One of the things I often do as I'm reading a novel or short story is keep track of words whose definitions I do not know or that I find interesting. Either way, these interesting words are ones I feel might be of use in my own writing. That, and it's good to expand one's vocabulary every once in a while.
These interesting words were found in David Drake's Lord of the Isles.
breechclouts: a cloth worn about the breech and loins; loincloth
brocade: thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern
cordage: the ropes in the rigging of a ship
garret: floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
gunwale: wale at the top of the side of boat; topmost planking of a wooden vessel
hawser: large heavy rope for nautical use
hobnailed: marked by the wearing of heavy boots studded with hobnail (hobnail: a short nail with a thick head; used to protect the soles of boots)
loofah: the dried fibrous part of the fruit of a plant of the genus Luffa; used as a washing sponge or strainer
oarlock: a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing
sluices: conduit that carries a rapid flow of water controlled by a sluicegate
transom: a horizontal crosspiece across a window or separating a door from a window over it
[ Follow me on Twitter ]
Indulge in fantastic tales of sword, sorcery, and alchemy today by joining thousands of readers like yourself who can't get enough of Scott Marlowe's
"intense" storytelling and "skillfully written" adventures. You'll get two free stories, The Hall of Riddles and The Assassin's Dilemma, just for signing up.