The Canterbury Tales

1. The Canterbury Tales Vocabulary Mrs. Conti English 11 Geoffery Chaucer Retold by Geraldine McCaughrean

2. Pilgrimage • “You’ll have good company for your pilgrimage this year, friend,” he said, beaming at me, “There must be a dozen other pilgrims already.” • Page 1

3. Pilgrimage • a journey to a holy place

4. Quagmire • “Very soon, like a row of chessmen escaping from the chessboard, we ambled off the paved yard and into the quagmire of the drover’s road.” • Page 5

5. Quagmire • an area of soft, wet ground

6. Chivalrous • “A chill went through Palamom, but he thought of Emily, and how pleased she would be by his chivalrous heroism, and he went to sleep contented.” • Page 12

7. Chivalrous • showing respect and politeness especially toward women

8. Joust • “Both your lives are forfeit, but I shall spare the man who remains alive when the joust ends.” • Page 12

9. Joust • of knights in the Middle Ages : to fight on horseback with lances

10. Plume • “…and plumes fit for birds of paradise were brazed by the blaring of trumpets whose scarlet oriflammes were embroidered with silvery beasts.” • Page 12

11. Plume •  a decoration made of feathers or something similar

12. Oriflamme • a banner, symbol, or ideal inspiring devotion or courage

13. Sepulchral • “All, all, said Nicholas in sepulchral tones.” • Page 20

14. Sepulchral • very sad and serious : very dismal or gloomy

15. Hemp • “He told the carpenter to fetch three big, watertight barrels, and to hang them up among the roof beams of the house by stout hemp ropes.” • Page 20

16. Hemp • a plant that is used to make thick ropes

17. Lodger • “A trickle of smoke was still rising from the seat of the lodger’s trousers.” • Page 23

18. Lodger • a person who rents a room in another person's house

19. Wimple • “She adjusted her wimple so that it sat well back on her forehead.” • Page 23

20. Wimple • a cloth worn over the head and around the neck and chin by women in past times and by some nuns today

21. Pommel • “The lap-dog sprawled across the pommel of the Prioress’ saddle began to wriggle and whine.” • Page 24

22. Pommel • a high, round part on the front of a saddle

23. Peasant • “When he came to power over his little province, the peasants and farmers who had served his father were proud to be owned by him.” • Page 39

24. Peasant • a poor farmer or farm worker who has low social status

25. Cavalcade • “On the day arranged, Walter set out with a cavalcade of fifty men and women, all in their best clothes – as if he was going to meet his bride.” • Pages 30-40

26. Cavalcade • a line of riders, vehicles, etc., moving along in the same direction

27. Charlatan • “Yes, I’m calling him a liar and a charlatan.” • Page 60

28. Charlatan • a person who falsely pretends to know or be something in order to deceive people

29. Revenue • “But the only sharks that ever robbed me were your accursed revenue men!” • Pages 70-71

30. Revenue • money that is collected for public use by a government through taxes

31. Infernal • “Look at me – black in the face blowing up his infernal coals…” • Page 92

32. Infernal • very bad or unpleasant

33. Loathsome • “But the Summoner pushed his loathsome face hard up against the Friar’s and grinned till the cold-sore on his lip cracked.” • Page 99

34. Loathsome • causing feelings of hatred or disgust : very bad

35. Perch • “From his high perch, Crow saw everything. • Page 89

36. Perch • a resting place or vantage point : seat

37. Rafter • “High in the rafters he sang.” • Page 89

38. Rafter • any of the parallel beams that support a roof

39. Cacophonous • “And the Summoner burst into a cacophonous laugh.” • Page 60

40. Cacophonous • harsh-sounding