1. peroration — [rhetoric] concluding section of speech, in which orator sums up main points and attempts to inspire enthusiasm
By the resumption of the strident tones with which he’d begun his overlong speech, I judged that he was building up to his peroration and trying to arouse his audience from their irritable slumber.
2. venery — [archaic] hunting, the chase
Of the enormous cultural apparatus associated with venery from early in the middle ages into almost the modern era, only the somewhat silly association of particular terms for groups of animals remains, save for a small rump remnant of present-day devotees of falconry.
3. venery — [archaic] devotion to sexual pleasure, sexual congress
The symptoms of overindulgence in venery are similar to those found in habitual masturbators: weak chins, poor vision, listlessness, slumped shoulders, and a complete lack of moral fibre.
4. unlax — [slang] to relax
“Come on, Paul, sit yourself down on the couch and unlax awhile.”
5. skean dhu — [Scots] small knife worn in the top of the hose of Highland Scots
“Of course the blade of my skean dhu is sharp, razor sharp, for what would be the use of a dull knife?”
6. subpoena duces tecum — [Latin] writ commanding person to produce documents to the court
He tried to evade answering questions about his original contract with the trust, so we served him with a subpoena duces tecum forcing him to bring before the court that document and any additional papers detailing his arrangement with Mr. Roma.
7. selcouth — [archaic] strange, marvelous, unusual
And now the selcouth monster rose from the dark water, his many slimy arms smashing down the brave warriors as if they were ninepins.
8. soup and fish — [slang] tuxedo, evening clothes
So get yourself all togged up in a soup and fish so you can at least try to blend in when we spend the evening dancing with the swells.
9. palooka — [slang] ineffectual athlete, esp. a boxer; stupid person, lout
“You got no reason to be afeared of that old palooka, Joe! You can take him out with just one punch.”
10. omentum — [biology] fold of peritoneum connecting stomach with spleen, liver, colon; caul
No fat was found in the peritoneum, meaning that the victim had remained abstinent from food, either voluntarily or otherwise, for quite some time before death occurred.