Old Yeller Vocabulary: Chapters 9 to 16
Chapter 9:
plague [p. 99/noun]—an epidemic disease that causes high mortality (death rate)
shudder [99/verb]—to tremble with a sudden convulsive movement, as from
horror, fear, or cold
carcass [101/noun]—the dead body of an animal
castrate [103/verb]—to remove the reproductive organs; to neuter
pester [105/verb]—to bother or annoy
rally [107/verb]—to bring into order again; to gather and organize
stampede [109/verb]—to scatter or flee in a mad rush
Chapter 10:
balk [115/verb]—to stop, as at an obstacle, and refuse to proceed or to do
something specified
searing [117/adjective]—burning, painful
bare [118/verb]—to open to view; to reveal
refuge [120/noun]—shelter or protection from danger or trouble; safety
coax [120/verb]—to attempt to influence by gentle persuasion
entrails [121/noun]—intestines; the internal parts of anything
mournful [123/adjective]—feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sad; sorrowful
Chapter 11:
flustered [127/adjective]—agitatedly confused
spook [128/verb]—to frighten or scare
misery [129/noun]—great mental or emotional distress
ease [129/verb]—to free from anxiety, care, or worry; to lessen
crow [134/verb]—to gloat or boast (brag)
bridle [134/noun]—part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting usually of a
headstall, bit, and reins
wretch [134/noun]—a horribly unfortunate or unhappy person; a person of
despicable or base character
dodge [135/verb]—to elude or evade by a sudden shift of position or by strategy
jolt [135/verb]—to jar, shake, or cause to move by or as if by a sudden thrust; to
shake up roughly
Chapter 12:
pack [140/verb]—to carry or haul
poultice [140/noun]—a soft, moist mass of cloth, bread, meal, herbs, etc., applied
hot as a medicine to the body
drouth [140/noun—an alternate spelling for “drought”]—a period of dry weather,
especially a long one that is injurious to crops
eager [143/adjective]—impatiently wanting or longing
puny [144/adjective]—of less than normal size or strength; weak
sorry [144/adjective]—wretched, poor, useless, or pitiful
litter [144/noun]—a number of young brought forth by an animal at one birth
fretful [145/adjective]—irritable or peevish
stout [146/adjective]—strong of body; hearty; sturdy
Chapter 13:
hobble [154/verb]—to walk lamely; to limp
reel [155/verb]—to spin or stagger
hackles [155/noun]—the hair on the back of an animal’s neck (that often stands up)
Chapter 14:
haunches [160/noun]—the hindquarter of an animal
stench [161/noun]—an offensive smell or odor; a stink
Chapter 15:
waver [173/verb]—to sway to and fro; to flicker or quicker; to become unsteady; to
shake or tremble; to feel or show doubt, indecision, etc.
bead [173/noun]—as in “get a bead on”—to take careful aim at
hulk [174/noun]—a bulky or unwieldy person, object, or mass
bound [174/verb]—to leap, jump, spring
clearing [174/noun]—a tract (piece) of land that contains no trees or bushes
Chapter 16:
keep [184/noun]—board and lodging; subsistence; support