Outlander Terms

Accoutrements — additional items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person or used for a particular activity

Acquiescence — the reluctant acceptance of something without protest

Addlepated — being mixed up, confused

Admonitory — giving or conveying a warning or reprimand

Altruistic — showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish

Amorphous — without a clearly defined shape or form

Antiquarian — a person who studies or collects antiques or antiquities

Athwart — 1) from side to side of; across, 2) in opposition to; counter to

Avarice — extreme greed for wealth or material gain

Balustrade — a railing supported by balusters, especially an ornamental parapet on a balcony, bridge, or terrace

Basidium — a microscopic club-shaped spore-bearing structure produced by certain fungi

Basilisk — a mythical reptile with a lethal gaze or breath, hatched by a serpent from a cock’s egg

Beatific — blissfully happy

Bobbin — a cylinder or cone holding thread, yarn, or wire, used especially in weaving, machine sewing, and lacemaking

Bolster — a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support

Bothy — (in Scotland) a small hut or cottage

Cabochon — a gem polished but not faceted

Cacophony — a harsh discordant mixture of sounds

Calamitous — involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous

Cambric — a lightweight, closely woven white linen or cotton fabric

Capacious — having a lot of space inside; roomy

Carom — make a carom; strike and rebound

Caterwaul — make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat

Cavalcade — a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles

Choler — anger or irascibility

Chromolithograph — a colored picture printed by lithography, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Ciborium — a receptacle shaped like a shrine or a cup with an arched cover, used in the Christian Church for the reservation of the Eucharist

Circumlocution — the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive

Commensurate — corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

Commodious — (especially of furniture or a building) roomy and comfortable

Contretemps — 1) a minor dispute or disagreement 2) an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence

Coping — the top, typically sloping, course of a brick or stone wall

Coracle — a small round boat made of wickerwork covered with a watertight material, propelled with a paddle

Cosset — care for and protect in an overindulgent way

Couchant — lying with the body resting on the legs and the head raised

Curry — groom (a horse) with a rubber or plastic curry comb

Damascened — (of iron or steel) given a wavy pattern by hammer-welding and repeated heating and forging

Daub — coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance in a carelessly rough or liberal way

Debauch — 1) a bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, especially eating and drinking, 2) the habit or practice of indulgence in sensual pleasures; debauchery

Declivity — a downward slope

Demijohn — a bulbous narrow-necked bottle holding from 3 to 10 gallons of liquid, typically enclosed in a wicker cover

Diatribe — a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

Disapprobation — the act or state of disapproving

Dittay — Scots law. : the matter charged in an indictment also : the indictment itself

Djinn — (in Arabian and Muslim mythology) an intelligent spirit of lower rank than the angels, able to appear in human and animal forms and to possess humans

Dormer — a window that projects vertically from a sloping roof

Durance — imprisonment or confinement

Dyspeptic — of or having indigestion or consequent irritability or depression

Efficacious — (of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective.

Eglantine — a Eurasian wild rose with fragrant leaves and flowers (also known as sweetbrier)

Elemental — 1) primary or basic 2) related to or embodying the powers of nature

Enmity — the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something

Ennui — a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement

Epaulet — an ornamental shoulder piece on an item of clothing, especially on the coat or jacket of a military uniform

Exegesis — critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture

Expostulate — express strong disapproval or disagreement

Exultant — triumphantly happy

Fastidious — very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

Febrifuge — a medicine used to reduce fever

Fettled — get ready, prepare

Flagon — a large container in which drink is served, typically with a handle and spout

Florid — 1) having a red or flushed complexion, 2) elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated, 3) (of a disease or its manifestations) occurring in a fully developed form

Flywhisk —  a device for brushing away flies, often made of horsehair

Foibles — a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character

Frogged — (of a coat) having an ornamental braid or fastening consisting of a spindle-shaped button and a loop

Frowst — lounge about in a warm, stuffy atmosphere

Fulcrum — the point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots

Fusiform — tapering at both ends; spindle-shaped

Garrulous — excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters

Genuflect — lower one’s body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect

Gregarious — 1. (of a person) fond of company; sociable 2. (of animals) living in flocks or loosely organized communities 3. (of plants) growing in open clusters or in pure associations

Gunnysack — a sack made of a coarse heavy fabric (such as burlap)

Halyard — a rope used for raising and lowering a sail, spar, flag, or yard on a sailing ship

Harled — 1) to drag something along the ground, 2) to drag oneself; trail along

Hassock — 1) an upholstered footstool or ottoman, 2) a cushion for kneeling on in church

Heath — an area of open uncultivated land, especially in Britain, with characteristic vegetation of heather, gorse, and coarse grasses

Hostler — a man employed to look after the horses of people staying at an inn

Invective — insulting, abusive, or highly critical language

Jackdaw — a small gray-headed crow that typically nests in tall buildings and chimneys, noted for its inquisitiveness

Jerkin — a sleeveless jacket

Kestrel — a small falcon that hovers with rapidly beating wings while searching for prey on the ground

Kipper — cure (a herring or other fish) by splitting it open and salting and drying it in the open air or smoke

Lascivious — feeling or revealing and overt and often offensive sexual desire

Lave — (of water) wash against or over (something)

Limpet — a marine mollusk with a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot, found clinging tightly to rocks

Liniment — a liquid or lotion, especially one made with oil, for rubbing on the body to relieve pain

Liturgical — relating to liturgy or public worship

Magus — a member of a priestly caste of ancient Persia; a sorcerer

Marcel — a hairdo characterized by deep regular waves that are made by a heated curling iron

Marrow — a white-fleshed green-skinned gourd, which is eaten as a vegetable

Maudlin — self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness

Moue — a pouting expression used to convey annoyance or distaste

Noisome — having an extremely offensive smell; disagreeable; unpleasant

Nostrum — a medicine, especially one that is not considered effective, prepared by an unqualified person

Obsequies — funeral rites

Ogive — a pointed or Gothic arch

Operculum — a structure that closes or covers an aperture; technical term for gill cover

Pasqueflower — a spring-flowering plant of the buttercup family, with purple or white flowers

Patrician — (n) an aristocrat or nobleman; (adj) belonging to or characteristic of the aristocracy

Perfidious — deceitful and untrustworthy

Pernicious — having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way

Peruke — archaic term for wig

Phalanx — a body of troops or police officers standing or moving in close formation

Philter — a drink supposed to arouse love and desire for a particular person in the drinker; a love potion

Pinion — tie or hold the arms or legs of (someone)

Plinth — the lower square slab at the base of a column

Poofter — an effeminate or gay man

Postern — a back or side entrance

Potsherd — a broken piece of ceramic material, especially one found on an archaeological site

Pram — a four-wheeled carriage for a baby, pushed by a person on foot

Prehensile — capable of grasping

Preternatural — beyond what is normal or natural

Prevarication — the act of prevaricating, or lying

Profligate — recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources

Propitiation — the action of propitiating or appeasing a god, spirit, or person

Prosaic — having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty

Punctilio — a fine or petty point of conduct or procedure

Quaich — a shallow drinking cup, typically made of wood and having two handles

Quinsy — inflammation of the throat, especially an abscess in the region of the tonsils

Quixotic — exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

Raffish — unconventional and slightly disreputable, especially in an attractive manner

Recalcitrant — having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline

Redolent — strongly reminiscent or suggestive of

Refulgent — shining brightly

Reticule — a woman’s small handbag, originally netted and typically having a drawstring and decorated with embroidery or beading

Ribald— referring to sexual matters in an amusingly coarse or irreverent way

Rumination — a deep or considered thought about something

Rostrum — a raised platform on which a person stands to make a public speech, receive an award or medal, play music, or conduct an orchestra

Sally — 1) a sudden charge out of a besieged place against the enemy, 2) a brief journey or sudden start into activity, 3) a witty or lively remark, especially one made as an attack or as a diversion in an argument; a retort

Salver — a tray, typically one made of silver and used in formal circumstances

Sangfroid — composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances

Sanguine — optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

Sark — a shirt or chemise

Seine — catch (fish) with a seine

Simulacrum — an image or representation of someone or something

Singly — one at a time; separately or individually

Somnolent — sleepy; drowsy

Soutane — a type of cassock worn by Roman Catholic priests

Spurious — not being what it purports to be; false or fake

Stereopticon — a slide projector that combines two images to create a three-dimensional effect, or makes one image dissolve into another

Stile — an arrangement of steps that allows people but not animals to climb over a fence or wall

Stolid — calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation

Strathspey — a slow Scottish dance

Stricture — 1) a restriction on a person or activity, 2) a sternly critical or censorious remark or instruction

Susurrus — whisper, murmur, or rustle

Swarthy — dark-skinned

Taciturn — reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little

Tappet — a lever or projecting part on a machine that intermittently makes contact with a cam or other part so as to give or receive motion

Tarn — a small mountain lake

Tenebrous — dark; shadowy or obscure

Timorous — showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence

Tonsure — a part of a monk’s or priest’s head left bare on top by shaving off the hair

Torpor — a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy

Trencher — a wooden plate or platter for food

Tussock — a small area of grass that is thicker or longer than the grass growing around it

Tynchal — Scottish ceremonial hunt for stags or boars during a clan gathering by fellow clansmen

Ubiquitous –present, appearing, or found everywhere

Untenable — not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection

Urbane — courteous and refined in manner

Vermilion — a brilliant red pigment made from mercury sulfide (cinnabar)

Victuals — food or provisions

Vociferous — vehement or clamorous

Vouchsafe — give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner

Wanton — 1) (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked 2) sexually unrestrained or having many casual sexual relationships (typically used of a woman)