GlossaryFollowing is a list of all the glossary words at this site.
Abolitionist: one who seeks to abolish the institution of slavery academy: A school, usually private, where instructors teach special skills and subjects. accouterments: clothes, apparel, equipment (almost always in the plural) acrid: a sharp, unpleasant taste or smell Algonquian: a group of Native Americans from the Northeast who have similar languages, it includes the Abenakis, Micmacs, Pocumtucks and others allegorical: figuratively, not literally; having hidden meanings beyond the literal sense; speaking otherwise than one seems to speak alliance: friendship or union, often of a military nature. almanac: book set up by day, week and month, with information on astrology, weather, planting for farm crops and other topics almshouse: poorhouse amends: to put right Anarchism: The theory that every form of government is oppressive to its citizens. antebellum: the period from the founding of America (1787) to the Civil War (1861) appraisal: a value given to something by an authorized person apprentice: one who is learning a skill or business from another under a formal agreement apprenticeship: a formal arrangement to teach one the skills or business of another Articles of Impeachment: The charges of misconduct in office brought against a public official. artifacts: objects made or used by human beings now and in the past artisan: someone who makes things by hand Arts and Crafts movement: The development of the Arts and Crafts movement in England by John Ruskin and William Morris included the return of hand craftsmanship, promotion of simplicity of design, and honesty in the use of materials. The movement spread to the United States and to Deerfield with the organization of the Deerfield Society for Blue and White Needlework in 1896 and the Deerfield Society of Arts and Crafts in 1899. assessment: a value judgment avenge: to take vengance for awnings: roof-like covers that stick out over doors or windows for protection against the weather barbarous: uncivilized Barbizon: a school of art derived from the art fashionable in an area of France south east of Paris near Fontainbleu in the 19th century. batting: stuffing for quilts bayonet: a sharp blade that can be attached to a rifle or musket for hand-to-hand combat bellows: a tool that blows air on a fire belvedere: A tower or structure designed to provide a view. billbooks: books for keeping track of bills and receipts blockade: stops people or supplies from getting into a certain area, especially used during war times bog: swampy area Bolshevism: Soviet communism boom: a chain or cable serving to confine floating timber boteh: The boteh (also known as paisley) originally began as a popular motif in Indian textiles. When the paisley shawl began to become popular in western dress around the turn of the eighteenth century, the botah was usually incorporated into the fabric borders. In the Scottish town of Paisley, a weaving industry began in the nineteenth century that produced shawls. Since that time, the boteh motif became known as a paisley. By the end of the nineteenth century, the boteh or paisley motif had crept into the whole pattern of the cloth. breeches: eighteenth century pants that covered the knees but did not reach to the ankles bridle: headgear for a horse to help control it broadside: a poster that advertises something browning: John M. Browning, an American designer of firearms; any of several automatic firearms cabinet card: A medium size photographic portrait mounted onto cardboard. cabinetmakers: craftsmen who make case furniture (cabinets, chests, cupboards, etc.) by joining thin boards together by means of dovetails rather than with the mortise-and-tenon joints, used at an earlier time. caliber: refers to bullet size capitulate: give up; surrender cartridges: metal or paper tubes that contain bullets and gunpowder; a cartridge is placed in the barrel of a gun cashmere: goat hair cast-iron: iron that is heated to a liquid and poured or "cast" into a mold catechism: a handbook for religious instruction; the New England Primer ws used for this purpose cavalry: an army of soldiers on horseback Centennial Exposition: a show or fair celebrating the one hundred year anniversary of a town or nation champarty: In English law, a bargain between a plaintiff or defendant in a cause and another person, to divide the land or other matter sued for, if they prevail, in consideration of that person carrying on defending the suit at his own expense. Chattel: Physical property other than real estate. Legally, slaves were considered the property of their masters. child labor: Children formed an important part of the workforce through most of the nineteenth century. By 1870, almost 20% of boys and 7% of girls aged 10 to 15 worked full-time. That number climbed in 1900 to one out of every five children. chronological: in order by date Civil Disobedience: A refusal to comply with the law as a form of nonviolent protest. clapboards: narrow tapered boards covering the outside of a house classical: inspired by ancient civilizations of Greece or Rome clouted: patched cock: the hammer in the lock of an older firearm or musket Cold War: The ideological conflict developed between the Communist Soviet Union and the United States following World War II. The struggle resulted in a huge buildup of weapons by both countries. Colonial Revival: The aim of the Colonial Revival, which occurred around the time of the Centennial anniversary of the new nation, was not to replicate the past but, rather, to capture its spirit by acknowledging and attempting to practice the values and virtues of the early founding fathers. Local historical societies were founded, hand-wrought objects assumed importance, and period rooms were created as a memorial to the past and to those who lived then. colonialize: to make something modern appear to be from colonial times (pre-1783) commemorative: honoring and remembering commentaries: comments or remarks upon a particular topic commission: to order something to be made, such as a portrait communion: a Christian reenactment of the Last Supper in which Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples before his arrest and crucifiction. Communism: Communism is a political ideology focused on the shared ownership of property by the community and the cooperative labor efforts of its citizens. confederate: a Civil War era term for the southern states that voted to secede from, or leave the United States confidences: secrets Conscription: The compulsory enrollment of citizens into the military. consumers: buyers contract: formal agreement where one person promises services to another convoy: an escort provided for protection cooperative organization: an organization owned and run by its members for their mutual benefit. cordwainer: shoe maker crane: a swinging metal bar attached to one side of a fireplace used for hanging pots over a fire critical: serious, of great importance cruet: a bottle for vinegar, oil, pepper, etc. cur: a common dog curds: The thick milk solids separated from the watery elements of milk during cheesemaking. currier: one who treats leather with oil or grease cutlery: knives and forks daguerreotype: an early style of photograph made on a silver or silver-covered copper plate daguerreotype: an early style of photograph made on a silver or silver-covered copper plate Deacon: A church member who watches over the spiritual health of the church and its members, not a member of the clergy debt: goods, services or money owed to another debtor: one who owes deceased: dead dedicated: (as in ceremony)- remembered and honored deeds: signed agreements to sell something, often land depot: a train or bus station; often refers to a building for arriving and departing passengers depravity: living in corruption and evil depredations: to plunder; spoil; lay waste; rob. wastes, spoils descendants: those who trace their ancestry to older relations Discretionary: To be left to one's own judgment. A grant of discretionary power increases the authority of the President to act on behalf of the United States based upon his own judgment. distinctive: noteworthy distribution: regarding a will, the division by a court of personal property dividends: an individual share of something divine: of or belonging to God domestic economy: having to do with providing and organizing what is needed for the home Domino Theory: A United States foreign policy theory prevalent during the twentieth century. According to the domino theory if one country in a region came under the influence of Communism other nearby countries would follow suit. Thus there would be a domino effect on surrounding countries. dormitories: a building or room with beds draft: to order men to to report for duty in the militia or the army dumbbell: a weight made up of two balls connected by a short bar earthenware: pottery edited: prepared for publication efficacy: the power to be effective embargo: a government order to stop trade ships from leaving their ports embroidery: the process of forming decorative designs in plain or fancy stitches by hand or machine on cloth, leather, or paper enclosed: in relation to envelopes, something extra put in the envelope with the letter engine turned: mechanically produced; a method of ornamentation of a surface by means of turning with an engine. ensign: a military rank enterprising: full of energy and ready to try things or experiment erect: to build Eugenics: People who believe in eugenics want to engineer a better race of people by preventing "lesser" people from having children. In some cases they advocated sterilizing those people. Eugenics was discredited when many of its ideas were implemented by Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. expedition: trip exposition: A public exhibition or show that can include shows and demonstrations demonstrations fada: "fathoms." one fathom equals six feet fadam: "fathoms." one fathom equals six feet; or lengths faille: a ribbed silk, caused by thicker weft threads (horizontal threads in a woven fabric). Fascism: Fascism is a political movement which originated in Italy with Benito Mussolini in the early twentieth century. This authoritarian form of government stresses nationalism and the subordination of individual needs to those of the community. financial: having to do with money finial: a small decoration at the top of a door, chest, or chair flint: a certain kind of stone that is struck against a piece of steel to make sparks, used for starting fires and making guns fire flintlock: a type of gun that fires when a piece of flint hits a piece of steel and causes a spark to light the ammunition forage: to search for provisions fortified: strengthened frizzen: the metal upright of a flintlock against which the flint strikes when firing gadrooning: a decorative pattern seen in architecture, silver objects, ceramics composed of convex curves or arcs joined at the ends to make a continuous band. gauntlet: a double row of people beating the person running between them geneological, geneology: having to do with the study of ancestors and relatives in families gigot: a leg of mutton, lamb, or veal for cooking girders: sideways supports for buildings or bridges glaze: a decorative and waterproof coating for pottery gorget: military armor or ornament worn around the neck to protect the throat gospel meetings: religious meetings for prayer grammar: a school subject which teaches the correct use of language great chair: an arm chair Great Depression: The Great Depression began with the crash of the New York stock market on Black Thursday (October 24, 1929). Throughout the 1930?s the United States and the world experienced high unemployment rates and a great decrease in international trade. As businesses closed in the United States, millions of people found themselves without jobs and in the midst of financial crisis. Franklin D. Roosevelt?s New Deal programs helped to ease the depression?s effects. The Great Depression ended as a result of increased industrial production during World War II. gross: as in number, twelve dozen, or 144 Gulf of Tonkin Incident: Gulf of Tonkin Incident was an alleged pair of attacks beginning on August 2, 1964 in the Gulf of Tonkin by naval forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam against the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy, two patrolling American destroyers. As a response to these attacks, The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed the United States Congress by a nearly unanimous vote on August 7, 1964. It granted President Johnson broad powers to conduct the Vietnam War. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Resolution authorizing President Lyndon Johnson to escalate the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Under the United States Constitution, only the Congress can declare war. While the United States has not declared war since 1941, this resolution illustrates how Congress has granted war powers to the President. hand-thrown: handmade on a potter's wheel or draped over a mold hard tack: a hard biscuit given to soldiers during the Civil War hearing: a court session hearth: the brick or stone area in front of a fireplace hemp: a plant with fibers good for making rope and cloth Hessian: a German soldier who fought on the side of the English in the American Revolution highway: in the 17th and 18th centuries, a dirt road connecting settlements hilt: the handle of a sword homelot: a piece of owned land with or without a house idol: a symbol of an object of worship illigible: illegible, unable to be read immigrants: people who move into a country from another one inculcators: teachers who are persistant and earnest indenture: a formal agreement whereby one person works for another for a set amount of time industrious: busy and productive infantry, infantryman: soldiers trained to fight on foot inglenook: a corner by the fire insurgents: people who engage in armed resistance to a government or to the execution of its laws. interior: inside ironclad: an armored navy ship itinerant: one who travels from place to place joiner: woodworker who joins pieces of wood together to make furniture joiners: woodworkers who join pieces of wood together to make furniture lathe: a machine that turns wood and shapes it by cutting while the wood turns lavalier: a pendant that hangs from a necklace chain leaves: the leaves of tables are made of a board or boards hinged to the sides of the table top; they may be lifted to increase the surface of the table top or, when not needed, may be dropped against the sides of the table to save space leg o'mutton: The name given to the large sleeves fashionable on women's garments from the early 1890s to about 1896 because the shape resembles the leg of a lamb (or mutton). leghorn: a fine braided wheat straw used for hat making legislature: an organized group of people who have the power to make laws leisure: free time from work letter books: a collection of letters from and to the same person lint: fuzz from material lithograph: a process of printing that uses a stone or metal plate with the design on it livery stable: a stable that keeps horses and vehicles for hire loaf sugar: hardened sugar in the form of a cone lobbying: encouraging public officials to support a particular project or to pass a particular law or policy lock: the part of the mechanism of the gun by which the charge is exploded lock plate: piece of a gun near the part that makes the gun go off lottery: to select a prizewinner or participant by random chance. a chance to win something by buying a ticket or by being assigned a number lugpole: a metal rod that goes across the fireplace and is used for hanging pots over the fire lyceum: public lecture and or concert put on by an organized group lyceums: public lectures and concerts put on by an organized group machinist: someone who makes, puts together or repairs machines martial: having to do with war and soldiers Masons: a secret fraternal order that emphasizes universal brotherhood and upright behavior massacre: cruel and needless killing matchlock: a musket that is made to fire by lighting a piece of rope that is attached to the gun over the pan containing gunpowder meetinghouse: a building used for religious worship and for town meetings mercenaries: soldiers hired to fight for a country that is not their own midway: middle area; often refers to the open area of a carnival or fair milch cows: dairy cows military bands: Military bands offered one of the few forms of recreation available to Civil War era soldiers. Before battles they assisted the division surgeon, setting up the field hospital; after, they carried the wounded from the field. Military Draft: A system for selecting people for compulsory military service. militia: a group of male residents who train to fight but are only called upon to do so in emergencies for a short period of time minstrel: a medieval musician who sings moonlighting: to have a second job aside from one's regular job moral, moralism, morality: having to due with right and wrong in behavior mortar: a bowl-like container for grinding material with a "pestle", or club shaped pounding tool mourn: to be sad over a death or a loss Municipalities: Cities or towns having their own incorporated governments. mush: hot cereal made from corn meal muster: call troops together N.E.: New England National Socialism: The political ideology of the National Socialist German Workers Party or the Nazi Party. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis became the ruling party in Germany during the 1930s. Members of the Nazi party believed in the superiority of the Aryan race and the inferiority of the Jewish people. They demanded that the state be placed above the individual and that power was more important than justice. Nativist Sentiments: Favoring native inhabitants of a country over immigrants. naval: having to do with ships needlepoint: a style of embroidery neoclassical: literature, art, music or architecture inspired by ancient civilizations of Greece or Rome New Deal: During the presidential campaign of 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt promised that his administration would deliver a ?new deal for the American people.? The New Deal programs and policies were designed to promote social reform and economic relief during the Great Depression. Old Hampshire County: Until 1811, the present-day Massachusetts counties of Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden were a part "Old Hampshire County." Old Northwest: The area known in the early 19th century as the Old Northwest are the present-day states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. oligarchy: An oligarchy is government control by a small faction of persons, families or interests. omen: a sign warning of future events ominous: threatening evil or harm override a Presidential veto: The Congress can override a Presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. With this two-thirds vote, the vetoed bill becomes law without the President's signature. Overseers of the Poor: town official that supervised and administered care of paupers oxen: sterile male cattle that have been trained to work pageant: similar to a play palisades: a fence of long pointed stakes in the ground that forms a wall (stockade) around a town; in Deerfield it was also called the fort. pallet: as in painting, a board that an artist holds that has different colors of paint on it Palmetto palm: a low-growing palm; its fan-shaped leaves can be fashioned into strips for weaving pantaloons: pants pantomime: to act a part without speaking Parian ware: Developed in 1842 in England, Parian ware was made of liquid clay poured into a mold. The finished low-luster piece of unglazed porcelain was hard and resembled marble. parson: minister patents: legal papers that give only the inventor of something the right to make, use, or sell his or her invention for a set amount of time pauper: poor person pearlware: earthenware dishes with a greater percentage of flint and white clay in the body than cream-colored earthenware; the glaze contains a trace of cobalt oxide giving the body a bluish-white cast; introduced by Josiah Wedgwood in 1779 as an improvement on creamware. peddler: a traveling sales person pelisse: a fur-lined cloak; this term did not come into use until at least 1718. Hannah's cloak would have been heavy wool without fur lining. Pequot: A Native American nation whose traditional homeland lies in present day Connecticut. Per capita: amount for each individual; or per person period rooms: rooms set up to look like rooms from the past pest house: a house or hospital for people with infectious diseases, usually smallpox pestle: a club shaped pounding tool petition: a written request, usually with signatures of all who support the request petticoats: skirts or slips pew: a bench in a church, surrounded by low walls pewter: an alloy or a mixture of metals made of tin, antimony, bismuth, and sometimes lead philosophy: the beliefs, thoughts and attitudes of a particular group of people Piece Rate: The fixed amount paid for each piece of work completed. pillion: a cushion behind a saddle for an extra rider Plunder: steal or loot by force; also the goods aquired in this manner Pocommegan River: the Green River Pocumtuck River: the Deerfield River Polonaise: a Polish dance popular in Europe during the nineteenth century. pommel: An oval-shaped button at the end of the handle that has a cavity on its underside to hold a sword's knuckle guard. pompadour: a hair style that is mounded high at the front of the head ponder: to think Pontil: Glass is blown using a long tube. When the glass blower removes the finished product from the stem or tube, it leaves a mark. popery: the Roman Catholic religion porcelain: a smooth, white clay-like material used for making ceramic pieces porous: able to have liquids pass through it portraits: pictures of people, referring usually to paintings posset: a hot drink of sweetened milk curdled with wine or ale Presidential Veto: If the President decides not to sign a bill into law, he must return it to the U.S. Congress unsigned within 10 days (not including Sundays) of having received it. The President must also send to Congress a written explanation of why he objects to the proposed legislation. Primeval forest: forest untouched by man progressive: forward thinking, moving ahead prohibition: a movement to end the sales and consumption of alchohol promisary note: a written promise to pay proprietor: one who has the legal right or title to something proroguing: to postpone or defer Protestant: a Christian religion originally founded in protest against the Roman Catholic Church and its teachings. pulpit: the raised platform in a church from which the minister preaches quaint: charming; old-fashioned quarter: to be given quarter is to be shown mercy raffia: a kind of grass used for making baskets ravine: a small, narrow, steep-sided valley razed: torn down; demolished to the ground reconnoitre: to search an area, especially for military information reconstruction: something reassembled into its original form or appearance redeem: pay money for the return of a captive redeemed: returned for money redemption: return of a captive because money was paid redware: pottery made from a kind of red clay re-enlistment: to sign up again Reformation: A religious movement beginning in the 15th century that led to the forming of Protestant Churches outside the Catholic Church. resignation: to quit restoration: fixing up reverend: minister ride rough shod: to treat inconsiderately right of way: permission to go across another person's property rod: 5 1/2 yards (or 16.5 feet) rods: as in measurement, units of land that each measure 16.5 feet rush: a plant with long leaves that grows near the water, used to make baskets Russian Revolution: The Russian Revolution occurred in March and November of 1917. It eventually resulted in the Bolsheviks?, led by Lenin, taking control of the Russian government. The Bolsheviks deemed Russia a Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. Lenin was the founder of Soviet Communism. sabre: a heavy military sword with a curved blade, used especially by cavalry men sachem: chief or head of a group of Native Americans samp: porridge made from corn scabbard: a covering for a sword, dagger or bayonet sculptor: one who carves statues séance: a meeting to communicate with the dead Selective Service: The Selective Service was founded in 1940, during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, to ensure that the country could obtain sufficient manpower to meet its military needs. Young men registered for the draft at Selective Service Centers until 1973 when the conscription was abolished in favor of an all-volunteer army. Selectmen: An elected committee that oversees the day-to-day functions of a town's government. selectmen: An elected committee that oversees the day-to-day functions of a town's government. sequestered: set apart settle: a bench with a back that comes all the way to the floor to keep drafts away sic: this follows a word that was misspelled but was done so on purpose silhouette: the side view of a person. If refering to an art form, it is the side view of a person cut out of a dark material and put onto a light background. skeins: twists of yarn or thread skirmishes: small fights sluice: an artificial stream or water channel for moving solid material such as logs. smoothbore: refers to the barrel of a gun that is smooth inside soapstone: a soft, smooth stone that is easy to carve solder: a metal or metallic alloy that when melted joins metal surfaces together sole: only sovereign: possessed of controlling power spinning bees: A movement among women to gather to create home-made fabric (called homespun) for making clothing, rather than purchasing English-made textiles. This was part of the wider effort to boycott all English products in the period leading to the American Revolutionary War. splint: as in weaving, a thin strip of wood for weaving spoils of war: goods taken during a raid square and compasses: The square reminds the Mason to "square" his actions, or to live morally. The compass reminds him to control his passions. Staffordshire: a district in England where good transportation, access to clay and labor = ceramics industry; the dishes made in the various towns in Staffordshire are often referred to as "Staffordshire," even though many factories were active in the 18th and 19th centuries and continue today statesman: one who works in government for the good of all statistical: having to do with collecting and organizing facts and numbers on various topics stature: size, referring to height when standing stays: a stiffened piece of underclothing that wraps snugly around a girl's or woman's middle for support and fashion Steatite: Soapstone or talc. steelyard: a scale for weighing objects stereotype: something that fits a set pattern of how one group thinks about another that can be over simplified and critical stock: as in gun, the wooden part of a rifle or musket; as in clothing, a wide, often stiff band of cloth that a man wears around his neck stockade: a wall around a town sugaring: the process of collecting sap from maple trees and boiling it to make syrup summit: the highest point surveyors: people trained to make exact measurements of land swaddled: wrapped in cloth; babies were once swaddled to keep them safe and warm tackling: gear tankard: a tall mug usually made of metal tankgard: a metal cup with a handle and sometimes a lid tanner: one who processes animal skins into leather tapestry: an embroidered or woven piece of material for hanging on a wall or for other decorative purposes teamsters: men who lead teams of horses or oxen technical: having to do with the science and knowledge necessary to make something technology: the science and knowledge needed to make a particular thing temperance movement: a movement to moderate or stop people from drinking alcohol textile: material; fabric The American Civil Liberties Union: The ACLU was founded in 1920 to defend those who, for ethical reasons, were opposed to serving in the military during World War II. It also defended those who were arrested under the Sedition Act of 1918. The Impeachment of the President: The process by which the United States Congress acts to remove the President from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors". theoretical: relating to an ideal situation or set of facts theories: ideas needing to be tested to see if they will work tolerable: moderately good training days: in the 18th and 19th centuries each town named several days per year as training days for men to gather to practice being soldiers transfer print: a technique for decorating ceramics that involves placing a design printed on paper around the item before it is fired in a kiln. The design is then transferred onto the item during firing treatise: a written argument that includes facts and an outcome trenchers: serving dishes for food trompe l'oeil: from the French meaning to fool the eye truss bridge: a bridge strengthened with braces turner: woodworker who uses a rotating shaping tool known as a "lathe" to make rounded furniture pieces such as legs for tables and chairs Tuscarora: Native American group of present-day New York and Ontario Canada Underground Railroad: a vast network of of people and safe houses that aided fugitive slaves escape to the Northern states and Canada Unitarian: a Protestant denomination that acknowledges the Christian Trinity of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit but believes that only God the Father possesses true divinity. unmolested: not bothered urn: a style of vase utensils: tools used in the house, especially the kitchen Utopian: the belief in a perfect society vaccinated: infecting a person with a small dose of a disease to produce antibodies that will keep their body from getting that disease valuation lists: lists that set a value to property vengance: revenge ventilation: a system or way of providing fresh air veteran: one who fought in a war or served in the military during a war vials: small bottles, especially for liquids Victorian: Objects, events, people or customs relating to or dating from the reign of Queen Victoria of England (1837-1901). virtuous: pure, well behaved; a good citizen wampum: beads made by Native Americans of a certain kind of clamshell warming pan: a long-handled pan full of hot coals used to warm the sheets and blankets of a bed Warrant: A warrant is a legal document issued by a person or group of people holding authority to an individual or to a group. It requires that individual or group to perform an action. For example, an arrest warrant is issued to police requiring them to take legal custody of one or more people. wharves: platforms built by the water where boats can to tie up, or moor wheelock: a musket or rifle that is made to fire by a metal wheel that creates sparks when it hits a piece of flint whey: The watery part of milk left behind when the milk solids combine into curds during cheesemaking. wicker: bendable twigs or branches used for weav widow's thirds: the practice of providing a widow with one third of her husband's property willow withes: the narrow, flexible branches of a willow tree wing dam: a dam that only partially blocks the river and extends from only one riverbank. World Assembly of Youth: An independent association of youth councils of United Nations member states founded in 1948. worsted: a kind of wool yarn wrought iron: hand worked iron yoke: a device of curved or bowed wood, used from ancient times, by which two animals, especially oxen, are coupled together for drawing a plow or vehicle |