Vocabulary for Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson



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

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