The Wreckers

VocabularyChapters 6-8

Chapter 6

1. brink2. spindrift3. corpse4. embayed5. specters6. plunder7. naught

brink

• The edge of a slope

spindrift

• Windblown sea spray

corpse

• A dead body

embayed

• To detain, or keep, in a bay

specters

• A ghost or phantom

plunder

• Goods taken by force or stolen

naught

• nothing

Chapter 7

1. clamor2. tempests3. flinched4. tetched5. headstrong6. gallivanting7. sinkhole8. phosphorus9. reek

10. perish

clamor

• A loud, sustained noise

tempests

• A violent windstorm

flinched

• To start or wince involuntarily, as from a surprise or pain

tetched

• Somewhat imbalanced mentally, touched or crazy

headstrong

• Determined to have one’s own way, stubborn and willful

gallivanting

• To roam about in search of pleasure or amusement

sinkhole

• A natural depression in a land surface communicating with a subterranean passage, formed by the collapse of a tavern roof

phosphorus

• A highly reactive and flammable substance

reek

• To give off or fill with a strong, unpleasant odor

perish

• To die or be destroyed

Chapter 8

1. clamber2. Ghosted3. scowled4. gunwales5. chanteys6. flagon7. smuggler8. petty9. excise men

10. farce11. smug12. cromlech

clamber

• To climb with difficulty, awkwardly

ghosted

• To move noiselessly, like a ghost

scowled

• To express with a frowning facial expression

gunwales

• The upper edge of the side of a vessel (so called because guns were mounted on it)

chanteys

• A song sung by sailors to the rhythm of their movements while working

flagon

• A large vessel with a handle and spout, used for holding wine or liquors

smuggler

• To illegally bring goods in/out by stealth, without paying customs taxes on them

petty

• Minor, unimportant

Excise men

• An officer who inspects items and decides what shall be taxed

farce

• An empty show, a mockery

smug

• Exhibiting or showing a look of great satisfaction with oneself or one’s situation

cromlech

• A prehistoric monument circling a mound. Usually a tomb consisting of 2 or more upright stones with a capstone, believed to have been buried in the earth with a central opening.