gamekeeper: keeper of whores
garnish: bribe, especially in prison
gentry cove: upper-class man
gentry mort: upper-class woman
gibbet: gallows, especially one where the dead criminal was left to rot
glaziers: eyes
gong: a privy or its contents
gong farmers, night-soil men: sewage collectors
gossip: friend, especially female, perhaps godparent
greased priest: Catholic priest (anointed with oil)
groat: coin worth four pence
guarded: trimmed with lace or braid, as in “guarded coat”
hair o’ the same wolf: hair of the dog-a hangover cure
halberd, halberdier: long-staffed weapon with a point, axe on one side and billhook on the other
hand-fasting: betrothal, solemnizing of wedding vows
headborough: parish officer, petty constable
headsman: executioner (with axe)
hedge-priest: itinerant preacher
hewing and punching: slashing the neck followed by a stab in the belly
hogshead: large cask containing 52.5 gallons
hole: worst prison cell
hornbook: board with letters or prayers with thin, transparent horn covering
hospitaller: man in charge of admissions and discharges from hospital and of seeing that funds and supplies were accounted for and that valuables brought in by patients were safeguarded
instrument: male member
intelligencer: spy
intrigant: one who intrigues
jakes, jaques, house of easement: privy, toilet
jerkin: close-fitting jacket, often leather
jet: to strut about, swagger
jetty: protruding story of house
ken: house, especially one where villains lodge or meet
kennel: surface street gutter
kern: Irish warrior, foot soldier, one of the poorer class of the Irish
kersey: worsted cloth, coarse and narrow, woven from long wool and usually ribbed
kine: cattle
king pest: the plague
kirtle: outer petticoat or skirt; the garment under the mantle
knell: bell-tolling to mark a death
languishing sickness: depression or any illness where energy is lost
lawn: a fine linen, resembling cambric
lewd: immoral and worthless
light-heeled: wanton, loose
link: torch made of tow and pitch (or wax and tallow), carried in the street at night
linsey-woolsey: thin flax-wool material, usually of inferior quality, or a dress made of the material
maling cord: rope for tying packs onto horses
malkin: a kitchen slut or an effeminate man
manchet: high-quality wheaten bread flour or a small round loaf of the same
mark: monetary unit-two-thirds of a pound
maund: to beg
maunderer: professional beggar
meet: suitable, appropriate
mercer: dealer in textiles, especially expensive ones
miasma: foul vapors, unwholesome air carrying disease
mistress of the game: prostitute, brothel madam
mittimus: letter from a justice of the peace or other authorized official committing a person into custody (an arrest warrant)
mixen, midden: dunghill
mooncalf: born fool, simpleton
mortbell: funeral bell
motion-man: puppet-master
murrain: plague
murrey: dark, blood red
musket: long-barreled weapon, fired using a stand and capable of penetrating armor. A heavier version of the arquebus, using same matchlock principle.
Mussulman: Muslim
netherstocks: stockings, tights, hose
occupy: euphemism for
ordinary: eating house, pub
ostler: person who attends horses at an inn
pack-saddle: saddle for carrying goods
palfrey: lady’s horse
palliasse: straw mattress
pantoufles: slippers
petronel: heavy pistol carried in the belt, used especially by cavalry
philtrous powder, philter: love potion or charm
pike, pikestaff: long-handled weapon with a sharp point
pikeman: man who carries a pike
pizzle: male member
platter: flat dish of pewter or wood
poniard: small, slim dagger
postern: back door or gate; small private door-distinct from the main entrance
powder: gunpowder
powder corns: grains of gunpowder
prigger of prancers: horse thief
projector: agent provocateur
puckrel: witch’s familiar spirit; imp
pursuivant: state officer with power to enforce warrants
pynner: coif with two long strips on either side for fastening (worn by women of quality)
quean: slut, whore
quent merchant: pimp
reiver: plunderer from across the border. From
