The Canterbury Tales Vocabulary Mrs. Conti English 11 Geoffery Chaucer Retold by Geraldine McCaughrean Pilgrimage Youll have good company for your pilgrimage this year, friend, he said, beaming at me, There must be a dozen other pilgrims already. Youll have good company for your pilgrimage this year, friend, he said, beaming at me, There must be a dozen other pilgrims already. Page 1 Page 1 Pilgrimage a journey to a holy place a journey to a holy place Quagmire Very soon, like a row of chessmen escaping from the chessboard, we ambled off the paved yard and into the quagmire of the drovers road. Very soon, like a row of chessmen escaping from the chessboard, we ambled off the paved yard and into the quagmire of the drovers road. Page 5 Page 5 Quagmire an area of soft, wet ground an area of soft, wet ground Chivalrous A chill went through Palamom, but he thought of Emily, and how pleased she would be by his chivalrous heroism, and he went to sleep contented. A chill went through Palamom, but he thought of Emily, and how pleased she would be by his chivalrous heroism, and he went to sleep contented. Page 12 Page 12 Chivalrous showing respect and politeness especially toward women showing respect and politeness especially toward women Joust Both your lives are forfeit, but I shall spare the man who remains alive when the ends. Both your lives are forfeit, but I shall spare the man who remains alive when the joust ends. Page 12 Page 12 Joust of knights in the Middle Ages : to fight on horseback with lances of knights in the Middle Ages : to fight on horseback with lances Plume and plumes fit for birds of paradise were brazed by the blaring of trumpets whose scarlet were embroidered with silvery beasts. and plumes fit for birds of paradise were brazed by the blaring of trumpets whose scarlet oriflammes were embroidered with silvery beasts. Page 12 Page 12 Plume a decoration made of feathers or something similar a decoration made of feathers or something similar Oriflamme a banner, symbol, or ideal inspiring devotion or courage a banner, symbol, or ideal inspiring devotion or courage Sepulchral All, all, said Nicholas in tones. All, all, said Nicholas in sepulchral tones. Page 20 Page 20 Sepulchral very sad and serious : very dismal or gloomy very sad and serious : very dismal or gloomy Hemp He told the carpenter to fetch three big, watertight barrels, and to hang them up among the roof beams of the house by stout hemp ropes. He told the carpenter to fetch three big, watertight barrels, and to hang them up among the roof beams of the house by stout hemp ropes. Page 20 Page 20 Hemp a plant that is used to make thick ropes a plant that is used to make thick ropes Lodger A trickle of smoke was still rising from the seat of the lodgers trousers. A trickle of smoke was still rising from the seat of the lodgers trousers. Page 23 Page 23 Lodger a person who rents a room in another person's house a person who rents a room in another person's house Wimple She adjusted her wimple so that it sat well back on her forehead. She adjusted her wimple so that it sat well back on her forehead. Page 23 Page 23 Wimple a cloth worn over the a cloth worn over the head and around the neck and chin by women in past times and by some nuns today Pommel The lap-dog sprawled across the of the Prioress saddle began to wriggle and whine. The lap-dog sprawled across the pommel of the Prioress saddle began to wriggle and whine. Page 24 Page 24 Pommel a high, round part on the front of a saddle a high, round part on the front of a saddle Peasant When he came to power over his little province, the and farmers who had served his father were proud to be owned by him. When he came to power over his little province, the peasants and farmers who had served his father were proud to be owned by him. Page 39 Page 39 Peasant a poor farmer or farm worker who has low social status a poor farmer or farm worker who has low social status Cavalcade On the day arranged, Walter set out with a of fifty men and women, all in their best clothes as if he was going to meet his bride. On the day arranged, Walter set out with a cavalcade of fifty men and women, all in their best clothes as if he was going to meet his bride. Pages Pages 30-40 Cavalcade a line of riders, vehicles, etc., moving along in the same direction a line of riders, vehicles, etc., moving along in the same direction Charlatan Yes, Im calling him a liar and a. Yes, Im calling him a liar and a charlatan. Page 60 Page 60 Charlatan a person who falsely pretends to know or be something in order to deceive people a person who falsely pretends to know or be something in order to deceive people Revenue But the only sharks that ever robbed me were your accursed men! But the only sharks that ever robbed me were your accursed revenue men! Pages Pages 70-71 Revenue money that is collected for public use by a government through taxes money that is collected for public use by a government through taxes Infernal Look at me black in the face blowing up his coals Look at me black in the face blowing up his infernal coals Page 92 Page 92 Infernal very bad or unpleasant very bad or unpleasant Loathsome But the Summoner pushed his loathsome face hard up against the Friars and grinned till the cold-sore on his lip cracked. But the Summoner pushed his loathsome face hard up against the Friars and grinned till the cold-sore on his lip cracked. Page 99 Page 99 Loathsome causing feelings of hatred or disgust : very bad causing feelings of hatred or disgust : very bad Perch From his high, Crow saw everything. From his high perch, Crow saw everything. Page 89 Page 89 Perch a resting place or vantage point : seat a resting place or vantage point : seat Rafter High in the rafters he sang. High in the rafters he sang. Page 89 Page 89 Rafter any of the parallel beams that support a roof any of the parallel beams that support a roof Cacophonous And the Summoner burst into a laugh. And the Summoner burst into a cacophonous laugh. Page 60 Page 60 Cacophonous harsh-sounding harsh-sounding