Vocabulary from Huck Finn Words are listed by chapter grouping in their order of appearance.
Note: The comic spellings used in the novel are placed in parentheses after the proper spelling of the words.
Chapters 1-3
* hogshead—barrel
gap—yawn
hived—stole
ambuscade—ambush
* lath—thin wooden slats, to which plaster is usually attached
Chapters 4-7
*hiding—thrashing
*meddle—interfere
*dandy — a man who is overly fastidious about his dress
* temperance — abstinence from alcoholic beverages
* skiff—a light rowboat
tow — cheap rope
* nabob — an important person (originally,
governor of an Indian state)
* palaver—talk
trot line — a fishing line strung across a river with individual lines and hooks hanging down from it into the water
Chapters 8-11
quicksilver -mercury
*abreast—side by side
*cooper—barrelmaker
camp meeting—outdoor religious revival
truck—stuff, things
*reticule—a cloth purse
Chapters 12-14
texas — a structure on a steamboat containing
the officers' cabins
guys—support wires
* blubbering—crying
* careened—turned over on its side
bitts — timbers used for securing lines on a boat
spondulicks—(slang) dollars
dauphin (dolphin) — eldest son of a king of France
Chapters 15-16
* tote—carry
* aggravate—irritate
leeward (looard)— the direction in which the wind is blowing; downwind
* sheering—swerving
Chapters 17-18
* wince — to shrink back or cringe
* impaired — harmed
* frivolousness (frivoleshness) — lack of seriousness
*sideboard- -a piece of dining room furniture used for holding dishes and serving implements
pommel — the front of a saddle
*feud — a long-standing and deadly quarrel between groups
puncheon floor—a floor made of split logs
*ransack—to search thoroughly
Chapters 19-20
galluses—suspenders
jour printer—journeyman printer, between an apprentice and a master printer
*mesmerism — hypnotism
phrenology — study of character as revealed by the shape of the head
*haughty—proud
*histrionic—related to acting
ciphered out—figured out
* benefactors—people who confer benefits
unities—the dramatic unities of time, place, and action, as propounded by Aristotle
Chapters 21-23
* languish—to assume an expression of weariness, appealing for sympathy
Capet—the family name of Louis XVI
*encore—a brief number performed after a performance in response to applause
camelopard—a giraffe
sold—cheated
heptarchy—the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established in England from 449 to 829
Chapters 24-26
beaver—a hat made of beaver skin
*tanner—a person who makes animal hides into leather
*slouch—a lazy person
* doxology (doxologer)—a hymn in praise of God
*passel—a group, a number of
*impostor—a person who pretends to be someone else
cubby — cubbyhole, a small room
*pallet—a small, primitive bed, usually made of straw
Congress water—mineral water from Saratoga Springs
stretchers—lies, stretchings of the truth
tick—mattress
Chapters 27-29
*melodeon (melodeum)—a small organ
sand—grit, courage
*harrow—a farm implement with long teeth for cultivating the soil
*candid—frank and honest
*confront (affront)—to bring face to face
*disposition—inclination or intention
*sluice—a flood of water
lights—lungs
Chapters 30-32
*cravats—neckties
*elocution (yellocution)—public speaking
doggery—tavern
tight-drunk
*venture-try
*bogus false
mortification—gangrene
* meek—humble
*waylay—to meet on the way
Chapters 33-35
* dainty—delicate
*petrified (putrified)-stunned
Baron Trenck (eighteenth century),
Casanova (eighteenth century),
Benvenuto Cellini (Chelleny) (sixteenth century), Henri IV (sixteenth century) — all real people involved in daring
escapes
seneschal (seneskal)—a steward or bailiff in medieval times
Langudoc—a province in medieval France
Navarre—a province in Spain; in the twelfth century, an independent country
The Iron Mask—hero of Alexandra Dumas's novel The Man in the Iron Mask
case-knives—ordinary kitchen knives
Chapters 36-39
counterpane (counterpin)—bedspread
*insurrection—rebellion
*addled—confused
Lady Jane Grey, Gilford Dudley,
Northumberland—Lady Jane Grey (1537— 54), married to Gilford Dudley, was persuaded by his father, the Duke of
Northumberland, to claim the throne of England. She was deposed nine days later and beheaded by Elizabeth I.
escutcheon (scutcheon)—the shield on which a coat of arms is carved
fess—a band drawn horizontally across the center of an escutcheon
elecampane (allycumpain)—an herb which reduces the pain of stings
*rummage—to search carefully
*sultry—hot
*brash—impudent, pushy
Chapters 40-43
*fidget—to move restlessly or uneasily
*desperadoes—villains, criminals