Chapter 57 - Of Whales in Paint; in Teeth; in Wood; in Sheet-Iron; in Stone; in Mountains; in Stars — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 57 - Of Whales in Paint; in Teeth; in Wood; in Sheet-Iron; in Stone; in Mountains; in Stars

kedger (noun)

A sailor's term for a crippled beggar; one who limps or hobbles, especially a former sailor reduced to begging.

skrimshander (noun)

Scrimshaw; decorative carving done on whale teeth, whale bone, or other marine materials by sailors during leisure hours at sea.

busks (noun)

Stiff strips inserted into the front of a corset to stiffen it; here, decorative corset stays carved from whale bone.

contrivances (noun)

Cleverly designed devices or implements; ingenious mechanical creations.

omnipotent (adjective)

Having unlimited or very great power; all-powerful.

allegiance (noun)

Loyalty or commitment to a sovereign, government, or cause.

perseverance (noun)

Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success; steady determination.

maziness (noun)

The quality of being maze-like; intricate complexity of design or pattern.

forecastles (noun)

The forward part of a ship below deck, traditionally used as the crew's living quarters.

amphitheatrical (adjective)

Resembling an amphitheater; arranged in a circular or oval shape with rising tiers, like surrounding mountain heights.

incognita (adjective)

Unknown or unexplored; from the Latin terra incognita, meaning unknown land.

effulgent (adjective)

Shining brightly; radiant; splendidly brilliant.

fasces (noun)

A bundle of rods bound together, originally a Roman symbol of authority; here used figuratively for a bundle of harpoons.

bridle-bitts (noun)

Strong posts on a ship's deck to which cables or ropes are fastened; here imagined as a bridle for riding a whale.

Leviathan (noun)

A biblical sea monster; used throughout Moby-Dick as a synonym for the whale, connoting immense size and power.