds made deep in the throat
the devotee
the man at his worship
in a sing-song
in a rising and falling chant
pagan psalmody
holy singing of a religion outside the Christian onethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
twitched about
jerked with small sudden movements
extinguishing
making the fire stop burning
unceremoniously
without any respect for it
bagged it again
pushed it back into his pocket
a sportsman
a man who hunts birds and animals for pleasurean object or practice the period took for granted
bagging a dead woodcock
dropping a shot bird into his bagan object or practice the period took for granted
uncomfortableness
how uncomfortable I felt
exhibiting
showing
deliberating
thinking it over
the head of it
the cutting end of the axethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
extinguished
made to go out
sprang into bed
jumped into bed
I sang out
I shoutedthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a sudden grunt
a short deep noise from the throat
astonishment
great surprise
his guttural responses
his rough answers from deep in the throat
Who-e debel you?
Who are you? asked in anger. He speaks broken English.English respelled to carry an accent
you no speak-e, dam-me, I kill-e
if you do not speak, curse you, I will kill youEnglish respelled to carry an accent
flourishing about me
swinging about round me
Watch!
the night watchman who patrolled the streets before there were policean object or practice the period took for granted
tell-ee me who-ee be
tell me who you areEnglish respelled to carry an accent
growled
said in a low rough voice
his horrid flourishings
his frightening swings of it through the air
my linen
my bed sheetsan object or practice the period took for granted
grinning×2
smiling wide, showing the teeth
I thought ye know’d it
I thought you knew itEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a peddlin’ heads
out selling headsEnglish respelled to carry an accent
turn flukes again
get back into bed. A whale turns its two tail fins up as it goes down.the working vocabulary of a trade or field
you sabbee me
do you understand me. A word carried between languages by sailors.English respelled to carry an accent
this man sleepe you
this man will sleep in the same bed as youEnglish respelled to carry an accent
Me sabbee plenty
I understand very wellEnglish respelled to carry an accent
grunted
said with a short deep noise
puffing
blowing out little clouds of smoke
You gettee in
You get inEnglish respelled to carry an accent
motioning
making a sign with his hand
charitable
generous and warm
comely
pleasant to look at
stash
put awaythe working vocabulary of a trade or field
I ain’t insured
I have paid nobody to cover my losses if there is a firean object or practice the period took for granted
complied
did as he was asked
motioned
made a sign with his hand

Words inside the phrases244 entries

These were explained above as part of a longer phrase. Here is what each one means on its own.

adjoining
next door
afore
before, as he says it
aggregated
gathered together into one
aint
is not, as he says it
airley
early, as he says it
airth
earth, as he says it
almighty
enormous
aloof
apart from the others
andirons
the iron stands that hold burning logs in a fireplace
anon
soon, in old English
arrantest
the very worst
attained
reached
avast
stop, a sailors' cry
bachelor
a man who has never married
balmed
treated so a dead body will not rot
bedarned
mended over and over with stitches
bedfellows
people who share a bed
bedstead
the wooden frame of a bed
bedwards
towards bed
beget
give rise to
bewitched
under a magic spell
blaze
a bright burning fire
boarders
people paying to sleep and eat in a house
boggy
soft and wet like marsh ground
brawn
heavy muscle
brimmers
glasses filled right to the top
bulwarks
the raised sides round a ship's deck
candles
sticks of wax with a string through them, burnt for light
capering
jumping about in play
carpenter
a worker who makes things out of wood
chap
fellow
cherishing
holding on to warmly
clam
a sea creature with a hard shell that lives buried in wet sand
coffer
a strong box, here part of a wall that holds water back
comforters
long scarves wound round the neck
commended
gave into another's keeping
complexion
the colour and look of a person's skin
comprehended
understood
comprehension
the power to understand
comrade
companion
concluding
finishing
conjured
begged hard
contemplation
long quiet looking and thinking
cords
thin ropes
corkscrew
the twisted metal spiral for pulling a stopper out of a bottle
counterpane
the top cover of a bed
crammed
pushed hard in
crockery
plates and cups made of baked clay
crosslights
light falling from two directions together
curios
rare strange objects people collect
cylinders
round straight tubes
dart
shoot suddenly through
debel
devil, as he says it
deceitfully
in a way meant to trick
delineate
draw the outline of
devotee
a person at his worship
diabolically
in a way belonging to the devil
dint
used with 'by' to mean by means of
dismantled
stripped of its parts
divers
several, in old English
downwards
towards the bottom
draught
a flow of cold air
dreadnaught
another sailors' name for that coat
drunken
full of drink
duskier
darker
dusky
dark
ebony
a very hard black wood
eider
a sea duck whose soft feathers fill the finest beds
elbowed
bent at sharp angles
elegant
fine and good-looking
embalmed
treated so a dead body will not rot
eruption
a sudden bursting out
exasperating
maddening
fain
glad
farrago
a confused mix of things
fireboard
a board set across an unused fireplace to close it
flourishing
swinging about for show
flourishings
wide swings through the air
flukes
the two flat parts of a whale's tail
footfall
the sound of a step
footpads
robbers who attack people on foot
froze
held still, unable to move
gale
a very strong wind
gettee
get, as he says it
glim
a light, in sailors' talk
glimmer
a faint shine that comes and goes
goblets
drinking cups with a stem
goin
going, as he says it
grunt
a short deep noise made in the throat
gulp
swallow in one go
guttural
made deep in the throat
hags
old women held to be witches
haint
have not, as he says it
hamper
a big basket with a lid
hastier
quicker
headway
forward movement
heath
open land with low bushes and no trees
heathen
a person who worships gods other than the Christian one
heathenish
of peoples outside the Christian world
hilarity
loud laughing good humour
horrid
frightening
hunch
a raised lump on the back
icebound
held fast by ice
idolators
people who worship carved figures as gods
impaling
driving a sharp point right through
indefinite
with no clear edge or limit
indefinitely
without any limit
induce
lead a person to do something
inions
onions, as he says it
inkling
a first faint idea
insured
having paid someone to cover a loss
jambs
the upright sides of a doorway or fireplace
jaws
the bones that hold the teeth
jiffy
a very short moment
kink
a painful twist
knots
bunches tied tight
knotted
tied in tight knots
lances
long weapons with sharp points
lashed
tied tight with cord
liable
open to being punished
lieu
a French word for place, used in the phrase meaning instead of
linen
a smooth cloth made from a plant, used for shirts and sheets
manikin
a small figure of a person
mariners
sailors
mast
the tall pole that carries a ship's sails
masts
the tall poles that carry a ship's sails
meridians
lines drawn round a globe from top to bottom
midst
middle
mightily
greatly
mildewed
spotted with grey mould
moccasin
a soft leather shoe of the native peoples of America
molasses
thick dark syrup left over from making sugar
monstrous
huge and frightening
morrow
the next day
mower
a man who cuts grass with a swinging blade
mown
cut down, as grass is
mystifying
puzzling
nameless
that nobody can put a name to
negro
a black person, under the word used in that century
nooks
small hidden corners
notches
cut grooves
oath
a serious promise made before God
objectionable
such that a person would refuse
objections
reasons for saying no
obstreperously
loudly and out of control
ordained
settled beforehand by a higher power
orgies
wild parties of drink
outlandish
strange and foreign-looking
overstocked
holding more goods than anyone will buy
pagan
of a religion outside the Christian one
pantaloons
trousers
pecked
scratched in small marks
peddlin
going door to door selling, as he says it
persist
keep on
plaguy
annoying, as he says it
plank
a long flat board of wood
plaster
here, a strip stuck over a cut
ponchos
square cloaks with a slit for the head, worn in South America
pondered
thought long about
ponderings
turnings of a thing over in the mind
porcupine
an animal covered in long sharp spines
potion
a drink mixed for a purpose
prejudices
opinions formed before knowing
presume
take as likely
primal
first and most basic
psalmody
holy singing
puffed
blew out in little clouds
purty
pretty, as he says it
quaked
shook with fear
quills
the long sharp spines of such an animal
ragged
torn and worn out
rarities
strange objects seldom seen
rayther
rather, as he says it
rejoinder
an answer given back
render
make
resemblance
a being alike
restless
never staying still
revelry
wild drinking and noise
ruminating
turning things over quietly in the mind
sabbee
understand, in the broken speech sailors used between languages
sacrificial
offered up to a god
sailors
men who work on ships
sarmon
sermon, a long talk telling people how to behave
sartainty
certainty, as he says it
scalp
the skin on the top of the head
scrutiny
a close hard look
shaggy
covered in long rough hair
shan
part of the short form for will not
shavings
thin curls of wood cut off by a blade
shilling
an old British coin worth twelve pennies
shuddered
shook with a cold fear
sill
the flat ledge at the bottom of a window
slanderin
speaking ill of, as he says it
sleepe
sleep, as he says it
sleeves
the parts of a coat or shirt that cover the arms
soggy
soaked and heavy with water
sojourning
staying for a time
sovereign
that never fails
spears
long sticks with sharp points, for throwing or stabbing
specimens
single examples of a kind
spliced
joined, as two rope ends are joined into one
sportsman
a man who hunts birds and animals for pleasure
sprang
jumped
sprawling
thrown out flat with arms and legs everywhere
squitchy
wet and squelching, a word he half invents
stature
a person's height and build
storied
with a tale attached
sublimity
a greatness that fills a person with awe
sufferable
that a person can bear
sweeping
curving round in one long line
tablecloth
a cloth spread over a table for a meal
tallow
hard animal fat, burnt in cheap candles
tapered
grew narrower towards one end
tattooings
patterns pricked into the skin in colour
tenpin
one of the shaped wooden pins a ball is rolled at in a game
tickled
amused
tidiest
the cleanest and best kept
tolerably
well enough
toothpick
a small stick for cleaning between the teeth
topers
heavy drinkers
tramping
walking with heavy steps
trod
walked on
tufted
having bunches tied on
tumblers
flat-bottomed drinking glasses
twitched
jerked with small sudden movements
uncommonly
unusually
undressed
with clothes off
unearthly
like nothing of this world
unequal
not the same on both sides
unimaginable
impossible to picture
unsay
take back what was said
unwarrantable
that nothing gives a right to
vicinity
the space round a place
vile
filthy and low
whalin
out hunting the great sea beasts, as he says it
whaling
the hunting of the great sea beasts
woodcock
a brown bird with a long bill, shot for food
woollen
made of wool
worm
a small soft creature without legs that lives in earth
wouldn
part of the short form for would not
wrapall
a sailors' name for a thick outer coat
yarn
a long tale, often invented
yeast
the white bubbles that gather on moving water
yoking
joining two together to pull as one