Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

acted upon; influenced

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Can’t ’ee see I ’aven’t got no shirt?”

capital and largest city of Northern Ireland; the center of Protestantism in Northern Ireland

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

a boy or man

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

the two together, not just one

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Can’t ’ee see I ’aven’t got no shirt?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

a boy or man

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

without stop or interruption

From this reading “’Cos why?” he continued very loud.

ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle

From this reading “’Cos why?” he continued very loud.

lying or extending across the length of a thing or in a cross direction

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

the branch of engineering science that studies the uses of electricity and the equipment for power generation and distribution and the control of machines and communication

From this reading “Can’t ’ee see I ’aven’t got no shirt?”

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

an old word for “before”

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

characterized by intense emotion

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

living quarters consisting of a superstructure in the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading “Can’t ’ee see I ’aven’t got no shirt?”

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Can’t ’ee see I ’aven’t got no shirt?”

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

angered at something unjust or wrong

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

impossible to subdue

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading “’Cos why?” he continued very loud.

the force of workers available

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

any new participant in some activity

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

not any; not one

From this reading “Can’t ’ee see I ’aven’t got no shirt?”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

above and across; more than

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

precisely, exactly

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

Identical; not different.

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

an effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “Can’t ’ee see I ’aven’t got no shirt?”

an associate on the same ship with you

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

a garment worn on the upper half of the body

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment

From this reading He held both his arms out crosswise and shook the rags that hung over his bones with dramatic effect.

tangled in knots or snarls

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

carry out

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

precisely as stated

From this reading “’Cos why?” he continued very loud.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

accept gladly

From this reading The ragged newcomer was indignant—“That’s a fine way to welcome a chap into a fo’c’sle,” he snarled.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading “’Cos why?” he continued very loud.

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Are you men or a lot of ’artless canny-bals?”—“Don’t take your shirt off for a word, shipmate,” called out Belfast, jumping up in front, fiery, menacing, and friendly at the same time.—“Is that ’ere bloke blind?” asked the indomitable scarecrow, looking right and left with affected surprise.