Chapter 22 - Merry Christmas — Vocabulary
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville — key words and definitions
Vocabulary Words from Chapter 22 - Merry Christmas
- riggers (noun)
- Workers who set up and adjust the rigging (ropes, chains, and tackle) of a sailing ship.
- quarter-deck (noun)
- The raised deck at the stern of a ship, traditionally reserved for officers and ceremonial functions.
- marquee (noun)
- A large tent or canopy structure; here, a temporary shelter made of whalebone erected on deck while in port.
- capstan (noun)
- A vertical revolving machine used on ships for winding a rope or cable, especially to raise the anchor.
- handspikes (noun)
- Wooden bars used as levers for turning the capstan or windlass on a sailing vessel.
- windlass (noun)
- A horizontal cylinder turned by a crank, used aboard ships to hoist anchors and haul heavy loads.
- psalmody (noun)
- The singing of psalms or hymns, especially in public worship or as a devotional practice.
- stave (noun)
- A verse or stanza of a poem or song; also, one of the strips of wood forming the sides of a barrel.
- imperturbable (adjective)
- Unable to be upset or excited; remaining calm and composed under any circumstances.
- bulwarks (noun)
- The sides of a ship above the upper deck, serving as a protective barrier against the sea.
- cordage (noun)
- Ropes and cords collectively, especially the ropes in a ship's rigging.
- fruition (noun)
- The realization or fulfillment of a plan, hope, or desire; the state of bearing fruit.
- offing (noun)
- The more distant part of the sea visible from shore; in nautical use, a position at sea some distance from land.
- vernal (adjective)
- Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring; suggestive of youth, freshness, and new growth.
- meads (noun)
- An archaic or poetic word for meadows; open fields of grass.
- palavering (verb)
- Talking at length in an idle or inconsequential way; prolonged and unnecessary discussion.
- tierce (noun)
- A cask or barrel holding approximately 42 gallons, used for storing provisions like molasses aboard ship.
- convulsively (adverb)
- In a sudden, violent, and uncontrolled manner; with involuntary spasmodic movements.