1. dapperling — dwarf or child, esp. one neatly dressed; mushroom of the Agaricaceae family
Face to face finally with my tormentor, I found him to be a smartly turned out dapperling with the missing monocle suspended like a mayoral chain beneath his chic imperial beard, and confess I did not know whether to bow or to pat him upon the head.
2. smoker — [informal] casual get-together for men at which cigars or other tobacco products are smoked
It was one of those smokers at which ribald songs would be sung by the former military men after the brandy, and which always devolve further into the mournful singing of nostalgic drivel about home and mother.
3. orlop — [nautical] fourth or lowest deck of a sailing ship
The gunpowder and lanterns were each stored at opposite ends of the orlop, for obvious reasons.
4. snaffle — large ringed horse bit
Damon and Alex began to argue about the relative advantages and disadvantages of curb bits versus snaffles in horse training, and I tried to look interested in spite of my yawning apathy.
5. tenon — projecting part formed by cutting wood away
But closer examination revealed that the classic mortise and tenon construction was clever fakery, with modern glues used instead in all the joins.
6. dropsical — affected by swelling
These hypertrophied fringes will cause and often sustain dropsical knee joints, and with their removal relief will come to the patient.
7. tonga — [India] light two-wheeled horse cart used for passenger transportation
Rickshaws are used in the city proper, but the smart set make their homes in the hills, and so tongas are de rigeur for attendees at the most popular parties.
8. porphyry — reddish or purple-red crystal-containing rock
His sarcophagus was entirely of porphyry, befitting his imperial status.
9. gollop — [UK colloquial] to gulp down, to greedily eat
Not to be outdone, the tiny homunculus golloped the entire roast and twelve potatoes, pausing only to drink two flagons of ale.
10. perennity — quality of long duration, state of lasting throughout the year, everlastingness
There was an awakening, yes, an awareness of that golden warmth surrounding and infusing all life, but many more months yea years of meditation were needful before that consciousness became a perennity in my daily life.
Bonus Vocabulary
(Edwardian women’s hairstyling)
hair rat — shaped pillow of loose hair (often collected from brushing) used as base for elevating women’s hairstyles
The victim was identified by comparing a hair rat found near the scene with those in the boudoir of the suspect’s missing wife.