More Etiquette and Regency Era Lexicon

Making sense of "Sense and Sensibility" and other works of the Regency Era, Part 2.5

"What do you mean 'you are getting ready to read another book'?!?"

I am getting ready to read another book. No, I am not referring to more research from more old etiquette books that clutter my home. This is an actual novel. I am on some sort of roll, reading two novels in twenty years. Who knows? I may continue this as a trend.

This is another book by Jane Austen, but it was completed after her death. The book is "Sanditon: Jane Austen's Last Novel Completed" loaned to me by my sister in-law Peggy. Getting ready to start this book, I thought I should first study up on the archaic phrases, terms and words of Jane Austen's Regency Era. The following are those I am adding to the growing list that is my "Regency Era Lexicon";

Assiduities: persistent personal attentions

Enormously popular with lower-class Londoners, the Bartholomew Fair was an annual, carnival-type event.

Bartholomew Baby: A person dressed up in a tawdry manner, like the dolls sold at Bartholomew Fair (a two-week festival celebrating the Feast of St. Bartholomew). 

Bear leader: A travelling tutor, who leads his charges as if they were trained bears

The world’s most famous mental hospital, Bedlam.  Its name derives from the "Church of St Mary of Bethlehem"

Bedlam: An insane asylum in London. The full name was the Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem.
 
Bit o'muslin: A woman of who gives sexual favors in exchange for payment

Ignatius Bonomi, an English architect and surveyor.

Bonomi: Ignatius Bonomi, a well known architect at the time

To be played on a Bowling Green

Bowling Green: grassy lawn where game of ninepins could be played

Cavil: a trivial objection

Conjurer: someone who draws astute conclusions

Covert: a thicket providing cover for game

A Curricle Match "I have an IDEA my Lord, that nothing but time or a stone wall will stop them and I'll bet a cool hundred that Frank will not head them for the next mile."

Curricle:  a light, two-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses, side by side

Ebullition:  a sudden outburst, as of emotion

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane ~ Engraving, from the stage, looking into the auditorium

Drury Lane:  general term for the Theatre Royal; street were the London playhouse is located

Enclosure:  common land, previously used by everyone, this is fenced in by the landowner so that others can't use his land for pasture or gathering fuel

Gigs:  light, open, two wheeled carriages

Pear-shaped, ivory vinaigrette, for holding for the Regency Era lady's smelling salts

Hartshorn:  smelling salts or spirits
 
Had as lief:  would just as soon, would just as readily or willingly

"Accomplished women" of the era had mastered several pastimes; Needlework, Playing an instrument, Singing, Painting, etc...  A huswife held items for sewing and needlework

Huswifes:  pocket cases for needles, pins, thread and scissors, forerunner of "housewife"

Importune:  troublesome, overly persistent in request or demand

Incommode:  inconvenience, disturb

One gent lacks money, the other lacks charm; Both suffer from an inferiority of parts.

Inferiority of parts: lack of talent or capabilities

Knowing:  fashionable

La Boulangere: a simple circle dance for a group of couples

"Because breakfast was so late, there was not a regular lunch."

Nuncheon:  also "nunchion," a light, noon drink or snack, forerunner of the word "luncheon"

Offices: parts of the house in which servants work

Open weather:  mild and free from frost

Piquet, a classic game originating in France where it was the dominant card game for many years.

Riding side-saddle

Piquet: a card game for two players, with 32 cards

Porter: a dark brown beer made from charred or brown malt

Post-Horses: horses used or kept at inns, or post-houses, for use by mail-riders, or for hire by travelers

Public School:  in England it is a private school

Red-Gum:  swelling and redness due to teething

Retailed:  repeated

Serviley:  in the manner of a slave

The Inner Temple is one of the four "Inns of Court"

Temple:  one of two sets of buildings in London's Inns of Court, which served as residences for lawyers and law students

Whip Hand:  upper hand, advantage (the hand that holds the whip controls the carriage or horse)

Work-bags:  bags for needlework