1. tetrachromat — person who is able to perceive many more colors than usual due to a fourth type of cone cells in the retina
Only women can be born as tetrachromats, because the gene for red and green cones is on the X chromosome.
2. addle — to make (eggs) rotten
Though this scorching heat has addled all our eggs, our prize hen still insists upon sitting atop her ruined brood.
3. wale — ridge or mark upon the skin produced by lash or cane; raised line in fabric; gunwale; horizontal timbers used for bracing piles
Along the sloping rock face the cofferdam was supported by a frame of wales with diagonal struts.
4. allodial — of property held absolutely without rights accruing to a feudal superior
The ancient German law dictated that allodial estates could be inherited only by kindred.
5. sistrum — ancient Egyptian percussion instrument consisting of metal frame with transverse rods which rattled when shaken by the attached handle
The lament of the priestess was underlined by the shivering sistra and punctuated by the beating tambour.
6. flaw — sudden wind blast; brief gale or storm; abrupt outburst of feeling
The sloop was caught broadsides by the thundering flaw and the jibing boom struck Harrison, flinging him into the dark river before the crew noticed.
7. sudorific — related to or causing sweat; drug which causes perspiration
Though I knew better, having previous experience of this dingy restaurant, still I cast sense and caution aside and dipped my chips into the sudorific salsa in the tripod molcajete on the table.
8. blatherskite (also bletherskite, bletherskate) — speaker of arrant nonsense; such nonsense
Where once we placed our worst blatherskites in Congress where they could do no harm, now we give them television shows and pay heed to all of their flapdoodle as if it were holy writ.
9. bothy — small cottage or hut, usu. of only a single room
We repaired to a bothy that my guide knew of, to enjoy our first day’s catch and rest before returning to our angling.
10. venireman — person summoned as a potential juror
Seventy-two male and female veniremen were brought in for the voir dire, and it seemed at first that the number would be insufficient, so fixed was public opinion in the scandalous case.