1. chalybeate — containing iron salts
The town council decided that our chalybeate springs should be highlighted in the promotional materials.
2. gynander — woman with characteristics of a man
In response to the nascent women’s movements of the fin de siècle, the forces of reaction posited a pretended threat from gynanders who would devolve the fine sensibilities of modern women into a merely bestial state.
3. Gretna Green — Scottish town famed for easy marriages; any destination with lax marriage laws
The law was first modified in 1856, leading to a steep decline in Gretna Green marriages.
4. Tyler — guard stationed outside meeting of Masons to prevent uninitiated persons from entering
The chosen rendezvous was far from prying eyes, obviating the need for a Tyler.
5. sinicize — to make Chinese in style or form
It was the same old Chop House I remembered from my college days, only now the name of the restaurant was in some racist, sinicized font, but when I entered I realized that Spooky Bob had converted my favorite steak place to a full-on Chinese menu, and I doubted that I’d be getting my New York Strip after all.
6. metoposcopy — telling fortunes or reading character from studying lines on the forehead
In the particularly kabbalistic version of metoposcopy associated with Luria’s group, diviners claimed to find Hebrew letters etched in the wrinkles and folds of the forehead, characters which pointed to specific passages of the Talmud.
7. ousel (also ouzel) — Eurasian blackbird; American dipper
My cherry trees were under constant threat by a thuggish band of ousels seeking to fatten themselves before the long flight to North Africa.
8. harebell — Scottish bluebell, herbaceous perennial of Europe with blue flowers
Among the heather the harebells were beginning to emerge, and Holly was happy oh so happy once more.
9. jockey box — insulated container using ice, water, and coils to provide cold beverages at at temporary location; container on conveyance for tools, etc.
Molly had hidden the money under the tools and wire in the jockey box, but apparently that was the first place they searched.
10. tallboy — highboy
The pleasing lines of the tallboy originate in its two-part construction, for ease when moving the furniture.
Bonus Vocabulary
(English idiom, from rhyming slang: “Not on your Nellie Duff” –> “Duff” = “puff” (of breath) = life)
not on your nelly — no!, not on your life, noway nohow
“I? Take in your vagabond ex-boyfriend for whom the police are searching to … ahem … assist in their inquiries? Not on your Nelly!”