Shakespearean Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards from Shakespearean plays.

Caitiff

Wretch (term of endearment).

Caliver

Light kind of musket or harquebus introduced during the 16th century; lightest portable fire-arm, except the pistol, fired without a 'rest.'

Callet

Whore.

Cank'red, cankered

Rusty, malignant.

Cantons

Love songs (cantos).

Cap-a-pe

Fully armed from head to foot.

Carded

Mixed with something base.

Carrion men

Decaying corpses.

Carrions

Living carcasses.

Cashiered

Dismissed.

Casing

All-embracing.

Catch

Musical round.

Cater-cousins

Close friends.

Caterwauling

Making a wailing noise like a cat.

Cautel

Craft.

Cerecloth

Shroud.

Cerements

Winding-sheets, shroud.

Certes

Assuredly.

Chafing with

Beating on.

Chalked forth

Indicated the direction.

Dallying

Fondling one another.

Date is out, the

It is no longer the fashion.

Dateless

Everlasting.

Daws

Jackdaws, or fools.

Dear account

Sad reckoning.

Death's-head

Skull.

Denotement

Careful observation.

Dilate

Tell fully.

Dismount thy tuck

Take thy rapier out of its scabbard or sheath.

Dissemble

Deceive.

Distaff

The spinning staff, and hence symbol of the woman.

Distemperature

Illness or other physical disorder.

Do my duties

Voice my loyalty.

Dog at

Clever at.

Doit

Cheap coin.

Dormouse valour

Small amount of bravery.

Doublet

Lined jacket.

Doves

The Chariot of Venus was drawn by doves, which were sacred to her.

Down-gyved

Fallen, like shackles, about the ankles.

Drabbing

Associating with prostitutes.

Dram

Small amount.

Dropping fire

Thunderbolts.