Vocabulary for Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson
Chapter 1:
cantle (p. 3)—noun—the hind part of a saddle, usually curved upward
cur (p. 6)—noun—a mongrel dog, especially a worthless or unfriendly one
depredation (p. 6)—noun—the act of preying upon or plundering; robbery
dingy (p. 1)—adjective—shabby; dismal; of a dark, dull, or dirty color; lacking brightness
dun (p. 12)—adjective—dull, grayish brown; dark or gloomy
hopper (p. 11)—noun—a funnel-shaped bin in which loose material (like grain or coal) is stored
temporarily {The phrase “in the hopper” means in preparation, about to be realized.}
lay(ing) for him (p. 12)—to lie in wait for someone or something
notion (p. 12)—noun—an idea, theory, concept, or belief
nuzzle (p. 7)—verb—to root, rub, or touch with the nose; to rub or push gently (as one’s face)
against something; to lie close or snug
plunder (p. 8)—noun—personal or household effects
recollect (p. 8)—verb—to remind (oneself) of something temporarily forgotten; to recall or
remember
scabbard (p. 3)—noun—a sheath (holder) for a sword, dagger, or bayonet (or gun)
scamp (p. 11)—noun—a rascal; an impish or playful young person
scythe (p. 7)—noun—a tool with a curved blade used for mowing or cutting
solemn (p. 6)—adjective—sober, dignified, imposing, serious
sulk (p. 11)—verb—to be moodily silent
trifle (with) (p. 14)—verb—fool with [slang]
varmint (p. 4)—noun—an animal considered a pest; a contemptible person
writhe (p. 7)—verb—to twist or turn as if from pain or struggling
Chapter 2:
bobbed (p. 16)—adjective—cut short
clout (p. 18)—verb—to hit forcefully
romp (p. 16)—verb—to run or play in a lively, carefree, or boisterous manner
sober (p. 19)—adjective—serious, grave, or thoughtful; subdued in tone, color, or personality
whet (p. 20)—verb—to sharpen; to make keen or more acute; to stimulate
Chapter 3:
aggravation (p. 30)—noun—irritation, provocation
gnarled (p. 23)—adjective—full of knots or twists; deformed
javelina (p. 24)—noun—a wild boar
roan (p. 24)—adjective—having the base color (such as red, black, or brown) muted and
lightened by a mixture of white hairs
stampede (p. 28)—verb—to flee or run headlong in panic
fall to staves (p. 22)—verb—to collapse, to fall apart [slang]
stone blind (p. 29)—adjective—totally blind [slang]
sulk (p. 33)—verb—to be moodily silent
thicket (p. 22)—noun—a dense growth of shrubs or small trees
turn tail (p. 31)—verb—to turn away so as to flee or run [slang]
tush (p. 24)—noun—a long pointed tooth; a tusk
wallow (p. 31)—verb—to roll oneself about in a lazy, relaxed, or clumsy way
withers (p. 22)—noun—the ridge between the shoulder bones of a horse
Vocabulary for Old Yeller, LIST II
Chapter 4:
astride (p. 40)—preposition/adverb/adjective—with a leg on each side of; straddling
bay (p. 39)—verb—to howl (at); to bring to or to hold at bay, to trap by howling at
bluff (p. 36)—
boar (p. 36)—noun—a wild pig
broadside (p. 40)—adverb—with the side, especially the broader side, facing toward a given
point or object
bullwhip (p. 43)—noun—a rawhide whip with a short handle and a long, plaited end
canyon (p. 36)—noun—a deep valley with steep sides, often with a stream flowing through it
careen (p. 45)—verb—to lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion
charge (p. 40)—verb—to attack by rushing violently against
clamor (p. 36)—verb—to make a loud noise or outcry
heave (p. 44)—verb—to raise or lift with effort or force; to hoist; to throw
hilt (p. 40)—noun—the handle of any weapon or tool
knoll (p. 37)—noun—a small, rounded hill
reek (p. 41)—verb—to smell strongly and unpleasantly; to stink; to give off steam, smoke, etc.
tallow (p. 37)—noun—the fatty tissue or suet of animals (used to make candles, soap, etc.)
Chapter 5:
chaparral (p. 48)—noun—a dense growth of shrubs or small trees
copperhead (p. 48)—noun—a venomous snake with a light-brown to copper-red body marked
with darker bands
fix (p. 53)—noun—a position from which it is difficult to escape; a predicament; trouble
frantic (p. 53)—adjective—desperate or wild with excitement, passion, fear, pain, etc.; frenzied
lunge (p. 56)—verb—to move, jump, push, or thrust forward suddenly
marrow (p. 54)—noun—the inmost or essential part; strength or vitality; the tissue at the center
of bones
poultice (p. 49)—noun—a soft, moist mass of cloth, bread, meal, herbs, etc., applied hot as
medicine to the body
prowl (p. 54)—verb—to rove or move about sneakily (as in search of something to steal)
rowdy (p. 58)—adjective—rough and disorderly; boisterous, unruly
spasm (p. 48)—noun—a sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscle contraction; a flash of pain
wedge (p. 51)—noun—something that serves to part, split, divide, etc.
whimper (p. 53)—verb—to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds
windy (p. 50)—noun [sland]—an outrageous story; a tall tale
yarn (p. 50)—noun—a tale, especially a long story of adventure or incredible happenings
Chapter 6:
bloated (p. 60)—adjective—swollen; puffed up
blue-tick (p. 67)—noun—an American hound having a usually black, tan, and white coat
flecked or mottled with black, used in hunting foxes and raccoons
briar (p. 61)—noun—a prickly plant or shrub; a thorny stem or twig; a tangled mass of prickly
plants
colt (p. 70)—noun—a young male horse of not more than four years of age
dismount (p. 68)—verb—to get off or alight from a horse, bicycle, etc.
embed (p. 60)—verb—to fix into a surrounding mass; to surround tightly or firmly
hearty (p. 73)—adjective—warm-hearted, affectionate; genuine, sincere
hydrophobia (p. 69)—noun—rabies—an infectious and usually fatal animal disease transmitted
to humans by being bitten by the infected animal; an abnormal or
unnatural dread of water
maul (p. 70)—verb—to handle or use roughly; to injure by a rough beating, shoving, etc.
pitch in (p. 60)—verb—to begin to work in earnest and vigorously; to join in; to help out
rile (p. 71)—verb—to irk, irritate, annoy, provoke
roost (p. 69)—verb—to settle or stay, especially for the night; to sit or rest on a perch
rout (p. 60)—verb—to defeat decisively
scurvy (p. 61)—noun—a disease marked by swollen and bleeding gums, livid spots on the skin,
etc., due to a diet lacking in vitamin C
shiftless (p. 66)—adjective—lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy; lacking ambition
sumptuous (p. 65)—adjective—magnificent, luxurious, expensive, extravagant
watercress (p. 65)—noun—leaves used for salads, soups, and as a garnish
Chapter 7:
heifer (p. 82)—noun—a young cow over one year old that has not produced a calf
mange (p. 77)—noun—an infectious disorder (caused by parasitic mites) mainly affecting
domestic animals, characterized by itching, skin bumps or cysts, and loss of hair
rogue (p. 75)—noun—a dishonest person; a scoundrel; a playfully mischievous person, a scamp
sacking (p. 79)—noun—stout, coarse woven material chiefly used for sacks
squawl (p. 80)—verb—[variant spelling of squall] a sudden disturbance or commotion
thresh (p. 80)—verb—to hit or beat
Chapter 8:
bit (p. 94)—noun—the mouthpiece of a bridle, having fittings at each end to which the reins are
fastened
commotion (p. 92)—noun—violent or tumultuous motion; agitation; noisy disturbance
flank (p. 92)—noun—the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip
pitch (p. 96)—noun-plague (p. 95)—noun—an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; verb—to trouble, annoy,
or torment in any manner
sternness (p. 96)—noun—firmness, strictness, harshness, severity
venison (p. 94)—noun—deer meat