Theme: charles dickens as a founder of christmas genre in british literature content: introduction

Glassory.
akimbo - having the hand on the hip and the elbow turned outward.


aldermen - local government official
bait - give food and rest to horses during a journey.


bank notes - promissory notes of a bank; promise of a bank to pay upon presentation of such a note. The only form of paper currency in England
chandler - originally a maker or seller of candles, later a small grocer.


charity boy - a student in a private charitable school for the very poor. Noah Claypool is a charity boy in Oliver Twist.
daresay - venture to say : think probable, as in "I daresay you'll have a great time." Never used in conjunction with "that" as in "I daresay that...."


dark lantern - Lantern with a sliding front which could be closed by twisting the top, hiding the candle without extinguishing
equipage - equipment used in relation to horse and carriage.


eight day clock - clock which required winding only once a week.


Foot Guards - infantry regiments that stood guard over the sovereign.
ginger and sal volatile - ammonium carbonate scented with ginger and sold as 'smelling salts' to revive ladies who had fainted.
heeltap - liquor left in the bottom of a glass.


Hilary - a term or session of the High Court beginning in January.
Iron Bridge - Popular name for Southwark Bridge, its three arches were made of cast iron.


ironmonger - seller of metal goods, hardware
journeyman - one who has finished an apprenticeship and is now able to hire himself out by the day. Joe Gargary hired the journeyman Orlick to work in the blacksmith shop in Great Expectations.
knight - lowest of the titled ranks in England. A knight has Sir before his name and his wife is addressed as Lady.


knock up - to bang on someone's door in order to wake them up.
limekiln - kiln used to heat limestone to produce quicklime.