Friday Vocabulary

1. clepsydra — ancient timekeeping device using discharge of water to measure time; water-clock

Like water through the clepsydra, so are the days of our lives.

  2. frass — insect excrement

The spider webs behind the appliances were spotted with frass that betrayed the unseen life forces which threatened the old homestead.

  3. burble — (aeronautics) breakdown of smooth airflow into turbulence

At this angle of attack our wing’s leading edge began to suffer from burble and I feared we would stall at any moment.

  4. combe — deep hollow or short valley

The fog lay heavy in the combe making it impossible to spy any enemy forces which might be sheltered there.

  5. sumpter — pack animal

I hired two horses at the livery stable, as well as a sumpter pony to carry our supplies and the mining tools.

  6. postern — side or back entrance

We left by the postern gate an hour before dawn, hoping to escape the notice of the watchers posted opposite the drawbridge.

  7. ordure — excrement, dung

The medieval alleys were plagued by heaps of ordure from chamberpots lying in wait for the unwary pedestrian.

  8. superficies — outer surface

“The territory of the thirteen original States of the Union comprehended a superficies of 371,124 English square miles.”

  9. ewer — wide mouthed jug

I poured some water into the basin from the ewer standing ready by my bed.

  10. wherry — light rowboat

I paid an oarsman to take me across the river in his wherry.

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